Time to wake up this old topic!
The Gold (L) Line Foothill extension is now over 50% complete. Their website has good drone aerials of the construction progress; here is September 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IEnZcdrvHg
See more at https://foothillgoldline.org
Note that the current project ends at Pomona; Claremont and Montclair stations are currently unfunded.
Metro L Line map and schedule: https://www.metro.net/riding/schedules/?line=804
Metro system maps: https://www.metro.net/riding/guide/system-maps/
My Google LAMetro station map (periodically updated): http://goo.gl/XQGpY9
Links to my Google Maps ---> Sunset Route overview, SoCal metro, Yuma sub, Gila sub, SR east of Tucson, BNSF Northern Transcon and Southern Transcon *** Why you should support Ukraine! ***
Catching up on Metro blog posts:
Monrovia station renovation: http://thesource.metro.net/2017/11/27/a-quick-look-at-renovation-work-taking-place-at-monrovia-santa-fe-depot/
Aerial video of planned extension: http://thesource.metro.net/2017/11/30/new-video-take-an-aerial-tour-of-the-gold-line-extension-to-claremont-and-montclair/
Groundbreaking for Gold Line extension east to Montclair: http://thesource.metro.net/2017/12/02/groundbreaking-ceremony-held-for-gold-line-extension-to-claremont-and-montclair/
Another article on the Monrovia station: http://www.sgvtribune.com/2017/12/06/heres-what-developers-are-planning-for-monrovias-restored-1926-santa-fe-train-depot/
The Arcadia Stop at Night
Part “B” (of A-B)
A rather new light rail train to “East LA” came with unit 1008 leading.
The 1008 was fascinating to K.P. because San Diego Trolley had an old U2, 1008, now owned by the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, CA. In storage at OERM on a very drizzly, rainy day:
December 22, 2016
The OERM recently repainted their Santa Fe GP60M (whoops, make that an FP45!!!) in warbonnet colors, unit 108. It is wondered if the museum has a thing for 1 and 8 (1008 and 108), or if it was just a coincidence. Incidentally, Santa Fe 108 in younger days in its roaming the Santa Fe system came right through the diagonal “X” grade crossing depicted therein. Anyway, when the L. A. Metro 1008 came by Arcadia, K.P. just had to photograph it …
A “quiet” moment (no light rail trains) when a photo was taken of the ramp and cross walkway WITHOUT any center crossing flashers! Note the crossing gate THIS side of the tracks and NOT between the tracks also. A makeshift electrical Christmas tree is in the background right.
Finally, an outbound set almost silently zips away quickly with only a slight whirl sound.
This will end the series.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.
Part “A” (of A-B)
On the night of Friday, December 8, 2017, the Arcadia stop was stopped by. The between the tracks station ramp between trains:
When outbound trains stopped, it was surprising how many passengers disembarked here and walked down that ramp.
It was rush hour and more trains than usual were operating. An inbound movement:
The Gold Line goes diagonally through a vehicle intersection, so there are more crossing gates that usual, both for vehicles and pedestrians.
Two commuter trains sometimes arrived close to the same time.
But, mostly not, and TWO up and down cycles of the crossing games is the norm.
Continued in Part B
Holiday Season
K.P. had been in San Gabriel, CA to photograph UP’s new San Gabriel Trench, CA and thought because the 210 Freeway was in such a rush hour jam he would take some time and photograph the Foothill Extension Arcadia Station stop at night. But, on the way to the station stop, he couln't resist photographing the new bridge over Santa Anita Blvd. lit up in holiday colors.
The Arcadia stop at night was an experience, to say the least! Some photos will be shared with the forum in a few days.
MikeF90 (8-11):
That downtown Alameda and 1st Streets aerial reshown:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Los+Angeles,+CA/@34.0490947,-118.2385629,199m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x80c2c75ddc27da13:0xe22fdf6f254608f4!8m2!3d34.0522342!4d-118.2436849?hl=en
There is a vacant piece of land north of Union Station …
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Los+Angeles,+CA/@34.060746,-118.2345571,398m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x80c2c75ddc27da13:0xe22fdf6f254608f4!8m2!3d34.0522342!4d-118.2436849?hl=en
… possibly where the Gold Line from the north could (“could”) steeply nosedive to tunnel underground to that Alameda and 1st Streets location.
In my opinion, that would keep people away from Union Station trains, and that may be the objective. Any that wanted to take a Union Station train would have to take an elevator to the trains, and NOT just get off a light rail unit to ‘look around’ at all the Union Station tracks.
