Finding aid for Southern California Rapid Transit District collection of Metro Rail Project aerial photographs

Finding aid prepared by Noah Geraci

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Library and Archives

One Gateway Plaza

Mail Stop: 99-15-1

Los Angeles, CA 90012

library@metro.net

URL: http://www.metro.net/about/library/

Language of Material: English

Contributing Institution: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Library and Archives

Title: Southern California Rapid Transit District collection of Metro Rail Project aerial photographs

Creator: Southern California Rapid Transit District

Creator: Teledyne Geotronics

Identifier/Call Number: 23-DPGTL

Physical Description: 0.834 linear feet, 2 boxes

Date (inclusive): 1981-1983

Physical Location: LACMTA Research Library and Archive

Abstract: This collection holds black and white aerial photographs taken between 1981 and 1983 as part of early planning for Metro Rail construction in Los Angeles. The photographs of downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, North Hollywood and Mid-Wilshire were taken for SCRTD by Long Beach-based contractor Teledyne.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact LACMTA Research Library and Archive to make an appointment.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the LACMTA Research Library and Archive. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the LACMTA Research Library and Archive as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement that may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the LACMTA Research Library and Archive collections.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Southern California Rapid Transit District collection of Metro Rail Project aerial photographs, 23-DPGTL. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Research Library and Archive.

Processing Information

Found partially processed; processing completed by Noah Geraci, September 2016.

Biographical / Historical

Planning for Metro rail service formally began in 1975 with SCRTD's formation of a Rapid Transit Advisory Committee to identify a starter line for rail rapid transit. In 1979, a Draft Environment Impact Report/Alternatives Analysis was released for a rail starter line that would eventually become the Metro Red Line subway. In 1980, a majority of Los Angeles County voters approved Proposition A, a half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, with 35% of revenue dedicated for rail construction.

With this funding secured, rail planning began in earnest in the early 1980s. It was at this time that SCRTD contracted Long Beach-based industrial conglomerate Teledyne for aerial photography of relevant sites. The geographic focus of these photographs appears to align with original plans for a route that proceeded west from Downtown Los Angeles underneath Wilshire Boulevard, then followed Fairfax Avenue north to Sunset Boulevard, backtracking east to Cahuenga Boulevard, and finally travelled northwest to the terminus at North Hollywood station.

In 1985, the Ross Dress for Less methane gas explosion at Fairfax and Third, related to seepage from the underground Salt Lake Oil Field, prompted changes in funding and plans for the rail project based on safety concerns. The planned route was changed to avoid the mid-Wilshire area. Construction on a five station "starter line" subway in downtown Los Angeles began in 1986.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of 10x10” black and white aerial photographs of the Los Angeles area, created for SCRTD by Teledyne Electronics as part of early planning for the Metro Rail project. The photographs depict downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, North Hollywood and Mid-Wilshire, and include eventual sites of Red Line construction. Some photographs contain handwritten markings and annotations.

Arrangement

The materials are arranged in original order at the folder level.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

SCRTD records were passed to LACMTA in the 1993 merger.

Related Materials

This repository holds the following additional collections related to Metro Rail planning and construction:

03-DPGTL LACMTA Collection of Metro Red Line Construction Progress Photographs
20-DPGTL Southern California Rapid Transit District collection of Metro Rail artist's renderings

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Local transit -- California -- Los Angeles County

Local transit -- Design and construction -- California -- Los Angeles County

Aerial photography in railroad surveying -- California -- Los Angeles County

box 1, folder 1

Metro Rail Project Aerial Photographs 1981 September 20

Scope and Contents

31 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of Union Station and the surrounding area

box 1, folder 2

Metro Rail Project Aerial Photographs 1981 September 20

Scope and Contents

25 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of Union Station and the surrounding area

box 1, folder 3

Metro Rail Project Aerial Photographs 1981 September 20

Scope and Contents

57 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of the mid-Wilshire area along Wilshire Boulevard and North on Fairfax Avenue, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Page Museum, and the La Brea tar pits

box 1, folder 4

Metro Rail Project Aerial Photographs 1981 September 26

Scope and Contents

13 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of Union Station and the surrounding area

box 1, folder 5

Metro Rail Project Aerial Photographs 1981 September 26

Scope and Contents

41 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of Union Station and the surrounding area, including the L.A. River

box 1, folder 6

Metro Rail Project Aerial Photographs 1981 December 02

Scope and Contents

13 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of the intersection of Vermont and Sunset and the surrounding area

