Is It Time for Metro Rail to Get a Face Lift?

Rendering: Alexander Friedman

There’s a lot of positive things one can say about Metro Rail. That the train cars are attractive is not one of them. The common stainless steel train cars don’t create an attractive visage for first time rail passengers, many of whom are also confused that purple line trains are painted red.

Over the break, Streetsblog reader and avid So.CA.TA. member Alexander Friedman sent me a photoshop of the standard gray rail cars with a more colorful update. Friedman’s more attractive picture raises am interesting question: is it time for Metro heavy rail cars to get a face lift?

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Op/Ed: A Quick-Fix to L.A.’s Mass Transit: Bring Back the Trolleybuses!

|
[smooth=id:17; width:600; height:200; timed:true; arrows:true; carousel:true; links:true; info:true; align:center; frames:true; delay:9000; transition:crossfade; open:false; text:Thumbnails;] Images of trolley buses from around the world, collected by Alexander Friedman. Los Angeles is the 2nd largest city in the United States., both in population and size, and is still notorious for its “car culture.” Unlike other major world cities, […]

Transit Coalition Backs Cyclists Right to Rail Cars

|
(Stephen Box has been leading the charge for a better bike plan on Metro trains than the "two bikes per car " rule that was proposed earlier this month.  In this post he updates us on his efforts to build consensus for a better plan.  Over the weekend he got a bevy of support from […]

First Impressions of the Expo Line

|
No, this isn’t about my first impressions.  It’s about his. It was with some amazement that I realized that Sammy has never ridden Metro rail.  In his nearly three years, we’ve ridden airport connectors and the New York Subway together, but never Metro rail.  What better day to break that streak than the opening of […]

Breaking News: Metro Reverses Rush Hour Ban on Bikes on Trains

|
Gunpowder doesn’t have to fear getting ticketed on his way to Metro Board meetings. Photo: LAStreetsblog/Flickr Announced this morning at LA Bike Week’s kickoff event in front of LAPD headquarters, Metro will be lifting restrictions on when and where you can bring your bike onto Metro Rail (the Purple, Red, Blue, Green, and Gold Lines).  Current […]