August 2: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History

2001:  Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials unveil a plaque honoring the late U.S. Congressman Julian Dixon.

In a ceremony on Patsaouras Plaza, the Congressman’s widow Bettye Dixon and son Cary are joined by LACMTA Board Chairman John Fasana, Los Angeles County Supervisors and Board Members Yvonne Bathwaite-Burke and Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles City Council President Alex Padilla, City Councilman Nate Holden and LACMTA CEO Julian Burke.

Dixon, a member of Congress for 22 years, was a longtime supporter of public transit projects in Los Angeles, including the Metro Rail and Metro Bus systems.

Supervisor Burke, who proposed the motion to name the 7th/Metro station for Dixon, said the Congressman:

“knew that Los Angeles County needed a viable public transportation system. He fought for rail; he fought for subway; he fought for buses. He devoted himself to ensuring the future for Los Angeles County transit.”

The plaque is later placed in the recently renamed 7th/Metro/Julian Dixon Metro Rail station.

Additional information about and images from the plaque unveiling can be found in the  August 2, 2001 issue of the MyMetro employee news digest.

 

2002:  A 27-mile stretch of carpool lanes on State Route 14 officially opens.

MyMetro Employee News Article

Carpool lanes now reach from the I-5 junction with State Route 14 all the way to Pearblossom Highway in Palmdale.  Metro CEO Roger Snoble notes that:

“You save a minute for every mile you travel on an HOV lane.  We’re building a 55-mile network just on State Route 14.  That means in one direction you are saving 50 minutes.”

More information can be found in the August 7, 2002 issue of the MyMetro employee news digest.