Another wake up post!
Most of the new K Line (aka Crenshaw/LAX) opened last Friday 7 Oct. The only stations not opened are the LAX/Metro Transit Center and Aviation/Century, apparently due to adjacent construction. The Transit Center station and LAX 'automated people mover' is a massive project to link LAX, light rail and a new consolidated rental car facility due for completion in 2023-2024 (heh).
LA Metro maps and schedules: https://www.metro.net/riding/schedules/
K Line web page: https://kline.metro.net/
K Line intro article: https://thesource.metro.net/2022/09/22/the-k-line-opens-friday-october-7/
K Line cab ride video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSZ30IBmP6g
LA Metro system maps: https://www.metro.net/riding/guide/system-maps/
My Google LAMetro station map (periodically updated): http://goo.gl/XQGpY9
At least this project completion will allow 2028 Olympics visitors to use public transit for accessing some venues, but Purple (D) Line extension to UCLA will be close.
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! ***
Convicted OneSo, the transit system isn't going to have any rail station at the new stadium?
No light rail, hopefully at least event day bus service but I haven't kept up with those details. Some of us pointed out the obvious route (bus down Prairie Ave between C/L and Green Line rail stations, therefore Metro & City of Inglewood will do something completely different.
UPDATE: this new line on the MTA 'under construction' map is the color Pink, letter designation not yet discovered or maybe defined.
MikeF90Yes, it follows the former AT&SF ROW. The bridge over La Brea is to the west, of course. Aside from some pictures it is hard to tell the track design from the project's web site;
I always used to like that part of the metro area...hard to explain...it just seemed to have a charm of sorts. There was still rail freight on those tracks when I was last there.
So, the transit system isn't going to have any rail station at the new stadium?
Convicted OneDoes this line pass between Vincent Park and the cemetery? I'm just trying to get a grasp on the problematic bridge over La Brea that they mention.
Yes, it follows the former AT&SF ROW. The bridge over La Brea is to the west, of course. Aside from some pictures it is hard to tell the track design from the project's web site; during planning it was in a trench but was later changed to a bridge flyover.
It's been 17 years since I lived out there. Does this line pass between Vincent Park and the cemetery? I'm just trying to get a grasp on the problematic bridge over La Brea that they mention.
Not unexpectly, the Crenshaw-LAX contractor has made many missteps and the opening of the line has been pushed back again:
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-10/metro-crenshaw-lax-line-opening-date-delayed If you get the blocking pop-over, delete latimes.com cookies and refresh the page.
I've moved out of the area hence no recent posts. However, a relevant YT video by LA Metro popped into my feed. It shows clearance testing of the line near LAX and the south end: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t72khkFIDA4
Here's another video of testing at the Green Line junction: https://youtu.be/ee_1guvtvAo
Not specifically related to this line, but I'm glad to see that Metro is pushing safety more forcefully with these videos:
I continue to watch the progress of this line as it is being built; I work in the LAX area. Some folks question whether it will be open by late 2019, given that the track and catenary are not yet complete and nowhere near ready for testing. Also, when I drove near the southern portion of the line a few weeks ago, there were foundations for many grade crossing signals, but none had been installed. The signal bases extend several feet into the ground. Finally, the yard near Arbor Vitae is coming along; there is even a short pocket track between the main lines in the area.
Metro has published some new drawings of the planned Airport Metro Connector station:
https://thesource.metro.net/2018/10/15/new-renderings-of-airport-metro-connector-station-and-new-report-on-crenshaw-lax-line-and-green-line-operating-plan/
The above post also includes the latest operating plan for the Crenshaw/LAX Line; the new wye just west of Aviation station will let some trains connect with the Green Line.
To quote: "Under the new plan, trains would run between Norwalk Station and the new Expo/Crenshaw Station on the Crenshaw/LAX Line. Another set of trains would run between Redondo Station and Aviation/Century Station — and later the Airport Metro Connector Station after that opens. Transfers between the two lines will eventually take place at Aviation/Century or the Airport Metro Connector stations."
Hmmm. Looks like South Bay originating patrons will have yet another transfer to get to DTLA. Also, the frequency of direct Norwalk - Redondo trains will be reduced apparently. Really need to read the report .......
EDIT: added my LACo Metro rail station Google map: http://goo.gl/XQGpY9
Latest update from Metro 03-30-18
As 'cut and pasted' elsewhere, the LA Metro blog has announced the early reopening of the closed Green Line stations this coming Sunday (hopefully no April Fool :). Now, we locals can return to using the normal gerrymandered Metro bus routes ....
