Latest news with #LAMetro
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Los Angeles brush fire injures 1, shuts down Metro line
A brush fire that broke out in the San Fernando Valley Wednesday afternoon injured one person, caused a shutdown of an LA Metro line and encroached on structures before forward progress was stopped. The Balboa Fire was first reported around 12:20 p.m. near the Sepulveda Basin Sports Complex on the 6400 block of North Balboa Blvd. in Van Nuys. According to the Watch Duty app, the fire initially had burned about 1.5 acres and was spreading to the north with a potential threat to structures. Multiple palm trees were involved in the blaze, which Watch Duty reporter Grant Miles said was being driven by the topography of the area. A full brush fire response was requested by the Los Angeles Fire Department, which was providing water drops and working to establish a hose line around the fire on the ground. By around 12:55 p.m., forward progress had been stopped with structure protection in place. The fire had scorched more than four acres by the time firefights stopped its momentum. The Los Angeles Fire Department said the structure of most concern was for the Army Recruiting Battalion nearby. The structure itself was protected, but vehicles in the parking lot were still at risk of igniting, officials said. The Metro G Line, the dedicated bus rapid transit line previously known as the Orange Line, is currently shut down due to the fire. The closure is in place from Woodley to White Oaks avenues, LAFD said. One person, a civilian, suffered burn injuries and was being treated by paramedics at the scene. The severity of their injuries is unclear at this time. The brush fire comes as much of Los Angeles County, including the entirety of the San Fernando Valley, is under a heat advisory from the National Weather Service. Check back for details on this developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Another L.A. County city using automated cameras to ticket bus lane violations
Camera-powered ticketing systems for bus lane violations are now in effect for another Los Angeles County bus system. On Monday, Culver City officially launched its Automated Bus Lane and Bus Stop Enforcement (ABLE) Program, which uses bus-mounted automated enforcement technology to ticket drivers who block or illegally park in bus lanes, in front of bus stops or along shared bike lanes. 'These illegal parking violations impact the safety, accessibility, and efficiency of public transit—particularly for riders with disabilities—by preventing buses from safely pulling to the curb and forcing passengers to board in unsafe areas,' Culver City officials wrote in a news release. The cameras are in use on Culver CityBus vehicles, which operate seven lines and encompass 33 square miles in Culver City and surrounding communities. The cameras collect evidence of a violation which is later reviewed manually by a human employee. Once confirmed that a parking violation has occurred, a ticket is then mailed to the vehicle's owner. AI cameras ticket thousands for bus lane violations in L.A. A 60-day warning period has come to an end, meaning vehicles will start receiving citations this week. First time offenders can expect to receive a $293 citation for blocking or illegally parking in these designated spots; low-income plans are available to residents. The parking restrictions are not new, but were previously only enforced when a traffic officer was on the scene. Culver CityBus joins LA Metro in administering parking tickets using camera mounted on its buses. Other major cities, including Oakland and Sacramento in California, and New York City, have used similar systems with proven track records, of success, Culver City officials said. In New York, since 2019 when camera enforcement began, bus speeds have increased by as much as 36% in certain high-traffic areas, and collisions along bus routes with the technology decreased by as much as 34%, officials said. For additional information about Culver CityBus and the ABLE Program, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Busy Los Angeles subway line will close for more than 2 months
The Metro D Line, one of two underground subways in the LA Metro system, will be closed for more than two months as construction crews continue progress on a yearslong expansion project. LA Metro will suspend service on the D Line for 70 days beginning on the evening of May 17, with service restored by July 26. The D Line connects Los Angeles Union Station to Koreatown, with its current final destination at the Wilshire and Western Station. This upcoming closure will include the entirety of its route from K Town to downtown L.A. In the meantime, a bus bridge will connect impacted stations during the closure, and service on the B Line, L.A.'s other underground subway line that shares some of the same route, will run more frequently during peak hours. The construction is part of the ongoing D Line Subway Extension, which broke ground in 2014. The project will extend the D Line, previously known as the Purple Line, into West L.A., with seven new stations along the way in Beverly Hills, Hancock Park and Westwood. Three stations, Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax and Wilshire/La Cienega, are slated to open later this year. The remaining stations are planned to open in 2026 and 2027, assuming the project avoids additional delays. Tunneling on Section 1 is completed, tracks have been laid and lighting has been installed. Crews are currently working to connect existing communication lines and power systems with the new segment. 'These aren't ordinary tunnels,' Metro wrote on its blog The Source. 'The subway is monitored by complex computer systems that regulate everything from air quality to ventilation to the emergency sprinklers.' The project is among the most crucial in LA Metro's long term plans to provide greater and more efficient transit options in the city. LA Metro plans to have the D Line extension complete in time for the 2028 Olympics, which city officials hope will be a mostly car-free event. For updates and trip planning, you can visit LA Metro's dedicated D Line closure page, or call 323-466-3876. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