Exactly what the rather new, present track (and bridging over the 101 Freeway) from Union Station to Alameda and 1st Streets would be used for thereafter isn’t clear.
It is unknown if any of us have thought of it or not, but the 605 Freeway and nearby river would make an Irwindale-Pico Rivera right-of-way for light rail AND the BNSF. If the BNSF (with taxpayers money, of course) had a single-track line adjacent the 605 Freeway their Transcon would have a routing option 10 miles SHORTER that their present line through Fullerton and Corona. Hmmm. I wonder if THAT is why BNSF’s “Pasadena Sub” (Second District) has NEVER had the ABS signals removed …
Best,
K.P.
K. P. HarrierAre they going to build another bridge over the 101 Freeway or tunnel under Union Station with track rearranged north of Union Station?
Unfortunately, Metro's staff is still infected with rectal-cranial inversion syndrome and decided to use the existing two track bridge and slow, stupid curves by the 101 Freeway and Alameda St. IMO they should have built a new four track bridge and track directly south to a large radius wye on 1st Street. Plan for future flexibility!
MikeF90 ~snip~
~snip~
No need to worry, the plan is for Paris to take 2024 and LA will take 2028.
MikeF90 (8-8):
Great, informative info, Mike! That underground construction so the Blue Line and the Gold Line can connect was suspected, but the hang up for me was that future track arrangement BETWEEN Alameda / 1st and Union Station (Gold Line). Are they going to build another bridge over the 101 Freeway or tunnel under Union Station with track rearranged north of Union Station?
Take care,
K. P. HarrierDo you, vsmith, or anyone, have any enlightenment on these two mystery items?
No mystery whatsoever !
The construction near Little Tokyo (Alameda and 1st) is the east portal of the Regional Connector, scheduled for completion in 2021. The west end will be the current north end of the Blue/Expo lines at 7th/Flower. I've not opened a topic on the RC as all of the construction is below ground, no civilians allowed.
The other construction near the east end of the Red/Purple line subway is expansion of yard tracks. New equipment will be needed for the Purple Line extension west. Metro's fantasy is to accelerate construction to UCLA/Westwood in time for the 2024 Olympics (HAH!); more reason to prefer the 2028 bid.
vsmith (8-7) Continued:
South of Union Station in Los Angeles, where the southern Gold Line curves eastward, there seems to be a huge construction project going on, as if a subway was being built.
Along the Los Angeles River a bit to the east, there are tracks, assumedly new, that goes into some type tunneling.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Los+Angeles,+CA/@34.0517304,-118.2309508,199m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x80c2c75ddc27da13:0xe22fdf6f254608f4!8m2!3d34.0522342!4d-118.2436849?hl=en
Do you, vsmith, or anyone, have any enlightenment on these two mystery items?
Thanks,
Yellow (Gold) + Blue = “A”
The reports are that the powers that be have been planning for a long time to connect the Gold Line (northern segment) to the Blue Line. Yellow (gold) plus blue equals green, but since there already is a Green Line … Letters are planned. So, the idea is to have a Long Beach to Azusa (Montclair) line called the “A” Line. Interesting concept …
The above photo of the present Blue Line was taken July 7, 2017 at Nadeau Street and Graham Ave., looking south towards the Firestone Blvd. overpass tracks, the left two are the Blue Line’s while the right two are Union Pacific’s, for a four-track right-of-way. UP’s tracks are for locals, whereas the Alameda Corridor trench for Intermodals is about a half a mile to the east.
vsmith (8-7):
Cool diagram map … but a microscope is needed to see it! Oh, well.
In connecting the present Blue Line to the Gold Line, I am somewhat at a loss as to how the powers that be plan on connecting the two lines. Do you know, vsmith? I sure hope “beam me over Scotty” technology won’t be used in the transition routing …
Continued …
Yes, the long term plan is to connect the Blue and the Gold, redirecting the Blue line from Long beach to Claremont and on to Ontario Airport, the southern part of the current Gold Line will become an extension of the Expo line, the map above represents the planning for the full Metrorail system envisioned and now thanks to Measure M may become reality.
Have fun with your trains
Now Duke Ellington will be able to take the A Train in California as well as in New York.
Johnny
The above photo was taken July 7, 2017 at Nadeau Street and Graham Ave., looking south towards the Firestone Blvd. overpass tracks, the left two are the Blue Line’s while the right two are Union Pacific’s, for a four-track right-of-way. UP’s tracks are for locals, whereas the Alameda Corridor trench for Intermodals is about a half a mile to the east.
