Comments on: Gold Line Eastside Extension Set to Open 11/15. But Is Metro Ready to Party? http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/gold-line-eastside-extension-set-to-open-1115-but-is-metro-ready-to-party/ Covering Los Angeles's livable streets movement Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dana Gabbard http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/gold-line-eastside-extension-set-to-open-1115-but-is-metro-ready-to-party/comment-page-1/#comment-45451 Dana Gabbard Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:01:00 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=17461#comment-45451 "the power stations could not handle 3-car trains..." Proof again the myth of the Gold Line Authority being cheaper, faster, better is a myth. Metro has spent millions fixing its mistakes, cheap engineering, etc. Yes, the line got built but we should not buy into the mythology surrounding that. “the power stations could not handle 3-car trains…”

Proof again the myth of the Gold Line Authority being cheaper, faster, better is a myth. Metro has spent millions fixing its mistakes, cheap engineering, etc. Yes, the line got built but we should not buy into the mythology surrounding that.

]]> By: Wad http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/gold-line-eastside-extension-set-to-open-1115-but-is-metro-ready-to-party/comment-page-1/#comment-45331 Wad Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:52:43 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=17461#comment-45331 Metro is capable of running 3-car trains on the Gold Line. It ran them on the day of the Michael Jackson memorial: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hercwad/3719479255/ When the Gold Line opened in 2003, only 2-car trains ran. At the time, the power stations could not handle 3-car trains, which led to the hours-long lines for a ride. Metro is capable of running 3-car trains on the Gold Line. It ran them on the day of the Michael Jackson memorial:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hercwad/3719479255/

When the Gold Line opened in 2003, only 2-car trains ran. At the time, the power stations could not handle 3-car trains, which led to the hours-long lines for a ride.

]]> By: Chris http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/gold-line-eastside-extension-set-to-open-1115-but-is-metro-ready-to-party/comment-page-1/#comment-45211 Chris Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:42:39 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=17461#comment-45211 More than anything, I hope the new extension means Metro will begin running 3 car trains. The crowds at Union Station for the Gold Line during rush hour are huge. There needs to be an extra car. More than anything, I hope the new extension means Metro will begin running 3 car trains. The crowds at Union Station for the Gold Line during rush hour are huge. There needs to be an extra car.

]]> By: ubrayj02 http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/gold-line-eastside-extension-set-to-open-1115-but-is-metro-ready-to-party/comment-page-1/#comment-45191 ubrayj02 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:21:05 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=17461#comment-45191 Methinks a pirate booth folding bicycles for sale is in order. What say you? I think I'll put the order for bicycles in now! Methinks a pirate booth folding bicycles for sale is in order. What say you?

I think I’ll put the order for bicycles in now!

]]> By: Erik G. http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/gold-line-eastside-extension-set-to-open-1115-but-is-metro-ready-to-party/comment-page-1/#comment-45141 Erik G. Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:41:38 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=17461#comment-45141 Now why would LA Metro have a car shortage? Surely the fine folks at AnsaldoBreda have delivered all 50 of the cars ordered from them by now? What? Now why would LA Metro have a car shortage? Surely the fine folks at AnsaldoBreda have delivered all 50 of the cars ordered from them by now?

What?

]]> By: Rich http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/gold-line-eastside-extension-set-to-open-1115-but-is-metro-ready-to-party/comment-page-1/#comment-44891 Rich Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:52:25 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=17461#comment-44891 I rode the Gold Line opening day in 2003... and I remember waiting in line for 2 hours as the line slowly moved its way from the Patsaouras plaza (inside near the ticket counter) to the platform. When we got to Chinatown's aerial station, the doors opened on the WRONG side... as in, not on the platform side... No one fell out then, but damn was that freaky. I hope Metro's got its systems worked out this time. I'll be there on the opening day! Maybe I'll board in Little Tokyo for shorter wait times... I rode the Gold Line opening day in 2003… and I remember waiting in line for 2 hours as the line slowly moved its way from the Patsaouras plaza (inside near the ticket counter) to the platform. When we got to Chinatown’s aerial station, the doors opened on the WRONG side… as in, not on the platform side… No one fell out then, but damn was that freaky. I hope Metro’s got its systems worked out this time.

