Category Archives: Feedback

It's your turn: tell us why YOU ride transit (or let us know why you don't)

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Why You Ride (or don't)We want to know:

For the last month we’ve been sharing stories of Metro employees who use transit to get to work in our ‘Why I Ride‘ series.

Now we want to hear your stories, and we’re just not looking to hear from regular transit riders – we want to hear from those of you who don’t ride as well.

Why?

In terms of sheer passengers, Los Angeles is number three in the nation when it comes to transit ridership (according to APTA), but the percentage of the overall population that rides is lower than many other cities. When it comes to commuting, according to U.S. Census data, in the L.A. metropolitan area about 7.2% of the working population uses transit to get to work. Compare that to 44% for New York City, 19.6% for San Francisco and 13% for Chicago.

Of course, these numbers don’t fully explain each region’s unique transportation history – such as the fact that L.A. spread out across its sprawling geography thanks, in part, to a massive urban streetcar system that was subsequently dismantled and replaced by a car and freeway culture that has reigned for the last 70 years. (Read more about L.A.’s transit history by visiting the Metro Library’s web page.)

Attentive readers know that urban rail of any kind was completely absent from the Los Angeles area from 1963 to 1990. That’s almost three decades that L.A. had to grow and mature – and the population of L.A. County increased by nearly 3 million in that time period – with the automobile as the dominant transportation mode and the only alternative being a bus system that traveled on those ever more congested streets. In contrast, places like New York, San Francisco and Chicago still make use of historical rail systems that have been around since the turn of the 20th century.

But things are changing. L.A. has gone from 0 to 79 miles of urban rail in the last 20 years, and the plan is to vastly expand the system in the next 30 – possibly the next decade if the 30/10 Initiative is a success. But more than 70 years of car culture – both physical and social – will prove to be a challenge to overcome. Traffic is often terrible, our region is vast, job centers are disconnected and we’ve invested considerable money, space and – heck – love into our private vehicles and the infrastructure they require.

As we as a region move forward and invest in alternative modes of travel it makes sense to discuss what we want from these alternatives and what it will take to get us to use them.

These surveys are a chance to share your stories – whether you’re currently a regular transit user or part of the majority of Angelenos who drive a car but voted for the Measure R sales tax increase in 2008 to bring billions of dollars in new transit projects to our region.

Not everyone is in love with the idea of a VA Hospital station for Westside Subway Extension

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As for our latest subway poll, we’ve received many comments, which have come in through the poll page, email and via the Westside Subway Extension Facebook page.

Click above to see a larger image.

Some don’t like the poll itself, others definitely aren’t thrilled with the idea of placing a station at the VA Hospital — they want a station farther west. The latest results are at the right.

Here’s my two cents on that: at this point, the Board of Directors of Metro have decided in the agency’s long-range plan that the subway for now is going to Westwood based on the funds the agency has available through Measure R and, hopefully, the federal New Starts program.

The Board could hypothetically change its mind and decide to fund the subway going farther to Brentwood — but that requires more money. And right now, of the more than $13 billion in transit projects in Measure R, about $6 billion are going to projects in the Westside — the subway extension, the second phase of the Expo Line and a future 405 transit project linking the Westside to the San Fernando Valley.

So it’s a political issue. The Measure R sales tax making all these projects possible was approved by voters across the county and the Board of Directors have already had many eons of discussions about distributing those funds across the county. That is important to keep in mind.

Now, the good stuff:

From Joseph:

This station is a bad location. The VA will not allow development, parking for transit riders, or a bus transfer center on their land, and all of the buses that serve the VA also serve Westwood and Bundy (the stations east and west of here). So it will only be useful to get to the VA hospital itself. Instead, the station should be placed a couple blocks west at the edge of the VA property, between Barrington and Federal, where there are many offices and apartments in walking distance. The VA would still be only a 5 minute walk or short shuttle ride away; the current parking lot shuttles could also serve the new station portal at the corner of Wilshire and Federal. A station there would be much better used and more cost-effective…. Continue reading →

@MetroLosAngeles Twitter Tuesday

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Welcome to Twitter Tuesday, a weekly feature here at The Source in which we’ll round up the latest Metro related tweets in the Twitterverse. To follow Metro on Twitter just search for @MetroLosAngeles. We recommend adding the #MetroLosAngeles tag to your tweets to get our attention.

