Metro

It is not fully approved or completely finalized, but a document has circulated that shows Metro's staff recommendations for open streets events for FY2015-16. Open streets events, or ciclovías, are car-free festivals primarily for bicycling and walking, more or less the same as Los Angeles' popular CicLAvia.

Just over four hours into its marathon monthly board meeting, the Metro Board of Directors approved its much debated fare increase. Metro's base transit fare will increase from $1.50 to $1.75 in September 2014. Weekly and monthly passes, and senior and disabled fares will also undergo similar increases. The fare increase motion passed with twelve in favor. County Supervisor Gloria Molina was the only board member voting opposed.

This morning in Washington DC, federal and Los Angeles officials joined together to announce full funding for the initial phase extending Metro's Purple Line Subway. This funding had been hinted at earlier, but today it's a done deal. Barring any kind of governmental shutdown.

Tomorrow, the Metro Board is voting on fare increases. Under the Metro staff recommendation, Metro's base transit fare would go from $1.50 to $1.75 in 2014. That's a 17% increase. Metro's student fare would go from $1 to $1.25 in 2014. That's a 25% increase.

Just when it looked like this Thursday's Metro board meeting would just see its high-stakes up-or-down vote on proposed fare increases, a new wrinkle emerges: a new Metro board motion [pdf] by Mayor Eric Garcetti and Supervisors Zev Yaroslavsky and Mark Ridley-Thomas. The bottom line on the motion is that a 25-cent fare increase would go forward for September 2014, but with some relatively positive strings attached.

At its regular monthly meeting this Thursday, May 22nd, 2014, the Metro board of directors will vote on its proposed fare increase. If approved, bus and rail base fare will increase 25 cents in September, and will continue to rise automatically in years ahead.

On March 29th, Metro held a public hearing on its proposal to restructure fares. At that meeting, I presented the position of Southern California Transit Advocates.

Los Angeles' Bike Week 2014 kicked off at a press event this morning at Union Station. Metro Deputy Chief Executive Officer Lindy Lee welcomed assembled cyclists and media. Lee expressed enthusiasm about Los Angeles' bikeway facilities, now with "more miles than ever before." She invited cyclists to take advantage of free rides on Metro bus and rail for this Thursday's Bike to Work Day. There are also free rides on Metrolink and various local transit providers; see Metro's the Source for free ride instructions. Metro is hosting and co-hosting numerous Bike Week events, including a Wednesday ride and Bike Night at Union Station this Friday.