L.A. takes steps to launch sidewalk-repair survey: With a backlog of repairs estimated at $1.5 billion, officials solicit bids for a comprehensive examination expected to cost more than $10 million.
Photo: A tree has torn up a sidewalk along Mission Road near Cesar Chavez Boulevard in Boyle Heights. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles to try out ‘parklets’ at four locations: Los Angeles will create four pocket parks by temporarily blocking off parallel parking spaces. It’s an effort to increase the city’s pedestrian friendliness. If they’re a success, more may be added.
Have any of you been to the Sunset Triangle Plaza parklet in Silver Lake? What do you think?
Photo: An illustration of a parklet proposed for Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles. Credit: City of Los Angeles
L.A. — transit’s promised land: Which major U.S. city is at the cutting edge of forward-thinking transportation planning? Surprise: It’s Los Angeles.
L.A. transit has a long way to go, but Taras Grescoe’s op-ed is worth a read. What do you think?
Photo credit: Los Angeles Times
Two Wilshire-405 ramps to close: Starting Friday night at 10 p.m., one on-ramp and one off-ramp will shut down for three months. All eight ramps at the interchange are scheduled to be demolished and rebuilt over the next year. One county official has dubbed the project “Ramp Jam.”
Detour maps and other information at www.metro.net/405.
Expo Line’s opening launches rail service push to Westside: Trains begin running Saturday on the first segment. USC, with three nearby stops, is seen as a big beneficiary. The line is expected to carry riders to Culver City this summer and to Santa Monica in a few years.
Photo: An Expo Line train is reflected on a glass wall at the La Cienega station. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times
I don´t either! Very pertinent. If that photo has some value, is only because it shows a great example of insane planning
Since you guys seem to like Brian van der Brug’s gorgeous aerial photo of Dodger Stadium with downtown in the background, we’ve uploaded it here at 800 pixels wide. You’re welcome!
I don’t see what’s so “gorgeous” about this.
This thing is surrounded by cement. Only way to get to this stadium is by car. Talk about accessible. There should be a light rail line, bus line, and bike path to the entrance of the stadium.
Well that’s horrifying. It’s literally in an ocean of concrete. With so many stadiums (baseball parks in particular) placing an emphasis on transit access it makes me sad to see the Dodgers total lack of progress.
There’s a really interesting conversation happening in the notes of this post about urban planning and development. Admittedly, as an Angeleno, I’m pretty thrilled to see Dodger stadium and downtown juxtaposed at this particular perspective. I should add that the stadium is in Elysian Park, which is nice and big and green makes me forget how much of it is parking space. But! Our story is about what kind of development can be planned for Dodger stadium now that ownership is passing hands. There’s some pertinent information near the end about some of the problems with mass transit, too. So you should take a look.
—S.
test reblogged from dreamsforthecity
Rising gas prices give a jolt to sales of electric motorcycles: With new models coming out that can go freeway speeds and travel more than 100 miles on a single charge, electric motorcycles could be poised to move beyond novelty status.
Photo: The Zero DS is one of the electric models made by Zero Motorcycles of Scotts Valley, Calif. Credit: Don Kelsen / Los Angeles Times
Suits could force L.A. to spend huge sums on sidewalk repair: The civil rights actions claim that broken sidewalks and missing curb ramps violate the Americans With Disabilities Act. The city could be on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars.
Photo: Brent Pilgreen, 53, is a quadriplegic. He is a plaintiff in one of the cases against the city of L.A. Credit: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times
A peculiar parking pattern: Columnist Steve Lopez stakes out 4th Street and discovers that a high number of cars parked at downtown L.A. meters carry disabled placards that let owners park for free.
Photo: DMV investigators collect a disabled placard from a motorist during a sting in Beverly Hills in April. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times
Gov. Jerry Brown’s State of State speech puts focus on big projects: In an upbeat State of the State address, Gov. Jerry Brown pushes bullet-train funding despite budget cuts.
Photo: Gov. Jerry Brown during his State of the State speech. Credit: Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times
California high-speed rail funding could be in jeopardy:
The Legislature should not authorize the issuance of $6 billion in bonds to start building California’s $98.5-billion bullet train project, a state-appointed review panel says in a key report to be released later Tuesday.
… Voters authorized $9 billion in bonds for the bullet train project in 2008, but the measure required that the Peer Review Group sign off on the feasibility and reasonableness of the plan to build the rail system before the state issues the bonds.
A recent poll indicates a sharp drop in public support for the project.
Photo: A freight train rolls past the Buena Park Metrolink station. Officials say upgrades could allow bullet trains to share rails already in use. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times
Don’t be an idiot, there’s no reason to drive home after you’ve been drinking. Be safe tonight, and have a happy New Year’s Eve!
test reblogged from tumblangeles
Night life, night train finally connect in L.A.: As it has for several years, Metro is giving late hours a holiday trial run this weekend. On New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, all five Metro Rail lines and the Orange Line busway will operate 24 hours, with rides free from 9 p.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday, Metro spokesman Marc Littman said.
And there’s even been some discussion about 24-hour service for the future…
Photo: Merissa Segedi rides the Metro Red Line subway in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Transit Lines Yellow Car streetcar at Ditman Avenue, Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. December 1957.
test reblogged from boyleheights
