Roundup of articles on the delayed opening of the Expo Line

Articles 1

Link: Over Budget and Delayed: Full Expo Line Route Won't Open Next Year - LAist

Over Budget and Delayed: Full Expo Line Route Won't Open Next Year


The first phase of the Expo Line will be 8.6 miles of light rail track between downtown L.A. and Culver City

A train ride between downtown and Culver City will not happen in 2010, according to a report by the LA Times today. The delayed Expo Line project is $230 million over budget and if anything opens late next year or early 2011, it will open be eight stations from downtown to Crenshaw Boulevard. The remainder of the route--three stations to Culver City--would open on a later date, possibly late 2011 or 2012.

The culprit in this mess? "A variety of change orders, additions and increases in material costs," says the Times. Of that includes the strong opposition from the Fix Expo campaign, which has fought for increased pedestrian improvements.

"They've known that these street-level crossings in our community and next to our schools were opposed by our community since the inception of this project," said Damien Goodmon of Fix Expo to the paper. "The reality is this project was sold as being cheap and built fast, and the fact is neither of those points has come true."

Metro's website still claims the line in full will open in 2010.

By Zach Behrens in News on December 8, 2009 8:59 AM 4 Comments 2 Likes Likes

Article 2

Expo Line project costs and delays are ballooning, will open only to Crenshaw next year

December 8, 2009 |  7:12 am

The Expo Line, the first rail project into the traffic-clogged Westside, is $220 million over its original budget and more than a year behind schedule, with officials saying additional delays and costs are possible.

The line was supposed to open this summer, running from downtown Los Angeles to Culver City at a cost of $640 million.

But the price tag has risen to $862 million, and transit officials say their goal for next year is to open just a portion of the route -- only as far west as Crenshaw Boulevard.

It is unclear what the ridership for such a short line would be, but it probably would be considerably less than the full run to Culver City. Officials are unsure when the Expo Line will reach Culver City or how much the total cost will be upon completion.

Read the full story here.

-- Ari B. Bloomekatz

Article 3

Link: Expo Line Budget Derails | NBC Los Angeles

Expo Line Budget Derails
The $640 million project has skyrocketed to $862 million
By SCOTT WEBER
Updated 2:45 PM PST, Tue, Dec 8, 2009

It was supposed to open this summer with the promise of fixing the congested Westside. Now the Expo Line rail project is $220 million over budget and at least a year behind schedule.

Officials had hoped that the 8.6 mile line connecting downtown to Culver City would be relatively simple and cost effective since it used right-of-way from the Southern Pacific railway. But the plan quickly derailed after a series of construction delays, problems with contractors, and project changes increased costs and delayed the opening.

According to the LA Times, problems included construction delays where the Expo and Blue lines meet on Flower Street, the decision to add a station at USC and safety improvements required next to public schools along the route.

The $640 million project has skyrocketed to $862 million and it may cost tens of millions more, the Times reported. Transit officials hope to open at least a portion of the route to west Crenshaw Boulevard next year.

The Culver City station may be running by the end of 2011 or the beginning of 2012 although no official decision has been made, the Times said.
First Published: Dec 8, 2009 2:39 PM PST