A fight over the Expo line

I had the chance to meet with Damien Goodmon yesterday outside Dorsey High School. Goodmon is leading a community group, the Citizens’ Campaign to Fix Expo, that is trying to force the under-construction Expo Line light rail to go underground for a four-mile stretch between Figueroa on the east and La Brea to the west.

This will be a long post –- but bear with me. Light rail lines don’t get built every day in the Southland, and things happening today could affect what’s up and running a decade from now.

Goodmon’s basic argument: Building the train at street level, as the MTA is doing, is unsafe and it should be built underground instead. It’s particularly unsafe, he says, outside a pair of schools along Exposition Boulevard in South Los Angeles –- the Foshay Learning Center and Dorsey High School. Goodmon has focused much of his efforts on Dorsey, which sits next to Farmdale (pictured above), a street that crosses the tracks adjacent to the school grounds.

The Expo line project is already budgeted at $863 million and will run eight miles from 7th and Figueroa in downtown L.A. to Culver City. The state Public Utilities Commission has approved 36 of 38 street crossings on the line and is scheduled in November to decide how the two remaining crossings should be built. If the PUC rules in the MTA’s favor, Goodmon says, his group will probably file an environmental justice lawsuit alleging that South L.A. is getting an unsafe train, whereas there are some grade-separated crossings near USC and to the west in Culver City.

If that happens, it’s unclear what happens next. Construction may proceed, but it could potentially be suspended. Or perhaps Goodmon gets what he wants -– the train to be put in an underground trench -- but the MTA has to put the project on hold while finding the money to do so.

A few highlights from my interview:

* I asked Goodmon why he thinks high school students –- many presumably pretty smart kids –- will get hit by the train at Farmdale when there will be crossing gates. After all, there haven’t been problems with students at Blair High School getting in the way of the Gold Line light rail in Pasadena –- and the train passes just two blocks from their school.

“Will people -– in this case high-school-age teenagers -- abide by them [the gates]?” he asked. “It’s a gamble.”

He rejected the comparison to Blair -– saying many more students will cross tracks at Dorsey. He also rejected my assertion that his own argument over environmental justice and racism has a sour tinge -- that perhaps he's suggesting that Dorsey students, many of whom are minorities, aren’t smart enough to stay off active railroad tracks. “This isn’t about intelligence. Accidents happen to smart people,” Goodmon said, adding: “What happens when you have two conflicting gang members and they start to fight?” alongside the tracks.

* I asked him if he worries that by succeeding he may ultimately delay or perhaps stop a rail project that could give South Los Angeles residents a better transit option than riding the bus. Goodmon said that he’s pro-rail and that he wants the line to be built –- he just wants it built the right way. “They’re not going to take a penny away from South L.A. because we have the audacity to ask for the same thing as Culver City,” he said.

* Goodmon said that he believes it would cost about $300 million to build the line underground in South L.A. He says he thinks the MTA could find the money if the agency tried harder and that the project would be better –- and faster -– as a result and therefore attract more riders. In his view, the train line is a project that will last decades, so why not build it the right way the first time around, rather than wait until problems develop and traffic gets tied up at South L.A. street crossings (see above rendering). “They always want to build 10 miles of bad rail rather than five miles of good rail,” Goodmon said. “It makes no sense."

The Dorsey High crossing is not the only dispute. Just to the east, the other crossing still not approved by the state is outside Foshay Learning Center. Both Goodmon’s group and Neighbors for Smart Rail -– a group largely based on the Westside in the Cheviot Hills area -– say that at-grade street crossings at Western Avenue and a smaller street called Harvard are dangerous and that a pedestrian undercrossing at Harvard is inadequate. The folks at Cheviot Hills are involved, in part, because the proposed second phase of the project could pass an elementary school on Overland.

