LOS ANGELES | Transportation News & Discussion

[SoCalKid]

Originally Posted by WrightCONCEPT

To fix most of the signal pre-emption now, requires LADOT to stop pussyfooting around and put their General Manager in charge of LADOT Laura Rubio Cornejo to the fire to implement the signal priority.

However the larger items the cost of these projects are going to be very expensive, will require an EIR AND there are other projects already in the queue for completion such as;

• South Bay K Line Extension to Torrance
• Southeast Gateway Corridor
• E Line extension to Whittier
• K Line Northern Extension
• Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor

These projects like the grade separation, Pico Station upgrades and Washington/Flower junction will require significant funds and an environmental impact review to complete. Where it has to obtain those $$$ while not leapfrogging other projects that the voters supported and passed.

However the fixes you are suggesting if they are simple like for the signal preemption that can work.

I generally agree with you with one caveat -with AB 2503 passing (assuming the Governor signs it), these projects should all be CEQA exempt. But understood that they still would take time and $$$.

If I were in charge though, I'd do whatever it took to find that money (enhanced infrastructure finance district, money from Prop A/C, etc.) and make it a top priority, honestly even ahead of the light rail Measure M projects (without using Measure M money to avoid that legal issue). Making our existing light rail system work like a real rapid transit system should be more important than building more light rail.

[WrightCONCEPT]

Originally Posted by SoCalKid

I generally agree with you with one caveat -with AB 2503 passing (assuming the Governor signs it), these projects should all be CEQA exempt. But understood that they still would take time and $$$.

If I were in charge though, I'd do whatever it took to find that money (enhanced infrastructure finance district, money from Prop A/C, etc.) and make it a top priority, honestly even ahead of the light rail Measure M projects (without using Measure M money to avoid that legal issue). Making our existing light rail system work like a real rapid transit system should be more important than building more light rail.

The key caveat with that CEQA exemption, if it requires ANY Federal $$$, then the project requires an EIR for NEPA National Environmental Protection Act. Not saying it is not needed its about moving forward just realize the road ahead.

So moving money around to make it a priority also requires acceleration of some of the existing projects

[SoCalKid]

This was a timely conversation - Numble posted a motion from 5 City Council members calling for "dwell recall", signal priority, and preemption as part of a Transit First Policy that aims to "reduce transit signal delay to transit vehicles and reduce transit end to end times as much as possible above all other considerations, excepting safety." It also directs LADOT to "upgrade the type of signal prioritization or preemption that best meets the travel time goals of the policy".

https://x.com/numble/status/1843792454451073110

These are by far the strongest words I've seen coming out of the city on this issue, it seems like they're calling for full preemption wherever possible. How much do we think the E and A lines could be sped up? On trips from Downtown Santa Monica to 7th/Metro, it's seemed to me that cutting 5 minutes off of the scheduled ~46 minute trip should be doable. Maybe that trip can get under 40 minutes?? That'd make it competitive with car travel at most hours of the day.

[craigs]

Late night bus service for Anaheim resort workers gets federal backing

Travis Schlepp
KTLA
October 10, 2024

The Anaheim Transportation Network has been awarded federal funding that will allow it to begin late night bus service in some of the main tourism hubs in the city.

The ATN “Night Owl” service will provide bus service for employees in the Anaheim Resort neighborhood where Disneyland is located, and the Platinum Triangle area where Angel Stadium and the Honda Center can be found.

The bus service will operate between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., when other public transit options aren’t available.
. . . .

[LAsam]

Metro posted on their that the Aviation/Century Station will open Nov 3rd AND the C/K lines will be realigned that day as well. K will run from Redondo to Expo/Crenshaw and C from Aviation/Century Station to Norwalk.

Changes are coming soon to the C and K Lines as we open the new Aviation/Century Station

https://thesource.metro.net/changes-...&utm_campaign=

[craigs]

Good news from Metro:

Ridership surpasses 1 million mark on weekdays in September — 22nd straight month of growth

Steve Hymon
The Source
October 14, 2024

We have some very good ridership news to share now that our most recent numbers are available: we had more than one million average weekday boardings in September for the first time since the pandemic! Specifically, we had 1,023,399 average weekday boardings last month.

A few highlights:

•September was our 22nd consecutive month of year-over-year ridership gains.

•Average weekday bus ridership in September was more than 800,000 — the first time we surpassed 800K since the pandemic.

•Our combined bus and rail ridership in September was 86.4% of September 2019 ridership prior to pandemic.

