tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58684679024088335392024-02-21T03:53:09.636-08:00Imagine...Metro is imagining Los Angeles County a quarter century from now. And we want to hear what you have in mind.Metro (Los Angeles)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01359974289052342599noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5868467902408833539.post-34179975900897605042008-05-05T06:19:00.000-07:002008-05-05T06:22:52.149-07:00Quick Path to Transit? Transit Building on Freeways<span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p>A number of comments have suggested Metro build transit on <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Los Angeles</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> freeways. The advantages of doing so also come with deep concerns.<o:p></o:p><o:p><br /><br /></o:p></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:city face="verdana" st="on"><st1:place st="on">Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" > does, of course, have several examples of transit lines using freeways. The Metro Green Line operates in the median of the I-105 Freeway, the Metro Gold Line operates in a segment of the I-210 Foothill Freeway, Metrolink commuter trains operate in the I-10 San Bernardino Freeway and Metro buses operate along the I-10 and I-110 Freeways in the El Monte Busway and the Harbor Transitway.<o:p></o:p><o:p><br /><br /></o:p>The difficulty in building rail lines on existing freeways is similar and perhaps more complex than adding carpool lanes to existing freeways. A California Department of Transportation practice does not allow the conversion of mixed flow freeway lanes to carpool lanes (and/or transit) without the addition of new lanes to replace any lost automobile capacity. And widening freeways for transit use is tremendously expensive because of the high cost to acquire freeway adjacent real estate, the cost to reconstruct freeway bridges, over crossings, ramps and other facilities.<o:p></o:p></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>If transit was constructed on freeways without the requirement to replace lost traffic lanes, the transit stations on freeways would still be perceived by many to be less safe and more difficult to use than stations built in more populated areas. Because of their surroundings, freeway transit stations include high noise levels from adjoining high-speed vehicles, as well as airborne dirt and pollution. Due to the need to construct pedestrian overpasses, bridges, stairways and elevators/escalators from remote parking lots and bus stops, these stations can be challenging to access. Freeway stations are generally not located close enough to major job centers or other destinations to be walk able and, therefore, multiple transfers from trains to buses are usually required.<o:p></o:p><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">So although Metro weighs the use of freeway transit projects in locations where it is feasible to do so, freeway transit projects are often more expensive and less desirable than other choices.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Metro (Los Angeles)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01359974289052342599noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5868467902408833539.post-78473654106296100462008-04-25T15:36:00.000-07:002008-04-28T10:50:21.161-07:00Metro Board Takes Step Toward Putting New Transportation Sales Tax on November Ballot<span style="font-family:Arial;">The Metro Board of Directors today took a step toward putting a new local half cent sales tax measure on the November ballot. The Board asked Metro staff to report back in June with a comprehensive package of specific street and highway improvements and public transit projects that could be funded by a new transportation sales tax in <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Los Angeles</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<o:p><br /></o:p></span> <p class="PressReleaseDefault"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The report also would include options for accelerating the schedule of new rail and bus projects already in the pipeline if a tax is approved by voters, a list of short-term transportation improvements that could ease traffic, and a draft ordinance.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="PressReleaseDefault"><span style="font-family:Arial;">In June the Metro Board will consider requesting that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors put a new half cent sales tax for transportation on the November ballot. The discussion will coincide with the Metro Board’s review of the agency’s draft Long Range Transportation Plan that looks ahead to the year 2030 and addresses mobility improvements necessary to deal with another 2 million people living in the county and exponential growth in truck and rail traffic moving cargo from the Ports of Los Angeles and <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Long Beach</st1:city></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="PressReleaseDefault"><span style="font-family:Arial;">While the draft plan identifies funds for transit operations and dozens of new highway and transit projects, there is a significant funding shortfall. There is no funding for critical Tier 1 projects such as the Westside subway extension, the Foothill Metro Gold Line Extension, a downtown regional connector, 710 Freeway gap closure, and other transportation projects.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="PressReleaseDefault"><span style="font-family:Arial;">For more information on Metro’s draft Long Range Transportation Plan, go to <a href="http://www.metro.net/projects_studies/lrtp.htm">http://www.metro.net/projects_studies/lrtp.htm</a>.