The Board of the LAUSD has passed a resolution against the at-grade crossings in South L.A. Goodmon, who is just 26, said that he’s devoting all his time to the fight and that he’s only doing odd jobs on the side. Most elected officials have been quiet on the issue and while the MTA says Goodmon is wrong, he has clearly gotten their attention.

More on that tomorrow and more soon on the Cheviot Hills part of the story....

-- Steve Hymon

Got a take on traffic or transportation? E-mail your tips to steve.hymon@latimes.com.

Top photo: Steve Hymon / Los Angeles Times

Bottom drawing: Expo Line Construction Authority

Comments

[Matthew H.]

Goodmon said, adding: “What happens when you have two conflicting gang members and they start to fight?” alongside the tracks.

What indeed? If this is a criteria for not building the line, then let's not stop there. Let's close all streets and freeways which have experienced gang fights and shooting, just to make sure.

[Joanna Ramos]

I'd like to take a moment and state that I grew up in the more frighttrain-track-y parts of Riverside, CA and went to an elementary school that was located right next (and on the same grade) to train tracks. Yes, there is a fence and yes parents continue to send their children there. In addition, the house I grew up in was also next to train tracks and my mother continues to live there. The railroad crossing that you must drive through to get into the neighborhood has no guard rails that lower down to boot! Just the warning signal. People know how to use common sense.

I don't understand what the problem is.

[Steven Coker]

For those who dismiss Mr. Goodman because he is but "one voice" or not elected, thinking that he speaks for no one other than himself is probably a big mistake. For every 100 or 1000 who share his concerns, only 1 will show up at a meeting or act. He is that 1. Also, even if you dispute the safety issue debate, how do you reduce traffic congestion if you have to stop traffic on major blvd's ever few minutes when the trains cross at-grade?
If we could trust our planning "experts", we wouldn't have the congestion problems we have in the first place!

[Scott Mercer]

The MTA has ordered safety features at Dorsey high: fencing and a human crossing guard that will be stationed there at all times while school is in session.

Sorry, but there's a limited amount of money for this project to be completed. There's no evidence that the train will be outrageously dangerous as designed.

As other commentors have pointed out, cars kill pedestrians ALL THE TIME. Does that mean that cars should be banned? Of course not. We need this project, and its safety precautions are adequate the way it is. And Mr. Goodmon knows it.

[John]

The fact that we're even debating how this line is built now is crazy. We need lots more rail and bus transit, now. Traffic is at a standstill. Gas prices are over $4.30 a gallon. I couldn't even get onto the Green Line this morning, it was so packed.

Yet this guy wants to delay the Expo Line because he's afraid for the safety of kids involved in a gang fight?

This argument pits Damien Goodman and a few homeowners near the line against tens of thousands of people who are dependent on transit and would benefit from this line.

Is he elected? What political base does this guy represent? Why does this guy keep getting a platform in the media? His politics are the cynical, manipulative us-vs-them politics that we're trying to get away from.

[lsm]

Jeremy, groups not just in South Los Angeles, but throughout LA would prefer grade-separated mass transit. Unfortunately, we have decided not to invest in such a regional system. Even more unfortunately, we have not even decided to invest adequately in the less expensive alternative of a mostly at-grade system. We have begrudgingly used grade separation only when daunting topology (e.g. the Gold Line crossing over the Arroyo Seco) or constraining preexisting infra-structure (e.g. the Gold Line tunneling under a too-narrow 1st Street) or choking surface traffic (e.g. the Expo Line tunneling under the Fig/Expo intersection) precluded at-grade tracks. Even with our niggardly approach, we barely cobbled together enough funds to get the Expo Line via a preexisting right-of-way to Culver City, let alone to complete it to Santa Monica. Because the Farmdale/Expo intersection poses no daunting topology nor constraining infrastructure nor gridlocked surface traffic, Metro could not have fairly offered grade-separation there as an option.

