Smartcars, sales tax and Angels Flight: Ramping up, Aug. 4

They look best in black

I snapped this photo last week in The Times' garage. Most of the Smartcars I see are red or yellow, but I think all black is the way to go if you're going to drive one -- most amazing is that somehow it weighs 1,800 pounds. Is it just me or does this look like Darth Vader's head on wheels?

Sales tax bill

Today's the day. The state bill, AB 2321, is scheduled to be heard in the state Senate's Appropriations Committee, which begins at 10 a.m. The Metro Board has already voted to put a half-cent sales tax increase to fund more transit projects on the November ballot, but the vote only goes to the people if the Legislature allows it. And why wouldn't they? Seems some members of the Legislature are still fighting to set aside more future sales tax revenues for their pet projects. My post from Friday explains how this thing can really fall off the tracks.

Scramble crosswalk coming to Westwood

Every once in a while the city of Los Angeles shows the willingness to try new things. Take, for example, the intersection of LeConte and Westwood in Westwood Village. The city is installing one of those scramble crosswalks that allows pedestrians to cross the street in any direction, reports UCLA. Old Town Pasadena and Beverly Hills use them, and though motorists and pedestrians often have to wait longer to get a green, the lights also seem to reduce car-people conflicts and it makes it easier for motorists trying to turn right -- they don't have to wait (some actually do) for people to clear the crosswalk.

Santa Monica traffic and planning

My colleague Martha Groves has a story published today about citizen-led efforts to limit commercial growth in Santa Monica and have a greater say over planning in other cities. The story also takes a look at Santa Monica's new traffic and housing plan that's in the works, noting that if it's approved it would allow more housing on commercial corridors and aims to not add any more traffic. "We're overbuilt with offices in the city, and housing is a need," says Councilman Ken Genser. As we noted here last week, Santa Monica's population has barely grown in recent years and the city doesn't have much housing.

Angels Flight official responds

As part of my roundup Friday morning, I included an item in which downtown Los Angeles Councilwoman Jan Perry said that she's losing patience with the effort to fix the Angels Flight Railway, which has been shut since a fatal accident in 2001.

John Wellborne, the president of Angels Flight Railway, responded on the comment board and to air all sides. I'm republishing it here:

"Bricks and mortar help. Brickbats do not. The reason the historic Angels Flight Railway is being restored – and safely – is because of the many supporters whose positive contributions are getting us close to finishing this (big) job.

"Bottleneck Blog readers and others should remember that all the Angels Flight restoration work completed to date and underway is being financed through predominately private community fund-raising and support. From the 1995 onset of the modern era of the Railway, the nonprofit Angels Flight Railway Foundation annually needed to raise less than $100,000 to subsidize the Railway's nominal fare of 25 cents per ride. The Foundation and its directors certainly had not expected to be raising millions of dollars.

"However, the tragic accident in 2001 changed that, and the directors redirected their efforts - ultimately raising nearly all of the $3.3 million unexpectedly needed for the near-total rebuilding of the funicular's operating systems. Angelenos and visitors should salute the 50-plus community leaders on the Foundation's board and Restoration Campaign Committee for their great success in this effort.

"Although the new Drive's manufacturer had expected to have the machinery completed and installed here in Los Angeles in late August of 2007, that installation did not take place until late November of last year. Additional work on wiring and related matters was further delayed for many months and only got underway last month. Our Foundation's directors share the frustration of our neighbors and visitors (and our local Councilmember) who wish to see the Railway back in operation. However, we said we would not reopen the Railway until it is completely safe to do so.

"We should not forget that the reason there has been so much progress since all the litigation finally was resolved in September of 2006 is because generous donors have made this progress possible. Hundreds of generous people who care, through their individual, foundation, endowment, and corporate donations, are the people who are getting Angels Flight back on track. My fellow directors and I and all those working on the design, manufacture, and installation appreciate these enthusiasts' generous -- and positive -- support!

"Although funicular technology from the nineteenth century is simple, rebuilding an historic funicular in the middle of an urban area in the twenty-first century is quite complicated. When this last work, now underway, is finished and the tests and inspections have been completed and we are ready to reopen -- which we hope will be soon -- we at the Angels Flight Railway Foundation will celebrate just as much as other Angelenos and the visitors to our town from around the world."

-- Steve Hymon

Smartcar photo credit: Steve Hymon / Los Angeles Times

Angel's Flight photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Bill McGeorge]

Is there any estimate as to when the Angels Flight will reopen?

[Alan Fishel]

7 years and 3.3 million dollars seams like there may be something wrong. The original operating mechanicism was in place when the line was rebuilt. They never had an accident or even an injury in all of its years of operation.

When I saw the new mechanicism at the pre opening and it was clear by me and a friend who is a PE that this design was failure ready to happen. How could this kludge get approved yet the original design was rejected? Funicular railway design is nothing new. In fact several were built in Las Vegas as well as the Scribal Center in the past few years and they work using proven older designs. Why 3.3 million, this is very hard for me to understand,why?

[Dan W.]

I love Angel's Flight. I really hope it opens again soon.

I

[Richard]

So, does this mean it will be open when the Subway to the Sea is open?

[Dana Gabbard]

Given my generally low opinion of Jan Perry (what can I say? She hired my former councilman, disgraced Mike Hernandez, as Asst. Chief of Staff--YUCK!) I am gratified Mr. Welborne has set the record straight.