Rants:

youayntfresh @metrolosangeles You messed up my commute today. You really did. I can’t wait to get my car.

Kythera So the wetbound 9:16 @ Slauson 108 was its usual 10 minutes late, today. This has not been a good transit week. #metrolosangeles

thelittlefella @metrolosangeles the fare machines at union station gold line won’t accept tokens or change. It’s causing chaos and super annoying.

RobertMoranLA I have a love hate relationship with #MetroLosAngeles. In other words…I love to hate it.

Kythera Been waiting for the 108 eastbound @ Fox Hills Mall since 8pm. It is now 8:35 and FREEZING. Look to the 108, @metrolosangeles.

BigEyedMisha @metrolosangeles big fail.. 3rd and Fairfax bus stop full of angry and confused riders as 780 bus flies by without stopping. No 217 bus

MichaelAffeldt @metrolosangeles :: Trains are leaving too early from Wilshire/Vermont. Monitor says 7:14, and the 7:14 train has already come and gone.!

CoasterMatt Hey @metrolosangeles, when you hire bus operators, do you weed out everybody that might know how to read a clock?

bighandsome 720 bus rerouted on Olympic from 26th all the way to Robertson b/c of POTUS. Doubles my walk. Thanks for the warning @metrolosangeles

kitsunenoir @metrolosangeles decided to move my bus stop but wasn’t clear where. Bus driver just passed by 20 people waiting for their bus. #badservice

Compliments:

rebelrina @metrolosangeles Nearly PASSED OUT when the #4 line was on time today. Thank you! Can we have that happen on a regular basis now?

sallywasmyride @metrolosangeles thank you for getting me to my destination safely.

nbrunskill Day 7 without hopping into my car thanks to @metrolosangeles and @LAXCarShare!

LosAngelesCM Thanks @metrolosangeles for providing bicycle valet service today for the Mayor’s Bicycle Summit.

rebelrina Bus on time today! Thank you, @metrolosangeles

Observations:

HLP90042 The lamp housings at @metrolosangeles‘ Highland Park Gold Line Station have been broken or missing for years. http://wp.me/p1Q8j-oP

Creolemommie Using @LAXCarShare and @metrolosangeles makes being #carfree a possibility!

lotahooya @plusMETRO Least used cuz Gold Line is a big “U” and it takes forever to get from Little Tokyo to Union Station #MetroLosAngeles

Gatoona Heading to LAX. Taking the #metrolosangeles RED > BLUE > GREEN > SHUTTLE. Wish the last step wasn’t there.

CourtneyLTucker This is why I love @metrolosangeles RT @latimes Gas prices hit highest levels of the year http://lat.ms/bhu3sg

Photos on the go:

HLP90042 Looking closely at the photo, for some reason the @MetroLosAngeles bus driver is camera shy. #90042 http://yfrog.com/55566fj

Latest tally and comments on Westside Subway VA Hospital station poll

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Since our last update, the VA station poll has garnered 173 more votes but the results remain unchanged: most who voted still want the station, even if they won’t use it.

Here’s the breakdown as of 11am:

Subway Poll 11am

The poll is still open, so if you haven’t voted yet please do. One thing to remember: the Westside Subway is currently only funded to Westwood. Thus, subway planners are looking to build the line – at least for now – as far as either Westwood/UCLA or to bring it just a bit farther to the Westwood VA Hospital. To go any further west would require new funding sources and an update to the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). For more factoids relating to this poll, check out the original post.

We’ve also received many comments, which have come in through the poll page, email and via the Westside Subway Extension Facebook page.

Marvin Brown, retired US Army Reserve, writes:

I just wanted to add that due to ongoing war in Afghanistan etc. the number of returning injured Veteran’s is increasing and they are not all elderly.  I am sure they will see the train station as a benefit not to mention the members of the Army Reserve and National Guard Units next to the VA facilities who I’m sure would ride the train rather than endure the horrible freeway traffic in and out of the area. Those who are familiar with this are know that the “short” distance from Federal or Bundy is not very short or easy access to the hospital.  Let the able bodied make the journey.  The Veterans will need a variety of services provided by the VA for years to come and once again the numbers are growing.

