Groundbreaking held for ExpressLanes congestion pricing project

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From left, Metro Board Members Mark Ridley-Thomas, Richard Katz and Antonio Villaraigosa at today's groundbreaking for the ExpressLanes project. Photo: Office of Supervisor Ridley-Thomas.

Officials today held a groundbreaking ceremony for the ExpressLanes project that will convert parts of the carpool lanes on the 10 and 110 freeways to toll lanes.

The idea of the test program is to sell excess space when it exists in the lanes to those currently prohibited from using the lanes — i.e. single motorists in most cases — to better improve overall traffic flows on the freeways.

Similar projects have been implemented around the U.S., including the 91 Express Lanes in Orange County. The segment on the 110 — between Adams and the Artesia Transit Center — is scheduled to open in late 2012. The segment on the 10 — between Alameda and the 605 — has a scheduled opening date of 2013.

Work is already underway on rebuilding the El Monte bus terminal, which is part of the project. Now work will soon be underway on the freeway part of the project, including the infrastructure needed to track who pays and who doesn’t. (Here’s a previous post on transponders that will be used).

Here’s the news release on today’s event from Metro:

Metro and Caltrans Officially Break Ground on ExpressLanes Project

Metro and Caltrans joined elected officials today in officially breaking ground on the ExpressLanes project that will convert existing carpool (HOV) lanes along the Harbor Freeway and the San Bernardino Freeway to High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. The project is designed to ease traffic congestion by reducing travel times and squeeze more capacity out of our existing infrastructure.

“Today marks a major milestone in our efforts to better manage our regional infrastructure,” said Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Antonio Villaraigosa. “Utilizing innovative and smart tools such as congestion pricing, we can ease traffic and improve mobility along these two heavily traveled corridors.”

Metro, in partnership with Caltrans, is embarking on a one-year demonstration program that will covert 11 miles of existing carpool lanes on the I-110 (Harbor Freeway Transitway) between the Artesia Transit Center/182nd Street and Adams Boulevard near downtown Los Angeles and 14 miles on the I-10 (El Monte Busway) between Union Station/Alameda Street and the I-605 to toll lanes.

Continue reading →

Clever idea in Korea: virtual subway grocery store

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In an attempt to become top grocer in the difficult Korean market, global grocery giant Tesco came up with an ingenious solution that propelled sales because it worked so well with the Korean transit oriented lifestyle.

The idea: virtual grocery stores in subway stations.

To create the virtual grocery stores Tesco created graphical displays that mirrored grocery store shelves and installed them in subway stations. Thanks to QR code technology these displays are far more than just advertisements – commuters can point their smart phones at the items they wish to purchase and do their grocery shopping while waiting for the next train. Groceries are then delivered the same day, so when commuters get home their shopping is already done.

One reason for the success of this idea: Seoul’s subway system is one of the busiest in the world. According to Wikipedia there are over 8 million daily trips on the system.

Considering this, do you think there’s any application for similar ideas in L.A.?

The art of transit

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photo by James Calder, via Flickr

This wasn’t photoshopped. It was taken in Washington D.C. during one of those events where people dress up as zombies and go around town. The dude in the lower right corner seems really into it. I probably should have waited until Halloween to post this, but I just saw “Super 8″ and have zombies on the brain, pun intended.

To submit a photo for the Art of Transit, post it to Metro’s Flickr group, email it to sourcemetro@gmail.com or Tweet it to @metrolosangeles with an #artoftransit hashtag. Many of the photos we’ve featured can be seen in these galleries on Flickr.

Transit forecast for Wednesday, July 6

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For a complete list of planned service advisories please visit the Service Advisories page on Metro.net. And for the latest service alerts follow @MetroLAalerts on Twitter.

Gold Line

Due to maintenance work after 9pm, trains may be delayed 1-2 minutes.

During this time, trains in both directions will share East LA Atlantic bound track at Mariachi Plaza, Soto, and Indiana stations. Please check train destination signs and announcements before boarding.

Dates: today only.

Green Line

Due to track maintenance from 9am to 2pm, trains may run 1-2 minutes later than regular schedule.

During this time, trains in both directions will share Redondo Beach (westbound) track at Aviation/LAX Station. Please check train destination signs and announcements before boarding.

Dates: today only.

Line 287

Due to Concerts in Arceo Park the listed line will be on detour between Mildred St. and Bodger St.

Northbound: Regular route to Tyler Ave. and Elliott Ave., Continue Tyler Ave., (L) Garvey Ave., (R) Santa Anita Ave., (R) Asher St., (L) Tyler Ave. and regular route.

Southbound: Regular route to Tyler Ave. and Amador St., Continue Tyler Ave., (R) Brockway St.,  (L) Santa Anita Ave., (L) Garvey Ave., (R) Tyler Ave. and regular route.

Dates: today only.

Blue Line

After 8:15pm, Blue Line trains run every 30 minutes due to construction work for the future Expo Line.  Please see schedule here.

Dates: through Thursday.


@MetroLosAngeles Twitter Tuesday

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Welcome to Twitter Tuesday, a weekly feature here at The Source in which we’ll round up the latest Metro related tweets in the Twitterverse. To follow Metro on Twitter just search for @MetroLosAngeles. We recommend adding the #MetroLosAngeles tag to your tweets to get our attention.

And when it comes to complaints, the best way to get them addressed is to use the Customer Comment Form on Metro.net. There you can provide all the detail needed so that customer service reps may best address your problems.

