Freight train derails near Union Station, disrupting several commuter lines

A Union Pacific freight train derailed near Union Station this morning, disrupting several Riverside commuter trains.

Officials do not yet know what caused three of the 104 cars to derail about 1:30 a.m., said Metrolink spokesman Francisco Oaxaca. No injuries were reported, he said.

The derailment blocked two tracks on the east side of the Los Angeles River near 9th Street, Oaxaca said. Metrolink train 401 leaving Riverside at 4:42 a.m. and the 403 train leaving at 5:42 a.m. were scheduled to go only as far as the Montebello-Commerce station, he said.

Buses will be at that station to take passengers to Union Station. Riverside lines 405 and 407 will travel to Union Station but will be delayed 30 to 60 minutes. Metrolink suggests passengers consider taking the 91 or San Bernardino lines as alternatives in order to avoid the delays caused by the derailment.

-- Baxter Holmes

Photo: A Metrolink train passes through as crews work on clearing the railway lines after a Union Pacific freight train derailment near Union Station. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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New lanes open on 405 Freeway through Westside

After five years of construction, commuters this morning are using new lanes along the 405 Freeway built as part of a widening project.

New carpool and exit lanes made their debut on the southbound 405 Freeway between the 10 and 90 freeways over the weekend. The existing traffic lanes were also widened as part of the project.

It's part of a larger effort to widen the 405 Freeway through the Westside, eventually bringing seamless carpool lanes along the freeway between Orange County and the Valley. Lanes northbound between the 10 and 90 are expected to open in the coming weeks.

The widening project, which cost $167 million, comes to one of Southern California's most congested freeways. The nearly $1-billion widening of the 405 through the Sepulveda Pass is about to begin.

-- Shelby Grad

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One of California's toughest commutes getting relief with 91 Freeway widening

One of Southern California’s toughest commutes is about to get somewhat easier.

Officials Tuesday will break ground on a $59.5-million project to widen the eastbound 91 Freeway with the hopes of easing congestion for commuters along the heavily traveled stretch between Orange and Riverside counties.

The section through the Santa Ana Canyon has long been considered one of the worst freeway bottlenecks in the nation, connecting bedroom communities in the Inland Empire to job centers in Orange and Los Angeles counties.

The roughly 6-mile-long project will run from the 241 Freeway, a toll road, to the 71 Freeway and will add one lane to the four existing eastbound lanes, excluding two express lanes.

“The 91 corridor, that’s been one of the toughest puzzles to solve,” said Peter Buffa, chairman of the Orange County Transportation Authority. “There’s 300,000 cars traveling that route each day.”

He said the agency also hopes to eventually widen the freeway in both directions from the 55 Freeway to the 241 toll road. Commuters in that area got another boost this week with today's grand opening of new lanes on the 241 toll road, another route channeling Inland Empire commuters into Orange County.

Gravel truck overturns on 210 Freeway in Pasadena

A gravel truck overturned on the 210 Freeway in Pasadena this morning, injuring the driver and shutting down all but one lane on the eastbound side, authorities said.

The truck collided with at least one other vehicle on the freeway just west of Fair Oaks Avenue and overturned about 8:45 a.m., said California Highway Patrol Officer Krystal Carter.

She said there was debris in the carpool lane and several other lanes on the eastbound side and that traffic was also slow on the westbound freeway as passersby looked at the accident.

The driver of the truck was taken to a hospital in serious condition, said Lisa Derderian of the Pasadena Fire Department. No one else was seriously injured, she said.

Authorities said they expected traffic to be slow in that area for the next several hours.

-- Ari B. Bloomekatz

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San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge reopens, to relief of commuters

To the cheers of Bay Area commuters, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge reopened this morning -- six days after two reinforcing rods and a crossbar failed.

TV coverage from the Bay Area showed the first cars rolling onto the bridge around 9 a.m., preceded by an escort of CHP cruisers. Officials said the last of the repairs were completed overnight and the bridge was deemed safe after final inspections earlier this morning.

The closure was the longest for the bridge since part of the span collapsed in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

The metal rods and crossbars that failed were installed over the Labor Day weekend in an emergency repair after inspectors discovered a crack in a critical structural beam.

The latest failure occurred at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, dropping debris on the roadway. Three vehicles were damaged but no one was seriously injured. The bridge was then cleared and closed.

The closure of the span, traversed daily by 280,000 motorists, has caused major traffic woes in the Bay Area.

