The City of Los Angeles is conducting community workshops as part of the development of Transit-Oriented District (TOD) Plans and Market Studies for four Metro Exposition Line stations. Please attend the workshop for your station of interest.
The community workshops will be held as follows:
Vermont & Western Expo Stations
Saturday, February 7, 2009
10 am – 2pm
Ahmanson Senior Center (EXPO Center)
3990 South Menlo Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90037
23rd & Flower / Jefferson Stations
Saturday, February 14, 2009
10 am – 2pm
Los Angeles Trade Tech College
Garden Room
400 West Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Issues regarding the Expo Line are of great importance to the citizens of our community. Please plan to attend and spread the word regarding these workshops to as many people as you can.
Showing posts with label Expo Line. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Expo Line. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Saturday, October 25, 2008
NEWS: Ruling Regarding MTA Expo Line Crossings
In a decision regarding the Expo Line Construction Authority's proposed street-level crossing next to Dorsey HS, the judge has ruled MTA's crossing unsafe and the community and LAUSD's safety concerns valid. The decision is a tentative decision that will either be adopted or amended by the full PUC commission on November 21, but it is a major milestone in the construction of the Expo Rail Line and struggle between a vocal South LA community group and their elected leaders and MTA.
"This is a major battle victory in a long and unfortunate war," said Damien Goodmon, the Chair of United Community Associations, who's project is the Citizens' Campaign to Fix the Expo Rail Line (Fix Expo).
"We are pleased that the Judge heard the safety concerns of the rail safety experts, traffic experts, LAUSD and the community. And we are regretful that the Commission didn't allow hearings on many of the other crossings. We believe that as the evidentiary hearings on Farmdale and Harvard revealed, the evidence used by the Expo Authority to support their assertions that they are building a safe project is both unfounded and has been manipulated."
"We believe it is now incumbent upon our elected officials from the council members to the congressional leaders, to do the responsible thing and listen to the experts and Judge's concerns about the safety of this crossing, and take into account the impacts to the community and schools of the grade separated options. This is a transportation project that will impact this community for 100 years. It is important we have a safe light rail line that is a compliment and a good neighbor to the South LA communities that it passes through."
"Our intent is to now go back to the community and discuss this further, but for now we are relieved that the street-level crossing has been taken off the table."
Russ Quimby international rail safety testified in the hearing that the street-level crossing left a high risk of catastrophic accident http://fixexpo.blogspot.com/2008/10/international-rail-safety-expert-russ.html
As proposed, the Farmdale Avenue crossing creates a high risk that students will be injured and killed because the proposed safety mitigation measures essentially put the burden on students to maintain their own safety. The proposed crossing also creates a higher risk of a catastrophic accident. [....]
By "catastrophic accident," I mean an accident involving fatalities and/or injuries to a large number of people. As proposed, the at-grade Farmdale Avenue crossing creates the notable risk that a catastrophic accident may well occur under one of several different scenarios. For example:
First, that a train will collide with a vehicle with sufficient force to either derail the train into and/or push the vehicle into the proposed "holding pens" where several hundred students are trapped inside, killing or seriously injuring scores of students in a single accident.
Second, that a train will collide with a vehicle (particularly a truck or bus) rupturing and igniting a fuel tank which would engulf students in the holding pen in flaming diesel or gasoline.
Third, a combination of the above two scenarios where the students are crushed and burned simultaneously by vehicles and/or a derailed train.
Regarding the possible delay the changes to the project may require:
"Since when is building something more quickly more important than building it safely? Additionally, MTA's own documents show that from the inception of this project, 15 years ago, the community has been said the crossings near our schools were not safe. But out of bureaucratic arrogance and political indifference, MTA and our political leaders have fought us at every turn. So if there is a delay to the project, the delay is of MTA's own making and the failure of political leadership to address legitimate community concerns."
References to the history of community comments documented in MTA's own studies on the Expo Line.
