Roads & Rails

Big Turnout for First Night of Shuttle Between USC and L.A. Live

By Eric Richardson — Yesterday, 03:26 PM — 2 Comments

USC - L.A. Live Shuttle Kickoff Eric Richardson

Maybe it was the free pizza, the promise of free movies or the chance to see Pete Carroll, but nearly 1,000 USC students made their way to Figueroa street on Thursday night for the kickoff of shuttle service between the campus and L.A. Live. — Continued Inside...


Regional Connector Meetings Kick Off Saturday

By Eric Richardson — Yesterday, 02:08 PM
1 Comment

Regional Connector Render: 2nd Street Looking West

Another round of outreach meetings kicks off tomorrow for Metro's Regional Connector, a project proposed to link the Blue Line and Expo Line to the Gold Line and Eastside Extension. Four meetings in the next week offer weekend, daytime and evening time slots.


Alzheimer's Walk to Bring Sunday Traffic Impacts

By Eric Richardson — October 31, 2009
1 Comment

Traffic on 6th

California first lady Maria Shriver will lead 4,000 participants in the Alzheimer's Association's 2009 Los Angeles Memory Walk on Sunday morning, bringing traffic impacts for those needing to get into or out of Downtown.


When the Gold Line Extension Opens, Will Downtown Ride?

By Eric Richardson — October 30, 2009 — 31 Comments

Gold Line Eastside Extension Eric Richardson

The six-mile Gold Line Eastside Extension opens on November 15, connecting East L.A. and Boyle Heights to Union Station. The stop nearest to most Downtown residents is the Little Tokyo / Arts District station, at the corner of 1st and Alameda.

On a Friday morning preview ride, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilman Jose Huizar praised the line and the impact it will have on the eastside. It remains to be seen, though, if those who live Downtown will become regular riders. — Continued Inside...


Little Tokyo Asks Metro to Study Grade-Separated Alternative for Regional Connector

By Eric Richardson — October 28, 2009 — 28 Comments

Conceptual Design for 1st & Alameda Metro

The Little Tokyo Community Council on Tuesday asked Metro to go back to the drawing board on the Regional Connector, the light rail link intended to connect the Gold Line, Expo Line and Blue Line.

The group asked Metro to study an option that would keep the line underground as it crosses through 1st and Alameda. A successful solution would clear many of Little Tokyo's concerns about the line and would eliminate a weak point in the project's design. — Continued Inside...


Tour of California Adding Downtown Time Trial for 2010

By Eric Richardson — October 22, 2009
3 Comments

Levi power!

The Amgen Tour of California announced its 2010 host cities this morning, using Twitter as the forum for a scripted conversation between Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and four top American cyclists. Downtown Los Angeles will be host for Stage 7, a time trial and the race's penultimate stage.


Regional Connector Caught in the Middle of Political Fight Over Metro's Long-Range Plan

By Eric Richardson — October 21, 2009
2 Comments

Regional Connector Render: 2nd Street Looking West

Metro's board meetings are often political affairs, but seldom to the battle lines get drawn up quite as strongly as they have been for Thursday's session. The transit agency board is set to vote on its overdue Long-Range Transportation Plan, and a fight over priorities pits Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and his subway to the sea against San Gabriel Valley interests...


Downtown DASH Testing Website that Offers Live Status, Arrival Times

By Eric Richardson — October 21, 2009 — 14 Comments

Screenshot from New Realtime DASH Website dtdash.com

Standing at a Downtown bus stop and want to know when your DASH will arrive? Just pull out your cell phone.

A healthy injection of high-technology has made arrival times and bus locations on Downtown's favorite circulator system accessible via a web browser, phone call or text message. — Continued Inside...


Sidewalk Reopened Next to 705 W. 9th

By Eric Richardson — October 16, 2009
2 Comments

Reopened Sidewalk on Flower

The removal of construction equipment from Flower street next to 705 W. 9th is good news for pedestrians, but not so much for drivers who are still forced to squeeze around lane closures next to the Concerto project.


Streetcar Project Looking for Consultants

By Eric Richardson — October 13, 2009
2 Comments

Red Streetcar

L.A. Streetcar Inc. is seeking a few consultants as it continues work on a streetcar line that would connect South Park, Broadway and Bunker Hill. The project yesterday released a pair of Request for Qualification (RFQ) documents, one looking for marketing and outreach help and the other seeking more technical research on assessment districts.