Transportation headlines, Thursday, May 16

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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.

Alhambra declares 710 day, reaffirming support for freeway extension (L.A. Times) 

Mark your calendars: the big day will be July 10 to show support for a tunnel that would connect the 710 from its terminus at Valley Boulevard to the 210 freeway in Pasadena. The current connection involves using city streets such as Fremont, Pasadena Avenue and Orange Grove that are also heavily residential. Metro is currently studying a project to help improve traffic in the area; the alternatives include a freeway tunnel, bus rapid transit, light rail, traffic signal and intersection improvements and the obligatory no-build option.

Mayoral candidate scorecard (Crenshaw Subway Coalition) 

The group advocating for a Leimert Park station and the undergrounding of the light rail line in Park Mesa Heights between 48th and 59th issues its grades on where L.A. mayoral candidates Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel stand on the two issues. Here is the news release and here are letters from the candidates.

It is worth noting (as the news release does) that it’s still possible that the Metro Board of Directors will select a firm to build the project before the next mayor takes office on July 1; otherwise the decision will be made when the next mayor will be on the Metro Board along with three appointees. Metro is seeking a firm that can build the Leimert Park station within the project’s existing $1.76-billion budget. The Leimert Park station is included in the project’s final environmental study that has been approved by the federal government; the 48th to 59th tunnel is not in the study, meaning the study or a part of it would have to be re-done.

Furthermore, while the candidates have similar views — there is some subtle differences in the language they employ — neither says where the hundreds of millions of dollars would come from to reopen the project’s environmental studies and then build the light rail line underground in Park Mesa Heights.

Portuguese car commercial goes Metro to slam transit riders (LA Streetsblog) 

Hmmm. How shall I spin this? I know–I’ll change the topic and use the video to remind everyone that eating ginormous hamburgers is prohibited on Metro trains and buses! Thank you for your cooperation and helping to keep our local transit system clean and tidy!

Want a subway extension? Here’s what you can look forward to! (LAObserved) 

The recent news that bids came in high to build stations for San Francisco’s Central Subway project lights the fuse at LAObserved with Mark Lacter predicting it’s inevitable to happen here with the Purple Line Extension. Lacter cites a 2003 study that found that rail projects around the world often go over budget.

Limited service on Blue Line from Willowbrook to Long Beach on Friday, May 17

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Willowbrook-LBTM (30 Mins)

Due to urgent track switch maintenance that must be completed on the Metro Blue Line, there will be limited train service between Willowbrook Station and Long Beach Transit Mall this Friday, May 17.

Starting at 9 p.m. until close of service, trains will only run every 30 minutes between Willowbrook Station and Long Beach Transit Mall. Announcements will be made at Blue Line stations, you can also follow real time alerts on Twitter or check Metro’s Service Advisories page. Please plan ahead and expect extended wait times if you need to travel that segment Friday night.

Regular Friday evening service will run between 7th/Metro and Willowbrook.

Go Metro to Taste of Hawthorne

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The Taste of Hawthorne food and music festival is happening this Sunday, May 19. Don’t miss the headlining performance of Grammy Award winning band Ozomalti at the Music FEEDS Stage. The Taste will be at the Hawthorne Airport from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is open to the public.

Go Metro to get a free souvenir and the opportunity to win a two-night stay in Palm Springs! Simply present your valid TAP card at the main entrance information tent. Souvenirs are available while supplies last, so claim yours early.

The Taste can be reached from the Green Line Crenshaw Station or by Metro Bus 210 to Crenshaw/Northrop. Check Trip Planner for more routes and connections.

LASD and Metro announce arrest of suspect who allegedly assaulted bus operator

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The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Metro today announced the arrest of a Reseda man wanted in connection with the assault on a transit bus operator last Friday, May 10, 2013. The suspect, Anthony Gamez, 24, was taken into custody at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, 2013 on an Orange Line bus after the on-duty bus operator recognized Gamez from photographs displayed on a “wanted” poster distributed earlier in the day.

One of the reasons the operator identified the suspect was because he was apparently wearing the same clothing depicted in surveillance photos from Friday’s incident. The driver called the dispatch center and deputies from the Transit Services Bureau made the arrest at Canoga Avenue and Oxnard Street in Van Nuys. Sheriff’s detectives will be seeking Felony Battery charges.

The assault occurred Friday about 7:35 p.m. as the operator of the bus stopped at the corner of Ventura Boulevard and Laurel Canyon Boulevard. The patron engaged in a fare dispute with the operator and attacked the driver, knocking him unconscious. The injured operator was transported to a hospital and subsequently released.

Gamez is also being investigated in connection with another assault on a bus operator that occurred Monday, May 13, 2013 at 1:40 p.m. at Fallbrook Avenue and Roscoe Boulevard in West Hills under similar circumstances as Friday’s incident.

Motorist alert!: upcoming 10-hour northbound 405 closures this weekend

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Here's the news release from Metro:

Full 10-Hour Northbound I-405 Freeway Closures at Santa Monica Boulevard in West L.A. Planned May 17, 18

The I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project contractor is scheduled to conduct two additional full 10-hour northbound I-405 freeway closures from the Santa Monica Boulevard off-ramp to the Santa Monica Boulevard on-ramp in West Los Angeles on the nights of Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, 2013 from 11 p.m. to 9 a.m.

