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(1985-Current)
Record 2 of 2
Los Angeles Times
August 16, 2000
Signs Point to Westside Transit Mystery
Billboards: Maps of a new commuter line create a rush-hour buzz,and a
variety of theories.
Author: BOB POOL; TIMES STAFF WRITER
Metro Desk
Edition: Home Edition
Section: Metro
Page: B-2
Index Terms:
PUBLIC ART
ARTISTS
LOS ANGELES -- TRANSPORTATION
Estimated printed pages: 3
Article Text:
It seemed to some Westside motorists stuck in traffic Tuesday that
relief was in sight.
"Future Station Location, Metro Aqua Line," announced a series of
large signs--sporting the familiar Metropolitan Transportation
Authority logo--that seemed to sprout overnight along San Vicente and
Wilshire boulevards.
A map included on the 5-foot panels showed that 10 new Metro Aqua Line
stations were planned between Santa Monica and the existing Metro Rail
Red Line subway.
But with what kind of mass transit was the MTA planning to link
downtown Los Angeles and a broad swath of the Westside? One that would
connect the Fairfax district, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Westwood,
Brentwood and Santa Monica?
Some were certain the Aqua Line would be an above-ground trolley, like
the MTA Blue Line light rail system between Los Angeles and Long
Beach.
"They wouldn't make it a subway because of the methane gas beneath
Fairfax," said a Santa Monica man studying the Aqua Line construction
sign at San Vicente and 26th Street.
"I just hope they're not going to take out any traffic lanes for it.
But this is fantastic. This will run three blocks from my house and
there's a station at Comstock and Wilshire, near my brother's place,"
said the man, who would identify himself only as Stan.
Nearby, boutique operator Robert Keirstead was convinced that the Aqua
Line would be underground. He was happily anticipating the new
customers it would bring to his store, Dungarees.
"I think it's a subway. I'm assuming they're already building it
underneath us. I think that's what's been knocking out my electricity
the last few weeks," Keirstead said.
Given the Aqua Line name, some wondered whether the signs announced a
pending water pipe project. Or maybe another sewer line project,
suggested Brentwood resident Katie Grimditch.
But that would probably be called the Brown Line. "If it's a sewer
line, I'm embarrassed," she said, laughing.
A man sipping a noontime drink outside the Jamba Juice shop at San
Vicente and Montana Avenue speculated that the Aqua Line was simply a
new bus line.
Brentwood resident Sue Nordhaus said she drove past the sign twice to
read it.
She suggested that it might be something officials put up for the
Democratic National Convention "to make visitors think we have a
transit system."
Her friend Monique Martin, also of Brentwood, wondered whether the
Aqua Line was actually a canal. "Not a canal. A Conal. You know,
Robbie Conal"--the Los Angeles street artist whose work is often
posted on corners all over town.
Promoting Dialogue About Transportation
Turns out Martin's guess was the closest of all.
A recorded message greeted callers to the "Aqua Line Hotline," whose
number is printed on the signs. All Aqua Line operators were "busy"
and unable to answer calls, it advised.
MTA officials denied involvement in the project.
Ed Scannell, a spokesman for the agency, said the MTA suspects that
the Aqua Line signs are part of an elaborate art project.
And sure enough, a group called 'Heavy Trash took credit Tuesday
afternoon for creating the fictitious subway plan.
The group posted eight signs Sunday "in an attempt to promote civic
dialogue about the need for better transportation in Los Angeles," it
said in a statement.
"Heavy Trash created this project in response to the attitudes taken
by many upscale neighborhoods toward the implementation of mass
transit in their area. Homeowner groups often see mass transit as an
encroachment upon their living space by lower-income residents. This
'not in my backyard' mentality has stopped many plans for the
expansion of the Metro in its tracks."
No names were attached to the announcement, but Heavy Trash was
described as "an anonymous organization of architects, artists and
builders" who create urban art installations.
In other words, the Aqua Line was created by underground artists, not
underground tunnelers.
Caption:
PHOTO: A sign at 26th Street in Brentwood leaves many guessing.Some
speculated that it might be a subway.
PHOTOGRAPHER: KEN LUBAS / Los Angeles Times
Copyright 2000 The Times Mirror Company; Los Angeles Times
Record Number: 000076850
Article Bookmark(OpenURL Compliant):Los Angeles Times : Signs Point to
Westside Transit MysteryBillboards: Maps of a new commuter line create
a rush-hour buzz,and a variety of theories.
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