LOS ANGELES | Transportation News & Discussion

[waltlantz]

Ok I did some digging and answered my own questions.....

Still I was curious about one thing. I know that Crenshaw is going to largely use it's own trackage with aireals and underground, will the Green Line do the same when it's eventually extended to Torrance? Or will it be on Harbor Sub trackage.

[jamesinclair]

Originally Posted by Muji

It seems like Metro is slowly starting to roll out new electronic displays at some rail stations. Instead of showing scheduled arrival times, these seem to give predictions (possibly in real time) for waiting times. Also, they are dramatically easier to read. I can't wait to see these show up at 7th/Metro.

Fantastic. The old displays are impossible to read if you dont have 20/20 vision

[dennis1]

Will Metrolink ever expand service?

[inSaeculaSaeculorum]

I think there are plans to extend the riverside line to perris and the san bernardino line to redlands but i wouldn't know the status of those proposals

[202_Cyclist]

Originally Posted by inSaeculaSaeculorum

I think there are plans to extend the riverside line to perris and the san bernardino line to redlands but i wouldn't know the status of those proposals

Correct, there are plans to extend Metrolink to Perris. Riverside is also considering building a streetcar.

PERRIS VALLEY LINE: Judge signs off on settlement
http://www.pe.com/local-news/local-news-...y-line-judge-signs-off-on-settlement.ece

[dennis1]

Originally Posted by inSaeculaSaeculorum

I think there are plans to extend the riverside line to perris and the san bernardino line to redlands but i wouldn't know the status of those proposals

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

Correct, there are plans to extend Metrolink to Perris. Riverside is also considering building a streetcar.

PERRIS VALLEY LINE: Judge signs off on settlement
http://www.pe.com/local-news/local-news-...y-line-judge-signs-off-on-settlement.ece

Thanks.


What about increasing frequencies on current lines?

[202_Cyclist]

Ridership discrepancy calls Metro's estimation method into question
Data from turnstiles show drastic drop in riders since stations have been locked, but Metro estimates ridership has actually increased.

By Jon Schleuss, Laura J. Nelson and Doug Smith
November 29, 2013, 7:30 p.m.
LA Times

"After officials began locking the turnstiles to the Los Angeles subway in June, stopping many passengers from riding for free, the volume of people entering the system may have fallen significantly, according to data reviewed by The Times.

From May through October, the number of people passing through turnstiles each month fell from 4.8 million to 4 million, according to the data. Over the same time frame, however, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's ridership estimates climbed by about 400,000 passengers.

In September, the first full month that all gates were locked, about 3.7 million people were counted entering the subway — a decrease of 23% from May..."

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-metro-ridership-20131130,0,5777454.story#ixzz2m90NxmTv

[ardecila]

Ridership on any transit system has seasonal swings. It takes a full year or more to evaluate the results of a big change. How does October '13 compare to October '12?

I admit I'm used to Chicago where (unlike LA) winter weather causes ridership drops every fall and gains every spring, but sports team seasons, special events, and other factors mean that ridership is pretty variable month-to-month, even if the transit authority makes no changes.

Of course, it will be hard to isolate any ridership drops due to gate locking from gains as more people start to ride the new segments of Expo, Gold, and Orange.

[blackcat23]

As someone who rides the system on a daily basis, I haven't noticed a ridership dropoff. Seems to have gotten more crowded, if anything.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by blackcat23

As someone who rides the system on a daily basis, I haven't noticed a ridership dropoff. Seems to have gotten more crowded, if anything.

ya, i was going to say the same.

[bmfarley]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

ya, i was going to say the same.

ditto

[Muji]

According to Metro's own stats, rail system ridership was 372,320 in Oct 2013, up about 3% from 360,901 in Oct 2012. It sounds right to me - the Red and Expo Lines sure seem as crowded as ever, and Red/Purple estimated ridership is up 7.5%. Blue Line ridership has been unexpectedly down for the last few months, however.

[202_Cyclist]

Taking the train to LAX — it’s a connection we can’t afford to miss: Eric Garcetti and Mike Bonin

By Eric Garcetti and Mike Bonin
12/06/13
San Gabriel Valley Tribune

"Earlier this fall, a sleek new international terminal debuted at Los Angeles International Airport to widespread acclaim. The new building is a key first step in beautifying and modernizing LAX and making it one of the world’s finest airports again.

Meanwhile, a new transit system is rising in Los Angeles County. Two new rail projects are half-complete and three should soon be underway. Our transit map will soon look like our freeway map: a vibrant tangle of lines connecting our neighborhoods, job centers and major destinations.

And that means a train must go to LAX, the sixth-busiest airport on the planet and the gateway to our region for residents, visitors and those who both do business and create jobs here..."

http://www.sgvtribune.com/opinion/201312...ord-to-miss-eric-garcetti-and-mike-bonin

[202_Cyclist]

$75-million federal grant to help fund Metrolink expansion to Perris


Metrolink commuter rail service will be extended to Perris, in Riverside County, aided by a $75-million federal grant announced Monday. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

By Rick Rojas
December 9, 2013
Los Angeles Times

"Federal officials announced a $75-million grant Monday to help pay for a 24-mile extension of Metrolink to the Riverside County city of Perris.