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >Faced with mounting traffic congestion, a number of community and business organizations and local government have expressed support for putting a new local sales tax for transportation on the ballot including the City of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city>, CALPIRG, Environment California, Los Angeles Business Council, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, and the Valley Industry & Commerce Association.</span>Metro (Los Angeles)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01359974289052342599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5868467902408833539.post-10240160663433122552008-04-15T10:39:00.000-07:002008-04-15T11:36:35.219-07:00A Subway in Your Future?Many of you have imagined a subway extension through the Westside. Various transportation improvements have been proposed for this area as far back as the 1920s.<br /><br />Before a subway extension or any other project can be built in the dense, congested Westside area, it must go through an environmental analysis and be incorporated into the funded element of the Long Range Transportation Plan. Among other things, this ensures that a project is eligible to compete for federal funds. To accomplish the first goal, Metro began the Westside Extension Transit Corridor Study in fall 2007.<br /><br />The study is evaluating a range of options, including a possible subway extension. For more information, go to <a href="http://www.metro.net/westside">metro.net/westside</a>. The 2008 Draft Long Range Transportation Plan ranks a possible Westside subway extension high in the list of Tier 1 Strategic Unfunded projects. Currently, the Plan does not anticipate sufficient funding to move any projects in this category into the funded section of the plan. The scarcity of funds for vital projects has spurred state legislators to draft bills that may come before voters in the November 2008 election to increase local funding to bring these projects to fruition.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Metro wants to know what you imagine. Tell us what you think of LA County’s transportation future by clicking the COMMENTS link below.</span>Metro (Los Angeles)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01359974289052342599noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5868467902408833539.post-41459247141115677252008-04-09T12:41:00.000-07:002008-04-09T12:44:23.042-07:00Report from the Third Long Range Transportation Plan Community Meeting<span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="">Approximately 25 people attended the third of the seven planned community meetings on the 2008 Draft Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) Thursday, April 3 at 6 p.m. in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Carson</st1:city></st1:place>.<o:p> </o:p></span></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Cara Rice, City of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Carson</st1:place></st1:city> transportation manager, suggested some ideas for funding transportation projects. Approximately 10 people provided verbal comments. Many of the comments dealt with support for expanding rail to serve more areas in the <st1:placename st="on">South</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:placetype>, San Pedro and <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Long Beach</st1:city></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Several people voiced support for connecting the Green Line to LAX. Other speakers suggested ways to relieve goods movement-related traffic at the ports and on the regions' freeways. Suggestions included extending the Green Line to the east, improving mobility between <st1:city st="on">Los Angeles</st1:city> and <st1:city st="on">Orange</st1:city> counties, augmenting customer service, adjusting the Metro fare structure and improving transit options and travel times in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">South</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:placetype></st1:place> region.<span style="color: rgb(66, 125, 100);"><o:p><br /></o:p></span><br />The next LRTP Community Meeting is scheduled for April 8 in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Rosemead</st1:place></st1:city>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Metro wants to know what you imagine. Tell us what you think of LA County’s transportation future by clicking the COMMENTS link below.</span></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Metro (Los Angeles)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01359974289052342599noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5868467902408833539.post-51539784386772253882008-04-03T13:29:00.000-07:002008-04-03T16:06:48.323-07:00CALPIRG Reports California Public Transit Removes 800,000 Cars Off State Roads<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">From a March 6, 2008 CALPIRG news release:</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />“The recent spike in gas prices is just one of many compelling reasons why convenient, fast, and reliable bus and rail service need to be expanded throughout our cities,” said Emily Rusch, Transportation Advocate with CALPIRG Education Fund. “Let’s face it: the era of cheap oil is over.”</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Many experts predict that gas prices will exceed $4 a gallon in southern California in the coming weeks and months. Thanks to public transit, California saved more than 486 million gallons of oil, roughly equivalent to taking more than 800,000 cars off the road. That has made California far less dependent on oil than we otherwise would be, and has made consumers less susceptible to gas price spikes. In fact, the report estimates that existing public transit results in more than $1.2 billion dollars in gasoline cost savings annually for consumers. </span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />A few highlights from California:</span> </span><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The Bay Area’s BART system is the third best system in the country in oil savings, behind only MTA in New York and Washington D.C.’s Metro. BART cut the Bay Area’s oil use by 199 million gallons.