blogdowntown: Movement & Transportation

Red Line Nights Set to Launch November 21

By Eric Richardson — October 17, 2008
5 Comments

Bar-hoppers take note: Late night Holiday service on the Red Line is officially set to kick off on November 21. For thirteen nights, those out for nightlife or working the late shift will be able to ride the rails until 3am thanks to a program funded by businesses and property owners along the route. The program went from idea to reality in just two months,...

Public Weighs In On Connector Alternatives

By Eric Richardson — October 16, 2008
12 Comments

|Photo Gallery| Public speakers showed strong support for an underground Regional Connector today after hearing Metro staff present options for the project. Several raised the specter of an auto accident taking out the entire regional light rail system in the case of an above-ground build. The update, held in the Central Library’s Board Room, drew a full house. Two alternatives...

Despite Doubled Costs, City Says Dodger Trolley Service a Success

By Eric Richardson — October 15, 2008
6 Comments

The city says that two months of service on the Dodger Trolley were a sucess – so much so that the number of buses had to be almost doubled and costs rose from an estimated $70,000 to $120,000. Of course, taxpaying Dodger fans likely won’t mind the extra bill if the team can pull an unlikely comeback and return from its 3-1 hole against Philadelphia...

Metro to Hold Another Round of Connector Meetings

By Eric Richardson — October 14, 2008
17 Comments

On Thursday Metro will hold the first of two meetings to update the public on the status of the Regional Connector, a project that would tie together the region’s light rail lines while passing through Downtown. The Alternatives Analysis will present two options for the route, one above-ground and one below it.

Dear DOT: Why the Bagged Meters?

By Eric Richardson — October 13, 2008
13 Comments

All weekend, seven meters on the east side of Spring street between 6th and 7th have sported bright red LADOT hoods. It’s a bit of a head-scratcher why, though. Temporary signs restrict parking between 6pm and 6am Monday and Tuesday, but the meters on Spring are out of service then anyway. The hoods over the meters don’t make the spaces illegal for...

City Finds Another $1 Million in Streetcar Funding

By Eric Richardson — October 06, 2008
8 Comments

The City of Los Angeles got the construction of Upper 2nd Street done significantly under budget, and Councilman Jose Huizar wants to see the $1 million leftover put into the Downtown Streetcar project. The new funds come hot on the heels of $5 million approved by the Community Redevelopment Agency last week.

CRA Board Approves $5 Million for Streetcar

By Eric Richardson — October 02, 2008
7 Comments

The Downtown streetcar got its first big infusion of cash today, as the Commissioners of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) unanimously voted to approve a budget that allocates $5 million toward the project. CRA staff also presented the board with a potential budget and proposed funding sources for the project, which is estimated to cost $90 million and...

Upper 2nd Street Open for Business

By Eric Richardson — October 01, 2008
3 Comments

The extension of Upper 2nd Street from Olive to Grand opened for traffic this week, finishing off a year and a half construction project and smoothing both auto and pedestrian connections to Bunker Hill. The work connects the two existing spurs of Upper 2nd, forming a westbound link to Hill street to Hope street.

CRA to Consider $5 Million in Streetcar Funding on Thursday

By Eric Richardson — September 30, 2008

The Downtown Streetcar project could get a major boost on Thursday, when the board of the Community Redevelopment Agency considers programming $5 million in funding toward the project this fiscal year. If approved, the funding would provide seed money for engineering and construction activities.

Metro Board Approves Extended Red Line Hours

By Ed Fuentes with Eric Richardson — September 25, 2008
7 Comments

At the end of a long agenda, the Metro Board today unanimously approved a pilot program extended the hours of the Red Line between Downtown and North Hollywood during the upcoming holiday season. The program, which would be privately funded, now must secure contractually binding funding commitments by October 17 in order for the service to move forward.