Link: http://blogs.uscannenberg.org/neontommy/2010/06/construction-on-the-expo-line.html
Construction On Expo Line Said To Continue For Another Year
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Construction for the Exposition Light Rail Transit Line began more than three years ago.
The Expo Line aims to provide an alternate travel option to the consistent traffic on the I-10 freeway.
Phase 1 of the project, which broke ground in 2006, will produce an 8.6 mile track with nine stops from Downtown L.A. to Culver City.
"We are supposed to be working on this for another year," said construction worker George Hernandez, who was working at the Expo/USC stop. "But I doubt we'll be done."
Though multiple electrical and construction companies are working on the project, electrician Mike Johnson said, "There just aren't enough men out here working every day."
Gabriela Collins, a representative from the Exposition Construction Authority, said the Expo Line will be operating from Downtown L.A. to the La Cienega Boulevard stop next summer.
"In summer 2011, the light rail will be open and operating from 7th Street to La Cienega," she said. "Unfortunately the last stop in Culver City on Venice Boulevard is trailing behind. We are projecting that it will be finished in late 2011 and open in early 2012."
Phase 2 of the Expo Line, which would go from Culver City to Santa Monica, is projected to be complete by summer 2015, Collins said.
The Expo Line aims to provide an alternate travel option to the consistent traffic on the I-10 freeway.
Phase 1 of the project, which broke ground in 2006, will produce an 8.6 mile track with nine stops from Downtown L.A. to Culver City.
"We are supposed to be working on this for another year," said construction worker George Hernandez, who was working at the Expo/USC stop. "But I doubt we'll be done."
Though multiple electrical and construction companies are working on the project, electrician Mike Johnson said, "There just aren't enough men out here working every day."
Gabriela Collins, a representative from the Exposition Construction Authority, said the Expo Line will be operating from Downtown L.A. to the La Cienega Boulevard stop next summer.
"In summer 2011, the light rail will be open and operating from 7th Street to La Cienega," she said. "Unfortunately the last stop in Culver City on Venice Boulevard is trailing behind. We are projecting that it will be finished in late 2011 and open in early 2012."
Phase 2 of the Expo Line, which would go from Culver City to Santa Monica, is projected to be complete by summer 2015, Collins said.
No, "we are supposed to be working on this for another year" is hardly definitive. What does that mean? Exactly 365 days from today? Approximately one year? Okay then, does that mean 11 months, or 14 months? There's a big difference between those two concepts. Is there an actual opening date set in stone right now, or at least a temporarily fixed date?
He may have some inside info, probably more than the average outsider, but he is not a definitive source. Someone higher up in Expo should have been quoted also. And if you couldn't reach them, then you should have said that representatives from the Expo Construction Authority could not be reached for their comment.
Sam,
Talking to and Identifying your source is fine. It gives the reader sufficient information about the source. The worker may have been a site manager who is clued into the schedule or just a very smart aware employee.
What I hate is when the real reporter talks to the construction worker and identifies them as a source close to the project.
As for the ID on Gabriela, It is correct. I don't see how you can find fault with it.
A student reporter who has no idea about what to report. For starters, you don't go out and get quotes from the construction workers. Their job is to build, not comment on the schedule of the project. How would they have any idea?
But, even worse, the student reporter couldn't even get the title of the Expo representative correct or to challenge the misinformation from the employees that had no business talking to the press, as that isn't their job or skillset.
This is sad and pathetic. Phenia, an F is the best you deserve. Poor. Embarassing. Yikes.