Although we must overcome our penny-wise-pound-foolish approach to investing in mass transit, we must also provide the best mass transit we can now with the pennies currently available. In this climate, the Expo Line, as it is currently proposed, is the best cross-town mass transit we will get for the next one to two decades and we must work together to achieve even this modest improvement.

Mr. Goodmon strained credibility when he inanely implied that a gang fight near at-grade tracks could threaten bystanders and/or combatants, which could cause them to panic, which could cause them to bypass safety barriers during mad dashes away from the fight, which could cause them to be hit by light-rail trains. When he raised this objection not during public comment, but rather after planning finished, he belied any intent to achieve a working system in our lifetimes.

[Alek F]

Shame on Damien Goodmon!
Shame on him For misleading the public, for trying to stop a vitally important project just because of some absurd reasons, and for attaining his own publicity for some completely nonsensical arguments!
In any event, having Light rail line at a school is MUCH safer, and environmentally friendlier, than having a big street full of cars! How many people get killed by cars speeding on the road! Why doesn't Damian mention that? If he is talking about safety, he should then proclaim that it's unsafe to build school at a public road! But he doesn't. Which clearly indicates that he is anti-Rail (or at least - anti LIGHT rail).
For crying out loud, light-rail and streetcar systems AROUND THE WORLD (including the U.S.) always run at-grade right near schools! And what's the result? - no one gets killed! I haven't heard of a single (!) LRT system that went below ground just because of a nearby school.
So, please... Mr. Goodmon, stop wasting everyone's time, stop trying to dismantle the entire project, and let's start using common sense! Having a LRT next to a high-school will do no harm, but will only help everybody.! And the history has shown that it's perfectly safe to do so.
I hope MTA will simply ignore Mr. Goodmon's "concerns".

[michael]

So one man (Damien) has a voice that is louder and more "important" than the tens of thousands of people in South LA and Culver City who want this line? I don't understand why he is being taken so seriously. Why doesn't the MTA just say "sorry Mr. Goodmon, we heard your argument, but politely disagree" and continue building the project the we so desperately need.

I did love the writer's dismissal of his age as "just 26." LOL nice.

[M]

If Blair high school isn't a good comparison, what about the Gold Line running though Highland Park next to all of the houses with streets on either side of the tracks? Yes the train runs a little slow there. However, considering the number of people (and dogs and chickens) I see hanging out all along the train tracks riding bikes and skateboards, driving and generally running around and being crazy, have there been any issues outside of the cars trying to blow through the perpendicular street crossings and hitting the train instead? I don't live in Highland Park, but there is an awful lot of graffiti that appears along the entire rail line as soon as the old graffiti is painted over, which indicates at least some nearby gang activity...

[Go Expo]

Gang members fighting over the Expo Line? Thanks, Mr. Hymon, for coming up with the great pun for the title.

From the comments posted, I see that people are unanimously disagreeing with Damien.

[Rail for the Westside]

Damien is very wrong on this issue. Trenching is almost as expensive as boring tunnels, yet much more difficult than boring. It costs more than $200 million per mile to trench the line. The quarter-mile-long USC trench, without any trench station, cost $50 million. Putting the line in a trench between Figureoa and La Brea would double the cost of Phase 1, that is another billion dollar that would be needed for Phase 1.

[Michele]

Does anyone remember the Red Cars? There were tracks running past schools, business',hospitals, etc.
I guess there's been the death of common sense since then. The MTA holds the right of way on the exposition bl
line that the red cars ran on. It would be real stupid to run the expo line anywhere but there. Too bad we live in a "me first" city!

[luis]

one man one vote...Next! Move on...

[jb]

Just put it below grade. Trench the thing. A ton less expensive than tunneling and safe too.

[Matt]

You know, I think he is right. Being a pedestrian in Los Angeles is very dangerous and could kill you. Let's take it further and remove motor vehicles from the street. There is already ample evidence that they kill people.

[John von]

How high do gas prices have to get before LA starts taking transit seriously?