I’ll be there on the opening day! Maybe I’ll board in Little Tokyo for shorter wait times…

]]> By: Wad http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/gold-line-eastside-extension-set-to-open-1115-but-is-metro-ready-to-party/comment-page-1/#comment-44871 Wad Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:25:18 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=17461#comment-44871 We are all cognizant of the budgetary problems, but Metro absolutely must run an emulator bus (Line 632 in its first incarnation) on Opening Day. If anyone remembered the Gold Line opening weekend in 2003, by the early afternoon crowds had gotten so large that there was a 4 hour wait time to get on a train. Those emulator buses saved the day. They were much slower, taking about an hour to serve all the Gold Line stations only, but they helped to shorten the long lines. We are all cognizant of the budgetary problems, but Metro absolutely must run an emulator bus (Line 632 in its first incarnation) on Opening Day.

If anyone remembered the Gold Line opening weekend in 2003, by the early afternoon crowds had gotten so large that there was a 4 hour wait time to get on a train.

Those emulator buses saved the day. They were much slower, taking about an hour to serve all the Gold Line stations only, but they helped to shorten the long lines.

]]> By: Spokker http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/gold-line-eastside-extension-set-to-open-1115-but-is-metro-ready-to-party/comment-page-1/#comment-44861 Spokker Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:05:41 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=17461#comment-44861 I followed the Seattle light rail opening and while there were reports of queues in the media, they weren't negative. I think people are smart enough to know that free equals wait times. I followed the Seattle light rail opening and while there were reports of queues in the media, they weren’t negative. I think people are smart enough to know that free equals wait times.

]]> By: Dana Gabbard http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/gold-line-eastside-extension-set-to-open-1115-but-is-metro-ready-to-party/comment-page-1/#comment-44851 Dana Gabbard Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:01:11 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=17461#comment-44851 Spokker, I don't dispute the logic of what you say. But the media coverage may include distracting wailing about the crowds. I still think Metro is foolish to not run some buses to help stranded folks, at least to minimize the p.r. fallout. Spokker, I don’t dispute the logic of what you say. But the media coverage may include distracting wailing about the crowds. I still think Metro is foolish to not run some buses to help stranded folks, at least to minimize the p.r. fallout.

]]> By: Spokker http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/gold-line-eastside-extension-set-to-open-1115-but-is-metro-ready-to-party/comment-page-1/#comment-44831 Spokker Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:29:39 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=17461#comment-44831 "Metro knows I'm right and is being shortsighted to not prepare accordingly." Then don't ride the train on opening day. I think Metro is damned if they do and damned if they don't regarding opening days. If they don't do it, people will go, "Where is the free opening day?!" and since it's the Eastside they'll call it a racist decision to not celebrate the line's opening with a free day. If they do an opening day, it'll be a clusterfuck of unimaginable proportions. And since it's the Eastside, people will say it's racist to cram people of color into trains on opening day. So everybody should just relax and take the day in stride. And bring taxi fare if you're so afraid of being stranded. “Metro knows I’m right and is being shortsighted to not prepare accordingly.”

Then don’t ride the train on opening day. I think Metro is damned if they do and damned if they don’t regarding opening days. If they don’t do it, people will go, “Where is the free opening day?!” and since it’s the Eastside they’ll call it a racist decision to not celebrate the line’s opening with a free day. If they do an opening day, it’ll be a clusterfuck of unimaginable proportions. And since it’s the Eastside, people will say it’s racist to cram people of color into trains on opening day.

So everybody should just relax and take the day in stride. And bring taxi fare if you’re so afraid of being stranded.

]]> By: Dana Gabbard http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/gold-line-eastside-extension-set-to-open-1115-but-is-metro-ready-to-party/comment-page-1/#comment-44821 Dana Gabbard Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:06:38 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=17461#comment-44821 And regarding the comments of Jass, I exchanged e-mails with Bruce Shelburne of Metro regarding the headways. Turns out (and this shouldn't be a surprise) this stuff isn't a=b, but prone to a myriad of factors. Movement of people is the big variable. Plus they are using every car available in the Gold Line fleet on that day and undertaking various measures to handle the large crowds that are expected. And regarding the comments of Jass, I exchanged e-mails with Bruce Shelburne of Metro regarding the headways. Turns out (and this shouldn’t be a surprise) this stuff isn’t a=b, but prone to a myriad of factors. Movement of people is the big variable. Plus they are using every car available in the Gold Line fleet on that day and undertaking various measures to handle the large crowds that are expected.