Tobias wrote on the poll page:

Look, I’m all for veterans getting better access to the services they need, but you gotta understand this: this project is competing for money against other projects all around the country, and one of the most significant criteria by which it will be judged is cost effectiveness. Regardless of the station location, the cost will be the same, but the fact is, if the station is further west, it will almost certainly have more ridership, and thus be more cost-effective. It will provide better access to Brentwood, AND vets will still be able to use it by means of a shuttle bus, the same shuttle bus they would be using if the station were closer. It just really is the right decision, and not all that selfish. As for the 405 line, it should have an underground transfer station on-street at Wilshire and Westwood, but that’s a whole different can of worms…

On Facebook, Tommy Lovato writes:

We need to think about this long-term, with the idea of a transit NETWORK in mind. Some time down the road, there will be rapid transit connecting the Valley and the Westside. The only reasonable place to put that transit line will be along I-405/Sepulveda. In that case, it makes sense to have a Purple Line station as close to the 405/Sepulveda as possible.

Allon Percus sends us this email about the specific station location on the VA site:

It’s hard for me to vote without knowing where the VA station is likely to be. Two very different options have been floated: north of Wilshire, and south of Wilshire. The first of these options could, if properly designed, be really convenient for pedestrian access to Brentwood. I would enthusiastically support it. The second option seems much less accessible to the community at large – it looks like a hospital station exclusively. That would be a great opportunity wasted.

Subway poll, most readers want a VA Hospital station

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As of 11am the majority of votes in our latest poll are in favor of a VA Hospital station at the currently planned terminus of the Westside subway, but it seems most people who voted don’t plan on actually using the station.

Here’s the current breakdown of votes:

VA Poll 11.13.03 AM

If you have yet to vote, please do so. Refer to yesterday’s post for a little background info on the issue.

Despite the numbers, most of the comments we’ve received so far are in opposition of the station.

Brian Miller shares his opinion:

A station at the VA Hospital would be a terrible waste of funds given that there is a great mix of high density office,retail and residential uses just to the WEST of the VA Property. A station at Wilshire/Barrington would make much more sense, as it would serve the high-density West LA neighborhood and still be close enough to the VA for shuttle service (for the veterans and visitors that will actually use the subway, once in a while, to get to and from the hospital).

We did receive an email in support of the station, from a former VA medical center employee, Robert Goldware:

As someone who spent his career working for a VA medical center, and as someone who interacted daily with veterans and their transportation needs, I can unequivocally say that a station AT the hospital would be a very smart decision.  Many of our veterans do not have easy transportation to their medical appointments and for them, this is as big an issue as is the actual receiving of their health care.  If it is built, they will definitely ride…

Some of the previous commenters have suggested that the station should be built at some distance from the hospital, such as at Federal or Bundy, implying that it is only a short distance from the hospital.  It is a fallacy to think that it would be used by vets if it is that far away.  Many many vets are infirm and have great mobility problems; just getting to and from the parking lot can be a challenge for these often elderly patients.  And don’t forget also that this station would also be used by employees…there are thousands there, the biggest facility in the entire VA medical system.

And feel free to share your comments, either on the poll page, by sending us an email or by leaving a comment on Facebook.

@MetroLosAngeles Twitter Tuesday

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Welcome to Twitter Tuesday, a weekly feature here at The Source in which we’ll round up the latest Metro related tweets in the Twitterverse. To follow Metro on Twitter just search for @MetroLosAngeles. We recommend adding the #MetroLosAngeles tag to your tweets to get our attention.

Rants:

ryanwhitacre @MetroLosAngeles could you please REALLY fix the escalators at the Hollywood/Vine Red Line Station? At least 1 is broken every couple days.

bryanjaxson Having miserable 720 trip. #tap fail, lurching bad driver, passenger tossing trash out, fare evading, seat hogs on 9386 E @metrolosangeles

dawrightstuff7 @metrolosangeles The 224 Route’s service needs to improve. Busses passing without any indidcation that they are “Not In Service” is not okay

Grahas @metrolosangeles grr your fairboxes don’t take $2 bills

HLP90042 Last night’s @metrolosangeles triple-car Gold Line was luxurious compared to Sunday morning’s single car sardine trains.

