Comments on: Measure R Acceleration Plans Aren’t a Political Slam Dunk

By: Adam Smith

Adam Smith — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:55:10 +0000

Well, riding the bus system, I notice that like one in six fareboxes are out of order, so they are unable to collect fares from cash paying passengers. THAT might be a source of revenue they could tap into…

By: Spokker

Spokker — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:38:18 +0000

“What’s the point of taking public transport if driving a beater is cheaper and more convenient.”

It isn’t, even at $2.25 a ride. Regular users of transit will have a monthly pass, which is an even greater savings.

Remember, you have to buy the goddamn car first, which many people can’t do. And even if they buy a used car, they might not be able to pay the thousand bucks to get it fixed when it finally craps out on them.

The city’s potholes are not kind to tires. Stop and go traffic is not kind to brakes and engines. The heat is not kind to cooling systems. Driving in LA sucks ass.

By: DJ_cycle

DJ_cycle — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:57:09 +0000

I think if they quickly *implement* the bus only Wilshire Rapid lane ( a very doable, quick to implement measure) – that would surely cause a sizeable outcry from enough auto drivers to kick the train plan into gear.

By: Todd K.

Todd K. — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 05:54:52 +0000

I take issue with Bart Reed promoting fare increase to $2.25 per ride. What’s the point of taking public transport if driving a beater is cheaper and more convenient.

By: Dan Wentzel

Dan Wentzel — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:51:22 +0000

Re-double tracking the San Bernadino Line is in Metrolink’s 30 year plan. Here’s hoping they succeed.

By: Interurbans

Interurbans — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:42:30 +0000

The MetroLink San Bernardino Line was originally a Double Track line to Baldwin Park as a Pacific Electric high speed interurban line to San Bernardino. When the San Bernardino 10 Freeway was built in the early 1950’s it was built with a double track in the center for the PE line. The right of way for double track was in the center of the freeway until Cal Trans built the bus way in the 1970’s and took the double track line and made it into a single track line at the cost of many millions of dollars. They also routed the line away from its straight shot through El Monte to Baldwin Park and routed it north to connect with the SP main line railroad which today causes MetroLink to take a big detour around El Monte. We again can thank Cal Trans for their wisdom in the past of distorting any alternative to driving.

By: Interurbans

Interurbans — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:25:14 +0000

The Gold Line Foothill extention yes, the Gold Line East LA extension east of Atlantic no. You already have a 40 minute trip from Atlantic so who will want to take an hour ride to work on the east LA extension from beyond Atlantic?

The Downtown Connector is a win win for all and needs to be frought to the tob of the list. After Expo phase II and before the subway to the sea and the Crenshaw or the Green Line to the Airport.

The Gold Line Foothill Extension is a low cost line and can be built along with the Downtown Connector in sages.

By: Dan Wentzel

Dan Wentzel — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:29:14 +0000

I realize the pots of money are different, but I was making a point about how intra-county Metrolink service and more frequent San Bernadino Metrolink service made possible by double tracking the line is a higher priority, in my lowly opinion, than extending the Gold Line all the way to Montclair.

I have long ago accepted that the Gold Line to Montclair is politically inevtiable.

By: jessica

jessica — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:41:59 +0000

Gold line extensions???? ___________________ Jessica the best price for best entertainment

By: S.S. Sam Taylor

S.S. Sam Taylor — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:14:48 +0000

@ Rich:
1. Federal funds happen in a cycle of 6 years. In the last Transportation cycle, LA got about $500 million to build the East LA Gold Line and some smaller projects. If the Expo Line were to be a Federal Project, that authorization may not happen until 2010-11 or so. Phase I of Expo will be mostly done next year and Phase II will be under construction. Following you suggestion, we’d be waiting at least another 5 years. I know you don’t want that outcome, federal funds or not.

2. The Subway towards the Sea to Fairfax will be ready for Federal Funds somewhere in 2014-15. This project has a long process. The Federal Funds are actually necessary to get STTS to Fairfax.

3. The Foothill Gold Line has real work to get it Shovel Ready. About a years worth of work. Therefore, it is almost, but not really Shovel Ready.

@ Dan:
Metrolink projects don’t come out of the same pot.

By: bzcat

bzcat — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:02:33 +0000

I share Dan’s sentiment… Gold line East 2 is not a priority and accelerating it instead of Purple line and Crenshaw line is crazy on so many level. It’s all about bang-for-the-buck for Measure R money. If you take politic out of the equation, Downtown connector clearly will benefit the most people – primarily SGV residents who work in Downtown and Westside… follow closely by Purple line extension to Century City – again, primarily benefiting SGV residents who now must drive almost 2 hours to get to their jobs. Why the politicians in SGV can’t see this is beyond me. Do we need to make Gloria Molina and other elected mouth breathers in SGV to ride the 720 from end to end to see how many of their constituents will benefit from accelerating the right projects?

By: Rich Alossi

Rich Alossi — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:01:57 +0000

Why aren’t these funds being used as leverage for federal transportation dollars? We’re basically paying for the Expo Line ourselves when we could probably be getting some federal money.

I’d like to see a good chunk of federal money for the subway to accelerate that timeline.

And why wasn’t the Gold Line Foothill Extension included in the Stimulus-funding request? It’s the most shovel-ready project out there right now.

By: Albert

Albert — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:17:22 +0000

Great write-up Damien. We’re all bracing ourselves to see how this plays out (or just works out). This. Will. Be. Fun.

By: Dan Wentzel

Dan Wentzel — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:45:01 +0000

Accelerating BOTH Gold Line Extensions?

I’d rather see an acceleration of the double tracking of the San Bernadino Metrolink extension.