-- Shelby Grad

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Lanes cleared after car overturns on 405 Freeway in Sherman Oaks

Lanes cleared after car overturns on 405 Freeway in Sherman Oaks

All lanes have been cleared on the northbound 405 Freeway in Sherman Oaks after a car overturned early this morning, leaving one person in critical condition and forcing three lanes of traffic to be shut down.

The accident occurred at 1:08 a.m. just south of Ventura Boulevard,  CHP Officer Francisco Villalobos said. One person was taken to UCLA Medical Center in critical condition, he said.

The cause of the accident was under investigation. A SigAlert was issued at about 2 a.m. and was lifted about four hours later.

-- Baxter Holmes

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San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge expected to reopen later today

The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is expected to reopen later today -- six days after two rods and a crossbar failed.

The bridge is likely to remain closed through this morning's commute, making it the longest closure for the bridge since part of the span collapsed during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

The rods and crossbars that failed were installed over the Labor Day weekend in an emergency repair after inspectors discovered a crack in a critical structural beam.

Debris fell at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday when the rupture occurred; three vehicles were damaged but no one was seriously injured. The bridge was then cleared and closed.

The closure of the span, traveled daily by 280,000 motorists, has caused traffic woes in the Bay Area.

A Caltrans spokesman said workers have made good progress in recent days fixing the problem.

-- Shelby Grad

MTA's rail-car contract falls apart at last minute, scuttling hundreds of jobs [Updated]

A tentative and controversial deal to build 100 rail cars for Los Angeles County's transit system has fallen through -- taking with it plans to build a $70-million factory that would have created hundreds of local jobs.

Last-minute negotiations failed to result in a contract with AnsaldoBreda, an Italian manufacturer that is three years behind schedule on an existing contract to deliver 50 rail cars to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Despite those delays -- and the delivery of cars that were 6,000 pounds heavier than specified -- AnsaldoBreda was positioned to win the new $300-million contract through an option with a deadline of Friday at midnight.

Just weeks ago, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa had hailed the impending deal because the company said it would build the rail cars at a new Los Angeles factory. Villaraigosa had cited a study estimating that the plant would deliver $368 million in economic activity, including 650 factory jobs and close to 1,000 union construction jobs to build the facility. The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor had lobbied the MTA board in favor of the contract.

Today, the mayor expressed disappointment. "In these tough economic times, it was important to make every effort to bring good jobs to L.A. and simultaneously exercise due diligence to protect public funds in pursuing this contract,” Villaraigosa said in a statement. “Unfortunately after months of negotiations, at the last minute, satisfactory financial guarantees were not provided and the deal was not signed.”

Hours before the deadline, the company raised new issues -- including a cap on daily penalties for delivering rail cars behind schedule, said MTA spokesman Marc Littman. Transit-agency negotiators declined to make additional concessions and the time period to reach an agreement expired.

The deal’s disintegration has ramifications beyond the future work, said MTA board member Richard Katz, a Villaraigosa appointee. He cited an agreement under which AnsaldoBreda was going to provide two free rail cars, which sell for $3 million each, to make up for building the vehicles heavier than specified. The heavier cars forced the MTA to reinforce some bridges.

In tones that reflected the soured relations between the company and local officials, Katz called AnsaldoBreda “unprofessional and so unbusinesslike,” and said the company's inability to perform under its existing contract could result in litigation.

Officials from AnsaldoBreda could not be reached, but the company has defended its work and says it can point to the successful delivery of rail cars in other cities.

[Updated at 10:26 p.m.: In a statement, AnsaldoBreda president and CEO Giancarlo Fantappié said that his company had provided sufficient financial safeguards for MTA and that he regretted a deal could not be reached "despite multiple efforts to negotiate in good faith on both sides." He added: "Despite this turn of events, Los Angeles continues to represent a focal point for our strategy in America." AnsaldoBreda is eligible to take part in new bidding to build the rail cars.]

The MTA intends to rebid the work quickly and hopes to sign a contract that will result in local jobs, Katz said.

The effort to exercise the option with AnsaldoBreda has long had critics, including county Supervisor Mike Antonovich, who in a statement called the latest development “a victory for taxpayers.”

The company “failed once again to deliver on a promise made to the people of Los Angeles County," said Antonovich, who also sits on the MTA board. “Los Angeles city insiders and special interests attempted to ram through a substandard outfit, creating costly delays in the MTA's ability to seek a legitimate firm to build rail cars.”

