Category Archives: Service Alerts

UPDATE: Normal service resumes on Blue/Expo lines

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Workers repairing damaged power line.

Workers repairing damaged power line.

As of 2 p.m. repairs to the overhead wire have been completed and tested. Normal service resuming at this time. 

WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE BLUE LINE THIS MORNING?
At 8:15 a.m. a southbound Blue Line train experienced an overhead wire entanglement near San Pedro Station. The live wire landed partially on the San Pedro platform and required immediate de-energizing, station evacuation and bypassing of train service, using the 7th/Metro bound track. Safety for passengers was the first priority.

AND THE EXPO LINE?
Due to complexities with the traction power system, power was removed as far back as the Washington/Flower Junction, disrupting Expo Line service.  During this time, buses were requested to shuttle Expo customers between 23rd Street, Pico, and 7th/Metro.  After isolating the de-energized segment and re-configuring power, limited Expo Line service to/from 7th/Metro was restored on a single track at 9:10 a.m.

WHAT ARE THE CURRENT DELAYS?
Normal service resuming on Expo/Blue lines. For most up to date information, get alerts on Twitter and follow station announcements.

WHY DOES IT TAKE A LONG TIME FOR BUS SHUTTLES TO ARRIVE?
When bus shuttles are requested during rail disruptions, they must be pulled off of existing lines in service. This requires buses to divert from their normal location to the incident location. During rush hour, there are very limited resources available on standby at the bus divisions. Additionally, it can take up to 9 buses just to accommodate 1 Blue Line train.  This means buses fill up as quickly as we can get them out there. This morning, we requested 20 buses to assist affected customers.

WHY DOES THE EXPO LINE GET DELAYED WHEN INCIDENTS HAPPEN ON THE BLUE LINE?
Both lines are run as a shared operation using the same equipment.  A Blue Line train ending at 7th/Metro often departs as a Culver City bound Expo Line train and vice versa.  This means when there are delays to the Blue Line, it can disrupt train sequencing for the Expo Line. Also, as mentioned above, complexities with the traction power system resulted in a de-energized segment of the Expo Line between 23rd Street and Pico. After power reconfiguration, we were able to restore power to one track to allow Expo Line trains to service 7th/Metro. The closer an incident occurs to the shared Blue/Expo Line segment, the greater likelihood of both lines being affected.

I WAS LATE TO WORK OR SCHOOL.  DO YOU OFFER A DELAY VERIFICATION THAT I CAN SUBMIT TO MY SCHOOL OR EMPLOYER?
Yes, please contact Customer Relations at 213.922.6235 or Fax 213.922.6988.

Update: delays on Expo and Blue lines, bus bridges in effect

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Damage to an overhead power supply wire near the San Pedro Station resulted in power loss to the southbound Blue Line track and both Expo Line tracks this morning.

As of 9:10 a.m. power has been restored to the southbound Expo Line track. A bus bridge is still in effect between 7th/Metro and 23rd Street Station for Expo Line riders. Trains are running approximately every 15 minutes from 23rd Street Station.

The southbound Blue Line track will be out of service until repairs are completed. Extra trains have been deployed on the northbound Blue Line track. Shuttle service is operating between 7th/Metro to Grand, Grand to Washington, and Washington to Long Beach Transit Mall to assist with moving passengers. Trains are running approximately every 25-30 minutes from Washington to Long Beach Transit Mall.

Repairs to the overhead wire will commence immediately after the train is moved.

Metro is expecting to restore full service prior to the PM rush hour.

For most up to date information, get alerts on Twitter and follow station announcements.

Coldwater Canyon closure announced; no need to completely freak out — there are transit options

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This map shows Metro bus and rail service that runs every 15 minutes or less during the day. Click above to see larger.

This map shows Metro bus and rail service that runs every 15 minutes or less during the day. Click above to see larger.

A news conference was held this morning to announce that the road — used heavily by commuters to travel between the San Fernando Valley and Beverly Hills — will be closed for a month. From the LADWP:

From March 23 to about April 26, crews will close Coldwater Canyon Avenue, from Ventura Boulevard to Mulholland Drive, from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. This project is part of a major improvement project to upgrade the city’s water infrastructure. Due to the narrow road conditions of Coldwater Canyon Avenue and the need to use heavy equipment to excavate the road, remove and replace pipe, the thoroughfare must be completely closed to traffic to ensure the safety of the crew and the public.

During overnight hours and on Sundays, one lane in each direction will be open. Details of road closures and alternative routes will be discussed at the press conference.

There are some transit work-arounds for those traveling between the Valley and Beverly Hills, namely using the Red Line to travel between the Valley and Hollywood. During rush hours, trains run every 10 minutes from the Valley headed south to Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles. Here’s the timetable.

On the Valley side, the 750 Rapid Bus serves Ventura Boulevard — with stops at Coldwater — and the Universal City Red Line station. The Orange Line busway also stops at Valley College and Laurel Canyon Boulevard (both near Coldwater Canyon) and serves the North Hollywood Red Line station.

