Here’s the news release:
Starting Monday, April 25, 2011, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will begin conducting geotechnical tests at multiple locations along the planned alignment of the downtown Regional Connector project as part of the planning and engineering for the project.
The initial geotechnical work in downtown Los Angeles will include soil, noise, and vibration tests to be completed over a two-week period. The data collected will provide information on subsurface conditions to evaluate optimum excavation and construction methodologies.
Included in the geotechnical borings will be a variety of tests that establish soil conditions. Part of the testing will include Sonic Core Drilling that measures noise and vibration in relation to geotechnical conditions and existing infrasture.
Most of the testing will occur during the day with a limited amount of nighttime testing. Traffic controls will be implemented to minimize impact to the community.
The planned locations of geotechnical activities are as follows:
Date / Location
* April 25, 2011: Alameda at 1st and Temple Streets
* April 26, 2011: Flower at 3rd, 5th, and 6th Streets
* April 27, 2011: General Kosciuszko Way between Hope and Flower Streets; Olive and 2nd Streets
* April 28, 2011: 2nd at Hill and Spring Streets
* April 29, 2011: 2nd at Main and Los Angeles Streets
* May 2, 2011: 2nd at Hill and San Pedro Streets and Central Avenue
* May 3, 2011: 2nd and Spring Streets
* May 4, 2011: 3rd and Flower Streets; 2nd at Hill Street
* May 5, 2011: General Kosciuszko Way between Hope and Flower Streets; 2nd and Hill Streets
* May 6, 2011: Flower at 5th and 6th Street; 2nd at Hill Street
The Metro Regional Connector project will provide a 1.9-mile fully-underground connection for the Metro Gold, Blue and Exposition Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines. The project is completing the Final EIS/EIR, and initiated Preliminary Engineering in January 2011. The Final EIS/EIR is expected to be adopted by the end of 2011, with the possible initiation of construction in 2014. The project will provide three new stations, serving approximately 90,000 transit passengers daily.
For more information about the Regional Connector the public can leave a message at 213-922-7277 or visit www.metro.net/regionalconnector. For day-to-day testing location updates, please follow us at twitter.com/metroconnector. For emergencies or issues needing immediate attention, please call 213-922-7259.
Categories: Projects
@Karl:
What you should be more upset about is how we have been developing two separate light rail systems: one that connects to the west side of Downtown (Blue and Expo) and one that connects to the east side of Downtown (Pasadena Gold and East LA Gold). You should be upset that we have not acted until now to unify our light rail network.
This project will greatly boost ridership on all of our rail lines by providing direct access for light rail riders to most of Downtown. Further, ridership will be enhanced because crosstown trips through Downtown will be greatly eased. The whole county stands to gain.
Also note that while the Regional Connector will add route miles and will accordingly add revenue service hours, our light rail system’s overall operating costs will GO DOWN. Running trains through Downtown is that much more efficient than turning trains back as we do now.
I’m as big a fan of rail as anyone, but seriously…how many millions to basically duplicate the red line? So East side passengers could get off 1 station earlier (Little Tokyo vs. Union Sta.) to get to 7th St.? How this got such high priority over other “tier 2” ideas shows why people continue to be suspicious over Metro’s motives.
The regional connector is important it will provide a seamless link for people traveling from East- L.A. and Pasadena to Long Beach and Culver City/ Santa Monica. This is one of the vital projects that need to occur.
Whoops I meant two transfers but three lines.
On a side note, I am wondering if metro has any plans to directly connect the San Fernando valley with Pasadena and the rest of the San Gabriel valley which would be linking the SFV with very important job and activity centers. Currently one must make three transfers to go downtown pasadena right now from the central SFV via orange line bus to red line to gold line. And that’s also quite a southern detour if you ask me. I can’t imagine there is not enough demand to provide said transit. It could be in the form of a westbound gold line spur (more like splitting the line before memorial park station.) that goes into the valley from Pasadena which would also hit important areas like Glendale and could link up with the red line and orange line bus. And running the line partially along the 210 through to the 134 would make sense as long as it hit destination points along the way by veering off the freeway at those points. I really think metro ought to study this.
Hi Connor:
There is a project between Burbank and the Gold Line Del Mar station via the 134 that is listed in the “tier 2” part of Metro’s long-range plan — i.e. “candidates for further project definition.” Translated into English, that means that it’s on a list of projects that Metro may one day refine through the planning process. That also means that there is no funding for such a project and there are many projects ahead of it in line in both the “funded” category and the “tier one” category of projects considered to be a higher priority.
I do agree with you that it is a missing link in the system, although certainly not the only one.
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
Dear Mr. McCready,
First off, being negative is not a good way to influence. Also, the voters approved of a tax raise for these projects and these are all projects that make sense (the connector-no transfers now for certain rides is great).
Like some others have written in response, the MTA has a nice mix of projects that will benefit the entire region. Can more be done yes, but the City, County, and State, (heck Country) is on the verge of very tough economic times. Our State needs to do smart projects that will encourage development and growth for public and private sector (all in the same time and to tell an entire region that over the last 50 or so years have been fed a solution of the car).
More rail is the best way to get people out of their cars. Then develop smart feeder bus service. Also, some additional projects like the Orange Line could make sense as they are cheaper then rail.
This might seem like a minor addition, yet add WIFI/3/4 G service to the subways. It could be used as a lose leader in getting more riders on “board” with mass transit.
This is very important regionally not just for downtown. It allows for a maximum of one transfer from points east of downtown to points west via rail. So it is more than about downtown. This is the beginning of an actual network which we have needed for far too long. Rails always serve as backbone lines in all cities that have them. Buses feed them. Or they go in areas in between main rail lines. This is classic transit planning for a large city so taking backbone rail lines seriously is something we very much need now. MTA should not be cutting buses, but if they overlap with the rails then its a redundant use of resources in which said bus could be put elsewhere. Should MTA be cutting buses in areas not served by rail? Absolutely not!!! But lets not jump the gun and downplay the importance of rapid high capacity core lines which every major city with good transit has.
“Or those who live in L.A. God forbid the MTA should do something to benefit the rest of the county it claims to be an agency for!”
The San Gabriel Valley got their Foothill Extension.
The San Fernando Valley is getting a busway to Chatsworth. LA County is getting better Metrolink service in general (they are even exploring routes that BYPASS LA Union Station so riders have a faster commute to other work centers).
Let’s see, Inglewood gets Crenshaw. There’s a Green Line Extension for the South Bay. There’s a project on the Pacific Electric right of way which would benefit Paramount as well as Bellflower. A Gold Line Extension for Whittier.
It’s not all City of LA. Also, remember that the Downtown Connector would help those simply passing through Downtown on their way to Pasadena or Compton or whatever.
Imagine Compton and Pasadena connected with a one seat ride. It’s going to open up a slew of opportunities.
And this is costing how much? And how many buses is the MTA not providing as a result?? Of course this planned “light-rail” line will only benefit those going into L.A. Or those who live in L.A. God forbid the MTA should do something to benefit the rest of the county it claims to be an agency for!