The Expo Line extension has suffered its first train - vehicle collision in downtown Santa Monica. Apparently the truck driver made an illegal left hand turn and didn’t see the test train with Big Headlight coming up behind him. Some expensive ‘driver training’ in action.
The locals that comment seem to be pretty clueless about LR street running.
Elsewhere in the county (most) drivers have adjusted and collisions are uncommon.
Metro has just announced the turnover of the main line from the construction authority: http://www.santamonicanext.org/2016/01/extra-metro-takes-control-of-expo-line-to-begin-pre-revenue-service/ Official ‘pre-revenue’ service will begin which includes operator familiarization and running on a regular schedule. Once the new Operations yard construction is completed and accepted, an opening date should be announced.
Due to a recent study by Metro of pedestrian ‘trespassers’ on the Expo phase II ROW, the City of Santa Monica may be reversing its previous decision to not install fencing along Colorado Blvd: http://thesource.metro.net/2016/01/05/how-we-roll-jan-5-keeping-people-off-the-expo-line-tracks/ Previously the city viewed fencing as ‘obtrusive’, probable code for ‘visually unaesthetic’. Hopefully fencing will be accompanied by more locals educating their ‘bubble children’ about the special hazards of moving trains.
Note that it was announced yesterday that Phase 2 of the Expo line, to Santa Monica will open for service May 20, 2016. Also note that parallel to Electric Avenue in Venice, there are still places with intact visible track in the streets, some 65 or so years after the end of service.
Recently the Santa Monica maintenance yard has been accepted by Metro and opening day for phase 2 is now set for May 20:
https://www.metro.net/news/simple_pr/metro-expo-2-line-extension-opens-friday-may-20-20/
Up to 48 cars may be stored at this yard. Kinkisharyo is under contract for 78 new cars with options for more. New deliveries will be used first for the Gold and Expo line expansions and later for replacing older Blue line cars (disposition unknown).
IMO this extension will be unique as it will support ‘reverse’ commutes to downtown Santa Monica, a very congested and high employment area. I hope that Metro and the other agencies will get their ‘connecting bus’ act together.
Actually, I’d say that there’s more traffic on the reverse commute (West in the morning, East in the evening) than there is going into downtown LA from the Westside these days. In fact, way back in 1983, when I was in the hospital with a view of the I-10 from my window, I noticed traffic backed up easastbound in the afternoon and vice versa.
I think a lot of the traffic come from beyond downtown LA out to the Westside.
In any event, Big Blue Bus (Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines) has added new routes and changed some existing ones in anticipation. I’m willing to bet that the (relatively) new line that now connects downtown Santa Monica by freeway to the current end of the Expo line will cease running once the trains are online.
I couldn’t find this line, but I did find the BBB page that describes upcoming changes: http://www.bigbluebus.com/About-BBB/Evolution-of-Blue/The-Evolution-of-Blue-has-begun--Ride-with-Us-.aspx
Looks like they will provide the high frequency connection from Expo to UCLA. Their changes have been well communicated, unlike any upcoming Metro bus changes. Apparently the transit empire boundary (except for Expo rail) is a line roughly from UCLA southeast to Culver City.
Per a press release from MTA, Expo Phase 2 begins running regular schedule test runs to day, March 21. Up until now, they have run trains rather here and there, but not every 15 minutes like regular service. I suspect that the trains run all the way from downtown Santa Monica to downtown LA with no passengers on the Phase 2 section west of Culver City.
The Expo Line Fan site on ipernity.com has just received a very complete posting of bike path and station photos; many locations have not been seen before.
The phase 2 bike path route extends along the (mostly south) ROW edge from 17th St in Santa Monica to Venice Blvd in Culver City. Due to the narrow I-10 tunnel and adjacent ROW, there is a gap between Overland Ave and Palms Blvd.
Metro has posted a ‘preview’ video of a cab ride through the new stations:
If you want to see the VIP ride video, you’re on your own … [:-^]
Anyone out riding today on the Expo line extension?