]]> By: Dana Gabbard http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/gold-line-eastside-extension-set-to-open-1115-but-is-metro-ready-to-party/comment-page-1/#comment-44811 Dana Gabbard Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:44:45 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=17461#comment-44811 Spokker, I think Metro not providing buses to serve the stations as a fallback when the trains are crammed full and people with kids etc, are standed perhaps for hours waiting to board a train deserves to be taken a bit more seriously than your flip attitude. Metro knows I'm right and is being shortsighted to not prepare accordingly. I hope all the folks who like to insinuate I am a rubber stamp for Metro note this is an example of my believing the agency is making a mistake and speaking up on same. But only after first giving it a fair chance via quiet communication to do the right thing. "You'll be pressed up against them anyway that day!" Actually I am working a booth that day for SO.CA.TA, likely at the Union Station East Portal. I'll get there on the subway and spend a day sharing ifnromation, answering questions, etc. Maybe in a week or so thereafter I'll ride it to see how things are going. Spokker, I think Metro not providing buses to serve the stations as a fallback when the trains are crammed full and people with kids etc, are standed perhaps for hours waiting to board a train deserves to be taken a bit more seriously than your flip attitude. Metro knows I’m right and is being shortsighted to not prepare accordingly.

I hope all the folks who like to insinuate I am a rubber stamp for Metro note this is an example of my believing the agency is making a mistake and speaking up on same. But only after first giving it a fair chance via quiet communication to do the right thing.

“You’ll be pressed up against them anyway that day!” Actually I am working a booth that day for SO.CA.TA, likely at the Union Station East Portal. I’ll get there on the subway and spend a day sharing ifnromation, answering questions, etc. Maybe in a week or so thereafter I’ll ride it to see how things are going.

]]> By: Spokker http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/gold-line-eastside-extension-set-to-open-1115-but-is-metro-ready-to-party/comment-page-1/#comment-44771 Spokker Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:21:57 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=17461#comment-44771 It honestly doesn't matter what happens on November 15th. As long as people show up, who cares? What matters is November 16th. Yes, it's going to be a logistical nightmare. Yes, there are going to be long lines and complaints. But it's a celebration. Adjust your attitude accordingly and get to know your fellow transit rider. You'll be pressed up against them anyway that day! ;) It honestly doesn’t matter what happens on November 15th. As long as people show up, who cares? What matters is November 16th.

Yes, it’s going to be a logistical nightmare. Yes, there are going to be long lines and complaints. But it’s a celebration. Adjust your attitude accordingly and get to know your fellow transit rider. You’ll be pressed up against them anyway that day! ;)

]]> By: jass http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/gold-line-eastside-extension-set-to-open-1115-but-is-metro-ready-to-party/comment-page-1/#comment-44731 jass Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:26:36 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=17461#comment-44731 7 minute headways is pretty bad and theres no technical reason why they cant be shorter. 7 minute headways is pretty bad and theres no technical reason why they cant be shorter.

]]> By: DJB http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/gold-line-eastside-extension-set-to-open-1115-but-is-metro-ready-to-party/comment-page-1/#comment-44711 DJB Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:19:33 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=17461#comment-44711 The trains should be jammed on opening day. The point of free fares is to get a ridiculous amount of people to ride and attract press attention. There should be lots of people crowding onto platforms and into trains for eye-popping photo ops. It says "demand is overwhelming, lets build more of this". This extension is a great victory, and truly a cause for celebration and all manner of child-like glee :) ¡Adelante, Metro! The trains should be jammed on opening day. The point of free fares is to get a ridiculous amount of people to ride and attract press attention. There should be lots of people crowding onto platforms and into trains for eye-popping photo ops. It says “demand is overwhelming, lets build more of this”.

This extension is a great victory, and truly a cause for celebration and all manner of child-like glee :)

¡Adelante, Metro!

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