Regarding impacts the project could have on the Expo Line budget:
"In 2004, MTA pulled this project out of the federal New Starts Program, in the process walking away from $320 million federal dollars, saying they'd spend the local money instead because they wanted to speed up construction of the project. That doesn't sound like a broke agency to me. That sounds like an agency with plenty of financial options. In the past year alone, MTA has appropriated $222 million extra dollars to the project, including $54 million to add an overpass in Culver City. And they appropriated these funds while telling us with a straight face that there's no money for grade separation in South LA. It is insulting to the intelligence of people that have followed this issue to suggest this $3 billion agency, that has engaged in these actions, doesn't have the money to make the Expo Line safe in our community - particularly right next to our large urban schools. MTA has the resources, MTA has many options, but MTA has always and continues to lack a concern for safety in South LA."
Some excerpts from Koss' ruling, which is available on the web here.
"A.07-05-013, for authority to construct an at-grade crossing at Farmdale Ave. in the City of Los Angeles, should be denied. "
"Authorization to construct a light rail line over an existing pedestrian tunnel crossing at Harvard Blvd., in the City of Los Angeles, requested in A.06-12-020, should be denied."
"Expo Authority proposed a state-of-the-art system of gates and other warning devices at the Farmdale crossing, including swing gates to allow pedestrians to exit the rail right-of-way when all other gates are down. All of these gates, however, can be avoided easily by pedestrians. Considering the large number of crossings during peak periods, and the student populations using the crossing, we find that any system of gates or other warning devices at-grade would not eliminate all potential safety hazards."
"The parties discussed several other crossings at or near school sites along other light-rail lines. However, none of these cases presented the unique characteristics of the proposed Farmdale crossing at Dorsey. This issue, therefore, provided little or no weight in our determination of practicability."
Contact:
Damien Goodmon
323.845.2003
"This is a major battle victory in a long and unfortunate war," said Damien Goodmon, the Chair of United Community Associations, who's project is the Citizens' Campaign to Fix the Expo Rail Line (Fix Expo).
"We are pleased that the Judge heard the safety concerns of the rail safety experts, traffic experts, LAUSD and the community. And we are regretful that the Commission didn't allow hearings on many of the other crossings. We believe that as the evidentiary hearings on Farmdale and Harvard revealed, the evidence used by the Expo Authority to support their assertions that they are building a safe project is both unfounded and has been manipulated."
"We believe it is now incumbent upon our elected officials from the council members to the congressional leaders, to do the responsible thing and listen to the experts and Judge's concerns about the safety of this crossing, and take into account the impacts to the community and schools of the grade separated options. This is a transportation project that will impact this community for 100 years. It is important we have a safe light rail line that is a compliment and a good neighbor to the South LA communities that it passes through."
"Our intent is to now go back to the community and discuss this further, but for now we are relieved that the street-level crossing has been taken off the table."
Russ Quimby international rail safety testified in the hearing that the street-level crossing left a high risk of catastrophic accident http://fixexpo.blogspot.com/2008/10/international-rail-safety-expert-russ.html
As proposed, the Farmdale Avenue crossing creates a high risk that students will be injured and killed because the proposed safety mitigation measures essentially put the burden on students to maintain their own safety. The proposed crossing also creates a higher risk of a catastrophic accident. [....]
By "catastrophic accident," I mean an accident involving fatalities and/or injuries to a large number of people. As proposed, the at-grade Farmdale Avenue crossing creates the notable risk that a catastrophic accident may well occur under one of several different scenarios. For example:
First, that a train will collide with a vehicle with sufficient force to either derail the train into and/or push the vehicle into the proposed "holding pens" where several hundred students are trapped inside, killing or seriously injuring scores of students in a single accident.
Second, that a train will collide with a vehicle (particularly a truck or bus) rupturing and igniting a fuel tank which would engulf students in the holding pen in flaming diesel or gasoline.