•Across the U.S. transit agencies are averaging about 76% of what their ridership was pre-pandemic.

•In September, our weekend rail ridership reached 99.4% of pre-pandemic levels. Weekends continue to show strong numbers with more riders using Metro to reach events and leisure activities.
. . . .

[SoCalKid]

I rode the E line from 7th/Metro to Downtown Santa Monica this week and noticed a big improvement. 7th/Metro had people actively cleaning and a police/security presence. The station, while looking dated, was clean. The train was relatively clean, and there were no disturbances on it. I'm hoping all of this is a sign of where things are headed - if so I think we'll see continued ridership growth.

[craigs]

Originally Posted by SoCalKid

I rode the E line from 7th/Metro to Downtown Santa Monica this week and noticed a big improvement. 7th/Metro had people actively cleaning and a police/security presence. The station, while looking dated, was clean. The train was relatively clean, and there were no disturbances on it. I'm hoping all of this is a sign of where things are headed - if so I think we'll see continued ridership growth.

I've heard similar accounts recently. It may be that the line is less appealing to bums now that Metro requires everyone to "tap out" at downtown Santa Monica.

[SoCalKid]

Originally Posted by craigs

I've heard similar accounts recently. It may be that the line is less appealing to bums now that Metro requires everyone to "tap out" at downtown Santa Monica.

I think that definitely helps, although there were cops AND security at the Santa Monica station doing nothing as a few people just squeezed through the gates and didn't tap out. But I did hear one guy who hadn't tapped stressing about it, so it's clearly at least a partial deterrent! We need tall faregates ASAP!

But another part of it was the staffing - Metro is clearly investing in 7th/Metro and that presence was felt. Hopefully the clean train wasn't a fluke and represents a trend resulting from increased cleaning staff.

To me, the formula for turning the system around is so simple:

- Tall faregates and hard fare enforcement + expanding tap-in/tap-out to all stations.
- A Metro police department (LAPD/LASD are trash) with a heavy presence (no sitting in patrol cars) that actively enforces code of conduct. No sleeping or antisocial behavior. It is NOT Metro's job to fix the homelessness problem, but they do need to keep antisocial behavior off of the system.
- Lots of cleaning
- I'm a broken clock on this one, but FULL SIGNAL PREEMPTION on light rail except for pedestrian signals - let that signal finish then default to the train every time. This will fix tons of operational issues and speed up the trains.
- Better frequency, especially during off-peak hours and especially on the D/B lines
- Off-hours maintenance

The good news is that Metro seems to finally be talking about all of those (except off-hours maintenance). Let's hope they follow through and that LADOT cooperates on signaling for light rail. All of that combined with the planned system expansion could create an awesome system for our city.

[craigs]

Metro tries out new tech to find hidden weapons on subways


L.A. Metro officials begin testing a concealed weapons detection system at Union Station as a noninvasive screening method to detect and identify hidden threats without physical contact. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

Nathan Solis
Los Angeles Times
October 23, 2024

Los Angeles will utilize AI-powered scanners at Union Station over the next month in an effort to stop passengers with hidden weapons from boarding the rails.

Commuters descending to underground platforms for the A, B and D lines (formally known as the Blue, Red and Purple lines) will enter into the testing ground for Metro’s 30-day pilot program, which went into effect on Tuesday, though the scanners will not run every day. The program arrives amid growing concern over passenger safety, with Metro recording an uptick in arrests this year for riders carrying concealed weapons.

The roughly 6-foot-tall Evolv Technology scanners use artificial intelligence to pinpoint on a person’s body where they could possibly be carrying a weapon, according to the company’s website. All weapons are banned on the Metro system, and it is illegal to carry a concealed firearm without a permit in California.
. . . .

[craigs]

L.A. waited so long it seemed like a fantasy. But it’s actually coming: A rail connection to LAX


A rendering of the long-awaited Automated People Mover train set to open in 2026, connecting Los Angeles International Airport to the Metro rail system from the K Line and the C Line. (Los Angeles World Airports)

Colleen Shalby
Los Angeles Times
October 24, 2024

Gerardo Ramirez flew into Los Angeles from Mexico City on Thursday and was surprised to learn that he couldn’t easily access a rail line from the main airport of a major city — something he’s come to expect in his travels. “I’ve been in many cities around the world, where public transportation is well connected,” said Ramirez, 24. “It’s my first time here in L.A., and I don’t know why I can’t find public transit to connect me to a train.”