Because these closures are twice as long as the normal five-hour night-time freeway closures, motorists are advised to plan ahead, avoid the area or take alternate routes to avoid traffic congestion.

The contractor will continue to repair the approach slab at the connection between the I-405 freeway and the Santa Monica off-ramp. Similar work was completed last weekend on May 10.

• Northbound Santa Monica Boulevard off and on-ramps will remain open.

• Detour: Exit at the Santa Monica Boulevard off-ramp, go straight through traffic light and enter the Santa Monica Boulevard on-ramp.

• Traffic control officers will be deployed.

• CHP will be monitoring the area surrounding the closure.

The following ramps will be closed during the 10-hour closures:

• Northbound Olympic Boulevard on-ramp

• Santa Monica Boulevard from Sawtelle Boulevard to Sepulveda Boulevard

• I-10 west connector to northbound I-405

• I-10 east connector to northbound I-405

What to expect:

• Construction schedule is subject to change based on daily progress and field conditions.

• Notification of ramp closures will be provided on a daily basis through the PM Closure e-mail notices. Subscribe to daily e-mail alerts at www.metro.net/405.​

• For a listing of daily closures and latest updates visit our website at http://www.metro.net/405 or follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/I_405 and Facebook at www.facebook.com/405project

 

Metro staff issues long-range plan funding forecast

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LRTP forecast report

One of the challenges of having an ambitious agenda when it comes to building transportation projects is staying on top of funding and evoling project cost information. In a perfect world, things such as revenue streams and project budgets never budge; in the real world they change frequently and adjustments have to be made to accomplish the Long Range Transportation Plan mobility improvements.

Thus, the above report from Metro staff that forecasts the costs of carrying out the agency's long-range plan and changes that may need to be made to pay for them. The changes will be reviewed and considered by the Metro Board of Directors at this month's round of meetings, beginning later this afternoon with the Finance Committee.

Continue reading →

Long term closure of Alondra Boulevard Bridge slated to start in June

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The Alondra Boulevard Bridge and a segment of Alondra Boulevard will be closed starting June 10 for construction work. Here’s the press release from Caltrans:

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will fully close the Alondra Boulevard Bridge and a segment of Alondra Boulevard in both directions between Freeway Drive and Marquardt Avenue beginning Sunday, June 9 at 9 p.m. 

Both the bridge and this portion of Alondra Boulevard will remain fully closed until mid-to-late 2014. The work involves bridge demolition and reconstruction, retaining wall construction and roadway improvements on Alondra Boulevard.

The Alondra Bridge demolition will take place during nighttime work in six weekends — with three weekends of demolition work scheduled per each half of the bridge. The work will occur overnight on Friday and Saturday nights.

  • The demolition work is scheduled to begin on Friday night June 14 to Saturday morning June 15; and Saturday night June 15 to Sunday morning June 16.

Up to five more weekends (weather permitting) of demolition work are scheduled for:

  • Friday night 6/21 to Saturday morning 6/22; and Saturday night 6/22 to Sunday morning 6/23; 
  • Friday night 6/28 to Saturday morning 6/29; and Saturday night 6/29 to Sunday morning 6/30;
  • (Then, switching demolition work to the opposite side of the bridge and freeway):
  • Friday night 7/5 to Saturday morning 7/6;     and Saturday night 7/6 to Sunday morning 7/7;
  • Friday night 7/12 to Saturday morning 7/13;  and Saturday night 7/13 to Sunday morning 7/14;
  • Friday night 7/19 to Saturday morning 7/20;  and Saturday night 7/20 to Sunday morning 7/21.

Overnight, Directional Full Closures on the Santa Ana Freeway (Interstate 5) between Valley View Avenue and Carmenita Road will occur during the bridge demolition weekends.  One direction of I-5 will fully close each night and the other direction – with a reduced number of lanes –  will remain open to traffic during the bridge demolition. The time schedule for freeway connector and ramp closures during the demolition work will be announced in early June.

Long-Term On-Ramp Closure:  the northbound I-5 on-ramp at Alondra Blvd. will fully close beginning 12:01 a.m. on June 10.

Local commuters are encouraged to use the marked detours on Valley View Avenue, Artesia Boulevard, and Carmenita Road. Please consider the detour in your commute and allow extra time to arrive at your destination.

The motoring public, residents and businesses are encouraged to sign-up for regular notification on freeway lane and ramp closures and local street closures by calling the toll-free I-5 South Corridor Improvement Projects Hotline (855) 454-6335 or visiting www.I-5info.com

The work is part of the $110 million Santa Ana Freeway (I-5) HOV Widening and Alondra Boulevard Bridge Project to construct one carpool and one general purpose lane in each direction, from North Fork Coyote Creek Bridge to Marquardt Avenue, reconstruct overcrossings at Alondra Boulevard and North Fork Coyote Creek, and realign and upgrade adjacent frontage roads. The 57-year-old Alondra Blvd. Bridge will be widened from a four-lane to a six-lane bridge, with three lanes in each direction, and will also be longer to accommodate a wider I-5 freeway. The contractor is C.C. Myers, Inc. of Anaheim, Ca.