SFPD Chief Bill Scott tapped as head of LA Metro police force
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways LOS ANGELES - After announcing his resignation in San Francisco on Wednesday, Police Chief Bill Scott is set to become the inaugural chief of the in-house police department at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the city's public transit system. Bill Scott served over eight years as police chief in San Francisco, appointed in 2017 by then-mayor Ed Lee. Prior to San Francisco, Scott spent 27 years with the Los Angeles Police Department. LA Metro officials made the announcement Wednesday afternoon, just hours after Scott spoke at San Francisco City Hall on Wednesday alongside Mayor Daniel Lurie. Scott "will be responsible for building the department from the ground up and will play a key role in safety planning for major upcoming global events," LA Metro said. Los Angeles is slated to host the Summer Olympics in 2028 and the World Cup in 2026. In 2024, the Los Angeles Metro board voted to create an independent police force, the decision coming after a string of violent crimes on buses and trains. FOX LA reported last summer that the agency contracts with law enforcement at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Los Angeles Police Department and the Long Beach Police Department. During the San Francisco news conference Wednesday morning, Lurie and Scott touted that crime is down almost 30% from last year and the homicide rate in 2024 was the city's lowest in more than 60 years. Scott said he never in his wildest dreams thought he'd ever be police chief in San Francisco. "Let me start by saying that serving as the chief of police of this great city for the past eight years has been truly an honor," he said. Scott highlighted the fact that under his leadership, the California Attorney General released the San Francisco Police Department in January from state oversight, which it has been under since 2018. "Facing a significant officer shortage, he has led the way in leveraging modern technology effectively and responsibly to prevent crime and catch criminals." Lurie said, calling Scott a friend and noting that the chief would help him over the next six weeks for a "smooth transition."
Newsweek
29-04-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Los Angeles $2.4 Billion Rail Project Put on Hold
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A $2.4 billion rail project that would have been a key part of Los Angeles' 2028 Olympic infrastructure has been scrapped after local opposition. The Inglewood Transit Connector Project replaced plans for a suspended light-rail system with a shuttle bus network after a series of consultations with businesses and communities in the area. Newsweek contacted the project's management for comment via email. Why It Matters The Inglewood Transit Connector Project was designed to upgrade Los Angeles' public transportation infrastructure ahead of the city's hosting of the 2028 Olympic Games. The original plan would have seen an automated light-rail system introduced in Inglewood, transporting tourists and other travelers above street level to and from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where the next Olympics will take place. What To Know In a statement released on Monday, the project's managers, LA Metro, said that there would instead be a staggered rollout of new shuttle bus routes along with "enhanced smart traffic technology." Plans for the light-rail system no longer appear on the project's timeline, and there is no mention of the original design in the project's Q&A update either. "The rephased plan is based on insights gained through engagement with the Inglewood community, including workshops and one-on-one meetings with business owners and community members," the statement behind the decision read. "Officials view the reimagined approach as a critical first step in meeting the core needs of Inglewood residents and businesses, including traffic relief, connected and walkable neighborhoods, and a more accessible downtown area." A rendering of the Inglewood light-rail system, released by the City of Inglewood in 2021. A rendering of the Inglewood light-rail system, released by the City of Inglewood in 2021. City of Inglewood The light-rail system would have been 1.6 miles long and was given a $2.4 billion budget. Elevate Inglewood Partners had been selected to carry out the construction on the rail system before the changes were announced. The rail plans had faced severe opposition from Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke and LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, with a spokesperson for Kroenke saying the project would have "threatened the future development" of the business. What People Are Saying Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, in a statement: "With the world watching us as we prepare to host the 2028 Olympics, we're also looking inward—listening to our community and taking strategic steps to deliver on what matters most to the people who live and work here. "This updated and phased approach to the ITC is our response to what we've heard: a desire for traffic relief and improved quality of life, connected and walkable neighborhoods, and a revitalized downtown reflecting Inglewood's existing vibrant culture." What Happens Next The shuttle bus system will be delivered by 2028, in time to support the influx of tourism expected for the Olympics.
