Goodbye Olympic Boulevard railroad crossing: Expo Phase 2 new bridge rising

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Photo by Steve Hymon/Metro.

Photo by Steve Hymon/Metro.

I never noticed the old railroad crossing markings on Olympic Boulevard in Santa Monica until driving past this weekend. It really doesn’t matter: that’s the bridge that will take the second phase of the Expo Line over Olympic in the distance; the same bridge will also span Cloverfield Boulevard.

The second phase of the Expo Line will extend the line for 6.6 miles from its present terminus in Culver City to downtown Santa Monica. The project is mostly funded by the Measure R sales tax increase approved by Los Angeles County voters in 2008. The line is currently scheduled to open in 2016.

Go green, go Clippers!

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Photo from NBA Cares Official Facebook Page

Photo from NBA Cares Official Facebook Page

From April 4 – 12, 2013, the NBA will partner with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) for the fifth NBA Green Week to generate awareness and funds for protecting the environment. NBA Green Week is just one of the ways the league, its teams and players are taking steps to be more environmentally friendly. Throughout the week the NBA will highlight league, team and player environmental initiatives, including in-arena awareness nights, recycling programs, hands-on service projects – and riding public transportation.

Go to the Clippers game versus the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, April 7 or against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, April 10 at the STAPLES Center and learn more about this campaign. (Metro Blue/Expo Line to Pico Station, Metro Bus 81 to Figueroa/11th)

Go Metro and save 10% Clippers merchandise. Then tweet a photo of yourself in Clippers gear riding Amtrak, Metrolink or Metro during NBA Green Week with #GOGREEN.  Winners will be selected by the Clippers throughout NBA Green Week to win fun prizes!

Alameda Corridor – East Construction Authority breaks ground on Nogales Street Grade Separation Project

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The crossing as it exists now.
Getting started on the work!

This morning, Alameda Corridor – East Construction Authority broke ground on the Nogales Street Grade Separation Project. The project will construct a six-lane roadway underpass on Nogales Street between San Jose Avenue and Gale Avenue/Walnut Drive to separate trains and vehicles.

Currently, the crossing is used daily by about 40 freight trains, 12 Metrolink commuter trains and over 42,000 vehicles. The construction of the underpass will eliminate collisions and delays for emergency responders, motorists and pedestrians, create nearly 2,000 jobs, reduce vehicle emissions from idling cars and trucks waiting for trains to pass, and mitigate impacts of growth in trade transported by train.

Metro contributed $30.5 million in Prop C funds to the Nogales Street Grade Separation Project, which is 28% of the total project cost. With the Measure R funds, Metro’s total contribution of $671.4 million covers more than one-third of the overall estimated $1.6-billion Alameda Corridor East program.

Read the full press release from the Alameda Corridor – East Construction Authority after the jump.

Continue reading →

If you missed Red Line Time this morning, there are two more performances

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Photos by Luis Inzunza/Metro

The first performance of Stephan Koplowitz: Red Line Time was this morning (check out the slide show for some stills), and the dancers will be performing two more times: tonight at 6 p.m. and on Saturday at 4 p.m. Audiences should meet by the Metro Customer Center at Union Station East Portal and have a TAP card handy.

Check out the previous post for more details on the performance.

Pics of damage to Expo Line last night

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Photos by Metro.

The pole was completely lifted from its support by the collision. Photos by Metro.

Crash3

Crew is suspending the power support pole in order to pull the car out from under the pole and tow it away.

Crash2

Lots happening here. The elevated crew is using a wire straightener to work out kinks in the overheard wire caused by tension from the impact. Crews directly underneath them are disassembling power support pole from support arms as the pole must be scrapped although the support arms were undamaged. And the crew further down are working to replace train control signal heads which were sheared off by the SUV.

The Expo Line is running a normal Friday schedule today with minor delays around 23rd Street due to an accident Thursday evening in which a wrong-way driver on Flower Street struck and knocked over one of the poles that helps support the overhead wires that supplies power to trains. The pole still must be replaced.

The above photos were taken last night and show the extent of the damage. The driver of the vehicle was arrested for suspicion of driving under a controlled substance, according to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.

Transportation headlines, Friday, April 5

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Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the Library’s Headlines blog, which you can also access via email subscription or RSS feed.

There’s finally light at end of Expo Line Phase 2 legal battle (L.A. Streetsblog) 

The California Supreme Court has set a May 7 hearing date to consider the long-running lawsuit filed by Neighbors for Smart Rail against the Expo Line Construction Authority. The group alleges that environmental documents for the second phase of the project are flawed because they considered future traffic conditions when analyzing rail crossings instead of current conditions. There has been conflicting rulings on similar cases in other courts, thereby earning the interest of the state Supreme Court.

The bus lane en route to Dodger Stadium. Photo: Metro.

The bus lane en route to Dodger Stadium. Photo: Metro.

Trying to beat Dodger traffic blues (ZevWeb) 

A good look at the 1.5-mile bus lane on Sunset Boulevard being used by the Dodger Stadium Express this season. The lane comes courtesy of the city of Los Angeles Department of Transportation, which admits that traffic hasn’t been peachy in downtown on game days. LADOT also says it is considering allowing carpools of four or more to use the lane.

Critics sue over UCLA’s hotel plans (L.A. Times) 

The plan to build a 250 room hotel and conference on the site of an existing parking garage on campus results in a lawsuit from the group Save Westwood Village, a group that includes nearby homeowners. The suit alleges that UCLA should have to occupancy taxes — the school says it should be exempt — and financing for the structure is illegal due to the use of tax-exempt bonds. The suit is further proof that it’s difficult to build anything of any size in Los Angeles without it resulting in a lawsuit.

Go Metro Weekends, April 5 – 7

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If you haven't checked out the new Figat7th, now's the time! Photo from Figat7th Official Facebook Page

If you haven’t checked out the new Figat7th, now’s the time! Photo from Figat7th Official Facebook Page

Saturday, go RockaYourSoul at Grand Park from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Celebrate with dance legend Alvin Ailey with food trucks, music and more. The event is free to attend. Show your TAP card at the info booth to enter a drawing for tickets to The Music Center’s theatres, including 2 tickets to see Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and 4 tickets to FELA! at the Ahmanson Theatre. (Metro Red/Purple Line to Civic Center Station, Metro Bus 10 to Hill/Temple)

Also on Saturday is Family Fun Day at the newly opened Mendocino Farms at the Figat7th food court. The event includes face painting, a photo booth and more, and kids can eat free when the accompanying adult buys a regular sandwich. Family Fun Day lasts from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Metro Red/Purple/Blue/Expo Line to 7th/Metro Station, Metro Bus 10 or 51 to Figueroa/7th)

Swing by the Los Angeles Theatre Center for some dance, theatre, art and music. Show your TAP card at the box office and receive $2 off at select performances. Melancholia is showing on Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and on Sunday at 3 p.m. General admission is $20. (Metro Red/Purple Line to Pershing Square Station, Metro Rapid 728 to Spring/5th)

Check out the City of Angels exhibition in Thai Town on Saturday from 7 p.m. to midnight, or visit during Song Kran Thai New Year Festival on Sunday between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both exhibition and festival are open to the public. Show your TAP card to the exhibition food cashier to receive 10% off all food items on opening night. (Metro Red Line to Hollywood/Western Station, Metro Rapid 780 to Hollywood/Western)