Movement & Transportation

Different Cities, but Same Story on Sidewalks

By Eric Richardson — April 16, 2008

Sidewalk Closed

Just a few weeks ago we ran a piece chastizing the city for talking up a pedestrian friendly Downtown, while at the same time allowing sidewalks to be closed indefinitely. It seems the problem isn't solely one facing Los Angeles. Last Friday Inga Saffron had an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer saying much the same thing: Pity Philadelphia's walking...


Downtown Delegation Heads North to Ride Streetcars

By Eric Richardson — April 16, 2008
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Streetcar in the Pearl

Councilman Jose Huizar leads a trip to the Pacific Northwest this week, as a delegation of approximately two dozen head to Portland and Seattle to ride streetcars and learn how a similar system could work here in Downtown. The two-day trip is to help those involved in the Downtown streetcar efforts get a feel for modern streetcar systems in advance of a May...


A Midweek Closure Report

By Eric Richardson — April 15, 2008
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Downtown Filming

This special midweek closure report is brought to you by Harley Davidson and CBS, home of Numb3rs and CSI: New York. A number of late night closures this week encompassing stretches of Spring, Hill and the 4th street freeway.


A Visual Tour through Sunday's Bridge Mix

By Eric Richardson — April 15, 2008
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Spanning History: Bridges of the L.A. River

Sunday's Bridge Mix event offered the public a chance to get up close to four of the historic bridges crossing the L.A. River as it passes through Downtown. An article in Monday's LA Times said that approximately 400 people turned up for the event. In fact, the day should more correctly have been given the much less catchy "Viaduct Mix" moniker, as Conservancy...


Pedestrian Accident Closes Spring

By Eric Richardson — April 11, 2008

Closed

Spring street was closed at 3rd today around 3:30pm as authorities tended to a pedestrian who had been struck by a minivan. The injured woman had severe bleeding from the back of her head, but was conscious. It was not imediately apparent how the accident had occured. A longer report to follow. Update: Twenty minutes later CHP just left the scene and someone...


In Some Cities, a Car Commercial's a Big Deal

By Eric Richardson — April 10, 2008
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Backup from Filming

Living in Downtown L.A., it's easy to forget the innocence of being excited about filming for a car commercial. Yesterday's Tampa Tribune included a bit of filming excitement, giving the news that Lexus had chosen the city as site for an upcoming commercial shoot.


DOT Looking At Music Center DASH

By Eric Richardson — April 09, 2008
19 Comments

ae15

The city's Department of Transportation is in talks with the Music Center on the idea of a DASH route that would connect the Civic Center Red Line station with venues at the top of Bunker Hill. The project's goal would be to make the Metro a more attractive option for getting to Downtown's cultural venues. The potential route would be modeled on the Art Walk...


LAT: Cabbies Want You to Hail a Cab

By Eric Richardson — April 07, 2008
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Taxi!

Sharon Bernstein gets the LAT's Column One today to talk about taxis. She writes that the cabbies are plenty ready for the city to change its tune and let them pick up fares wherever. Mostly left out is discussion of the politics that keeps L.A.'s taxi stand system the way it is today. The topic is particularly relevant to Downtown, where hailing a cab has...


Raising Awareness for L.A. River Bridges

By Eric Richardson — April 03, 2008
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6th Street Viaduct

The Los Angeles Conservancy hopes to raise awareness of the historic bridges over the L.A. River with a pair of events to be held next week. "Spanning History," co-sponsored by the Getty Conservation Institute and the Friends of the Los Angeles River, kicks off on Thursday, April 10th, with a panel discussion at the Getty Museum. The Downtown fun is on Sunday...


After Delay, 7th Street Finally Getting Lit?

By Eric Richardson — April 02, 2008

Connecting the Lights

A little over ten months after the fixtures were installed on the sidewalk, the pedestrian lights installed on 7th street east of Hill look to finally be getting a chance to light up. A Bureau of Street Services crew was at work on 7th today, installing wiring. They indicated that their work was to bring the green pedestrian lights online. Asked why it had...