Gatoona #metrolosangeles 720 is packed like usual. Purple Line extension, save us now.

thebusbench @AlexBCT the 33/733 is insane. Many people on the Eastside use it to reach the beach, it’s always crowded USE your product #metrolosangeles

photolarry @metrolosangeles rode line 720 express down Wilshire getting horrible lately with rude inconsiderate operators whom are not safe drivers!

kitchen @metrolosangeles sepulveda is what, 60 miles long? why there is no single bus which covers it all… valley -> lax is currently painful

@kitchen, for Valley to LAX travel don’t forget the Van Nuys FlyAway which leaves from its own bus terminal at Van Nuys Airport (7610 Woodley Avenue), costs $7 for a one-way trip and is served by Metro lines 169 and 236/237.

Compliments:

benhardy Pleasantly surprising new commute: SaMo Big Blue Bus 10 + @metrolosangeles Gold Line to Pasadena = door to door in an hour. Beats driving!

fushigicorn @metrolosangeles i used to hate public transit but now im becoming a proud supporter of it. i have to thank you for what you’re doing for LA

Kythera Another good transit day! #metrolosangeles

PeltFrelken Wilshire Rapid driver this a.m. called out the stops on the mic, old school style. I like it. #metrolosangeles

PeltFrelken @metrolosangeles The 920 Rapid Express gets you there, posthaste. Thx. #metrolosangeles

@PeltFrelken, you’re definitely going to want to attend the public hearing tomorrow for the proposed bus service changes in December – the 920 is on the chopping block! Case in point:

GayTownKTown @curbedLA @streetsblog @metrolosangeles 920 bus service may be cut! NOOOOOOO!!! #save920

Good ideas:

djonesix @metrolosangeles there’s a lot of nice pieces out there praising 30/10. how about presenting or linking to some arguments against it?

LoveFreshBread @metrolosangeles Great Harvest Bread co. right off the Mission Station Gold Line. Follow us for commuter lunch specials.

thebusbench Transit inclusive idea. If event ends after 9pm, do a mocktripplan via #metrolosangeles, only 1 bus per hour leaving? Not inclusive.

In response to our Subway Extension parking poll, a few tweets came in asking for a different kind of parking:

kitchen @metrolosangeles plenty of BIKE parking, perhaps.

baconqurlyq @metrolosangeles I second @kitchen. Plenty of bike parking!

Out and about:

Gatoona A couple is making out inside a #metrolosangeles bus right in front of me. How #romantic.

gbrey Riding the Blue Line @metrolosangeles on the way to the LBC for tha Funk Fest! Jus chillin

Gatoona Heading to East Los Angeles via the #metrolosangeles Gold Line to take some awesome photos. It’s culture time.

nbrunskill Finally made some time to catch up on reading on my way to work thanks to @metrolosangeles & Big Blue Bus.

VickiRaisens Heading downtown for a little photography and lunch w/ @billyreynolds..doing car and @metrolosangeles today

Technology:

@neontommy Everyone goes through Facebook drama: @metrolosangeles explains why they deleted Facebook comments http://tinyurl.com/37tjfls

Photos on the go:

HLP90042 New mobile billboards on @metrolosangeles Gold Line: http://yfrog.com/jcrbrsj “Smooth Ride.” hawrhawr, get it?

thelox714 @metrolosangeles Check out my metro pics – http://tinyurl.com/metropics

@MetroLosAngeles Twitter Tuesday

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Welcome to Twitter Tuesday, a weekly feature here at The Source in which we’ll round up the latest Metro related tweets in the Twitterverse. To follow Metro on Twitter just search for @MetroLosAngeles. We recommend adding the #MetroLosAngeles tag to your tweets to get our attention.

