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
© 2016
One Gateway Plaza
Mail Stop: 99-15-1
Los Angeles, CA 90012
library@metro.net
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