Tag Archives: Hollywood

Transportation headlines, Friday, Feb. 22

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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.

ART OF TRANSIT: A Gold Line train bound for East Los Angeles crosses the 1st Street Bridge over the Los Angeles River on Wednesday afternoon. Click above to see larger. Photo by Steve Hymon/Metro.

ART OF TRANSIT: A Gold Line train bound for East Los Angeles crosses the 1st Street Bridge over the Los Angeles River on Wednesday afternoon. Click above to see larger. Photo by Steve Hymon/Metro.

Where the Los Angeles mayoral candidates stand: transportation (Los Angeles Times) 

Best breakdown I’ve seen yet on where the major candidates stand on a variety of issues, including project acceleration, lowering the voter threshold for transportation tax increases,  rail versus buses, the route for the Westside Subway Extension in Century City (i.e. should it tunnel under part of the Beverly Hills High School campus), a 710 tunnel, adding more toll lanes in Los Angeles County and moving the north runway at LAX, among other questions. While the candidates often agree, there are certainly differences. Put down your jelly donuts and read this, people and/or voters!!

Mapping the end of the road on the 405 (ZevWeb) 

Good piece on Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky’s website about the Sepulveda Pass project on the 405. The gist of it: many elements of the project will be finished this year but one challenging section around Montana Avenue and Church Lane will see work carry over into 2014. In that area, utility relocations have been particularly problematic.

Motor vehicle fatality estimates: 2012 sees five percent increase (National Safety Council) 

These are early estimates — usually the federal government takes about a year to compile all the information and come up with a firmer number. California fared worse than the nation with the state seeing an estimated seven percent increase in deaths from 2011 to 2012, with 2,994 fatalities. 

Five ways to make public transit awesome (Mother Nature Network) 

Writer Chris Turner says it’s no surprise transit often fails to capture the public’s imagination — too often bus stops and train stations are designed as little more than an afterthought. His suggestions include making the bus stop a sanctuary, a cafe and/or a community gathering place. Check out a very cool photo with the post of a transit line and green space in Germany.

The mayoral candidate video series: Eric Garcetti (L.A. Streetsblog) 

The fourth part of Streetsblog’s interviews with the five leading mayoral candidates is with Councilman Eric Garcetti, who discusses the Metro Board and busways.

 

First phase of Metro Red Line celebrates 20-year anniversary

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“This day is here…”

On January 29, 1993, former Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley stood among a swarm of public officials and transit agency staffers on the cramped Pershing Square subway platform. Standing shoulders above everyone else, including then-California Gov. Pete Wilson, Bradley proudly inaugurated the opening of the first modern subway in Los Angeles.

“Twenty years is a long time. That’s how long we have been pushing on this dream, this vision of what we should do in Los Angeles County,” Bradley said, referring to the subway’s quixotic path to reality in ‘93. “I made a promise when I ran for mayor in 1973 that in 18 months, we’d deliver by breaking ground for rapid transit. Well, I missed by only a few months…”

Today, Metro marks the 20th anniversary of the Metro Red Line’s first phase from Union Station to MacArthur Park, a nearly 4.5-mile construction milestone that began a brand new chapter in regional rail construction and placing L.A. among other major cities across the globe with high-speed, high-capacity subways.

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Ride along with Metro Motion: Winter edition takes in Hollywood, ExpressLanes, and future L.A.

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 In this latest edition of Metro Motion, transit expansion is transforming the car capital of the world.

Ride along on the brand new Metro ExpressLanes on the 110 Harbor Freeway and check out the digs at the new El Monte Station. Next, take the Metro Red Line to old Hollywood for blast from Tinsel Town’s past. Then “Go Metro” for a glimpse of the walkable, bikeable and sustainable communities of future L.A.

Relax. There’s lessons to be learned from the Great California Shakeout, including why Metro Rail is one of the safest places to be during an earthquake. It’s all there in the winter edition of Metro Motion.

Metro Motion is produced in partnership with CityTV of Santa Monica. The 30-minute news program runs quarterly on cable stations throughout Los Angeles County. Check local listings for dates and times.

Hollywood weighs in on Carmageddon II

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Hey Readers!

The I-405 is officially liberated and Carmageddon turned out to be CarmaHeaven once again. The speculation and wonderment kept the Twittersphere abuzz all weekend – everyone and their grandmothers tweeted about the phenomenon. We thought it would be fun to round-up the Twitter chatter from famous people (do they drive?). As last year, there seems to be two camps: those enjoying the unique phenomenon and those taking it with a grain of salt. The latter brought out the funnies.

Where do you stand? What did you do this weekend? Let us know — if you’re on Twitter, use the hashtag #CarmageddonII.

Loved it!

These famous folks soaked up the CarmaHeaven weekend.

This one scares me a little. GWAR + Carmageddon, hmm?

 

Doubters, and Meh?

Homer Simpson said Bart and Lisa are his Carmageddon.

Olivia Munn was not impressed. Believe you, me Olivia, it was real.

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Go Metro Weekends, Carmageddon II style

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Here we go, folks. Carmageddon II is hours away, and if you’re adamant about not staying home all weekend, sipping cold drinks by the pool, go Metro to check out these fine Destination Discounts locations that are offering extra special deals just for this weekend.

