LOS ANGELES | Transportation News & Discussion

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Yup, Mayor Garcetti just put out a release

[Eightball]

While riding the Expo Line yesterday I snapped some shots of the Crenshaw/Expo subway station that's under construction:

Expo/Crenshaw subway station by thaeisahtbizall, on Flickr

Expo/Crenshaw subway station by thaeisahtbizall, on Flickr

[Perklol]

Originally Posted by edluva

very happy its skanska and not tutor perini

Why? Both like to rip-off here in New York City. Should be the same everywhere else in the US.

See 2nd Avenue Subway and #7 line extension. The latter is the worst offender (i.e 1 stop and three years behind schedule) Shanksa was mostly involved there.

[OneMetropolis]

how come the prple line dosent go to santa monica anymore

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by OneMetropolis

how come the prple line dosent go to santa monica anymore

It will, eventually. But right now the only section that is EIR completed and at least partially funded is from Western Ave to VA Hospital. (the Western-La Cienega segment is fully funded and U/C)

It's believed that a rumored "Measure R2" coming up on the ballot in 2016 will most likely contain funding to complete the final segment (Phase IV) to 4th St. in Santa Monica.

In the meantime, we'll have to make do with the under-construction Expo Line, expected to be ready for testing in about 6 months, with revenue service late next year.

[StethJeff]

2024 until there's an LAX people mover that integrates the airport to the Crenshaw line and the rest of the Metro system? You've got to be fucking kidding me. God this city is slow at everything.

[Eightball]

LA Curbed has an update, showing trains on the Gold Line extension for the first time:
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2014/1...s_tracks_1.php

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by StethJeff

2024 until there's an LAX people mover that integrates the airport to the Crenshaw line and the rest of the Metro system? You've got to be fucking kidding me. God this city is slow at everything.

Its just an issue of funding. For every "Measure R" we pass the faster we can build.

[Eightball]

LA test 60 ft electric buses

http://www.latimes.com/local/califor...227-story.html

[202_Cyclist]

Metro Regional Bike Share Expected To Open In Downtown L.A. In 2016

By Joe Linton
Streetsblog
Jan. 8, 2015

"Metro is moving forward with its regional bike share system, expected to debut in downtown Los Angeles in about a year. Metro released its bike share Request for Proposals (RFP) in December 2014, with bids due January 27. A bike share contract is expected to be awarded by June, with full implementation of a 1,000-bike system in downtown Los Angeles nine months later.

Metro’s RFP is for an initial two-year contract, with possible extensions up to seven years and expansions to nearly 4,000 bikes in expanded service areas.

Though the initial two years are funded, the overall funding picture is not entirely clear. Metro is soliciting competitive bids, so the agency cannot be too specific regarding system funding and cost. In July 2014, Metro’s board allocated $3.8 million for downtown L.A. bike share capital; those funds are from ExpressLanes tolling revenue. Metro officials also mention unspecified state and federal monies..."

http://la.streetsblog.org/2015/01/08...n-l-a-in-2016/

[bmfarley]

Originally Posted by OneMetropolis

how come the prple line dosent go to santa monica anymore

Measure R only defined the extension to Westwood. ... And likely because not enough forecasted revenue was available to go all the way to SM. instead, other projects were prioritized ahead of that extra distance.

[Eightball]

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

Metro Regional Bike Share Expected To Open In Downtown L.A. In 2016

By Joe Linton
Streetsblog
Jan. 8, 2015

"Metro is moving forward with its regional bike share system, expected to debut in downtown Los Angeles in about a year. Metro released its bike share Request for Proposals (RFP) in December 2014, with bids due January 27. A bike share contract is expected to be awarded by June, with full implementation of a 1,000-bike system in downtown Los Angeles nine months later.

Metro’s RFP is for an initial two-year contract, with possible extensions up to seven years and expansions to nearly 4,000 bikes in expanded service areas.

Though the initial two years are funded, the overall funding picture is not entirely clear. Metro is soliciting competitive bids, so the agency cannot be too specific regarding system funding and cost. In July 2014, Metro’s board allocated $3.8 million for downtown L.A. bike share capital; those funds are from ExpressLanes tolling revenue. Metro officials also mention unspecified state and federal monies..."

http://la.streetsblog.org/2015/01/08...n-l-a-in-2016/

Finally! Can't believe it hasn't happened yet

[blackcat23]

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.c...-to-begin.html

Construction is scheduled to begin on a new bus platform for the Silver Line at Union Station. This will replace the current stop on Alameda Street, which is inconvenient for transfers to other buses and trains at Union Station. Completion is expected in September 2016.