-- Howard Blume

West Hollywood Halloween carnival brings street closures, traffic woes

[Updated 12:55. p.m.: Police have begun blocking treets in preparation for the massive crowds expected tonight at the West Hollywood Costume Carnaval. Peak crowds are expected about 9 p.m. and officials ask festival-goers to be patient in heavy traffic. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Sgt. Sandra Petrocelli said officials are bracing for up to 400,000 revelers. She advised attendees to plan their transportation routes. Public transit will be detoured and parking will be difficult, she said.  Plenty of taxis will be on hand.]

The 2009 West Hollywood Halloween parade is expected to draw tens of thousands -- many in outrageous costumes -- to the streets of the city tonight. But with the partying will come some major traffic problems.

Numerous streets are being shut down because of the event, which runs from 6 p.m. to 11p.m. along Santa Monica Boulevard from Doheny Drive to La Cienega Boulevard. Some streets will close as early as noon.

Actress Ricki Lake will be crowned Queen of the Carnaval, and there will be live musical entertainment.

Villaraigosa has bullish plan for rail transit projects

If Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has his way, Los Angeles County is about to embark on a commuter rail building boom the likes of which the region has never seen.

On Friday, the mayor will unveil an ambitious but politically risky transportation plan that fast-tracks several high-profile rail projects to be completed within the next decade. That’s a big speed-up because officials have generally been talking about completing them within 30 years.

Villaraigosa has made building more rail a top priority of his administration — though he’s the first to admit it’s going to take more than speeches and good intentions to get it done.

“Yes this is a stretch-goal, yes this is going to be tough, but I think by now folks shouldn’t count me out,” Villaraigosa told The Times in an interview.

Officials don't know when Bay Bridge will reopen; welding finished but safety test is next [Updated]

Crews completed welding on a section of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge that failed Tuesday but the repair still needs to be tested for safety, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Transportation said today.

Officials said they still did not know when the bridge will be reopened to traffic. The bridge was closed after two rods and a 5,000-pound crossbeam fell during rush hour traffic at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Three cars were damaged and a driver suffered minor injuries. The portion that collapsed was part of a repair done over the Labor Day weekend.

That repair was made after crews discovered a cracked link during a seismic safety upgrade.

The rods that snapped held a cap over the cracked link.

The closure left commuters scrambling for alternative routes, whether that meant taking other bridges or using mass transit. 

Bay Bridge closure causes nightmare commute as engineers try to determine why rod snapped [Updated]

[Updated, 9:20 a.m.: Repairs are underway at the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge after a steel rod snapped Tuesday evening, hitting three vehicles and causing the bridge to be shut down indefinitely, officials said.

Caltrans this morning would not give a time estimate for when the Bay Bridge -- a key route between San Francisco and Oakland used by nearly 280,000 commuters daily -- will reopen.

A spokesman for the agency told reporters this morning that it could take days to make the repairs.

The closure left commuters scrambling for alternative routes, whether that meant taking other bridges or taking mass transit. BART subway lines were jammed this morning, and the agency said it was bringing in more trains.

Motorists were asked to use the Golden Gate Bridge, the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge and the San Mateo Bridge.]

 
The cable broke on the westbound upper deck of the Bay Bridge during the Tuesday evening commute, hitting the vehicles and snarling rush-hour traffic.High winds may have been a factor.

"If you look at the totality of the circumstances -- you've got the 5:30 commute, you have a 5,000-pound piece of steel falling out of the sky. We are so fortunate that no one was injured or killed," California Highway Patrol Sgt. Trent Cross told KTVU-TV.

According to Caltrans, the incident occurred on a part of the bridge that received emergency repairs during the Labor Day weekend. That work was designed to repair a crack on the bridge.

-- Shelby Grad and Baxter Holmes

Photo: Traffic backs up on the Bay Bridge approach Tuesday evening after a bridgework failure. Authorities closed down both directions after a cable snapped on the upper deck of the span. Credit: Noah Berger / San Francisco Chronicle

Lake Elsinore has L.A. area's longest commute, census report finds

Think your commute is bad? Others have it worse – unless you happen to live in Lake Elsinore.

The U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday released new data showing how long it takes people to get to work. In Southern California, Lake Elsinore in Riverside County topped the list, with residents taking an average of 41.8 minutes to get to work. Palmdale and Adelanto were behind, at 40.5 minutes.

The report, which examined data collected between 2006 and 2008, confirms something veteran commuters know well: The worst drives to work are often shared by residents who live in far-flung suburbs. Other Southern California cities high on the list: Walnut, Perris, Murrieta, Moreno Valley, Diamond Bar, Chino Hills, Santa Clarita and La Puente.