[Darrell Clarke]

Mostly at-grade light rail is standard and safe in many other U.S. cities. Conversely, NO modern U.S. light rail line has been built in an extended trench as Damien Goodmon demands.

Not only does the Pasadena Gold Line safely pass near Blair High School, the Eastside Gold Line -- opening next year -- passes right by three schools.

Friends 4 Expo Transit is the long-standing group of volunteers for the Expo Line. Popular support made the difference in getting it approved.

See http://friends4expo.org/citywatch.htm for a longer response and http://friends4expo.org for extensive information about the Expo Line.

[wannabetransitrider]

It is incredible to think that these overzealous exagerations and rich nimbys can stop a much needed and awaited tranist line that will not only go through many transit dependent communities, but provide a reliable option for those that need to travel to the westside everyday for work. Mr Goodman such be the one sued by all the parents of the perceived gang members and dumbs kids that can not amount to more than starting fights and/ or walk onto the path of an oncoming train. As a parent, I would be insulted that someone would insinuate that my child can not realize that a fence is not meant to be climbed over, and to stop if there is a train coming! Don't these kids cross streets everyday??!!!

Metro and the PUC needs to finally start working for the people of LA and get this line built! And onward to Santa Monica, through Cheviot Hills!

[Alan Fishel]

This is a good example of a solution looking for a problem. Damien Goodmon a neighborhood activist that is looking for a cause to gain political recognition and is making a big deal out of nothing. He has cost us $250,000.00 to start.

After visiting the Farmdale crossing it does not take much to see that there is no reason for any kind of a grade separation. This intersection is only a 4 way stop street and does not even justify a traffic signal. There is not even a business at the corner.

The grade separations at USC, La Brea, LA Cienega and Culver City have many thousands of cars passing an hour with complicated intersections. If not separated there would be traffic delays even with only a 30 second period with the gates down as the cars passed. This is not the case at the Dorsey crossing. The grade separations were biased on the number of cars that would be affected by the line, not by an activist looking for a problem.

Is Damien trying to tell us that the students are not smart enough to stay out of the way of an approaching train even with gates blocking their way? Somehow the students have figured out how to stay out of the street when cars are coming which are a greater danger than the LRT trains. Theses are bright High School students, give them some credit and not use them as pawns to gain political power.

There are many other surface LRT lines that pass schools and somehow the line does not put at risk the students anymore than crossing a street. The new Gold East LA Line passes two high schools and a middle school. There will be no gates as the line passes the schools. There are about the same number of stations, spacing between stations, schools and grade separations in phase I as in phase II. The West LA support for the trench is their continued method to stop the line. The Sepulveda Venice detour was/is a NIMBY ploy to kill or keep the line away from them and should no more be considered than a grade separation at Farmdale.

The MTA, the construction authority and the PUC had it right the first time with allowing for a at grade line along Exposition Blvd. Even if the money were there a grade separation should not be built

Damien’s cause is not ligament and a separation at Dorsey is certainly not justified any more than the Sepulveda Venice detour brought about by the Rancho Park activist.

[Steve]

If any gang members do fight in front or a rail line then they deserve to get hit. Out of all the places to pick a fight.

[jeremy]

lsm, this fight did not just start up the day they decided to build the expo line. groups in south la were fighting for a trench or elevated rail from the beginning, the studies and EIRs. only metro never let them have that option, it was ither busway or nothing at all. never in any of the proposed options did it say "elevated rail" or "trench" along the area in question.

[transit-rider]

I board the Blue Line at the Willow Station. To the east is a large hospital, to the west is Jackie Robinson Academy (school), and to the south is a busy shopping center. The foot traffic crossing the Blue Line is unbelievable, and trains run every five minutes. I see students (many elementary age), parents, parents pushing strollers, hospital employees, and Blue Line passengers entering and exiting the gates all day long. No one gets hit. To force the Expo Line to go underground or over this crossing for a dismissal bell where students have cleared the area in 30 minutes is a total waste of taxpayers dollars. Guess the "underprivilaged" high-school students aren't as smart as the mostly Spanish speaking and very poor elementary students at the Willow Station. Shame on Damion for forcing tax dollars to be wasted that could be spent on other transportation projects just to feed his ego. Ms. Burke knew a fool when she met one.

