Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Metro Red Line Construction Progress Photographs
03-DPGTL
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Library and Archives
Title: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Collection of Metro Red Line Construction Progress Photographs
Source:
Southern California Rapid Transit District
Creator:
De Leuw, Cather & Company
Creator:
Dillingham Corporation
Creator:
Ralph M. Parsons Company
Identifier/Call Number: 03-DPGTL
Physical Description:
6.34 linear feet,
11 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1987-1992
Date (bulk): 1988-1990
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.
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.
Material held by SCRTD and the Rail Construction Corporation was passed on to LACMTA after the 1993 merger.
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.
Further accruals expected.
Processed by Denise Villegas, 2013.
Open for research. Collection partially stored off-site. 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.
[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.
20-DPGTL Southern California Rapid Transit District collection of Metro Rail artist's renderings
22-DPGTL Metro Art Department collection of Metro Rail public art photographs
23-DPGTL Southern California Rapid Transit District collection of Metro Rail Project aerial photographs
22-DPGTL Metro Art Department collection of Metro Rail public art photographs
23-DPGTL Southern California Rapid Transit District collection of Metro Rail Project aerial photographs
The material in this collection is arranged in the following 6 series:
- Travel Photographs Depicting Rail Rapid Transit in Other Cities, February 1983 - December 1989
- Rail Presentations, May 1983 - circa 1990
- Construction Photographs, April 1987 - October 1992
- Meetings and Claims Audio, May 1987 - December 1990
- Construction moving images, July - October 1990
- Bids, Metro Rail Project, June 1988
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Local transit -- Design and construction -- California -- Los Angeles County
Subway stations -- California -- Los Angeles County
Subways -- California -- Los Angeles County
Local transit -- California -- Los Angeles County
Southern California Rapid Transit District