Contributed by
aaron on September 12th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Reports are coming in about a horrible Metrolink crash in the SFV. As of 9:10pm, reports are that the outbound 111, departing Union Station for Moorpark at 3:35pm, had a head-on collision with a freight train in Chatsworth. Injured passengers are being taken as far as the UCLA hospital in Westwood. Mayor Villaraigosa is reporting “at least 10 fatalities” but all authorities are anticipating that number to rise.
It’s too early to figure out what happened, but I was honestly shocked to see that the tracks are single-tracked through that section - there was a local community member being interviewed on saying that Metrolink wanted to double-track through the area, but the neighborhood opposed it. I truly hope to G-d that I misheard that.
I was having coffee in Silverlake after it happened and saw numerous fire trucks and ambulances heading west down Sunset; presumably, they were heading to Chatsworth.
This incident is being reported internationally: LA Times, New York Times, Boston Globe, BBC, ha’Aretz, Xinhua.
I’ll try to update this as more knowledge becomes available. Right now the news is showing the search dogs coming onto the scene and is otherwise recycling the already-known information.
[Update 9:27pm] KABC is reporting that residents did, indeed, oppose the double-tracking of this area of the tracks because “more train tracks mean more collisions.” The illogic of that statement is just astounding, and I find myself hoping that they never get a good night’s sleep again. If KABC’s reporting is accurate (they’re speaking somewhat imprecisely), NIMBYs have gone from simply opposing rail lines to killing people.
[Update 9:40pm] Metrolink is providing information for people who may be looking for those who may have been involved in the incident:
Family Assistance Center for families of passengers at Chatsworth High School 8538 De Soto Avenue. The hotline number at the Chatsworth High School Family Assistance Center is (818) 678-3422.
Family members of passengers on board train 111, please call (800) 371-LINK for information.
Contributed by
aaron on September 3rd, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Tonight at the lovely Santa Monica Library, Metro formally revealed the plan for the Subway to the Sea.
Of the alternatives examined in the previous round of scoping, Alternatives 1 and 11 survived. The BRT option was killed for lack of capacity, all non-subway options were killed for lack of capacity, cost, or lack of local support, and the diversion up to the Grove was killed because, in their analysis, the increase in travel time would create a decrease in ridership. I speak for myself alone when I say that I tend to agree, based on what they showed us. They’re correct in saying that a long train can’t turn on a dime, and the difficulties inherent in trying to make the sharp turns onto Fairfax, Beverly, and then back onto La Cienega, add time and cost an otherwise easy route. Follow below the flip for a lengthy report.
Note that they didn’t yet have handouts for the project, so I may be in error here, and will update tomorrow if so. Continue Reading…
Contributed by
aaron on August 27th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
(Expo Stations: Courtesy Build Expo)
With all apologies to General Douglas MacArthur.
[Note: This post in no way reflects the opinion of Fred of MetroRiderLA, of Metro, of Build Expo, of the Expo Construction Authority, or of my parents' dog.]
The LA Times’s Bottleneck Blog reports today that the Build Expo people (Metro Expo Line Construction Authority) have been forced to hire Dakota Communications, who is apparently a long-time player in Los Angeles politics.
Translation: An over-inflated “community activist” in the proud line of people like the BRU’s Eric Mann (need I even start?) has forced the Expo Line to waste money debating a point that in any other city would not be debating post-EIR and scoping.
The arguments have been rehashed endlessly. I think the majority of readers on this site understand why the Expo Line isn’t a danger, why it isn’t going to be a lean, mean killing machine, and why every other city with LRT is happy to have LRT running through populated areas. So I’m not going to flog that poor, dead horse.
To quote the illustrious Damien Goodmon:
“The Expo Authority will say anything they can to get the crossing built at street level,” Goodmon added. “Sheriff’s deputies were posted on the Blue Line and then taken off. They reduced speeds on the Gold Line and then brought them back up. The only permanent guarantee for students’ safety is a grade separation.”
That paragraph struggles to be comprehensible.
“Sheriff’s deputies were posted on the Blue Line and then taken off.”
Huh? Do you mean because of “crime?” Well, that’s what you do - you rotate law enforcement officers where they are needed. I think everyone who rides the Blue Line realizes that it’s safe.
“They reduced speeds on the Gold Line and then brought them back up.”