The local newspaper has posted several articles on the Montclair extension:
http://www.dailybulletin.com/general-news/20170725/pomona-to-get-light-rail-bridges-for-foothill-gold-line
http://www.dailybulletin.com/government-and-politics/20170725/what-to-expect-at-the-montclair-gold-line-station
http://www.dailybulletin.com/general-news/20170725/what-the-gold-line-bridge-in-claremont-could-look-like
http://www.dailybulletin.com/opinion/20170802/connectivity-is-key-for-transportation
Not easy to find on Metro's site ....
https://www.metro.net/projects/foothill-extension/
Extension from Glendora to Montclair status
The Foothill Extension Construction Authority has updated their schedule based on the passage of Measure M funding and board approval:
http://www.foothillextension.org/images/uploads/2017-01-26_-_Press_Release_-_Foothill_Gold_Line_Board_Approves_New_Project_Schedule.pdf
http://www.foothillextension.org/images/uploads/2017-01-25_-_Approved_Project_Schedule.pdf
Ground breaking for utility relocation should begin this fall. The first project phase (Metrolink / freight relocation) will begin in 2020, and the second phase (light rail construction) starts in late 2021. Completion for use is estimated to be late 2025-ish.
BTW SANBAG has split into two organizations: SBCOG and SBCTA. The latter inherits oversight of transportation projects: http://www.gosbcta.com/ No sign of Montclair Gold Line station planning yet, but a placeholder for a Metrolink double tracking project exists.
The Future Four-Track Commuter Routes
Claremont-Montclair, CA
Part VI (of I-VI)
There is a tunnel-way under the Metrolink tracks.
The Montclair stop is going to have to have radical modifications, as the two Gold Line Foothill Extension tracks will be going through HALF of the vertical zigzagging structure in the just below photo’s right background.
Above, the present Metrolink platforms are on the far right.
Omnitrans buses (western San Bernardino County) get in the act too.
An eastward oriented view for the reader as to where things are at in relation to the tracks.
It is understood the Gold Line when it reaches here from Los Angeles and Pasadena will terminate, though there are some indications efforts are in the works to extend it farther east.
This will conclude the series.
Part V (of I-VI)
The Montclair ‘more than a train stop’ is an interesting place. It basically is a transit mall.
The buses present at photo time were from Foothill Transit.
Continued in Part VI
Part IV (of I-VI)
The CURRENT Montclair Metrolink stop is an interesting place. Looking east with a Metrolink inbound train arriving at the stop.
West:
Above, note the high green signal in the background.
The train soon takes off west to Los Angeles. Moments later an eastbound arrives.
Continued in Part V
Part III (of I-VI)
A few blocks to the east, at College Ave., a westward view of the current Metrolink stop.
A south side westward view shows the tracks right-of-way to be very confining.
Looking east:
Continued in Part IV
Part II (of I-VI)
Looking east, a two-track flyover will have to be very close to the building on the upper left of the view.
Looking west again from Indian Hill Blvd., the background signal on the right is an absolute, and is where the old Santa Fe Line branches off while the Metrolink tracks (foreground) swing to the south (left) slightly and follow an alignment of the old Pacific Electric.
Looking east, south side shade coverings are seen (right of center).
Walking west from Indian Hill Blvd., to K.P.’s vehicle, an ironic twist is seen with roadway erected signage. How can one stop on the tracks (right signs) when one can’t make a left turn (left sign)?.
Continued in Part III
Part I (of I-VI)
The once Santa Fe “Second District” single-track Automatic Block Signaled route through Claremont and Montclair that once hosted the Super Chief is now part Metrolink’s San Gabriel Subdivision, and is part of a two-track stretch between Pomona and Montclair.
In Claremont, at Indian Hill Blvd., a westward view of Metrolink tracks in a very confining area.
Exactly how two additional Gold Line tracks can be north (right) of the two-Metrolink tracks is not clear.
Diagrams show two ground level Metrolink tracks on the south side of the right-of-way (left, above photo), with a flyover over Indian Hill Blvd. (camera location) on the north (right) side of the right-of-way.
Above, about a block or two in the distance, is the present Metrolink Claremont stop.
Continued in Part II
Downtown extension the tunnel boring machine "Angeli" parts are starting to be assembled in the tunnel pit. This will connect blue, gold , and expo rail together.
http://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/LA-Metro-lowers-piece-of-boring-machine-for-Regional-Connector-project--49845
MikeF90IMO you really need to research this a little better before such a wordy, speculative post.