Buca di Beppo at Universal City Walk is offering 20% off meals if you show the Metro-exclusive coupon. Enjoy great Italian food and do some shopping while you’re in the area. (Red Line or Metro Rapid 750 to Universal City Station, transfer to free shuttle)

In Hollywood, IRIS from Cirque du Soleil is offering certain tickets for just $40.50 if you reference code METROB at the box office. After the show, pop by Madame Tussauds and get 40.5% off admission if you mention “Carmageddon” at the box office. Schmooze with the crème de la crème of wax celebrities. (Red Line to Hollywood/Highland Station, Metro Bus 217 to Hollywood/Highland)

The downtown LA location of Qdoba Mexican Grill will give you 15% off your bill this weekend if you show your TAP card. Have a burrito or two…or three! (Red, Purple, Blue or Expo Line to 7th/Metro)

Present your TAP card at the box office and save 50% off adult admission at the Natural History Museum. Visit the recently opened Spider Pavilion if you feel like getting touchy feely with some creepy crawlies. Adult tickets are $3 and the discount does not apply at the Pavilion. (Expo Line to Expo Park/USC, Metro Bus 81 to Figueroa/State)

If none of the Carmageddon discounts strike your fancy, there are plenty of other ongoing discounts you can take advantage of by going Metro, like the LA Zoo (Metro Bus 96 to Zoo/Western Heritage).

Social media storms Hollywood

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These days practically everyone uses social media, but are you using it to its full potential? Find out the latest trends and how to make the most of social media at Social Media Week Los Angeles (SMWLA), taking place September 24 – 28 in Hollywood.

Check out the schedule of events to see which panels might tickle your fancy. Nearly all the events are free to attend, but if you want unlimited access to all events – including the opening reception and invite-only closing party – get the Premium Pass. Metro riders get a 15% discount when buying the pass.

For transit enthusiasts, Monday, September 24 might be the best day to attend. Metro’s own Lan-Chi Lam will be speaking at A City of Angels panel at 10:30 a.m. on how Metro has adopted social media. Former Source blogger and future urban planning mogul Carter Rubin will be at Nobody Walks in L.A. at 2:30 p.m. to discuss how social media helps connect people to local communities and city services (like public transportation).

SMWLA takes place in Hollywood at both the Egyptian Theatre, located at 6712 Hollywood Blvd., and io/LA, located at 7083 Hollywood Blvd. The easiest way to get to both places is by taking the Red Line to Hollywood/Highland Station. Metro Bus 217 is another way to go; stop at Hollywood/La Brea for io/LA or Hollywood/Las Palmas for the Egyptian. Use Trip Planner to find the best route.

 

The art of transit

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photo by smrtmnky, via Twitter

The actor Mark Wahlberg waves at passengers on the Metro 212 bus as it rolls past the premiere of “Ted” in Hollywood on Thursday.

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.

Go Metro to the Hollywood Fringe Festival

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Photo courtesy of Hollywood Fringe Festival

Celebrate theatre, dance, art, comedy, film, cabaret and much more at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, which continues until June 24.

With more than 200 different shows scheduled at the Fringe Central Mainstage at Open Fist Theatre and dozens of other venues in Hollywood, you’ll find yourself entertained for days. The Fringe provides a framework for producers to present an incredible variety of work in an accessible and festive environment and is dedicated to creating a forum for local, national and international artists.

Go Metro and receive $2 off a Fringe Button when purchasing tickets at the Open Fist Theatre box office. A Fringe Button gets you $1 off every Fringe show and additional discounts around Hollywood.

The Hollywood Fringe Fest is easily reached from both the Red Line’s Hollywood/Vine Station or Hollywood/Highland Station. For the best bus route or connections, check the Trip Planner.

Academy Awards bus detours begin

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Here’s the news release from Metro:

Academy Awards countdown: Metro Bus service along Hollywood Blvd. on detour schedule; Metro Rail trains to bypass Metro Red Line station at Hollywood/Highland on Sunday, Feb. 26

Five Metro Bus Lines (212/312, 217, 222 and 780) are on detour schedules due to street closures that started Sunday, Feb. 19, in the Hollywood area due to preparations for the Academy Awards show that will be held in the Kodak Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland complex on Sunday, Feb. 26.

Metro Red Line trains will operate on a regular schedule with no delays in service but will pass through the Hollywood/Highland station without stopping on Sunday, Feb. 26. With the start of regular service on Monday, Feb. 27, all Metro Red Line trains will resume stops at the Hollywood/Highland Station.

The Hollywood/Highland station will close after the last train departs in the early morning hours of Sunday, Feb. 26 and reopen for regular service on Monday, Feb. 27. During that time, there will be no public access to the Hollywood/Highland Metro Red Line station. Metro Red Line patrons are advised to to use the Hollywood/Vine station as an alternate and transfer to nearby bus service or walk.

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Transportation headlines, Tuesday, Feb. 14

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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.

Photo Credit: buschick.com

The President’s budget: full of ambition, short on Congressional support (The Transport Politic)

In The Transport Politic, Yonah Freemark takes a close look at the President’s budget and what it means for public transit. The proposed budget, which probably faces an uphill battle in Congress, contains good news for California rail projects, including two here in Los Angeles. As Freemark explains, the “major news is that the FTA will recommend pledging its support with Full Funding Grant Agreements (FFGA) soon to four new major rail projects — the Charlotte Northeast Corridor light rail, the Los Angeles Regional Connector light rail subway, the Los Angeles Westside Subway, and the Columbia River Crossing Project light rail line in Portland…” Bus rapid transit (BRT) projects across the country also get a boost in the President’s proposed budget.

What makes a space lovable? (The Atlantic Cities)

On Valentine’s Day it seems appropriate to ask, what makes a space lovable? While it may not be easy to define beauty or lovability in urban public space, this article argues that “there are in fact places that are pretty darn close to being universally loved. And they are the ones most likely to be defended and cared for over time…” Although the article doesn’t specifically mention it, think about some local places that always draw the crowds: The Griffith Park Observatory and the Palisades along Santa Monica’s Ocean Avenue, to name two.

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