[Paul]

I believe the latest estimate for subways in L.A. is $300 million per mile. So the cost for four miles of underground tracks seems more like $1.2 billion. And his solution to pay for it is for the MTA to "try harder"? Idiot.

And if he wants me to be concerned about safety, he probably shouldn't use gang members as his example victims.

I'd say ditch the whole project and put that $863 million towards the subway to the sea, which is what everyone wants anyway.

[Jerome H. Weymouth]

Mr. Goodmon needs to be watched and his statements investigated, and here's the reason why..

1.He has made claims that the train will not have crossing gates.....Excuse me, but everybody knows that a railroad has to have crossing gates, bells, and arms that drop down to warn and block traffic.

2. That the gang members figthing will spill over onto the tracks resulting in gang members getting killed....Excuse me again Damien..but there is a fence that runs along side the right-a-way and it is the type that will not allow acess to anybody.

3. At one of his little meetings a question was asked "what about the electrical station fire?", which was being drumed up as a legitiamte issue. When in fact there has never been an electrical main (powering the Metro trains)reported having a fire at all. All of this comotion cause quite a scene. Several of the people got mad for no reason and walked out of the meeting. Yet this report was totally fabracated.!

4. This kind of reports remind me of the way the Communists do in their propaganda, Invent History! It is their subversite tactics that helpp start revolutions!

Invent history and make up lies and build on half-truths,

"Tell a lie, tell it skillfully, tell it often, and the people will believe you." People who don't want this train anyway but their way need to back off and forget it!
They don't care if the gas goes up to $7.00 bucks a gallon, they don't care who suffers!

5. Points to remember: The Feds have signed off on the Expo-line and the State of California have signed off on it and funded it. The Fix-Expo people don't like it and want to stop it ....and they go so far to call you Transit Racists if you don't support their views.

[dane bramage]

Damien's "faster" claim is a rather weak argument in favor of his proposal, since any type of grade separation over that distance, whether above or below ground, would gain you maybe several seconds at best. Hardly worth the "$300 million" Mr. Goodman would want taxpayers to pay. Stick to your safety angle, Damien, and don't dangle a weak "speed" argument out there...

[KateNonymous]

Wouldn't a fence solve this problem?

[ry]

Did Mr. Goodmon elaborate as to why he is insisting that the ONLY solution to this "problem crossing" is trenching the right-of-way below grade? The notion that this is the only option is ludicrous! What are the deal-killers that prevent him from considering elevating the line over the crossing, grade separating the pedestrian over or below the rail, etc. Why this fixation on the SINGLE MOST EXPENSIVE "alternative" instead of critically examining and promoting ALL approaches to solving the problem?

[lsm]

Hats off to Mr. Goodmon for his timely warning. Until he asked, "What happens when you have two conflicting gang members and they start to fight?" alongside the tracks, I neglected the danger at-grade tracks posed. Although he neglected to warn us of this danger during the planning phase of this project, we must now heed his belated warning--even if it kills the project in mid-construction. We must keep the area around our schools free of at-grade tracks so gang fighting near these schools poses no threat of accidental light-rail train injuries to pedestrians. But why stop there? These gang fights pose risk of injury from all at-grade traffic. We must stop all vehicular traffic near these schools until we can find the funds to move all nearby streets, avenues and boulevards underground. If we can not find funds to move all these streets, avenues and boulevards underground, let us get by with only the few we can move underground. To paraphrase Mr. Goodmon, I want five miles of good roads rather than ten miles of bad roads.