Third, a combination of the above two scenarios where the students are crushed and burned simultaneously by vehicles and/or a derailed train.
Regarding the possible delay the changes to the project may require:
"Since when is building something more quickly more important than building it safely? Additionally, MTA's own documents show that from the inception of this project, 15 years ago, the community has been said the crossings near our schools were not safe. But out of bureaucratic arrogance and political indifference, MTA and our political leaders have fought us at every turn. So if there is a delay to the project, the delay is of MTA's own making and the failure of political leadership to address legitimate community concerns."
References to the history of community comments documented in MTA's own studies on the Expo Line.
Regarding impacts the project could have on the Expo Line budget:
"In 2004, MTA pulled this project out of the federal New Starts Program, in the process walking away from $320 million federal dollars, saying they'd spend the local money instead because they wanted to speed up construction of the project. That doesn't sound like a broke agency to me. That sounds like an agency with plenty of financial options. In the past year alone, MTA has appropriated $222 million extra dollars to the project, including $54 million to add an overpass in Culver City. And they appropriated these funds while telling us with a straight face that there's no money for grade separation in South LA. It is insulting to the intelligence of people that have followed this issue to suggest this $3 billion agency, that has engaged in these actions, doesn't have the money to make the Expo Line safe in our community - particularly right next to our large urban schools. MTA has the resources, MTA has many options, but MTA has always and continues to lack a concern for safety in South LA."
Some excerpts from Koss' ruling, which is available on the web here.
"A.07-05-013, for authority to construct an at-grade crossing at Farmdale Ave. in the City of Los Angeles, should be denied. "
"Authorization to construct a light rail line over an existing pedestrian tunnel crossing at Harvard Blvd., in the City of Los Angeles, requested in A.06-12-020, should be denied."
"Expo Authority proposed a state-of-the-art system of gates and other warning devices at the Farmdale crossing, including swing gates to allow pedestrians to exit the rail right-of-way when all other gates are down. All of these gates, however, can be avoided easily by pedestrians. Considering the large number of crossings during peak periods, and the student populations using the crossing, we find that any system of gates or other warning devices at-grade would not eliminate all potential safety hazards."
"The parties discussed several other crossings at or near school sites along other light-rail lines. However, none of these cases presented the unique characteristics of the proposed Farmdale crossing at Dorsey. This issue, therefore, provided little or no weight in our determination of practicability."
Contact:
Damien Goodmon
323.845.2003
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Expo Light Rail Workshop
Good Afternoon,
The California Public Utilities Commission is holding a Public Workshop on the Exposition Construction Authority's grade crossing application for the Harvard Avenue grade crossing near Foshay Learning Center. The workshop is designed to provide the public an opportunity to appear and be heard on issues related to this proposed grade crossing for the Exposition Light Rail project, portions of which are currently under construction.
Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2008,
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Foshay Learning Center
Student Auditorium
3751 S. Harvard Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90018
To view the complete announcement, please click here.
Have a good day.
Greg Starosky
Government/Community Relations Representative
Exposition Construction Authority
213.243.5534
The California Public Utilities Commission is holding a Public Workshop on the Exposition Construction Authority's grade crossing application for the Harvard Avenue grade crossing near Foshay Learning Center. The workshop is designed to provide the public an opportunity to appear and be heard on issues related to this proposed grade crossing for the Exposition Light Rail project, portions of which are currently under construction.
Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2008,
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Foshay Learning Center
Student Auditorium
3751 S. Harvard Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90018
To view the complete announcement, please click here.
Have a good day.
Greg Starosky
Government/Community Relations Representative
Exposition Construction Authority
213.243.5534
Monday, May 5, 2008
Expo Line Forum
In response to community concerns, the neighborhood councils and community organizations have decided to organize two community forums on the Expo Line for the upcoming month of May.
The Expo Line community forum at Dorsey HS will start at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday May 22, 2008.
The Expo Line community forum at Foshay Learning Center Auditorium will start at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday May 29, 2008.