This has been the city’s transit riddle for decades. In the 1970s, as L.A. County’s population boomed and its traffic became infamous, civic leaders began pushing for a light rail system to connect the sprawling region. With ever more passengers pouring through Los Angeles International Airport, planners saw it as an obvious destination as workers broke ground for the first line — the Blue Line between Long Beach and downtown — in 1985.

Nearly 40 years later, as hundreds of thousands of residents and tourists spill onto 1 World Way each week, rail still has not made it to one of the busiest airports in the world. You can take a Metro train to North Hollywood or Santa Monica or El Segundo or Azusa. Just not to LAX.
. . . .

[Phoenix22]

California is way behind in transportation and infrastructure even behind Florida.
it needs to upgrade the freeways systems, a new tunnel for Bart in the bay area.
BART to San Jose, I guess it will take forever.

More subways lines in LA, the High speed rail for CA.
upgrading the airports, ETC.

they will need Billions in investment. it might be hard for CA to catch up with others States or other countries.

[homebucket]

Originally Posted by Phoenix22

California is way behind in transportation and infrastructure even behind Florida.
it needs to upgrade the freeways systems, a new tunnel for Bart in the bay area.
BART to San Jose, I guess it will take forever.

More subways lines in LA, the High speed rail for CA.
upgrading the airports, ETC.

they will need Billions in investment. it might be hard for CA to catch up with others States or other countries.

Well... yeah. That's the whole point of these threads. To discuss the present infrastructure, the improvements that are currently happening, and what else should be done to improve it further in the future.

[craigs]

Originally Posted by Phoenix22

California is way behind in transportation and infrastructure even behind Florida.

That's not obviously true. Why do you say that?

it needs to upgrade the freeways systems, a new tunnel for Bart in the bay area.
BART to San Jose, I guess it will take forever.

California has a robust freeway system. What upgrades are required? As for BART, a second transbay tube was considered necessary when ridership was rapidly increasing in the first half of the 2010s, but ridership started slipping even before the pandemic. IIRC, current ridership is less than half of peak. homebucket might know the exact figures. Anyway, it would be hard to justify the astronomical cost because it doesn't appear necessary. BART to SJ is, however, already under construction.

More subways lines in LA, the High speed rail for CA.
upgrading the airports, ETC.

All of those things are already planned or under construction.

[Busy Bee]

I was going to mention the same but didn't want to beat the infrequent user over the head with the multitude of examples. I'm assuming they're blinded by the Brightline smoke and mirrors. More smoke though with all the fiery collisions.

[homebucket]

Thoughts?

Looks like these were the ciites that voted no: Rancho Palos Verdes, El Segundo, Gardena, Hermosa Beach, Lawndale, Lomita, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estate, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estate and Torrance.

The main reasons for opposition:
- Displaces businesses in downtown Inglewood
- Would be cheaper and more efficient to create dedicated bus lanes to and from the entertainment district
- Would take away resources from other South Bay projects and amount roughly to the average cost of 125 to 175 city projects such as intersection improvements, bike lanes and signal synchronization
- It threatens the future development. It threatens parking. It threatens everything about these businesses.
- The loss of access at driveways, the ripping up of communication and utility infrastructure along Prairie, and the lane reduction, all mean local businesses as well as guests attending the events will be significantly impacted

Clippers and Rams owners come out against Inglewood people mover, as $2.4-billion project falters
By Rachel Uranga
Oct. 25, 2024 8:48 AM PT

Plans for a 1.7-mile proposed people mover that would drop Los Angeles rail riders off at the foot of SoFi Stadium have been upended after South Bay cities voted down a request for $493 million more to build the project, putting into jeopardy $1 billion of federal funding.

The $2.4-billion elevated rail line that Inglewood Mayor James Butts hoped to have open ahead of the 2028 Olympics is supposed to glide over the city’s downtown and lure tourists. But its rising cost and shifts in design have made it a difficult sell.

The early support of Rams owner Stan Kroenke and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, who have invested billions to make the Los Angeles suburb an entertainment behemoth and been an ally of Butts, faded this year after designs emerged showing rail construction would cut into their property line. And the expected years-long construction and loss of a street lane outside the concert venues soured them.

https://www.latimes.com/california/s...roject-falters

[craigs]

The new Metrolink schedules have led to a lot of delays, but there is some good news. According to LA Metro Reddit, the commuter railroad announced in a mass email that it carried 21,125 riders Monday--the highest number of riders since the pandemic. Once Metrolink irons out the kinks, we may have a much better--and better utilized--rail service.