Gold Line through-service restored – Trains running at 20-minute intervals

Gold Line service to all stations has been restored at 1 p.m. Repairs to tracks blocked by a fallen tree have enabled through-service on a single track. Repairs to overhead catenary wires continue until further notice. Until normal service is resumed, which is likely by tomorrow, northbound and southbound trains will depart from all Gold Line stations at 20-minute intervals. Service will include three-car trains to accommodate passengers. Bus service to transport passengers between the Southwest Museum station and Mission station has been cancelled.

Service was disrupted at approx. 4 a.m. this morning when a tree fell on the tracks just north of the Highland Park station near the Arroyo Seco Bridge. Work crews have removed the tree and are now repairing damage to the overhead catenary wires. Tracks were not damaged in the incident.

Gold Line repairs underway -Limited service running between Mission and Sierra Madre stations

Two trains are operating between the Sierra Madre station in eastern Pasadena and the Mission station in South Pasadena. Five trains are operating north and south between Southwest Museum and Atlantic stations.  Service out of Sierra Madre will operate every 20 minutes. Service out of the Atlantic will operate every 10 minutes.

Bus service continues to transport passengers between Mission Station and Southwest Museum Station.

At approximately 4 a.m., a tree fell on the overhead power lines of the Gold Line at the Arroyo Verde road crossing just north of the Highland Park Station, blocking both tracks and damaging overhead catenary wires.  Repair crews are on the scene and hope to clear the southbound track to enable the single tracking of trains around the location as soon as possible.

Welcome to Metro Minutes

New to The Source is a feature called Metro Minutes, an audio recording that you can click on and hear Metro’s Chief Executive Officer Art Leahy talk about transportation related news and information.

In this first edition of  Metro Minutes, Art Leahy reflects on the past year at the agency and what to look forward to in 2010.

Check it out.

Read a transcript of the interview after the jump.

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Eastside students model a future of hope along the Gold Line

Metro Planner James Rojas instructs students from Mujeres y Hombres Nobles Continuation High School.

With the new Metro Gold Line extension to East Los Angeles as an inspirational backdrop, low-income students living near the alignment have been taught by a Metro planner how to put the trains to work in creating a community vision that will transcend poverty and gang violence.

Twenty-four students from “Mujeres y Hombres Nobles Continuation High School” in East Los Angeles recently explored urban planning and transportation options as part of The HeArt Project, a 10-week course taught by Metro planner James Rojas after the grand opening of the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension.

Some of the students, many from low-income families who are transit dependent, witnessed the construction of the light rail line to East Los Angeles as part of their daily living experience.
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New parking garage for Eastside Gold Line aims for spring opening

A multi-level parking structure that will hold 280 cars is nearing completion next to the Atlantic station.

Work crews laid the last concrete deck on a 3 ½ level parking structure at the Atlantic station at the end of the Eastside Gold Line last week. A multi-level parking structure that will hold 280 cars is nearing completion and is targeting a late March opening.

Parking will be free for transit patrons, with no need to stop and purchase tickets or bother with electronic gates. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies will patrol the property for security purposes. There are 16 individual bike lockers and racks that can hold eight other bikes.

Only one other new station on the Gold Line Eastside Extension has parking — the Indiana stop, which has 43 free spaces. There has been very limited parking in a store lot for Gold Line customers at the Atlantic station during construction of the new garage.
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Gold Line adjacent bike shop throws a sale in celebration of the Eastside Extension

Gold Line inspired flyer for Flying Pigeon LA sale.

Flying Pigeon LA is a local Highland Park bike shop (located two-blocks from the Heritage Square Gold Line station) run by two brothers who also happen to be car-free bicycle activists and Metro riders.

In honor the new Gold Line Eastside extension the brothers have decided to throw a sale to get rid of 2009 inventory and persuade new Gold Line riders to come check out their store. What’s unique about this sale is that to get the discounts (up to 20% off in some cases) customers have to show proof that they Go Metro by providing a Metro ticket, TAP card or monthly pass.

I love this idea – it seems like the perfect synergy of local business and activism that I wish other L.A. businesses would consider. It seems like a simple way to encourage alternative transportation use while also drumming up some sales.

If I wasn’t leaving town this weekend, I’d probably ride the Gold Line over to Flying Pigeon for my Black Friday shopping, but the good news is that the sale goes through the end of December – or until supplies run out.

Twitter users weigh in on the Gold Line Eastside Extension

Six years ago when the Gold Line to Pasadena opened there was no Twitter.

Today on the first day of revenue service for the new Gold Line Eastside Extension, L.A.’s first light rail to open since then, Twitter has become a global phenomenon.

Angelenos are taking advantage of the technology to share their feelings about the extension in 140 character blips. I counted over 300 tweets referencing the Gold Line during yesterday’s grand opening and the tweets continue today as revenue service gets underway.

Early Sunday morning, Twitter users were sharing their anticipation for the day:

spencergrammer This feeling of ennui is now replaced by the great celebration of the opening of the gold metro line downtown.

michelledeuce Taking the gold line into little tokyo for my sis’s bday. Take the gold line today too! It’s freeeeeeee

mchangesq Gold line extension opens today! Now I can do a culinary tour of Olvera St., Chinatown, and Little Tokyo w/o ever hopping into a car.

ChasingAmyLA Headiing out for our inaugural ride on the Gold Line! Here we come eses!

cn8of10 About to get on the new East Los Angeles Metro Gold Line extension. My old neighborhood is growing up.

rrrobertooo is gonna take the new East L.A. Gold Line train to King Taco today =oP

rharristweet Off to the celebration of the East LA Extension of the Gold Line light rail. Expecting good food, music and multiethnic crowds.

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Video: Sights (but no sounds) of the Gold Line Eastside Extension opening

Metro Communications staff put together this nicely shot but strangely silent video compilation of festivities from todays Gold Line Eastside Extension opening. A throw back to the silent movie era or a chance to play your own music while you watch? I’ll let you decide.

Various photos from Gold Line Eastside Extension opening day festivities

Steve and I rode the line, battled the crowds, and joined in the festivities of the Eastside Extension’s opening day. When we started our day at about 9:00 a.m., crowds were relatively light and the lines were short, but around 11:00 a.m. there was a notable increase in the crowds. By the early afternoon, it was clear that many in L.A. had decided to devote their Sunday to checking out their newest transit investment. Lines snaked around station entrances like a ride at Disneyland, and the festive atmosphere around the stations added to the theme park vibe.

Here’s a collection of snapshots that hopefully capture the mood of this great L.A. day.

A Gold Line coming from East L.A. arrives at the Little Tokyo/Arts District station.

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