Four different Los Angeles subway rider stories are featured in both the web documentary and the multimedia exhibition. Photo: LA Metro
2 min to read
Four different Los Angeles subway rider stories are featured in both the web documentary and the multimedia exhibition. Photo: LA Metro
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) unveiled in partnership with filmmaker Hervé Cohen, will present Life Underground, an immersive media installation and interactive web documentary featuring subway rider stories from across the globe at Los Angeles Union Station Jan. 30 to Feb. 5, 2017.
Life Underground invites visitors on a journey through the subways of the world and the personal stories of passengers. The experience features dozens of subway riders selected purely by chance who tell their stories of love, dreams, family and migration, creating a celebration of public transportation and the human experience.
“Hearing people’s stories is a privilege that inspires us to broaden how we think about ourselves and the world around us,” said Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Eric Garcetti. “We are proud that Metro riders are featured in this creative installation, which will showcase voices and perspectives from all over the world.”
Metro’s Art & Design program enhances the customer experience with innovative visual and performing arts programming that encourages ridership and connects people, sites and neighborhoods throughout the region.
“As our subway system grows throughout Los Angeles County, we continue to showcase the importance of integrating the arts into the transit experience,” said Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington. “Metro Art & Design is award-winning and innovative, and exhibitions like these really help to add vibrancy to our transit properties.”
Four different Los Angeles subway rider stories are featured in both the web documentary and the multimedia exhibition:
Natalya, 28, is celebrating having just transitioned to becoming a woman. She shares both apprehension and excitement about her new identity.
Ad Loading...
Idris, 16, is returning from summer school. He has just lost his mother, and the healing process is slow but steady.
Edward, 49, says he will never get married or have a steady relationship. After a shattering heartbreak, his closest companion is now his African grey parrot.
Erick, 24, is an immigrant from Guatemala commuting from his morning job to his afternoon job. Having just learned that he’s about to become a father, Erick is excited but unsure about the future.
Filmmaker Hervé Cohen, who collaborated with artist Tonian Irving and music composer Brian Rodvien, began filming city subway systems in June 2016. The web documentary will be released worldwide in March 2018 during the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas.
To learn more about Metro Art & Design, visit metro.net/art, instagram.com/metro.art.la and facebook.com/metroartla.
Operation Lifesaver awarded $220,200 in grants to 12 states to support rail safety campaigns focused on grade crossing awareness and trespass prevention.
The survey showed that commute trips still make up the majority of ridership, with most riders boarding 2 to 3 days a week, reflecting hybrid work schedules. Two-thirds of Caltrain riders have access to a car, while 37% of Caltrain riders are considered low-income.
Advances in data and analytics are giving transit agencies new opportunities to refine maintenance practices, improve efficiency and make more informed decisions about asset performance.
In this Consultant Roundtable, Carmen C. Cham shares insights on how agencies can create spaces that are intuitive, connected and built for long-term impact.
The Red Line Extension Project will provide the Far South Side of Chicago with rapid rail transit for the first time by extending the Red Line by 5.5 miles from 95th Street to 130th Street, including the construction of four new Red Line stations at 103rd, 111th, Michigan, and 130th streets.
The Siemens CBTC System, Trainguard MT, in compliance with New York Subway Interoperability Interface Specifications, enables trains to run as close as 90 seconds apart, using next-generation signaling and continuous communication to keep operations moving seamlessly.
While recognizing regional economic constraints and continuing to improve service, the budget increases the jurisdictional subsidy to less than 1.8%, significantly below the inflation rate and the 3% regional target, said agency officials.
With more than 59,400,000 boardings since the service’s debut, the A Line’s utilization surpassed that of all other RTD rail services in 2025, the agency reported.
The plan outlines funding for transit operations, capital projects, and freight and passenger rail initiatives, as state officials seek public input on priorities shaping mobility and infrastructure across the Commonwealth.