Phase 2 opening day - Friday May 20
I transferred to the Expo Line from a bus at the Crenshaw station. Extra trains had been added to handle the ‘free riders’, so there were delays as trains westward ran close behind others. On the regular M-F schedule trains will run every 12 minutes during peak periods.
Arriving at DTSM, all three platforms were in use and a long departure waiting line was in place.
Some objectives of the trip:
After a walk around the pier and DTSM, I departed on one of the original Blue Line P865 cars; note the old style controls. Most of the cars in the new yard appear to be the P2550 models rotated from the Gold Line.
To be continued …
I walked between 17th Street and Bergamot stations to check out the bike path and other sights. At 20th Street a train approached and the short pedestrian gate came down into the back of the longer road gate.
The Olympic Blvd flyover and others have a lower speed limit but the 55MPH maximum is achieved elsewhere.
The new Olympic Blvd bike/pedestrian crossing occupies the street median for a short distance.
To be continued …
The Expo Line stations have better seating than other lines, in the style I call ‘Stainless Steel Graffiti Resistant Moderne’.
The bike/ped path east of Sepulveda station runs next to Exposition Blvd and a quiet residential neighborhood; most of the old trees that were preserved probably saw the passage of the original Red Cars.
In the coming weeks we will see how commuting patterns using Expo work out.
HISTORICAL UPDATE
For some reason I just remembered the first video ‘tour’ of the phase II right-of-way before construction began. I believe that it aired locally on PBS in 2010. It shows how important the preservation of this transit corridor was.
For the ‘after’ views here are two ‘so-so’ cab ride videos, hopefully someone will get permission for a proper one.
The first one shows Culver City to Santa Monica at about 8x (!) normal speed. Dramamine may be required.
The second one shows the reverse direction. At about 3:52 the train crosses Barrington Ave. at grade, followed by the Pico/Sawtelle flyover and the I-405 undercrossing. Notice how close the catenary comes to the west edge of the freeway.
End of post.
Post script - better videos
A much more professional cab ride video has been posted.
As mentioned previously, the bike / pedestrian path is a welcome addition for both commuting and personal activities. This video shows the entire phase II path.
A Look at the Expo Line …
… Out of Santa Monica
Part “A” (of A-E)
As most know, the new Expo Line out of the end of the line stop runs northeastward on Colorado Ave. to a stop by 17th Street, where the right-of-way curves away from street running.
There is a station stop there.
An inbound to Los Angeles arrives and soon zooms away.
Continued in Part B
A Look at the Expo Line …
… Out of Santa Monica
Part “B” (of A-E)
One of the NEW Metro train sets shows up from the beginning of the line in Santa Monica.
Continued in Part C
A Look at the Expo Line …
… Out of Santa Monica
Part “C” (of A-E)
By the last car, a station RED overhead sign reads “Must Validate Fare Here.”
An outbound train soon comes.
Before we start taking photos upon our arrival, we notice an abandoned track that may have been an old Pacific Electric track a century ago. View has a westward slant:
The old right-of-way is built upon. East slant:
Did PE trains and passengers ride those rails long ago?
Continued in Part D
A Look at the Expo Line …
… Out of Santa Monica
Part “D” (of A-E)
A few last looks at the 17th and Colorado area:
Continued in Part E
A Look at the Expo Line …
… Out of Santa Monica
Part “E” (of A-E)
The line goes eastward through a variety of scene and types of routing, and eventually come to a “flyover” type place, at Bundy Drive and Exposition Blvd.
Beyond the turnstiles one must have some type of fair in non-monetary form.
Looking eastward, the flyover gets to ground level quickly.
We now head to the freeway to take care of other things on the itinerary.
This will end the series.
Good catch, K.P.! If you follow the lot lines in Google Maps the path of the ex-PE (SP, LA&I) right of way crosses 16th Street where your photos were taken. By the 1970s I don’t think local freight service extended west of the concrete plant and lumber yard near Sepulveda Blvd.