The study found that the average Los Angeles resident spends an average of just under half an hour getting to work – putting the city at No. 26 for cities in the region.

Palm Springs and Indio in the Coachella Valley posted some of the shortest commutes in Southern California, about 20 minutes. But not far behind were some Orange County suburbs: Costa Mesa (22.3), Tustin (22.3) and Irvine (22.5).

--Ari B. Bloomekatz and Sandy Poindexter

Photo: Hollywood Freeway traffic.

Credit: Richard Vogel / Associated Press

Interstate 5 reopened in Burbank after big-rig fire, multicar collision

All lanes on Interstate 5 in Burbank have been reopened after a big rig jackknifed and struck the center divider early this morning, catching fire and causing a multi-car collision.

The 5:51 a.m. accident occurred on the northbound lanes near West Alameda Avenue. A SigAlert was issued but was canceled at about 11:30 a.m. California Highway Patrol officials said.

The cause of the accident was under investigation, but CHP spokesman Andre Primeaux said the truck driver told officials he saw an obstruction in the road and swerved left, hitting the median. Three cars on each side of the road were involved in the accident, but only one driver suffered minor injuries. An official of the Burbank Fire Department, which responded to the accident, said she didn't have any update on that person’s condition.

-- Baxter Holmes

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Big-rig accident on 5 Freeway in Burbank tangles morning commute [Updated]

New: Interstate 5 reopened in Burbank after big-rig fire, multicar collision

[Updated at 11:44 a.m.: All lanes have now been reopened.]

[Updated at 11:20 a.m.: Interstate 5 has been reopened, but the two left northbound lanes remained closed for cleanup.]

Traffic is backed up in both directions on Interstate 5 in Burbank this morning after a big rig jackknifed and struck the center divider, causing a multi-car collision.

The 5:51 a.m. accident occurred on the northbound lanes near West Alameda Avenue, forcing the California Highway Patrol to close two northbound lanes and three southbound.

A SigAlert will be in effect for about seven hours while crews clean up the wreckage, CHP officials said.

 
The cause of the accident was under investigation, but officials said the truck’s cab caught fire and that four or five cars were involved. Initial reports indicated that drivers and passengers suffered minor-to- moderate injuries.

-- Baxter Holmes

Photo: Aerial view of big-rig accident on Interstate 5. Credit: KTLA

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Wrong-way driver in Anaheim could face drunk-driving charges, authorities say

A 21-year-old Fullerton woman driving the wrong way on the 91 Freeway in Anaheim will likely face felony drunk-driving charges after a head-on collision this morning that killed two people, authorities said.

Jessica Shekell was driving a pickup truck west on the eastbound 91 Freeway near the 55 Freeway about 3 a.m. when she collided with a Chevy Silverado, said California Highway Patrol Officer Denise Quesada.

The two women and two girls in the Silverado were not wearing seat belts, Quesada said.

Sally Miguel, 44, and Patricia Miguel, 30, died from their injuries. Their nieces in the back seat -- Sara Miguel, 11, and Mary Miguel, 15 -- remained in the hospital. Sara was in serious condition, and Mary was listed in moderate condition, Quesada said. All were from San Bernardino.

Shekell, who could face additional charges, also was hospitalized with “very serious” injuries, Quesada said.

-- Ari B. Bloomekatz

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Metro Gold Line Eastside extension to open Nov. 15

The Metro Gold Line Eastside extension will open Nov. 15, transportation officials announced today.

The $890-million extension is six miles long and runs from Union Station to Atlantic Boulevard in East L.A. Part of the track, 1.7 miles, is made up of twin tunnels.

The line “is going to greatly benefit the community by linking it with schools, hospitals, shopping and business opportunities throughout the county," Ara Najarian, chairman of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority board, said in a statement.

Two killed by wrong-way driver on Anaheim freeway, officials say

A woman who was traveling the wrong way on the 91 Freeway in Anaheim is being investigated for driving under the influence after an early-morning crash killed two people, authorities said.

The woman was driving a pickup truck westbound on an eastbound lane of the 91 Freeway near the 55 Freeway when she collided with another vehicle at about 3 a.m., said California Highway Patrol Officer Denise Quesada.

The four women in the other vehicle were not wearing seat belts, Quesada said, and the driver and front-seat passenger died from their injuries. The two back-seat passengers, who were minors, were taken to the hospital with “major injuries,” she said.

The driver of the pickup also was taken to the hospital with serious injuries and was being investigated for “possibly being under the influence,” Quesada said.