[Eightball]

Snapped some photos of station construction at Crenshaw/Expo

Subway Station Construction Crenshaw/Expo by thaeisahtbizall, on Flickr

Subway Station Construction Crenshaw/Expo by thaeisahtbizall, on Flickr

This was an open trench not too long ago. Very interesting to see them retrofit transit infrastructure into everything (while doing their best to keep it a functioning road!)

Subway Station Construction Crenshaw/Expo by thaeisahtbizall, on Flickr

[Quixote]

Kind of old news by now, but the FTA is recommending a $100 million New Starts grant be awarded to phase 2 of the Purple Line Extension. Even better news is that it could also be in line to receive matching funds in the form of a Full-Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA), which would pay for 50% of the project. So we could see construction begin well before 2019 (as currently scheduled) once the Measure R money becomes available and/or the upcoming ballot measure passes.

[202_Cyclist]

Originally Posted by Quixote

Kind of old news by now, but the FTA is recommending a $100 million New Starts grant be awarded to phase 2 of the Purple Line Extension. Even better news is that it could also be in line to receive matching funds in the form of a Full-Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA), which would pay for 50% of the project. So we could see construction begin well before 2019 (as currently scheduled) once the Measure R money becomes available and/or the upcoming ballot measure passes.

But don't you know the most patriotic and noble thing Americans can do is consume as much oil as possible. Watch the tea party idiot Republicans who control Congress screw this up.

[Bikemike]

Hello all,

After lurking for some time now I decided to finally register an account. I'm a bike advocate and really want to promote the growth of our nascent bike culture. As the saying goes, as California goes so goes the nation. Well, there a new bike law being proposed by CA senator Carol Liu, SB192, that threatens to mandate helmets and bright reflective vests for all bike riders regardless of age. Currently only riders under the age of 18 are required to use helmets, and no-one is required to wear vests at night. I'm worried firstly about this law's effect on the momentum of cycling's growth in CA, but secondly that it sets precedent for other states to take up similar bills.

As a member of the California Bike Coalition, I want to give everyone the chance to send Senator Liu a petition letting her know how wrongheaded this is. Mandatory helmet laws have been shown to substantially reduce bicycling where enforced. And bicycling is already among the safest means of transportation available, without helmets. Studies show bicycling safety increases as the numbers of cyclists increase. Places like the Netherlands or Denmark have enviable fatality rates, and even Portland and Davis have fatality rates far below the national average. This law threatens to reduce cycling substantially. Efforts should be spent on providing improved grade-separated bike infrastructure and improved signage instead of putting all the burden of responsibility on cyclists alone.

Here's a link if you're interested. Please spread the word through social media.

https://calbike.org/stopsb192/?page=...ion/sign&sid=3

P.S. I am not an employee of the bike coalition. Just a passionate cyclist who doesn't want to see California's leadership in bicycling turn to dust!

[Swede]

Holy F!
So he wants to reduce biking by like 90%? He wants more cars on the streets, more congestion?

[Ragnar]

Please explain why motorcyclists should be forced to wear helmets but bicyclists should not? Wearing a helmet is a smart thing to do. In fact almost all bicyclists I see wear helmets. I doubt this law will decimate the ranks of people on bicycles.

[Muji]

I can't definitively answer your question about helmets on bikes vs. on motorcycles, but they certainly put their users in very different situations, due to differences in vehicle size, speed, and expected position in the roadway. In the end, people on motorcycles simply face a much higher risk of head injury than those on bikes (see link at bottom).

The main issue is that cycling rates do go down dramatically with mandatory helmet laws (a 30-40% overall decline after Australia implemented one in the 90s). Putting aside the environmental argument, given the strong correlation between high cycling rates and lower collision rates, those who continue to bike will almost surely be placed at greater risk. Furthermore, I don't think we actually have the data to indicate that any substantial portion of injuries actually suffered by cyclists would be prevented by wearing helmets, at least enough to offset those that might arise because of lower cycling rates that a mandatory helmet law would lead to.

Personally, I think the arguments are summed up pretty well in this article:
http://www.howiechong.com/journal/20...s#.VO1e0MaYUZU