Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Southern California Rapid Transit District collection of Metro Rail Project aerial photographs
- Dates:
- 1981-1983
- Creators:
- Southern California Rapid Transit District and Teledyne Geotronics
- 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.
- Extent:
- 0.834 linear feet 2 boxes
- Language:
- English
- 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.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
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.
- 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.
- Acquisition information:
- SCRTD records were passed to LACMTA in the 1993 merger.
- Processing information:
-
Found partially processed; processing completed by Noah Geraci, September 2016.
- Arrangement:
-
The materials are arranged in original order at the folder level.
- Physical location:
- LACMTA Research Library and Archive
- Physical description:
- ,
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2016-10-06 11:30:50 -0700 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open for research. 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], Southern California Rapid Transit District collection of Metro Rail Project aerial photographs, 23-DPGTL. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Research Library and Archive.
- Location of this collection:
-
One Gateway Plaza, Mail Stop: 99-15-1Los Angeles, CA 90012, US
- Contact:
- 213.922.4859