OvermodIronic that by far the fastest way between LAX and Union Station is, and will remain after all this work gets done, by Flyaway bus.
Don't count on it. IME local freeway traffic has far more variable transit times than rail transit.
More construction pics from Metro:
https://thesource.metro.net/2018/03/01/fresh-pics-update-on-the-crenshaw-lax-line-during-green-line-closure/
Overmod Gotta love that top-down construction. Ironic that by far the fastest way between LAX and Union Station is, and will remain after all this work gets done, by Flyaway bus.
Gotta love that top-down construction.
Ironic that by far the fastest way between LAX and Union Station is, and will remain after all this work gets done, by Flyaway bus.
Amtrak once put me on a van to LAX when the Desert Wind was late and I would not make the Thruway bus between Barstow & Bakersfield. I was instructed to stay on the train to LA and upon arrival in Union Station, I waited for the customer service pople and then was given a voucher for Southwest Airlines to San Jose which was my stopover on the All Aboard Fare. Van flew low down the freeway at 80 + mph and the flight attendent closed the plane's door as I got on. Got to San Jose befoe the original planned route San Joaquin and Thruway would have gotten me there. I didn't look at what fare Amtrak paid.
Let there be diamonds!
Well, at least crossing diamonds. Some great pictures on the Metro blog showing details of the work being done.
EDIT: Oh, fudge - the forum link was not created so here is the URL: https://thesource.metro.net/2018/02/08/green-line-connection-to-crenshaw-lax-line-making-progress/
The 71 day closure has started as planned. Fortunately, it looks like the shuttle bus issues have been mitigated somewhat. Perhaps I will get to test it myself ......
BS1, please reread the comments on the above blog post.
My point was that Metro and LAWA are handling the bus shuttle situation very poorly. It appears that the Metro shuttle will not be allowed into the airport, and the LAWA G Shuttle will not be extended temporarily to the Hawthorne station. Green Line riders heading to the airport (with luggage) will have to transfer TWICE.
Obviously a bureaucratic p***ing contest where Metro and LAX customers are the big losers.
The 71 day closure does seem excessive just to tie in the new track and reconfigure the signaling system. BTW they extended the Expo line catenary without significant delay.
MikeF90 Metro blog - announcement of 71 day (!!) closure of Green Line section for connection of LAX/Crenshaw line: http://thesource.metro.net/2017/12/01/71-day-closure-of-five-green-line-stations-begins-jan-26-to-connect-crenshawlax-line-to-green-line/ The station closures and bus shuttle scenario are not making people happy.
Metro blog - announcement of 71 day (!!) closure of Green Line section for connection of LAX/Crenshaw line: http://thesource.metro.net/2017/12/01/71-day-closure-of-five-green-line-stations-begins-jan-26-to-connect-crenshawlax-line-to-green-line/
The station closures and bus shuttle scenario are not making people happy.
Since I've been slacking off on local photography here are some recent content links.
Metro blog - construction photos: http://thesource.metro.net/2017/11/30/fresh-pics-recent-work-on-the-crenshawlax-line/
The Situation Update as of Friday, July 7, 2017
Of the Rather Illogical and Things …
… that Don’t Appear to Make Sense!
Until the last almost two months ago visit, K.P. had never seen Santa Fe’s “Harbor Sub” Line that snaked through the Inglewood area. A past resident of the nearby Inland Empire for decades, he had a good, general knowledge of the L.A. basin, but somehow the Inglewood rail scene had escaped him. So, he checked it out recently, and found the construction of the rail crossing of the 405 Freeway rather mysterious. So, this visit he focused on that mysteriousness!
Views of that under construction flyover type bridging from the paralleling Florence Ave. that goes over the 405 Freeway:
A direct side view and the patriotism of the construction company:
So, what is with that above wooden bridge type construction over another wood type construction?
The key photo: Note the shadowed concrete bridging ABOVE the whitish barricade on the lower right:
So, apparently, the OLD Santa Fe concrete bridge over the 405 Freeway was left in place and used as a platform for the wooden vertical construction supports!
The sloping “flyover” type aspect of the southwest approach to the new bridge:
So, there we have it, and a mystery solved! Of course, now one has to wonder HOW the old Santa Fe Bridge will eventually be taken down with a flyover above it! It is not like they can bring a crane in and hoist up the old bridge from above …
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
Visiting the Crenshaw-LAX Line
May 12, 2017
Part IV (of I-IV)
The Crenshaw-LAX Line goes north until it reaches Exposition Blvd., where the east-west Expo Line crosses.
In a previous visit buildings were on the southeast corner of Crenshaw Blvd. and Exposition Blvd. They are all gone now and a high fence surround the property and a high crane is present.