I was responding only to the question that was raised about what could be done if there were actually 'no room available for more than two tracks' in the station area. Naturally the 'better' answer is to provide two full tracks for the transit operation, and ideally two for Metrolink, in that area (as indeed provided in the EIR and linked drawings).
MikeF90 (10-16):
Great posting, Mike! Super, really!
That final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) says it all. There is NO speculation left. It will save me much wasted time, as the photos taken Saturday can now be oriented properly and commented authoritatively on with the EIR in mind. Thanks Mike!
Teaser!
The below eastward looking photo was shot from Indian Hills Blvd. in Claremont:
The present Metrolink stop (by the yellow flooring strips on each side of photo center) will be moved to by the tracks alignment shift in the photo background, according to the EIR. The light rail Gold Line will have two-tracks pass on the photo left, going OVER Indian Hill Blvd. (camera location) while the Metrolink grade crossing (behind the camera) will remain or be moved southward slightly.
In Montclair, the community just to the east of Claremont and in the next county, according to EIR diagraming, the future Gold Line will wipe out a landmark-like transit bus wonder.
MikeF90’s linked EIR’s find gives us a whole bunch of enlightenments about the future Gold Line extension. A post photo-report should be ready in about two weeks, or before.
Future Posting Crisis!
Reportedly, sometime in the future, the Gold Line from its SOUTHERN end will NOT go to its northern end, but rather will instead end in Santa Monica to the west! The Blue Line, which starts in Long Beach, will continue past its present terminus in downtown Los Angeles to the Gold Line’s future extension in Montclair. Got that? So, will THIS thread need to be renamed the “L.A. Metro Blue Line Foothill Extension Updates”?
Take care all,
RMEGo to single track with no crossovers for each line for some number of miles either side of the Claremont depot facility.
IMO you really need to research this a little better before such a wordy, speculative post. Metrolink, a 'commuter' line with one hour-ish, rush hour mainly headways could deal with a short single track section.
However, LA Metro Light Rail was designed for much higher frequency requirements. System wide platforms are designed for three cars, period, so no expansion options there. Metro is testing three minute headways (!!!!) in DTLA to deal with combined Blue and Expo Line loads; this will impact the Gold Line in four years due to the Regional Connector.
Single Track light rail usually is a ineptly conceived and expensively designed and built economic tragedy, an old school nostalgic trolley, see the Washington DC Streetcar for an example of supreme wastage. Currently Bus Rapid Transit probably is the better, cheaper, more flexible solution.
Please read and browse the drawings in the above mentioned PDF link. The EIR is final. The rotund opera lady is singing. Four Tracks is a Done Deal.
Is there a Future Gold Line for Claremont?
K.P. questions the wisdom of it, but IF (“if”) the Gold Line Foothill Extension Phase 2B is routed over the ex-Santa Fe line through Claremont, the Foothill Extension people will really have their hands full in putting a light rail line on that route, a route occupied by the two-track Metrolink operation. It seems a whopping amount of money would need to be expended too! Inspired by recent thread posts, K.P. visited the Metrolink line through Claremont and Montclair to see what actually is there.
As seen in the above westward looking view from the north-south College Ave., the Metrolink line passes through a super confining area.
Sometime in the next couple of weeks other photos of the area and line are hoped to be posted.
K. P. HarrierWhat are the powers that be going to do?
Go to single track with no crossovers for each line for some number of miles either side of the Claremont depot facility.
As you approach the Claremont depot on Metrolink, you have relatively high-speed switches that divert trains to the 'appropriate' platform side. Might even make these spring switches 'handed' for right-hand running.
As you approach the Claremont depot location on the Gold Line, you go up on a flyover. At the top, you have a similar switch arrangement to elevated platforms completely over the two ground-level tracks, or offset slightly the way the elevated roadways on the 110 Freeway were built with the island platform up the middle. Ramps, escalators, elevators get you from one service to the other as architects may design. Absolutely minimal ground-level footprint in the restricted ROW, and no grades more severe than Gold Line consists already have to negotiate with higher passenger loadings.
Presumably this could be repeated for any co-located stations that have the same width restriction; coming 'down' off the crossover it might be possible to effectively 'reverse' the mains in order to build a new island platform for Gold Line service relative to Metrolink where room can be found for it only on the 'wrong side' further out, or where a Metrolink island platform and a Gold Line one could be 'siamesed' in line.
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