Comments on: If You Want Transit-Friendliness, Try the Downtown

By: DJB

DJB — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:43:35 +0000

There's no question that downtown LA has an amazing amount of transit going through it.

I have a bit of an unorthodox opinion here. I think that the proliferation of transit in downtown LA (overlapping lines), combined with all the one-way streets, makes downtown LA a confusing place to ride transit, except for the rail system.

There's a steep learning curve. Once you learn, it must be great, but when I see signs like the ones in the picture, I have trouble figuring out what the hell's going on, and I ride transit all the time.

It's not where I'd take someone to teach them how to ride a bus (although I would take someone there to teach them how to ride rail).

By: Dan Wentzel

Dan Wentzel — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:30:54 +0000

If this Broadway Streetcar/Tram works out,

I've also wondered about streetcars on Ventura Blvd. connecting Universal City and Warner Center

- A Sunset Blvd. Streetcar connecting downtown, Silver Lake, Hollywood, and the Strip,

- a Santa Monica Blvd. streetcar utilizing the unused ROW in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood on the way to points east and north,

- A streetcar connecting the upcoming rail terminals in Santa Monica or West L.A. and Venice Beach might be popular.

There are probably lots of places they might work for short distances that will never see grade separated HRT or LRT.

By: Rich Alossi

Rich Alossi — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:22:41 +0000

Agreed on Downtown being the easiest for transit. I've found DASH to be a great resource. I use it frequently and you can't beat 25-cent fares.

Can't wait for the new Gold Line extension!

By: Dana Gabbard

Dana Gabbard — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:51:43 +0000

Dan, here is what I found in re the stretecar

http://www.bringingbackbroadway.com/updates/index.htm

By: Dan Wentzel

Dan Wentzel — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:08:48 +0000

Is there a link to the Broadway Streetcar project?

By: Dan Wentzel

Dan Wentzel — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:08:07 +0000

I agree. Bring on the Downtown Regional Connector!!! If we can only get funding for that somehow.

By: bzcat

bzcat — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:55:05 +0000

There is no doubt the Downtown LA offers the most options given that the Metro rail lines all terminates there (except for the Green line obviously), and a good chunk of the Rapid bus and Commuter Express lines either serves or terminates in Downtown LA. But I think the advantages is only true if you commute to and from Downtown LA... if you need to rely on transit for shorter distance, I think Santa Monica/West LA is a little bit better than Downtown LA. The Big Blue Bus and Culver City Bus are cheaper than Metro, and they are way more reliable than DASH.

Of course my opinion will change once the Downtown Connector is open and makes going from Union Station or Bunker Hill to USC a breeze.

ps... let me plug my "LA Transit Guide for Newbies" one more time...

http://irwinc.blogspot.com/2009/06/find-your-way-around-la-guide-for.html