Expo Line: Is it safe?

Concern is growing over the safety of the street-level Expo Line extension from downtown to Culver City. Some in Cheviot Hills have long opposed it. But now it sounds like some educators have concerns:

At 6:30 p.m., a forum will be held to address concerns of South Los Angeles residents about school safety and "environmental racism" issues that have prompted lawsuits from homeowners associations over construction of the Expo Light Rail line. LAUSD board member Marguerite LaMotte, LAUSD Parent Collaborative President Mary Johnson, Expo Line Construction Authority Manager Joel Sandberg and Damien Goodmon, campaign coordinator for the Citizen’s Campaign to Fix the Expo Rail Line, are among those expected to participate. Dorsey High School, auditorium, 3537 Farmdale Ave. (CNS)

Comments

[Kate]

Who is bringing up the safety issues this time? Is it the NIMBYs in Cheviot Hills? (BTW, I live in adjacent Palms. Run the thing as close to my apartment as you can, please. I'd love to have even better access to public transportation across the city).

Or is it people in the area around Dorsey Middle School? What are the safety issues? Is there an article that might have been included via link?

[manuel]

These are the people that are bringing this country down. All they care about is themselves and don’t see projects like the Expo Line are for the better to all of us. These delays are just a waste of time and money. Now more funds and money has to be spent on studies to find out whether or not the line is safe when we all know that it is.
If examples of accidents on the current Gold Line are the worries of the Cheviot Hills HOA, keep in mind that those accidents are caused by idiots that don’t obey the law. They should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for causing the accidents. We spend too much time and money on way to protect the idiots from themselves. I understand that the innocent commuters are the victims, however there needs to be a better approach on how to make sure these people violating the law don’t cause accidents and delays to the system.
Cheviot Hills HOA, please look at the greater good the Expo Line will be to your town and the whole L.A. area and stop the NIMBY's and delays to the Expo Line.

[Aaron]

This is easily the dumbest question that has ever been asked in this blog. I know the LAT is desperate for readers, but if you want this kind of low-brow professional fright, you turn on the 5pm news, not read your local paper.

[Tom A.]

Anyone else get the feeling the NIMBY Mafia is just pulling random grievances out of a hat?

[Ben]

Depressiing map:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/69/Relief_map_Pacific_Electric_Railway.jpg

1920 Pacific Electric Railway route map.

[Ken Alpern]

Actually, Dan W., wasn't there train service in 1957 on the Expo ROW? So if we're going back to 1957, then there should be trains, right? :o)

[movielocke]

What a dumb question. Of course it's safe, this so called 'issue' is just a front for rich NIMBY's who think like Archie Bunker to spread their prejudice around rather than facing facts about the positive impact of the Expo line. They want to believe the Expo line will hurt them, so that's all they will believe. That is ignorance in its most shining example.

[LAofAnaheim]

L.A. just doesn't want pedestrians. Why is it okay to construct rail in all other cities than Los Angeles? Other cities have the same light rail configuration as Los Angeles, it's not much different. We are in the era of "security moms". Thank you President Bush!

[Dan W.]

NIMBY's in Cheviot Hills shouldn't be allowed to stop or delay this project. The old guard that opposes this are living in L.A. of 1957 not 2007. Having a rail stop conveniently near their neighborhood will increase, not decrease, their property values.

Safety concerns are valid and I believe this project can be built safely.