Roads & Rails

Early Accident At 4th and Main Closes Streets

By Eric Richardson with Pamela Rouse — September 21, 2009

DSC_4667

An early morning accident between a Toyota Prius and an LAPD cruiser closed 4th and Main streets for two hours this morning. LAPD and LAFD officers arrived on-site just before 6am and traffic was quickly diverted around the scene.


Metro Planning New Busway Stop to Unify Connections at Union Station

By Eric Richardson — September 18, 2009
4 Comments

Proposed Union Station Connection for El Monte Busway

A project to replace the rudimentary station that currently serves as the Downtown end of the El Monte Busway moved through a Metro committee this week and now heads to the full Board for approval. The new station would be connected to Union Station's Patsaouras Plaza transit center and serve as the Union Station stop for planned Silver Line busway service.


Car Crashes into Wokcano at 7th and Flower

By Eric Richardson — September 18, 2009 — 18 Comments

Wokano Accident Eric Richardson

(Updated 12:00pm) A white Camry crashed through the front window at Wokcano early this morning after being involved in a two-car accident in the intersection of 7th and Flower. By 7:30am, both streets were reopened.

The crash marks the second time in less than four months that the building at 818 W. 7th has been struck by an automobile. That fact was not lost on a representative from the building, who asked not to be named. "We're wondering what comes next," he said as he surveyed cleanup. — Continued Inside...


The Curious Case of the Streetless Street Closure

By Eric Richardson — August 14, 2009
2 Comments

the alley

It would seem safe to think that street closures typically require a street, right? If so, it might be a surprise to see a motion pass through City Council today authorizing the closure of Harlem Place on September 18th. Harlem Place, of course, is the alley that runs through the buildings of the Old Bank District. It's best known for Lost Souls Cafe, which...


Regional Connector Debate Hits Little Tokyo

By Eric Richardson — August 14, 2009 — 21 Comments

Conceptual Design for 1st & Alameda Metro

Metro's Regional Connector project has gained significant traction since scoping meetings kicked off in late 2007, but the planning process seems to have run into its first serious community opposition in Little Tokyo.

The project will connect the transit operator's light rail lines by building a link between the Blue Line at 7th / Metro and the Gold Line's Little Tokyo / Arts District station. At a meeting last week, vocal community members expressed their desire for that link to steer clear of their neighborhood. — Continued Inside...


Wabi Cycles: Building Bikes in South Park

By Eric Richardson — August 12, 2009 — 7 Comments

Wabi Cycles Eric Richardson

Fixed gear bicycle maker Wabi Cycles may be a new company, but founder Richard Snook is no newcomer to the bike game. He's been a cyclist since 1972, and has been involved in building bike components since the mid-1980s.

Over that time, Snook has developed a strong sense for what works and what does not. Selling direct to cyclists allows Snook to make sure the bikes he's selling contain parts that he believes in. "There's nothing on the bike that I have to apologize for," he said yesterday at a Grand Opening celebration held in the company's South Park loft. — Continued Inside...


Streetcar Project Holds Open House, Still Accepting Comments Online

By Eric Richardson — July 30, 2009
10 Comments

Streetcar Open House

It's amazing how the streetcar project has grown up. Just under four years ago, a few dozen Downtown stakeholders were gathered in the boardroom of the Central City Association, using pipe cleaners to lay out imagined routes on a big map. Last night, for the open house hosted by Los Angeles Streetcar, Inc., the materials were a little more professional.


Lengthy Closure Brings Everything but Cars to Chick Hearn Court

By Eric Richardson — July 28, 2009 — 9 Comments

Road Closed Eric Richardson

Over the past month, Chick Hearn Court has hosted elephants, media risers, skateboarders, basketball players and a red carpet. The one thing missing? Cars.

The one block stretch of road that separates Staples Center from Nokia Plaza was closed on Wednesday, July 1, a few days after pop star Michael Jackson passed away. It has remained blocked off ever since.

The question is, has anyone missed it? — Continued Inside...


Streetcar Project Unveils New Website, Asks for Input on Route

By Eric Richardson — July 10, 2009 — 17 Comments

Red Streetcar Eric Richardson

|Photo Gallery| For many Downtowners, 2014 just can't get here fast enough.

That's the projected opening date for a Downtown streetcar planned to link South Park, Bunker Hill and the Historic Core. L.A. Streetcar Inc. (LASI) today launched a new website full of information about the project and its current status.

Most importantly, the site includes maps for three conceptual alignments currently under consideration. — Continued Inside...


Yellow Cab Hopes Dispatch Tweak Will Encourage Cabbies to Play Downtown

By Eric Richardson — June 11, 2009
1 Comment

Passing Fares

Los Angeles' largest cab company has approved a new program designed to encourage its drivers to take more short trips from Downtown's bars and restaurants. By tweaking the rules on how incoming calls are dispatched, the company hopes that it can remove the penalty associated with accepting a lower-fare local ride.