Dana Gabbard

A few years ago I joined Amtrak's Guest Rewards program, which every month sends an e-mail showing my current point total. These also include a few tidbits of the latest Amtrak news. This is how I learned Amtrak's Customer Advisory Committee (ACAC) is currently recruiting new committee members to fill impending vacancies from several areas, including the Pacific Northwest, Southern California, North Carolina and the New York Empire Corridor along with regular riders of the the Sunset Limited® or Empire Builder®. The ACAC was formed in 1997 to represent the needs and concerns of the traveling public to Amtrak management.

Saturday two transit events will be occurring that may be of interest, and by coincidence both commence at 9:30 a.m.

Sometimes I enjoy having dinner at the Wilshire/Western Denny's for the opportunity it affords to watch the amazing dynamic transit action occurring at that intersection. This includes frequent and very busy bus lines (local and Rapid) along both streets plus hoards of people entering and exiting the rail station. It reminds me how tremendously heavy transit use in the Wilshire corridor is. And partially explains why a Wilshire Bus Rapid Transit Project has been in gestation and has now reached the draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment stage.

Amidst the discussion of Metro's impending fare increase previous Streetsblog posting have noted even with additional funds from the state along with the addition fare revenues Metro still has a deficit and plans to close it (in part) with service reductions.

You'll remember in April, while discussing the obscure Independent Citizens' Advisory and Oversight Committee (ICAOC), I mentioned the start-up of the Measure R Independent Taxpayers Oversight Committee was impending.

David Lazarus, in one of his recent L.A. Times columns on public transit, off-handly laments neglect of the "long-term promotion of public transportation as a practical alternative to traveling by car".

At its May 12, 210 meeting the Board of the San Bernardino Associated Governments (a Council of Gvernments/planning entity) viewed a remarkable power point presentation its staff had prepared. In just 34 pages it gives policymakers a peek at the yawning challenges facing our region. It doesn't offer any solutions but at least gives a fair picture of the magnitude of the problems. Which is a starting point for engaged and informed discussion.

The new year heralded a new blog devoted to “The Obscure, Offbeat and Half-Forgotten Transportation History of Southern California”, Charles Hobbs’s More Than Red Cars. I’ve known Hobbs since 1994, when I first became involved with Southern California Transit Advocates. At the time he was Vice President and also editor of the monthly newsletter The … Continued

About 15 years ago I remember the Riverside Press-Enterprise ran an article on how being a bus driver is one of the most hazardous occupations in Los Angeles. This came to mind when I heard that Omnitrans Coach Operator Lawrence Kester had died from stab wounds sustained while on duty on Friday, May 7.

This Saturday, May 15th, the Bus Riders Union will hold its monthly meeting at Immanuel Presbyterian Church (3300 Wilshire Blvd. #1200 -- two blocks west of Vermont) starting at 10 A.M.