-- Ari B. Bloomekatz

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Metrolink train hits pedestrian in Burbank

A pedestrian was hit by a Metrolink train in Burbank this morning, temporarily delaying service on the Ventura County line, officials said.

The unidentified person was walking on the tracks about 9.20 a.m. at the downtown Burbank station when Train 110 came by, said Metrolink spokeswoman Angela M. Starr.

Starr said the person was taken to a hospital. She did not know if the victim was a man or woman.

Trains were scheduled to operate on one track through Burbank until authorities had completed their investigation, Metrolink officials said.

“All trains are moving. Everything’s back on line,” Starr said.

Westside subway prevails in MTA's long-range plan

In a victory for the mayor, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board today reaffirmed the Westside subway and a rail connection through downtown L.A. as the agency's top priorities for federal funding.

The board took the action despite calls from some in Southern California's congressional delegation that the MTA add other projects to its priority list for New Starts federal money, including light-rail extensions in the San Gabriel Valley, the Southside and the Eastside.

LAX hikes parking fees at economy lots

Travelers who use the economy parking lots at Los Angeles International Airport will pay $2 more per day starting Nov.19.

The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners approved the increase Monday for parking lots B and C, whose rates were last raised in 2002.

When the increase goes into effect it will cost $10 a day to park in Lot B on 111th Street and $12 a day in  Lot C off Sepulveda Boulevard.

Airport officials said the new rates will help offset the rising costs of operating, maintaining and policing the lots, as well as the free bus service that shuttles passengers between the parking lots and airport terminals.

-- Dan Weikel

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Mayor's effort to fast-track Westside subway faces challenge

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s efforts to fast-track the long-stalled Westside subway faced a challenge Tuesday when a bipartisan group of congressional representatives said the current plan is unlikely to get immediate federal funding.

Villaraigosa has been pushing to have the subway completed in 10 years, more than 15 years earlier than current estimates.

At his urging, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board agreed to submit the subway expansion, as well as a plan to build a light-rail link through downtown, as the county’s two projects to compete against a national pool of federal funding.

But the 14 members of Congress who signed a letter released today said those two programs don’t have a good shot at immediately getting federal funding. Further, they said that L.A. County risks not get anything from the federal New Starts program unless it adds other regional rail proposals, including an extension of the Gold Line in the San Gabriel Valley and a rail line down Crenshaw Boulevard in South L.A. and the South Bay.

Metrolink engineers union sues to block surveillance cameras in locomotives

The union representing Metrolink engineers today filed a federal lawsuit to halt the video-surveillance systems recently installed in all of the commuter rail line’s locomotives.

Metrolink installed cameras as a direct response to the deadly 2008 Metrolink crash in Chatsworth that killed 25 people and apparently involved an engineer who earlier had been text messaging on his cellphone.

Metrolink officials said the purpose of the video recording, which cost $1 million to install in all locomotives, was to ensure that engineers adhered to agency bans on cellphones, text messaging and allowing unauthorized passengers in the cab.

LAX's popular FlyAway bus service finally comes to Orange County

The first FlyAway bus service from Orange County to LAX is expected to begin Nov. 16 at a cost of $25 each way, L.A. airport officials said.

The popular bus service -- which already connects the airport to several spots in Los Angeles County -- will operate out of Irvine by Coach America Los Angeles.

“With the expansion of FlyAway to Irvine, we are increasing LAX’s contribution to reducing regional traffic congestion and improving air quality, while better serving our Orange County customers, especially those traveling internationally,” said Los Angeles World Airports Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey. “FlyAway removes hundreds of thousands of cars each year from our roads, while providing a convenient, affordable way to use LAX. We believe Irvine has the potential to be a viable ground transportation alternative for travelers who prefer to ride than drive to LAX.”

Bellflower traffic crash involving stolen vehicle critically injures two children

A traffic collision today in Bellflower caused by three men in a stolen vehicle left a 6-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy in critical condition, authorities said.

After failing to stop at a DUI checkpoint at Artesia Boulevard and Obispo Avenue in Long Beach, three men in a sport utility vehicle drove east on Artesia about 12:25 a.m. and caused a three-car collision near Lakewood Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The men fled on foot, but were later apprehended and are in custody. Their names and ages were not released.

The driver of the vehicle, which was reportedly stolen in Torrance, will be charged with felony hit and run, said Sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Neeper.

The two children are cousins and were in a vehicle with their grandparents, who suffered minor injuries. The occupants of the third car also suffered minor injuries.

-- Corina Knoll