Vernon Transportation + Context + Distribution
D e n i s e M u E a r n e s t L i J i m m y T A r m a n d o S
n o z t t l e a i l v a
east 30th st
i-5
soto st
santa fe ave
alameda blvd
long beach ave
t r a n s p o r tat i o n
Types & Flows
64’-104’ arterial street i-710
freeway rairoads abandoned rails arterial streets collector streets local streets bike lane
0mi
.25mi
.50mi
2mi
The city of Vernon is dependent on its network of transportation systems to thrive as an industrial city. The current transportation system relies on the links that connect Vernon’s distributive system to the neighboring communities and essentially, the rest of the world. At the local level, Vernon’s transportation infrastructure primarily serves trucks and trains, giving secondary priority to cars and other forms of public transportation. The distribution of these multiple forms of transportation are dependent on the capacity of these streets to determine the flows and density of traffic within the city. Due to Vernon’s focus as an industrial city, there lies opportunity to integrate alternative modes of transportation into the city in areas where we can identify existing constraints between the disconnect and tension of transportive systems. Areas with higher traffic density (arterial streets) pose issues related to congestion, noise, smells, and emissions. Areas where railroad crossings intersect with street flow also cause heavier traffic conditions and are considered unsafe for pedestrian use. In areas where transportation conditions minimize the efficiency of the city, we can identify opportunities to improve the quality and efficiency of these transit systems. At locations where we can identify voids, there is opportunity to occupy these infrastructure with multifunctional modes of transportation therefore no longer limiting the user interface within the city. As we take a look at neighboring communities within Vernon’s context, we can identify areas that could serve as potential linkages from Vernon to its neighboring communities.
chavez ravine
downtown los angeles
south los angeles
east los angeles commerce 1 1
north 3mi
2mi
1mi
1
east maywood
Huntington park
bell
bell gardens
west south Alameda Corridor
to port of long beach + los angeles
LA River
Context Vernon’s contextual transportation networks are unlike any other city. Two major railroad systems, the Union Pacific and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe, run right through the city of Vernon in a complex rail network that weaves in and out of buildings and narrow corridors. Many of these railroads are abandoned and some remain in use. The Alameda Corridor runs right adjacent to Vernon and connects Vernon to the Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports. The rail system theoretically connects Vernon in a global scale of transportation. Further on, the 710 Highway runs right alongside Vernon, connecting directly westbound to the Long Beach port. On a public scale, Vernon’s public transit is minimal. The main source of public transportation is the blue line metro station that lies two blocks west of Vernon’s city limits. Pedestrian travel is not encouraged in Vernon and is highly noticeable by the end of the bike lane in Vernon along the Los Angeles River. The bike lane continues north starting above Elysian Park. As well the bus routes only run on the major street, District, which runs east and west. In conclusion the transportation system in Vernon is related highly to industrial usage. This fortunately connects Vernon contextually to many adjacent cities. However this network is highly under utilized. Opportunity can be found in the rail system and the Los Angeles River to move pedestrians, products and goods in high efficiency. The Los Angeles River connects Vernon to the Pacific Ocean and Downtown Los Angeles. Unfortunately the missing pedestrian link between Vernon and Elysian Park creates disconnect.
contextual cities vernon,ca neighborhoods
bike routes metro (rail + bus)
railroads
rivers
highways
abandoned rails
abandoned railyards 1. hobart yard
To Oakland,CA 370 miles
Vernon
To China 7,000 miles
Long Beach Port Los Angeles Port cosmetics meat packing meat packing aerosol chemicals aerosol chemicals aerosol cleaning chemicals chemicals liquid chemicals meat and bone meal agricultural feed dog food soap raw plastic material paint bio-diesel plastic
frozen food food process
fruit and vegetables
plastic and paper frozen food
coat fabric
plumbing oil
pan plastic
cured meat frozen food storage chemical plasticfood coating materials vehicular fuel
plumbing oil
metalwork oil industrial oil
meat packing fabric vehicular fuel
Animal By-Products
Agricultural products
Petroleum Oil
International Cargo
tea
D I S T RI B U T ION With the development of industry, we must understand where the goods come from to create the products we consume. As a result, Vernon is understood that goods are transported into the city through different scales, consisting of city scale, regional scale, and international scale. Vernon plays an important role in gather resources such as petroleum oils, animal by-products, and agricultural goods as well. With these resources, Vernon recycles goods and most easily obtainable resources for output to the city. The process behind developing these products for distribution becomes a matter of what are we shipping out to the cities and countries.
Input
Vernon is the heart of distribution and the soul of distributing the goods we need, such as soap, detergent, fuel, fertilizer, and many more. These behind distribution goes beyond the production, but the necessity of these goods, which then fuels America as we see today. Something small such as where our soap comes from is vital to the metabolism of Vernon and the linkage between the city to many scales.
Tallow
Vernon
Meat and Bone Meal Fertilizer Chemicals Fuel Oils Plastics
As we look at the types of goods produced within the boundaries of Vernon, it is a neighboring production site, which we can identify where our distribution comes from and the types of goods. Distribution is the input and output of our city; however, available goods currently in Vernon will change in the later future. The type of resources we seek such as petroleum oils, agriculture products, and recycled meats to create a city will soon change, thus seeing the potential in accommodating the alternate form of goods for Vernon impacting the greater network.
S y n th e s i z e
40’ 35’ 30’ 25’ 20’ 15’ 10’ 5’
Understanding the way Vernon works understands the layers in which the city is composed of and its relationship to its context. Understanding the systems and how they work together is important due to scale in which Vernon works; most cities do not have the influence that is evident in this city. By gathering the data that relates to transportation, context and distribution you start to notice the patterns that lay within the parameters of the city. When over-lapping these 3 systems there are certain areas that are concentrated with industrial activities and other areas that are scarcer.
vernon,ca railroads arterial streets collector streets local streets LA river
Most densities are found closer to main streets such as Alameda and Soto just to name a few. These patterns allow the viewer to perceive these concentrations and gaps as potentials for opportunities for design. In this map there is an emphasis on the Los Angeles River and how it connects the city to both Downtown and the Ports. This relationship is vital to the topic of distribution and the means in which goods are distributed which are trucks and trains. The Ports are also what connects Vernon on a global scale which is one of the traits that Vernon has. Meanwhile on a local and regional scale the map is displaying the significance of industry and how it is not only contained within those parameters of the city but trickles out to the neighboring cities as well. This mass of industrialization that is shown in the section, indicates that the city creates a contrast in elevation changes that alters the way one moves and feels when in Vernon. In conclusion, Vernon’s overlapping systems are what make this city unique and understanding them allows for a deeper understanding of how it works and why. The foundation of this city is built upon these systems and at times they can be overlooked because of its contradiction to what people understand a typical city to be which has an emphasis on the residence but that is not the case here in Vernon.