construction coverage: gold line eastside extension
When the six-mile Metro Gold Line extension is finally completed in 2009, it will link Little Tokyo, the Arts District, Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles to the rest of the Metro Rail network via Union Station.
Work began with a groundbreaking ceremony on July 17, 2004, and since then Metro has completed a new viaduct over the 101 Freeway, reinforcement on the 1st Street Bridge (over the LA River) and drilling of two parallel tunnels (1.8 miles each) underneath Boyle Heights.
All station platforms and subway station portals are starting to take shape, and track is being laid down the center of 1st and 3rd streets.
Some small businesses along the paths of construction have experienced hardships of fewer patrons, but eventually business owners will see the benefits of the new rail system as it brings in foot traffic and much-needed investment to the Eastside.
Downtown should also benefit from increased transit access, with many tourists and residents utilizing the Little Tokyo station at 1st and Alameda.
-Metro Gold Line Eastside extension photo set (50 photos)
Little Tokyo / Arts District Station
Mariachi Plaza (Subway) Station Portal
6 comments
The LA Times recently did a story on this line and foolishness of its route…riding in from East LA, you think you will be deposited into the heart of downtown. But no, at the last minute, you turn and end up at Union Station, where you have to transfer to the red line in order to finish your journey. Hopefully ,when this line is complete and public awareness is high, we can move foward with the “downtown connector”.
^ But if you think about it, the East Side connection isn’t so much as a new line as it is a extension of the existing Gold Line. But I agree that the DT Connector needs to be next on MTA’s ‘To Do’ list.
^ The next lines due for construction are Expo Phase II and the Crenshaw Corridor. With the new MTA Long Range Plan due out next year, it’s possible the downtown connector can move up ahead in priority. But still, don’t expect construction to begin on that corridor until the aforementioned have started; as they had high priority in the previous long-range plan.
Wow… just took a picture at the Maravilla location yesterday … for the King Taco Christmas tree before it was taken down. The construction just happened to be in between. It seems like they were trying too hard when choosing the name Maravilla… I would have called it something like King Taco #2/Under Freeway Intersection/Close to big old Cemetery station instead.
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii83/asdf2008/100_1562.jpg
Also drove by the spiky metal trees at the Atlantic station… not sure that I am a fan of them. A lot of the surrounding area is somewhat of an obstacle course of freeway walls/overpasses and industrial sites/warehouses. The trees do mesh with that aesthetic… but is that really desirable, especially for the people who live there?
Oops, Spiky trees at the Civic Center station that is…
Yep…I think we all agree that a DT Connector is a good idea.
But to complain of the line’s “foolishness” because it doesn’t deposit riders in the heart of downtown? That’s foolish, too. Here’s why:
1. Let’s not assume that most – or even a substantial minority of westbound riders coming in on the East LA extension are commuting to downtown. They aren’t.
2. The extension ends at Union Station where riders can connect to the Red Line and travel to Hollywood, the Valley, Wilshire/Western (or downtown). Those are easy, frequent connections.
3. The extension ends at Union Station where riders can connect to bus lines that run throughout the city.
4. The extension ends at Union Statiron where riders can connect to Metrolink trains that run throughout LA, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Orange County.
5. The extension ends at Union Station where riders can connect to Amtrak – the nation’s nationwide rail system.
6. The extension allows seamless travel north to Chinatown, Huntington Park and Pasadena.
Doesn’t sound like a foolish routing to me. Sounds pretty smart, in fact. So let’s all push for a Downtown Connector to further integrate the Blue, Red and Gold Lines, but let’s not be complaining that the Gold Line doesn’t go where people want to go.