Huh? Do you mean the Marmion Way stretch? I’m working from the fact that Goodmon’s sentence was incomprehensible, so you’ll excuse my confusion, but from what I can understand, that’s because they identified a way to get some improved speeds there without causing problems. That’s a bad thing… why? Metro takes a problem, identifies it, throws resources at it, and then solves it? Am I to understand that Damien Goodmon opposes the concept of a government agency actually being effective?
Er, I owe sincere apologies to that dead horse I just whipped.
Having said that, in the political environment in which we sit, where Gov’nah Ahnold has promised to veto all bills until a budget is passed, it’s past time to stop fighting about this. The future of transit in Los Angeles is at stake. Goodmon has already muscled the County into giving more process than is required, and this is going to the PUC next week. Let the PUC hear this case and move on. Los Angeles needs to focus its advocacy on getting Measure R to the County ballot and developing transit plans for the 21st century, plans that should have been drafted 50 years ago, but are at least better late than never.
Mediation is generally a private matter, but I think it’s telling that apparently the Federal Court mediation has failed - Damien Goodmon isn’t trying to protect the “children” at Dorsey and Foshay; Damien Goodmon is trying to kill this project.
Who needs the BRU, when we have someone willing to act as a voluntary spokesman for Cheviot Hills NIMBYs?
Contributed by
Fred Camino on August 7th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Well over a year ago we featured the now infamous picture of a group of anti-rail B.R.U. members posing and smiling in a Red Line Station. Today, courtesy of a MetroRider with a quick wit and a quicker shutter, we present to you a new picture of B.R.U. members riding that which they hate the most. This time it looks like work instead of fun if the clipboards are any indication, but what could the yellow shirts be telling all these affluent white people on this Red Line train? Best caption wins mad propz from your peers. Let ‘em rip.
Contributed by
calwatch on August 4th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
This Saturday, Pam O’Connor will talk about her year as Chair of the Metro Board, Metro’s future transit plans, and other issues… and take your questions as well, as the Southern California Transit Advocates continue their 2008 Speakers’ Series. Kymberleigh Richards, SO.CA.TA’S Public and Legislative Affairs Director, will be moderating the chat so you’re more likely to get your questions answered than Metro’s Pam chats.
From the link:
Pam O’Connor, member of the Metro Board of Directors, will be the guest speaker at the August 9 meeting.
Ms. O’Connor, who has just completed a one-year term as Chair of the Metro Board, has served on the Santa Monica City Council since 1994 and has served three terms as that city’s mayor.
Southern California Transit Advocates holds general membership meetings at Angelus Plaza, 255 S. Hill St., in the fourth floor meeting room. The meeting begins at 1:00pm and Ms. O’Connor will speak at 2:15pm. The general public is welcome to attend.
The location is transit accessible by about 50 bus lines and the Red/Purple Line, or if you insist on driving, parking is $5.00.
Contributed by
tykejohnson on July 17th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Image courtesy of Pragmagraphr.
I went and rode the bus.
In an attempt to resuscitate the winter flu season in the SoCal heat of July, Metro has amped up the A/Cs to Day After Tomorrow levels. I’m usually a prepared traveler and have my back pack with zip up in tow at all times, however last night was laundry day and I forgot to restock my day pack.
Now I shouldn’t complain too much, I’m sure peeps about to get their houses burned out because of fires would love an over productive A/C right about now (though perhaps all those over productive A/Cs caused these fires in the first place-eeeek). But even they probably stop blowing the A/C on full when it reaches slow-the-blood-circulation levels. No I didn’t get frostbite but the tingle in the throat and mega cough were evident by trips end.
Then again, perhaps it was the top volume Transit TV that was sending my immune system into a tailspin, throwing me to the mercy of American Latino TV. The conspiracy theorist in me says that the busses are pumping up the A/C in cooperation with the drug companies whose advertisements are blaring at top volume from the plastic bound TVs, but my theory holds no water after failing to log a single cold/flu advertisement while riding. Though whose to say it’s not the debt consolidation people behind it all. Wasn’t there a study by the New England Journal of Medicine that proved sick people are 5 times more likely to screw themselves into high interest loans? Had something to do with slowed neuron reactions. Which means it’s not entirely unfounded to believe it was Metro and other transit agencies that caused the mortgage bubble in the first place and they’re now paying Libertarian think tanks to spew such “radical” ideas that it’s the Federal Reserve’s fault.
Or perhaps I’m just freezing and annoyed by the loud TV and wish I hadn’t forgot my damn sweatshirt. In either case, I’m coughing again and I haven’t a single drug commercial to tell me what to do. Thanks for nothing, Metro.
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