Opinions on the "Neighbors for Smart Rail" against Expo Line Phase II (Los Angeles: 2014, homeowners association)

[coo77]

Just trying to get a sense of what people think about the "Neighbors for Smart Rail." Its an organization supported by some West L.A. homeowners associations that argue the Expo line should be built "below grade" as a light rail subway or not built at all. They argue the above ground Expo Line will ruin their quality of life, increase traffic, be loud, and dangerous. Most of the opposition is in Cheviot Hills and Rancho Park right next to the line. Crossings will be at grade at Westwood and also at Overland. The line runs down a current right away that was formerly a Pacific Electric Railway car. Freight trains also operated down the former railway there until 1980 and Metro bought the land after wards for public transit, so rail is NOT new to this area. Phase I runs from Downtown L.A.- Culver City and take 25 minutes. Phase II runs from Culver City - Santa Monica 4th street in downtown. Ride time from Santa Monica to downtown L.A. is estimated at 40-45 minutes.

What do you all think about Expo Phase II??? Are Neighbors for Smart Rail right to pursue legal action??? Is Metro right or wrong??? Would you ride the Expo Line??

Phase I route map (finished 2011):


Phase II map (finished 2014-15)

[subPrimeTime]

It's a great project and I'd definitely ride it since I live on the westside and work right next to the 7th/Metro stop in Downtown. All in all, it should be grade separated but that comes at a considerable cost and I'd rather have it built at grade than not at all.

[asielen]

Subway would be nice but I don't care either way if they actually build it within my lifetime.

[SoCal35]

I think "Neighbors for Smart Rail" are looking out for thier own self-interest as opposed to any sense of what is good for the region.

Subway (or underground light rail) only makes economic sense in very highly dense corridors (like Wilshire Blvd). I would favor grade separations at Wilshire and Overland but it should be built as above ground light rail as currently proposed.

This kind of opposition is unfortunately, nothing new to LA rail politics. In the 1980's you had homeowner groups in Hancock Park (with an assist from Congressman Henry Waxman) effectively "KILL" the subway from being extended under Wilshire Blvd. Never mind that the Wilshire route is the most densely populated corridor in LA.

I see SOME progress. This Cheviot Hills group is AT LEAST open to the idea of an underground train. I guess traffic has gotten so bad that the NIMBY (Not in my Backyard) Groups can NOT totally oppose these types of projects. They just know how bad they would look if they came straight out and said flat out no rail at all.

[nickdahammer]

I don't think the line needs to be built below grade. I've been on light-rail cars in Rome, Istanbul, Highland Park. People get used to them. Plus, they have a higher profile which I think helps let people know they are there for them if they want to leave the car at home and try something new.

The Expo construction is progressing, just not so sure about attitudes. I like driving down Exposition Blvd., or checking out the progress on the aerial structure they are building near 8855 Sepulveda. Alot of work by USC as well. The only hitch now is this action taken by people who don't think schoolkids are smart enough to get out the way of oncoming trains (Farmdale crossing). I think Expo is gonna be a very convenient line. I would use it for the NHM and the Science Center for sure.

I attended a Cheviot Hills Expo meeting years ago and those people were asking me questions about light rail because I live near a Gold Line station. When I told them it was a 'win-win' they didn't believe me- thought trains were 'dirty' and endangered children. I asked them if they had ever ridden on a train. None had. These are the sort of people that unfortunately drown out the many who actually support the project.

That said, I think that attitude has changed somewhat over time, once they realized that traffic is stopped at signals as much or more than traffic stopped when a train passes through. Also, the Gold Line trains operate by schools and I have yet to hear anything negative about that. Of course, the more people who actually RIDE the train would know that. A great site for getting updated photos and opinion on not on the Expo, but all the lines is the Transit Coalition discussion page.

The Transit Coalition - Home

The Friends for Expo people have some good stuff as well.