Rants:

Kythera And the “where the heck is the 108?” dance begins… #metrolosangeles

OMZS187 @metrolosangeles y r buses running & not picking up on Vermont Ave

Kythera Uh oh… Waiting on the 232 at the LAX bus center. No 232 waiting in sight. This does not bode well… >.> #metrolosangeles

PeltFrelken @metrolosangeles Gotta say, very difficult for tourists to buy a TAP Card #metrolosangeles

You may notice this next tweet is well over 140 characters – @RobertMoran used a Twitter extender for this particular rant:

@Robert Moran Dear @metrolosangeles a little notification and better organization when buses are being detoured so riders won’t have to be the one alert you that your busses are being rerouted and your clueless service reps won’t suggest that we flag down the busses on their alternative routes like a taxi cab! Sincerely a very aggravated, Robert Moran

Compliments:

metsfaninCA @metrolosangeles other than the obligatory crazies…I really enjoyed myself riding this weekend. Nice to not be harassed taking photos!

PeltFrelken @metrolosangeles Gotta say, I’m impressed w/ the morning rush hour Red Line-to-Wilshire Rapid speed & efficiency. #metrolosangeles

BridgeThink #FF @metrolosangeles Thanks for all the great info this week! LA peeps, join in their rider polls. Make LA truly “metro”!

hestyman Feels like @metrolosangeles did a pretty good job tweeting service advisories this AM. Keep it up!

Good ideas:

gometro Sure, it’s a little crazy, but we live in LaLa Land so what the heck? Take note, @MetroLosAngeles: http://bit.ly/aksDdk [China's mega bus proposal]

PeltFrelken @MetroLosAngeles U need to consider “all door enterance” on the Wilshire Rapid like on the Orange Line. Bottleneck=slow bus #MetroLosAngeles

Out and about:

tasteoftheworld @metrolosangeles TAKE THE BUS to the Los Angeles Taste of the World Festival, Nov 5-7 in downtown for only $10!

TheDudeAbides @metrolosangeles took the 439 to downtown after long bike ride. Liked that it stopped at Ken Hahn sp but just found out it will be canceled

rke21 ride’n da #metrolosangeles green line.

NikolasAndrew On @metrolosangeles Going To SATURDAY HIGH @art_center. First Gonna Stop By @Starbucks :)

GarMar88 Now aboard the sb #MetroLosAngeles Silver Line, which is 1 of my fave routes. @WolyHearts & I are heading for Harbor Gateway! ;D

Photos on the go:

skrooz For the month of July, I took pics of my metro ride. Here’s my July pics http://www.shuttercal.com/calendar/skrooz/2010/7/ #metrolosangeles

sallywasmyride My favorite @metrolosangeles safety ad on the blue line. http://yfrog.com/2tn3zij

skrooz @metrolosangeles Look who I saw riding the metro today :) http://tweetphoto.com/35799272 [The Keanu Reeves internet meme comes to Metro]

@MetroLosAngeles Twitter Tuesday

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Welcome to Twitter Tuesday, a weekly feature here at The Source in which we’ll round up the latest Metro related tweets in the Twitterverse. To follow Metro on Twitter just search for @MetroLosAngeles. We recommend adding the #MetroLosAngeles tag to your tweets to get our attention.

Rants:

blinkie Broken TAP reader on Lake stn ticket machine made me miss my train. Thanks a lot @metrolosangeles

joeTOCIE @metrolosangeles do your drivers know where the bus stops are at clearly not..4 days in row he missed my stop..

KevinFerguson nothing more annoying than when @metrolosangeles operators wave finger back+forth to show that their train’s not in service. We get it, man.

endlesssundays I wish Beverly HIlls would get on the same page as @metrolosangeles and realize that they are the worst part of a commuter’s traffic.

Technology:

rke21 spotted a Nook on da #metrolosangeles green. looks gr8 like da Kindle. awesome 4 reading. even got 2 play w/ a moto x earlier 2day.

mr_douche @metrolosangeles will the MTA ever create an app similar to the Boston area’s app that has GPS on their buses to see when the bus is coming?

Metro’s in the process of getting a real time bus arrival system in place, and when it is you can be sure there will be apps to follow.

Enneira @metrolosangeles Hey, just wondering if/when I will be able to use my phone on the Red Line?

New York City is moving forward with implementing wireless service in subway stations, but it’s likely the service won’t work when actually riding the trains. Metro is in the early stages of studying bringing wireless to Metro subway stations.