Not in this construction phase, but sometime in the future the Crenshaw-LAX line will be continued northward and meet-up with another east-west line.
This will conclude the series.
Part III (of I-IV)
We now go to where the old Santa Fe Harbor Line northeastwardly crosses Crenshaw Blvd. Apparently, the transit line will now turn north and follow the center of Crenshaw Blvd.
More northward views:
On a previous passing through this area, Crenshaw Blvd. was down to one lane in each direction because of the construction. Now it is two lanes in each directly. The center of the street construction goes for several blocks and ends. Likely, this area is where the tracks will start to tunnel under Crenshaw Blvd. and be an underground line for a while. K.P., in traveling north on Crenshaw Blvd., passed NO other construction. Apparently, everything will be underground from here north.
Continued in Part IV
Part II (of I-IV)
Looking northeast at the bridging under construction over Hyde Park Blvd. Note the Santa Fe Harbor Line track still in the ex-grade crossing.
The bridging is right next to Florence Ave. Looking southwest:
Above, the fencing on the left is where Florence Ave. goes over the 405 Freeway.
Views were disappointing of that “something” over the 405 Freeway. Sometime in the future an effort will be made to photograph that ‘something,’ possibly hiking in to do so.
Looking north on Hyde Park Blvd. Motorcycles are on both sides of the street.
Northward views from the light rail cars that will eventually go over the bridge over Hyde Park Blvd. will be a good advertisement for those chopper shops. The last time K.P. was on a motorcycle was maybe 45 years ago. Too many people he knew got killed with them, so he and his dad sold their bikes …
Continued in Part III
Part I (of I-IV)
A focus on the bridging over the 405 Freeway was made, from a street just northeast of the 405 Freeway. The street is Hyde Park Blvd., and the Crenshaw-LAX line (under construction bridging) is between Florence Ave. (cross street in the background) and Augusta Street (foreground cross street).
Looking northeast:
Southwest:
As is seen in the just above extreme blowup, some type of thick ‘something’ goes over the 405 Freeway possibly holding up the temporary bracing for the under construction bridge.
Continued in Part II
A “Spectacular” Bridge and Chopper Madness
In MikeF90’s post of January 4, 2017 (Wow, does time ever fly!) he said the under construction Crenshaw-LAX bridging up and over the 405 Freeway looked “spectacular,” then said “but I haven’t figured out a good place to shoot it from.” That inspired K.P. to visit the site yesterday, May 12, 2017. Yes, it is most unusual, and K.P. is not sure he understands what he saw. But, whatever it was, it IS on the somewhat hard side of photograph, but aerials suggest it is possible, and he hopes to return soon in an attempt (“attempt”) to capture the spectacular-ness of the up and over bridge.
Nevertheless, this visit's photos were shot from a very nearby road with questionable results. That road was a most unusual one, kind of a chopper-a-go-go situation! And the below scene isn’t even half of it!
Anyway, in a few days K.P. hopes to post his findings on and from a nearby street that is near the new bridging over the 405 Freeway, plus the transition location where the Crenshaw Line branches off northward from the Santa Fe Railway Harbor Line to the tunneling under the Crenshaw Blvd. for some distance The present northern terminus area where it will “T” (at different levels) with the Expo Line looks rather spectacular in itself, with the property’s ‘can’t see inside’ fence around it, and a high crane! And, mid-route, track IS NOW being laid along the route, though none of the track laying was photographed in the limit time K.P. had!
Expect a post series sometime next week.
More construction pictures from the LAC Metro blog:
http://thesource.metro.net/2017/05/05/fresh-pics-recent-crenshawlax-line-construction/
Mysteriously the recent clear weather has been interrupted this weekend in order to interfere with photography.
The contractor has completed the second tunnel for this line; pictures are here on the Metro web site: http://thesource.metro.net/2017/04/21/crenshawlax-lines-tunnel-boring-machine-officially-retired-at-media-event-and-other-pics-from-project/
Meanwhile, more tunneling is in progress on the Purple Line extension and the downtown Regional Connector.
OTOH the contractor has to be prepared for construction during our 'wet' season.
[/quote]
Did they listen to Albert hammond?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Never_Rains_In_Southern_California
blue streak 1What damage has occurred in the construction zones during all the current rains ?
Probably no way of knowing. If weather causes significant delays and requires 'do overs', the contractor may seek some 'financial and schedule relief'.
OTOH the contractor has to be prepared for construction during our 'wet' season. Also, the construction area isn't near any significant waterways that a flash flood would hit. Storm drains work pretty well!
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