Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Collection of Metro Red Line Construction Progress Photographs, 1987-1992, bulk 1988-1990

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Summary

Creators:
Southern California Rapid Transit District, De Leuw, Cather & Company, Dillingham Corporation, and Ralph M. Parsons Company
Abstract:
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority collection of Metro Red Line construction progress photographs consists of photos, 35mm negatives, contact sheets, proof approval sheets, correspondence, cassette tapes, and video cassette tapes transferred from the construction company to the Southern California Rapid Transit District (SCRTD) and the Rail Construction Corporation by construction company Ralph M. Parsons Corp., Deleuw, Cather & Co. and Dillingham Corporation (PDCD). The material in this collection was created between the years 1987 and 1992 when the first segment of the Red Line was being built.
Extent:
6.34 linear feet 11 boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Collection of Metro Red Line Construction Progress Photographs, 03-DPGTL. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Research Library and Archive.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection documents construction progress of the first operable segment of the Red Line, a heavy rail line in Los Angeles California connecting downtown Los Angeles to North Hollywood. The collection consists of photographs, audio cassettes labeled as R/E Meetings, monthly meetings, weekly meetings, and claims meetings, and video cassette tapes depicting construction of the segment. The material in this collection was created between the years of 1987 and 1992. Employees of Ralph M. Parsons Corp., Deleuw, Cather & Co. and Dillingham Corporation (PDCD), the construction company contracted by SCRTD, took the photographs and photos were transferred from PDCD to the SCRTD once a month. Later, as the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission (LACTC) took over responsibility for construction of the Red Line, the monthly photos were sent to the Rail Construction Company, which operated under the LACTC.

Biographical / historical:

SCRTD was created on August 22, 1964 to serve the urbanized Southern California region, including Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, Orange County, and Riverside County, replacing LAMTA and ten different private bus companies in the Southern California region. SCRTD was placed in charge of creating a heavy rail public transportation system for Southern California, and for planning for bus improvements.

In 1980 voters passed Proposition A, a half-cent sales tax for a regional transit system; the measure succeeded after similar proposals in 1968 and 1974 had failed. The map that accompanied Proposition A showed ten transit corridors with the Wilshire subway line the "cornerstone" of the system. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn was one of the key supporters of Proposition A, declaring, "I'm going to put the trains back." Hahn ensured that his South Los Angeles district received the first dollars for a light-rail line on the old Long Beach Red Car route from Los Angeles to Long Beach (Metro Blue Line), after seeing the success of the San Diego Trolley.

On September 11, 1985, Congressman Waxman added an amendment to that year's Federal Transportation Budget removing all subway construction funds, citing safety concerns after an unrelated methane explosion in the Fairfax District.

By 1986, thanks in part to last minute lobbying by SCRTD president Nick Patsaouras, compromise was reached between Waxman and Representative Julian Dixon. The deal allowed funding as long as service did not pass through the Wilshire corridor. With a Wilshire corridor alignment prohibited, the Red Line was re-prioritized and routed north up Vermont Avenue (the next highest projected ridership corridor) to Hollywood Boulevard. Because of the change in alignment, there is now a 1-mile stub on Wilshire Boulevard between Vermont and Western Avenues.

Acquisition information:
Material held by SCRTD and the Rail Construction Corporation was passed on to LACMTA after the 1993 merger.
Custodial history:

The photographs in this collection were created by PDCD and were transferred to the SCRTD and the RCC. After California State Legislation passed to create the LACMTA, all construction records were passed to the LACMTA. These records were stored in accordance to the LACMTA's record retention schedule. Once the retention period passed, the records in this collection were brought to the Library and Archive to either be retained permanently or scheduled for destruction.

Processing information:

Processed by Denise Villegas, 2013.

Arrangement:

The material in this collection is arranged in the following 6 series:

  1. Travel Photographs Depicting Rail Rapid Transit in Other Cities, February 1983 - December 1989
  2. Rail Presentations, May 1983 - circa 1990
  3. Construction Photographs, April 1987 - October 1992
  4. Meetings and Claims Audio, May 1987 - December 1990
  5. Construction moving images, July - October 1990
  6. Bids, Metro Rail Project, June 1988
Accruals:

Further accruals expected.

Physical location:
LACMTA Research Library and Archive
Physical description:
,
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. Collection partially stored off-site. Advance notice required for access. Contact LACMTA Research Library and Archive to make an appointment.

Terms of access:

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], Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Collection of Metro Red Line Construction Progress Photographs, 03-DPGTL. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Research Library and Archive.

Location of this collection:
One Gateway Plaza, Mail Stop: 99-15-1
Los Angeles, CA 90012, US
Contact:
213.922.4859
kennedyc@metro.net
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