box 1, folder 7

Metro Rail Project Aerial Photographs 1981 December 15

Scope and Contents

22 13 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of a portion of Hollywood, including 101 freeway, the Hollywood Bowl, and Universal Studios

box 1, folder 8

Metro Rail Project Aerial Photographs 1981 December 15

Scope and Contents

22 photos identical to those in folder 7 except with some street names labeled with red permanent marker, including Las Palmas Avenue, Wilcox Avenue, Cahuenga Boulevard, Vine Street, Argyle Avenue, Highland Avenue, Gower Street, Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood Boulevard, Yucca Street, Franklin Avenue, Mulholland Drive, and Lankershim Boulevard

box 1, folder 9

Metro Rail Project Aerial Photographs 1981 December 22

Scope and Contents

54 13 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of the North Hollywood area including Cahuenga Boulevard, Regal Place, Fruitland Drive, Lankershim Boulevard, Vineland Avenue, Fair Avenue, Wrightwood Drive, Moorpark Street, Maple Street, Riverside Drive, the Los Angeles River, the Hollywood Freeway, the Ventura Freeway, Camarillo Street, Magnolia Boulevard, Chandler Boulevard, and Burbank Boulevard

box 1, folder 10

Roll 2 1-13 Santa Fe Yard 1981 September

Scope and Contents

13 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of the Santa Fe Yard

box 1, folder 11

Roll 3 1-18 Fountain Avenue 1981 December

Scope and Contents

18 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of the Mid-Wilshire area with some streets labeled including Vine Street, Fountain Avenue, De Longpre Avenue, Mirada Avenue, Centro Avenue, Lodi Place, Gower Street, Wilcox Avenue, Cahuenga Boulevard, June Street, Seward Street, Cherokee Avenue, Lexington Avenue, Highland Avenue, La Brea Avenue, Orange Drive, and Fairfax Avenue

box 1, folder 12

Roll 3 19-28 Cahuenga Boulevard 1981 December

Scope and Contents

20 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of a portion of the Hollywood area, including Fountain Avenue, Santa Monica Boulevard, Wilcox Avenue, Cahuenga Boulevard, Vine Street, Sunset Boulevard, Selma Street, Sunset Boulevard, Franklin Avenue

box 1, folder 13

Roll 5 1-27 Vineland/Cahuenga 1981 December

Scope and Contents

27 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of a portion of the Hollywood area

box 1, folder 14

Metro Rail Project Aerial Photographs 1982 December 04

Scope and Contents

28 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of a portion of the North Hollywood area North Hollywood High School, Chandler Boulevard, Vineland Avenue, and Lankershim Boulevard

box 1, folder 15

Metro Rail Project Aerial Photographs 1982 September

Scope and Contents

10 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of a portion of the North Hollywood and Hollywood area including Oxnard Street, Burbank Boulevard, Chandler Boulevard, Woodman Avenue, Fulton Avenue, Coldwater Canyon, Hollywood Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard, La Brea Avenue

box 2, folder 1

Roll 6 1-25 Sunset Boulevard 1982 December

Scope and Contents

51 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of a portion of the Hollywood area near Sunset Boulevard

box 2, folder 2

Roll 6 26-33 7th Street 1982 December

Scope and Contents

16 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of a portion of the Downtown Los Angeles area near 7th Street, Figueroa Street, and Flower Street

box 2, folder 3

Roll 6 34-59 Lankershim Boulevard 1983 January

Scope and Contents

51 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of a portion of the North Hollywood area near Lankershim Boulevard

box 2, folder 4

Metro Rail Project Aerial Photographs 1983 January 05

Scope and Contents

26 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of a portion of the North Hollywood area

box 2, folder 5

Roll 6B 1-13 So. Pac R/W E. of Hollywood Freeway 1982 January

Scope and Contents

14 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of a portion of the Southern Pacific Railway right of way east of the Hollywood Freeway

box 2, folder 6

Roll 6C 1-10 Hill Street 1982 September

Scope and Contents

10 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of a portion of the Downtown Los Angeles area near Hill Street

box 2, folder 7

Metro Rail Project Aerial Photographs 1982 September

Scope and Contents

2 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of a portion of the North Hollywood area

box 2, folder 8

Metro Rail Project Aerial Photographs 1982 December 13

Scope and Contents

25 10x10 black and white photographs depicting an aerial view of a portion of the Hollywood area