Red Car #artoftransitRemember to tag your tweet pics with #artoftransit. This one of San Pedro’s classic Red Car is courtesy of @thedudeabides.

#ArtOfTransit

jim61773 Cosplayers on the @MetroLosAngeles subway? Why not? Thank you, cosplayers at #AX11 for your help. http://flic.kr/s/aHsjvohPrJ

thedudeabides: @metrolosangeles red car #artoftransit http://instagr.am/p/HBtW1/

#MetroWin

ayogist wondering when the next @metrolosangeles bus is due to arrive? wonder no more: twitpic.com/5jc139

surayafadel: @metrolosangeles thank u! wonderful, clean, air conditioned ride down Ventura blvd. Been yrs! Exceeded expectations

almightyopp @almightyopp loves @metrolosangeles

#GoMetro

SimonOh After 15 years, I have just completed traveling the entire @metrolosangeles Rail/BRT network.

ccjao Going to the @GOODLAHQ meet up tonight. Taking @MetroLosAngeles ! Ought to be a nice ride. See you there! #LA

transit_tweets: @metrolosangeles Saw more cosplay on red, blue and gold lines today.

veralusia blueline train condcutor calling out stops using his don pardo voice. bizarre, yet amusing. @metrolosangeles should hear it.

After the jump, some unhappy tweets about last week’s service changes in #MetroFail. Continue reading →


Metro adds more free bus service for weekend of 405 closure in Sepulveda Pass

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The agency had previously announced free service on the Orange Line busway and the Red and Purple line subway on the weekend of July 16-17, when the 405 will be closed over the Sepulveda Pass for the partial demolition of the Mulholland Bridge.

In addition, the Metro Board of Directors last month gave Metro CEO Art Leahy the discretion to add other free service. Leahy has chosen to add 26 bus lines which should greatly help riders move between the San Fernando Valley and the Westside — as well as provide an alternative to freeways that are expected to be clogged that weekend.

Many Source readers have asked about 761 Rapid Bus service between the Valley and the Westside. Now we have an answer: the bus will continue to use Sepulveda Boulevard as it normally does over the Sepulveda Pass. Sepulveda Boulevard will only be open to local traffic and 761 riders should expect much longer travel times than usual, due to congestion in the area.

Here is the news release from Metro:

In addition to providing free rides on the Metro Orange, Red and Purple Lines, The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) today announced that it will make 26 additional Metro Bus Lines free the weekend of July 16-17 when the I-405 will be closed between the I-10 and U.S. 101 for Mulholland Bridge demolition work.

Metro selected bus lines for free fares that operate on major Westside and San Fernando Valley streets in areas most affected by the closure. Free rides on the selected bus lines are intended to help mitigate congestion during the closure weekend.  Free fares are being offered on the following Metro bus lines:

  • 2 Downtown LA-Pacific Palisades via Sunset Bl
  • 4 Downtown LA-West Hollywood-Santa Monica via Santa Monica Bl
  • 20 Downtown LA-Santa Monica via Wilshire Bl
  • 33 Downtown LA – Santa Monica via Venice Bl
  • 150 Canoga Park-Universal City Station via Ventura Bl
  • 152 Woodland Hills-North Hollywood Station via Fallbrook Av
  • 155 Sherman Oaks-Burbank Station via Riverside Dr, Olive Av
  • 156 Van Nuys-Hollywood-Panorama City
  • 158 Chatsworth Station – Sherman Oaks via Devonshire St, Woodman Av
  • 161 Thousand Oaks Transit Center-Warner Center
  • 183 Sherman Oaks-Glendale Station via Magnolia Bl
  • 224 Sylmar Station – Universal City Station via San Fernando Rd & Lankershim Bl
  • 230 Sylmar-Studio City via Laurel Canyon Bl
  • 233 Lake View Terrace-Sherman Oaks via Van Nuys Bl
  • 234 Mission College-Sherman Oaks via Sepulveda Bl & Brand Bl
  • 236 Sylmar Station-Encino via Glenoaks Bl & Balboa Bl
  • 240 Northridge via Reseda Bl
  • 242 Porter Ranch-Woodland Hills via Tampa Av
  • 243 Porter Ranch – Woodland Hills via Winnetka Av
  • 244 Chatsworth Station-Woodland Hills via De Soto Av
  • 245 Chatsworth Station – Woodland Hills via Topanga Canyon Bl
  • 656 Van Nuys/Hollywood Owl
  • 704 Metro Rapid – Downtown Los Angeles – Santa Monica via Santa Monica Bl
  • 720 Metro Rapid – Santa Monica/Commerce via Wilshire Bl & Whittier Bl
  • 733 Metro Rapid – Downtown Los Angeles/Santa Monica via Venice Bl.
  • 761 Metro Rapid Pacoima/Westwood via Van Nuys Bl & Sepulveda Bl. (Note: buses will be using Sepulveda Boulevard between Ventura Boulevard and Getty Center Drive. Passengers should expect greatly extended travel times on this line between Sherman Oaks and Westwood due to anticipated traffic congestion). Continue reading →

The art of transit

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photo by Ken Quail, via Flickr

This photo actually dates to 2007, but it’s too good not to post. It was taken on a subway in Korea, where a few passengers had decided to work some exercise into their transit experience.

To submit a photo for the Art of Transit, post it to Metro’s Flickr group, email it to sourcemetro@gmail.com or Tweet it to @metrolosangeles with an #artoftransit hashtag. Many of the photos we’ve featured can be seen in these galleries on Flickr.