Extending the line is projected to cost $248 million, with about $63 million coming from the U.S. Department of Transportation in addition to the grant. The rest of the funds will come from state and locals sources..."

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me...nt-20131209,0,142572.story#axzz2n5cK5Q79

[202_Cyclist]

Residents living near Expo Line stations reduce car use, study shows
After the light-rail line opened, Angelenos who lived within half-mile of a station tripled their rail ridership, USC study finds.


Metro Blue Line cars zip past a station near Washington Boulevard and Flower Street, where the Blue Line converges with the Expo Line. After the Expo Line opened, Angelenos who lived within a half-mile of a station tripled their rail ridership and reduced their daily driving by 40%, a USC study found. (Luis Sinco, Los Angeles Times / July 16, 2012)

By Laura J. Nelson
December 16, 2013
Los Angeles Times

"The Metro Expo Line was already under construction when Ryan Vincent started house-hunting. His goal: to live within walking distance of a light-rail station.

"Every house I looked at, I was doing the mental calculus," Vincent, 39, said. "Would I be willing to walk from that address to the train?"

He settled with his girlfriend and his dog in a Spanish-style home in West Adams, two blocks from the Farmdale Station. Since then, his Honda Civic hybrid has mostly sat unused..."

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-expo-study-20131216,0,6863796.story#axzz2nezwfK8B

[Swede]

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

$75-million federal grant to help fund Metrolink expansion to Perris
By Rick Rojas
December 9, 2013
Los Angeles Times
"Federal officials announced a $75-million grant Monday to help pay for a 24-mile extension of Metrolink to the Riverside County city of Perris."
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me...nt-20131209,0,142572.story#axzz2n5cK5Q79

24 miles? dang. That's some extension.

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

Residents living near Expo Line stations reduce car use, study shows
After the light-rail line opened, Angelenos who lived within half-mile of a station tripled their rail ridership, USC study finds.


Metro Blue Line cars zip past a station near Washington Boulevard and Flower Street, where the Blue Line converges with the Expo Line. After the Expo Line opened, Angelenos who lived within a half-mile of a station tripled their rail ridership and reduced their daily driving by 40%, a USC study found. (Luis Sinco, Los Angeles Times / July 16, 2012)
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-expo-study-20131216,0,6863796.story#axzz2nezwfK8B

Not very surprising, decently planned LRTs tend to do this. Expecially in cities that already have transit. Can't wait to see the effects of the rest of the line opening.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by Swede

24 miles? dang. That's some extension.

Metrolink is already the second most extensive commuter rail system in the country (after NYC's combined three systems) with a length of 512 miles and I think it has pretty good coverage of the 5-county CSA. The stations might be a little too far apart, but that certainly doesn't excuse the embarrassingly low ridership. CAHSR (if it ever gets up off the ground) might help, but it's really DTLA's lack of dominance as a regional employment center that's responsible for the less than stellar ridership figures. The success of Chicago's Metra speaks to the highly centralized nature of the Chicagoland metro area.

[Leo the Dog]

Originally Posted by Quixote

Metrolink is already the second most extensive commuter rail system in the country (after NYC's combined three systems) with a length of 512 miles and I think it has pretty good coverage of the 5-county CSA. The stations might be a little too far apart, but that certainly doesn't excuse the embarrassingly low ridership. CAHSR (if it ever gets up off the ground) might help, but it's really DTLA's lack of dominance as a regional employment center that's responsible for the less than stellar ridership figures. The success of Chicago's Metra speaks to the highly centralized nature of the Chicagoland metro area.

A hub and spoke commuter rail model for a non-hub and spoke city.

[The Illusive Man]

edit

[dennis1]

Originally Posted by Quixote

Metrolink is already the second most extensive commuter rail system in the country (after NYC's combined three systems) with a length of 512 miles and I think it has pretty good coverage of the 5-county CSA. The stations might be a little too far apart, but that certainly doesn't excuse the embarrassingly low ridership. CAHSR (if it ever gets up off the ground) might help, but it's really DTLA's lack of dominance as a regional employment center that's responsible for the less than stellar ridership figures. The success of Chicago's Metra speaks to the highly centralized nature of the Chicagoland metro area.

Originally Posted by Leo the Dog

A hub and spoke commuter rail model for a non-hub and spoke city.

The problem is Metrolink has abysmal frequency. DTLA is the largest employer in the entire region, by far. Which suburbs or satellite cities holds that kind of weight? Certainly not Irvine, South Coast Metro/South Newport Beach, Oxnard and for sure not Riverside or San Bernadino propers. None of the lines run enough during midday the weekend or late night. Even Chicago has trains, at 1 to 2 per hour on the weekend. A place like LA needs to buy out or cooperate with freight railroads and increase frequency. Quixote, you mentioned that this is the second largest commuter rail system by track length and size. That means half hour service on most lines other then the 91 Antelope Valley lines. Streamline the Ventura and Orange, Riverside and San Bernadino and 91 Antelope Valley lines to make service easier