The format will be as follows:
-Expo Authority Presentation & Statement (20 mins)
-LAUSD OEHS Statement (5 mins)
-Parent Collaborative Statement (5 mins)
-UTLA Statement (5 mins)
-School Principal/Teacher Representative on this issue Statement (5 mins)
-Fix Expo Group Presentation & Statement (20 mins)
-Elected Officials Statement (20 mins)
-Open Public Forum with Question & Answer Period (40 mins)
The format and date of the meetings are locked.
Hard copy invitations will be mailed on Thursday, May 1 to the expected presenters, and the local elected representatives, all of whom are members of the Expo Authority Board of Directors and/or the MTA Board of Directors:
-Expo Chair & Council Member Jan Perry
-Expo Vice Chair & Council Member Herb Wesson
-Expo Board Member & Supervisor Yvonne Burke
-Expo Board Member & Council Member Bernard Parks
-MTA Incoming Chair & Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
-Expo Authority CEO Rick Thorpe
-LAUSD School Board Member Marguerite LaMotte
-Ed Morelan for LAUSD OEHS
-Mary Johnson of the Parent Collaborative
-Elaine LeBoeuf of the UTLA
Invitations will be sent to the state and federal legislators as well. Since their work place is far outside the area, Sacramento and Washington D.C. respectively, for them and only for them, written correspondence will be accepted if they are not personally able to attend:
-Assembly Speaker-Elect Karen Bass
-Assembly Member Mike Davis
-State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas
-Congresswoman Diane Watson
-Senator Diane Feinstein
-Senator Barbara Boxer
We look forward to your attendance.
Sincerely,
Damien Goodmon
damienwg@gmail.com
The Expo Line community forum at Dorsey HS will start at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday May 22, 2008.
The Expo Line community forum at Foshay Learning Center Auditorium will start at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday May 29, 2008.
The format will be as follows:
-Expo Authority Presentation & Statement (20 mins)
-LAUSD OEHS Statement (5 mins)
-Parent Collaborative Statement (5 mins)
-UTLA Statement (5 mins)
-School Principal/Teacher Representative on this issue Statement (5 mins)
-Fix Expo Group Presentation & Statement (20 mins)
-Elected Officials Statement (20 mins)
-Open Public Forum with Question & Answer Period (40 mins)
The format and date of the meetings are locked.
Hard copy invitations will be mailed on Thursday, May 1 to the expected presenters, and the local elected representatives, all of whom are members of the Expo Authority Board of Directors and/or the MTA Board of Directors:
-Expo Chair & Council Member Jan Perry
-Expo Vice Chair & Council Member Herb Wesson
-Expo Board Member & Supervisor Yvonne Burke
-Expo Board Member & Council Member Bernard Parks
-MTA Incoming Chair & Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
-Expo Authority CEO Rick Thorpe
-LAUSD School Board Member Marguerite LaMotte
-Ed Morelan for LAUSD OEHS
-Mary Johnson of the Parent Collaborative
-Elaine LeBoeuf of the UTLA
Invitations will be sent to the state and federal legislators as well. Since their work place is far outside the area, Sacramento and Washington D.C. respectively, for them and only for them, written correspondence will be accepted if they are not personally able to attend:
-Assembly Speaker-Elect Karen Bass
-Assembly Member Mike Davis
-State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas
-Congresswoman Diane Watson
-Senator Diane Feinstein
-Senator Barbara Boxer
We look forward to your attendance.
Sincerely,
Damien Goodmon
damienwg@gmail.com
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
EXPO Line Track & Tree Removal
Mid-Corridor/Segment B: Track & Tree Removal
EXPO Light Rail Project - Government/Community Relations
CONTACT INFORMATION
Expo Hotline: 213-922-EXPO (3976)
www.BuildExpo.org
Attention Residents and Business Owners
The Exposition Construction Authority, in preparation for construction of the Expo Line, will be preparing the right-of-way for utility relocation and improvements by removing the existing train tracks, shrubbery and various trees. The work is being managed and performed by the design-build contractor FCI/Fluor/Parsons (FFP, a Joint Venture) and its subcontractors.