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The Los Angeles Metro bus system is the number one bus system in the country in oil savings, cutting Los Angeles’ oil use by more than 56 million gallons. </span><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Stockton and Bakersfield were recognized as having the most oil savings from public transit out of all urbanized areas with populations under 500,000. </span> </span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Reduced oil dependence and insulation from gas price spikes aren’t the only benefits. California has also committed to reducing our global warming pollution by 25% by 2020, a commitment that will be difficult to reach unless we reduce our dependence on cars. Public transit prevents almost 3.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution annually. </span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />The CALPIRG Education Fund report also found that every dollar invested in public transit reaps more than two dollars in benefits. Last year the California state legislature cut more than $1.26 billion from public transit agencies to balance the state budget. </span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />“California’s budget was balanced last year with unacceptably high cuts to public transit agencies,” said Rusch. “We’re calling on Governor Schwarzenegger to ensure public transit gets its fair share of funding this year, so that we can invest in local transit and reduce California’s dependence on oil.”<br /><br />Metro wants to know what you imagine. Tell us what you think of LA County’s transportation future by clicking the COMMENTS link below.<br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span>Metro (Los Angeles)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01359974289052342599noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5868467902408833539.post-8056203254079734172008-03-28T17:21:00.000-07:002008-04-03T07:26:19.627-07:00Thank You for Imagining...<span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span>Thank you for sharing what you imagine for Los Angeles County’s transportation future.</span> We will update this page with accounts of the community meetings being held as part of the 45-day review period for the Draft 2008 Long Range Transportation Plan.<br /><br />Your input is crucial as we imagine our future together. We invite you to attend a <a href="http://www.metro.net/projects_studies/lrtp_meetings.htm">meeting</a> in your community and make your voice heard.<br /><br />Metro wants to know what you imagine. Tell us what you think of LA County’s transportation future by clicking the COMMENTS link below.</span>Metro (Los Angeles)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01359974289052342599noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5868467902408833539.post-38094650700235142342008-03-12T05:27:00.001-07:002008-03-14T03:08:58.013-07:00Imagining a Traffic-Free Future<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Imagine not worrying about getting stuck in traffic going to work, school, play or even routine errands. No frazzled nerves. No hunting for shortcuts. No Sig alerts. No standard excuse for being late. You can get where you want to go, when you want to get there anywhere in sprawling Los Angeles County.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />You can make it happen. You’re already taking the first step by seeking more information about traffic congestion and what can be done about it. You now know that Metro has a plan to handle the county’s mobility needs today through the year 2030.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1F0BYvFxXdzTHD_TAoqqfpgf2C1pUVNtLeFdW9181wS9B1ovEUBlhOX40yDCxKpppNiPESVnocA-XXRtkrulKXSrSa11puJOq05gEEDOm9xO1w5LF_mx8WvzGe-hF3k0pZaI4GH5E9KBk/s1600-h/cover_lrtp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1F0BYvFxXdzTHD_TAoqqfpgf2C1pUVNtLeFdW9181wS9B1ovEUBlhOX40yDCxKpppNiPESVnocA-XXRtkrulKXSrSa11puJOq05gEEDOm9xO1w5LF_mx8WvzGe-hF3k0pZaI4GH5E9KBk/s200/cover_lrtp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177537234720852418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The <a href="http://www.metro.net/longrangeplan">Draft Long Range Transportation Plan</a> prioritizes dozens of new highway and public transit projects in virtually every corner of Los Angeles County. Freeway gap closures, construction of carpool lanes, interchange improvements and truck lanes would complement new public transit projects including busways, freeway express service, and rail lines to handle the county’s population and job growth through the year 2030.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Metro welcomes your input on this plan and any ideas you have for achieving the goal of hassle-free mobility. Community meetings are held frequently and you can even chat on the Internet with Metro Board Chair Pam O’Connor. Look to <a href="http://www.metro.net/imagine">metro.net/imagine</a> for more information about Pam’s monthly live chats.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Metro wants to know what you imagine. Tell us what you think of LA County’s transportation future by clicking the COMMENTS link below.</span></span>Metro (Los Angeles)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01359974289052342599noreply@blogger.com205