Compliments:

Kythera Runing smoothly this morning, @metrolosangeles Keep it up! :)

skrooz I appreciate people who wears deodorant especially ones who ride the metro #metrolosangeles

corpfatcat I think @metrolosangeles bus drivers are one of the most good-natured group of people in LA. #goodvibrations

Going out:

DaveMora Hey @metrolosangeles u were my driver friday night when I went to a concert in Hollywood. But, what is the last redline 2 North Hollywood?

Thanks for taking Metro on your Friday night! The last Red Line train to North Hollywood from the Hollywood/Highland Station is 12:38am. Later than that you’re going to have to take Metro Bus 656 which runs all night. You can find timetables at Metro.net/around/timetables.

funkyjenn Going to hop on the @metrolosangeles to check out the @RenegadeCraft Fair in DTLA. Maybe drop by Chinatown for some tea while I’m there!

I love transit:

DonKnabe Served as Master of Ceremonies at the @MetroLosAngeles 20th Anniversary celebration http://bit.ly/9r8SJw #ilovetransit

nbrunskill I love driving through Culver City and seeing the progress on the Expo Line each week. #metrolosangeles

Gatoona Can’t afford @metrolink today, so I’m taking the @metrolosangeles 460 to get to #orangecounty. Takes a bit longer, but still gets me there.

Good ideas:

MichaelAffeldt @metrolosangeles :: Suggestion: paint exteriors of metro cars with bike space inside (fewer seats) a distinct color…say, green?

BridgeThink @metrolosangeles where can we get bumper stickers for our cars: “Tomorrow I’m takin’ the bus… Change it up one day a week.”

Dommy_in_LA @metrolosangeles is there a way for metro riders to get validated @ Hollywood and highland

Hollywood & Highland offer Metro riders discounts at some of its restaurants (check out our dining map for details) but – validation? No. But I think it’s a great idea, we all know that shopping centers routinely pay for customers parking costs through validation, why not give a little cash back to transit commuters?

@MetroLosAngeles Twitter Tuesday

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Welcome to Twitter Tuesday, a weekly feature here at The Source in which we’ll round up the latest Metro related tweets in the Twitterverse. To follow Metro on Twitter just search for @MetroLosAngeles. We recommend adding the #MetroLosAngeles tag to your tweets to get our attention.

We’ve been posting transit pictures and opened up a Flickr group, but some photographers are worried about the legality of snapping pix on Metro:

kitchen @metrolosangeles are we gonna be arrested for taking pictures while on the metro? probably should inform your “security forces”

I’ve been taking pictures of Metro for years and have never been arrested, but if you’re worried check out Metro’s photography guidelines – there’s just a few – and stick to them.

More commentary on the recent fare incraese:

BigEyedMisha @metrolosangeles why is it that since the fare hike, my busses have been less consistent and more packed? We need more buses more often

jaykaos I remember when @metrolosangeles day passes were only $3. Now they’re $6?! Sad day! How disappointing LA!

Thoughts on the Wilshire bus lanes project:

tedder42 @metrolosangeles bus lane. It’s sort of a NO DUH option. (why can’t it be done in a month vs two years?) http://bit.ly/dx4pKT

Bus service – the good, the bad and the ugly:

Kythera Timestamp: 8:54am. 108 running like clockwork this morning! :) #metrolosangeles

Kythera …Right. An empty 108 marked “not in service” just rolled by. What’s the malfunction today, @metrolosangeles?

frankyhernandez @metrolosangeles from 5:50 to 6:50, the 733 bus at ocean & colorado did not show up!! where were the 6:10 and 6:30 buses?!!

We asked, what’s your favorite rail line:

SimonOh @metrolosangeles Gold Line: my favorite light rail line in L.A.!

We tweeted about rail ridership numbers being up:

metrolosangeles Despite summer and recession, Metro Rail ridership up 7.5% in June over a year ago. Start of a trend? http://thesource.metro.net/?p=9384

And the Twitterverse was quick to take issue with our phrasing:

MichaelAffeldt @metrolosangeles what do you mean *despite* recession??

elzed @metrolosangeles It’s not *despite*, it’s *because*. http://bit.ly/bFSkMM “…cars on America’s roadways decreased by 4 million last year”

ubrayj02 @metrolosangeles So are the fares, you rats!