When: Wednesday, December 26, 2007 through Friday, March 14, 2008 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
Where: Construction crews will be working on the Exposition right-of-way between Vermont Avenue and La Brea Avenue
What: Construction crews will be preparing the right-of-way for utility relocation and improvements by removing the existing train tracks as well as various shrubbery and trees along the right-of-way. Existing train tracks will be removed and the steelwill be recycled. Where feasible, trees will be protected, stored and replanted during the project landscaping phase. Also, new trees will be planted at the end of construction.
Traffic Impacts: There will be no traffic impacts, such as street closures or detours, as a result of these construction activities. Trucks used to haul away debris will occasionally interrupt traffic as they enter and exit the right-of-way. Flagmen will be used to safely direct drivers in order to minimize disruption to traffic. Parking restrictions in all construction areas will be strictly enforced at all times.
Safety Advisory: Please do not enter the construction work zone and obey all posted construction signs.
EXPO Light Rail Project - Government/Community Relations
CONTACT INFORMATION
Expo Hotline: 213-922-EXPO (3976)
www.BuildExpo.org
Attention Residents and Business Owners
The Exposition Construction Authority, in preparation for construction of the Expo Line, will be preparing the right-of-way for utility relocation and improvements by removing the existing train tracks, shrubbery and various trees. The work is being managed and performed by the design-build contractor FCI/Fluor/Parsons (FFP, a Joint Venture) and its subcontractors.
When: Wednesday, December 26, 2007 through Friday, March 14, 2008 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
Where: Construction crews will be working on the Exposition right-of-way between Vermont Avenue and La Brea Avenue
What: Construction crews will be preparing the right-of-way for utility relocation and improvements by removing the existing train tracks as well as various shrubbery and trees along the right-of-way. Existing train tracks will be removed and the steelwill be recycled. Where feasible, trees will be protected, stored and replanted during the project landscaping phase. Also, new trees will be planted at the end of construction.
Traffic Impacts: There will be no traffic impacts, such as street closures or detours, as a result of these construction activities. Trucks used to haul away debris will occasionally interrupt traffic as they enter and exit the right-of-way. Flagmen will be used to safely direct drivers in order to minimize disruption to traffic. Parking restrictions in all construction areas will be strictly enforced at all times.
Safety Advisory: Please do not enter the construction work zone and obey all posted construction signs.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Expo Line: Farmdale Crossing Meeting
The Exposition Construction Authority invites you to a presentation to review the grade crossing alternatives proposed for Farmdale Avenue for the Exposition Light Rail Line.
Date: Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: West Angeles Church of God in Christ
The Crystal Room
3045 Crenshaw Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90016
Church-owned parking lots and street parking are available within walking distance to the West Angeles Church’s Crystal Room.
EXPO Light Rail ProjectGovernment/Community Relations
CONTACT INFORMATION
Greg Starosky
Representative
Tel. 213-243-5534
gstarosky@exporail.net
Torri D. Hill
FCI/Fluor/Parsons, a JV
Tel. 323-290-7605
torri.hill@parsons.com
www.BuildExpo.org
213-922-EXPO (3976)
Date: Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: West Angeles Church of God in Christ
The Crystal Room
3045 Crenshaw Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90016
Church-owned parking lots and street parking are available within walking distance to the West Angeles Church’s Crystal Room.
EXPO Light Rail ProjectGovernment/Community Relations
CONTACT INFORMATION
Greg Starosky
Representative
Tel. 213-243-5534
gstarosky@exporail.net
Torri D. Hill
FCI/Fluor/Parsons, a JV
Tel. 323-290-7605
torri.hill@parsons.com
www.BuildExpo.org
213-922-EXPO (3976)
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