Roads & Rails

Actions Speak Louder than Words on Pedestrian Friendly Downtown

By Eric Richardson — March 27, 2008 — 2 Comments

Illegal Walking Eric Richardson

|Photo Gallery| Curbed yesterday took a reader complaint about the closed off sidewalk on Grand Ave, across from Disney Concert Hall. The reader was complaining about the effect the closure would have on tourists wanting to take pictures of Frank Gehry's concert hall.

While certainly the Disney is a highly visited attraction, the situation illustrated has far more bearing on those of us who live in Downtown and are trying to buy into the idea of a pedestrian urban lifestyle. As we discussed last May, Los Angeles treats sidewalks as second class citizens, not hesitating to close off a span for a year at a time while a project is under construction.

Our city leaders love to tout Downtown's pedestrian potential, but how can we possibly believe their commitment to making Downtown a walkable place when it's so acceptable to force those on foot to take the long way around? — Continued Inside...


Tonight: Talk Regional Connector with DLANC

By Eric Richardson — March 24, 2008
2 Comments

Regional Connection 2

As I mentioned on Friday, Metro will be coming to a meeting of DLANC's Transportation committee this evening to discuss the Regional Connector. This is an important project for Downtown, both in its potential benefits and in the way it could harm the neighborhood if done poorly. The meeting is at 6:30pm, at the LATC (514 S. Spring).


Closure Report for March 22nd

By Eric Richardson — March 21, 2008
10 Comments

Backup from Filming

It's a very busy Saturday for filming closures, so plan your routes carefully. This weekend's Closure Report is sponsored by A&E, Saturn, Heineken and, most importantly, Dodge. 2nd street tunnel is closed 6am to 10pm for Morton Jankel Zander to film a Saturn ad. The same company is also closing the 4th street freeway (110 to Olive) from 7am to 10pm,...


Monday: Regional Connector with Metro and DLANC

By Eric Richardson — March 21, 2008

Regional Connection 2

Last month Metro presented their initial build alternatives for the Regional Connector, a project intended to tie together L.A.'s light rail lines. Five of the eight alternatives presented would run at-grade down 2nd street, closing the street to vehicle service. On Monday, Metro will be attending a meeting of DLANC's Transportation Committee to present these...


What's a DASH Monthly Pass Worth to You?

By Eric Richardson — March 20, 2008
7 Comments

Blurred Bus

With the city's December decision to quit accepting Metro most tickets and passes on DASH, one would imagine that quite a few more riders have been finding it necessary to keep some quarters on hand. Looking to make life easier for them, the city's Board of Transportation Commissioners late last month approved a $9 monthly pass that covers all DASH services...


Just Another Last Minute Closure

By Eric Richardson — March 15, 2008
8 Comments

Traffic on 6th

Here's one of those little "Oh, and by the way..." moments that we all love so much about Downtown filming. Around noon Friday Film LA sent out a notification that Grand Avenue would be closed all day Saturday between 5th and Wilshire for New Regency Productions to shoot "Mirrors." At 9:10pm they sent out a revised agenda saying that the shoot was now Sunday...


When Alternative Transportation Competes: the Tension Between Buses vs Bikes

By Eric Richardson — March 14, 2008 — 18 Comments

Bicycle at Radio Hill Eric Richardson

The city's currently engaged in an update of the Bicycle Master Plan, and as we've discussed before, Downtown has some particular issues for bike planning.

Riding back from Hollywood this afternoon I encountered an issue that's citywide, but especially relevant here in Downtown: the tension between bikes and buses.

Heading eastbound on Sunset boulevard I had a several mile long encounter with a bus driver who was trying to intimidate me off the road. To me, that's just something that'll get me mad. To someone less assertive about their rights as a cyclist, that's likely the last time they'll ride in Los Angeles. — Continued Inside...


Buses, Baseball and Parks: Discussing Transit for Dodger Stadium and Elysian Park

By Eric Richardson — February 28, 2008
32 Comments

Dodger Parking Lots

In discussion before the City council's transportation committee yesterday, it seemed everyone in the room agreed: public transit to Dodger Stadium makes good sense. How exactly that could happen was a subject of a little more discussion. In December Councilmembers Ed Reyes and Eric Garcetti introduced a motion that would have Metro and DOT take a look at...


Metro Says Welcome to the New Second Street

By Eric Richardson — February 27, 2008
29 Comments

2nd Street with Regional Connector

This image from Metro's Tuesday night presentation shows the transit agency's rendering of what 2nd street would look like with at-grade rail operation. Pictured is 2nd approaching Main street. The new LAPD headquarters is at left, with the Higgins building on the right. Auto traffic would be reduced to one 11-foot lane for local access. At the meeting,...


Comments Clear on Connector Route Alternatives: Go Underground

By Eric Richardson — February 26, 2008
32 Comments

Regional Connection 2

Of the eight "Build Alternatives" presented at tonight's public meeting on the proposed Regional Connector, five would run trains through Downtown on surface streets, with all but one of those removing auto traffic from 2nd street and converting it to "transit dedication." After the presentation, the message delivered by stakeholders was clear: at-grade alignments...