On the Los Angeles side, it’s easy to use the subway to access several Rapid Bus lines that travel east-west across the basin:

•The 780 Rapid Bus stop at the Red Line’s Hollywood/Highland station and travels west on Hollywood Boulevard and then south on Fairfax Avenue through Beverly Hills to the Washington/Fairfax Transit Hub in Los Angeles.

•The 704 Rapid Bus stops at the Red Line’s Santa Monica Boulevard station and travels west on Santa Monica Boulevard all the way to downtown Santa Monica.

•The Purple Line subway travels west from a shared station with the Red Line at Wilshire/Vermont. The Purple Line terminates at Western Avenue and Wilshire, a major stop for the 720 Rapid Bus on Wilshire. The 720 travels west to downtown Santa Monica, with stops at major cross streets.

•Metro Bus 218 provides a direct route from Beverly Hills to Studio City via Laurel Canyon. (Thanks for the tip, Source reader!)

Here’s another link to see the 15-minute map above.

55-Hour Northbound 405 freeway lane reductions between Montana Avenue and Getty Center Drive off-ramp planned beginning Friday

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Beginning Friday night, March 1, 2013, the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project will reduce the northbound I-405 from five lanes to two between Montana Avenue off-ramp and the Getty Center off-ramp in West Los Angeles for 55 hours. The contractor will pave the future High-Occupancy Vehicle lane (HOV) and realign the I-405 in this area. Motorists are advised to anticipate potential delays when traveling through the 2.4-mile lane reduction area and take alternate northbound routes if necessary.

The Southbound I-405 will be open and Northbound Sepulveda will remain fully operational with two lanes throughout the 55-hour lane reduction period.

The three closed freeway lanes and their corresponding on-ramps will be closed for an extended 55-hour duration to enable the contractor to shift k-rail, grind existing pavement, place and compact new pavement and stripe new pavement in the freeway’s center lanes.  These activities will enable the contractor to realign this portion of the I-405 to incorporate a future northbound HOV Lane.  The HOV lane now under construction will ultimately extend 10 miles between the I-10 and U.S. 101 and complete the last remaining gap in the I-405 HOV lane network.

All northbound freeway lanes and ramps will reopen to the public by 5 a.m. on Monday, March 4.  The current weather forecast does not call for rain; however, if that changes, the operation will shift approximately one week. A schedule for lane and ramp closures is as follows:

Lane Reductions:

10pm, Friday, March 1: Lane #1 on NB I-405 will be closed from Montana to Getty

11pm, Friday, March 1: Lane #2 on NB I-405 will be closed from Montana to Getty

12am, Saturday, March 2: Lane #3 on NB I-405 will be closed from Montana to Getty

FULL Northbound I-405 closure: 1am to 6am Saturday, March 2

6am Saturday, March 2 to 2am Sunday, March 3: NB I-405 reduced from 5 lanes to 2 lanes

FULL NB I-405 closure: 2am to 7am, Sunday, March 3

7am Sunday, March 3 to 12am Monday, March 4: NB I-405 reduced from 5 lanes to 2 lanes

Full NB I-405 closure: 12am to 5am Monday, March 4

More information about the closure after the jump!

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Service alert: Metrolink to conduct Antelope Valley Line rail improvements next three Sundays; slight delays for six trains

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Here’s the news release from Metrolink:

LOS ANGELES - Metrolink will begin implementing safety enhancements at three crossings along the Antelope Valley Line on Sunday, March 3, 10 and 17. The affected crossings are at Osborne Street, Pierce Street and Sunland Boulevard, respectively, in the City of Los Angeles.

Because of the construction, Metrolink will not be able to operate trains between the Sylmar/San Fernando and Sun Valley stations on March 3 and 10. Metrolink will provide buses between the two stations.

On March 17, Metrolink will provide buses between the Sun Valley and Downtown Burbank stations.

Upgrades to the crossings will include installation of automatic pedestrian gates and pedestrian sidewalks, as well as widening of the crossing panels.

Antelope Valley Line passengers should expect 20-minute delays forMetrolink trains 260, 262, 268, 263, 265 and 269.

For additional details on Metrolink, please visit www.metrolinktrains.com.

Southbound 110 ExpressLanes closed tonight from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.; three bus lines impacted – Silver Line, 460 and 550

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Due to emergency ExpressLanes maintenance, southbound service on Silver Line, 460 and 550 will be affected tonight from as early as 9 pm through approximately 5 am Wednesday morning.  Northbound service is unaffected.

When barricades are present, all southbound express buses will bypass 37th St/USC, Slauson and Manchester stations, then merge back into the HOT lanes and resume regular route at Harbor Fwy Station (Green Line).  Affected passengers should use Line 81 on nearby Figueroa to connect with express buses at either Harbor Fwy Station or at Figueroa/Adams.

Metro ExpressLanes apologizes for any inconvenience.