The Expo Line - Friends 4 Expo Transit Home Page

[ladoll]

These people should travel to Chicago. I love the L, but seriously, if they seen how close some lines travel to some buildings, suddenly, the Metro's plans won't seem so bad.

[Chatteress]

Originally Posted by coo77

Just trying to get a sense of what people think about the "Neighbors for Smart Rail." Its an organization supported by some West L.A. homeowners associations that argue the Expo line should be built "below grade" as a light rail subway or not built at all. They argue the above ground Expo Line will ruin their quality of life, increase traffic, be loud, and dangerous. Most of the opposition is in Cheviot Hills and Rancho Park right next to the line. Crossings will be at grade at Westwood and also at Overland. The line runs down a current right away that was formerly a Pacific Electric Railway car. Freight trains also operated down the former railway there until 1980 and Metro bought the land after wards for public transit, so rail is NOT new to this area. Phase I runs from Downtown L.A.- Culver City and take 25 minutes. Phase II runs from Culver City - Santa Monica 4th street in downtown. Ride time from Santa Monica to downtown L.A. is estimated at 40-45 minutes.

What do you all think about Expo Phase II??? Are Neighbors for Smart Rail right to pursue legal action??? Is Metro right or wrong??? Would you ride the Expo Line??

Phase I route map (finished 2011):


Phase II map (finished 2014-15)

This rail line is sorely needed as it takes us transit riders FOREVER to get to the westside. I'm so sick and tired of folks impeding progress and driving up the costs of construction by their delays.

[coo77]

The lawsuit of Neighbors for Smart Rail vs. Expo Line Authority was today. NFSR was challenging the Enviornmental Impact Report on several fronts, saying that it was not done properly. The judge ruled in favor of Expo, allowing the Expo Authority to award its contracts in February for construction on the line to begin on time and as soon as possible. NFSR vows to appeal, but the transit authority will be moving along with bids and construction as the appeal will most likely fail horribly.

Judge's Ruling
Expo Line Phase 2 Gets Judge's Blessing, But Neighbors Vow To Appeal - Los Angeles News - The Informer

Streetsblog Los Angeles » Tomorrow’s Main Event: Neighbors for Smart Rail Gets Its Day in Court

LA Times Opinion Section:
L.A.'s Expo light-rail line - latimes.com

[wrcousert]

Originally Posted by coo77

Just trying to get a sense of what people think about the "Neighbors for Smart Rail." Its an organization supported by some West L.A. homeowners associations that argue the Expo line should be built "below grade" as a light rail subway or not built at all. They argue the above ground Expo Line will ruin their quality of life, increase traffic, be loud, and dangerous. Most of the opposition is in Cheviot Hills and Rancho Park right next to the line. Crossings will be at grade at Westwood and also at Overland. The line runs down a current right away that was formerly a Pacific Electric Railway car. Freight trains also operated down the former railway there until 1980 and Metro bought the land after wards for public transit, so rail is NOT new to this area. Phase I runs from Downtown L.A.- Culver City and take 25 minutes. Phase II runs from Culver City - Santa Monica 4th street in downtown. Ride time from Santa Monica to downtown L.A. is estimated at 40-45 minutes.

What do you all think about Expo Phase II??? Are Neighbors for Smart Rail right to pursue legal action??? Is Metro right or wrong??? Would you ride the Expo Line??

Phase I route map (finished 2011):


Phase II map (finished 2014-15)

Why not build it as an elevated line?

[coo77]

Originally Posted by wrcousert

Why not build it as an elevated line?

Most likely the cost. Building bridges cost millions more at each intersection. Residents in the neighborhood still would have opposed it for "visual blight" as well. Metro will sequence train crossings with adjacent stop lights. You'll only have around 24 trains pass through per hour, while adjacent stop lights change many more times per hour. The Overland/Ashby light changes on average 40 times per hour. The effect of the train to traffic is just like having a small stoplight with low traffic put in. I don't know why residents are acting like it is going to be some 2 mile long freight train going through the crossing that you wait forever for. It will probably be a 20 second wait for a Metro train to pass through.