Seems like every week we get tweet from people wanting 24-hour rail service:

VickiRaisens You know I really enjoyed my time taking @metrolosangeles if it were more friendly after 10pm I’d use it all the time @latimes

mitchdurette @metrolosangeles run the subway 24 hours like most cities that have them… #kthxbi

Personally, I love the idea – but the truth is most cities do not have 24-hour rail service. New York City is actually a rare exception. Even world-renowned rail transit systems in London and Tokyo shut down around 1 a.m.

Here are some miscellaneous tweets to finish up this week’s roundup:

sebastian_santo @metrolosangeles there’s a guy drinking a beer happy as a clam in your 733 Eastbound @ venice/main… To think I once gt a tiket 4 a sprite!

NikolasAndrew On The @metrolosangeles Going Home. Thank God There’s Air Conditioning In Here!! Then Off To @xoxoShellyy

LAwithoutacar @metrolosangeles build where the people are: hollywood/weho to beach and w valley to westside. this would get people out of their cars!

SURGATER No matter how many times I’ve ridden @metrolosangeles green line home, still can’t get over how beautiful DTLA looks. #ilovela

VickiRaisens Heading to Japantown…will catch @metrolosangeles-drive and then goldline train..life in LA is full of choices-@landrewb

I Love Transit Week poll results (so far)

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I Love Transit WeekThis week we decided to have a little fun and joined our friends from Vancouver’s Buzzer Blog in celebrating I Love Transit Week.

We posted a few informal polls to engage Source readers and find out what you guys think about transit and – since it’s Metro Rail’s birthday week – to find out what Metro Rail lines you love the most, and which upcoming lines you’re most excited about.

While the polls are still open, here are the results so far. And to everyone who participated, thanks!

Do you love transit?

Do you love transit?

186 readers chimed in on this question, and 88% felt that transit is worth loving. The rest? Not so much. Here’s a comment left from a reader who’s not exactly in love with Metro’s transit service:

Metro is inconsistent, the drivers are rude and sometimes they dont even know where they stop! The fares keep on going up and up with nothing to show for it.

On the other hand, we did receive a lot of positive feedback on Twitter – check out what people had to say in this week’s Twitter Tuesday roundup.

What’s your favorite Metro Rail line?

What's your favorite Metro Rail line?

200 readers voted for their favorite Metro Rail line, and the Red Line subway has proven itself to be the most popular line with readers with 48.5% of the votes. The Red Line also happens to have the highest ridership numbers of all the lines of the Metro Rail system. The Blue Line is also heavily ridden, but it’s not really loved by readers – only 7.5% named the 20 year old line as their favorite. The Gold Line actually performed rather admirably in the poll, garnering 31.5% of the votes, more than the Purple Line, Blue Line and Green Line combined.

Here are some comments we received on Facebook:

Red line! I hope to work in downtown soon since the Red Line from Nnorth Hollywood to Union Station is just perfect. The walk from the station to City Hall is quick and a great way to stay healthy.

I like the Gold Line the best because there is a station about a block from where I live. They are all good to me though. I have lived in a few cities and L.A. has the best public transit to me. Thanks for the great service Metro!
What *potential* future Metro Rail project are you most excited about?
We just posted this poll this morning, but it’s already received 109 votes and the Westside Subway Extension is in the lead with almost 50% of the votes so far. Due to its scope and potential to give the traffic clogged Westside an alternative to gridlock, it comes as no surprise that the so-called “subway to the sea” (even though it won’t reach the sea with current funding) has won readers hearts. But it’s not the only important project out there, as one reader points out:
The Regional Connector interfaces THREE different lines, touching all faces of the compass, through Downtown. North to Pasadena (and beyond), South to Long Beach, West to Santa Monica, and East to East L.A. (and beyond). THAT is something to get extremely excited about!
Another reader makes a valid note about the poll – that it’s hard to pick just one:
I think the worst part of the current poll is that I can only pick one. I settled on voting for the Regional Connector, only because I live on the Gold Line now, and the Regional Connector would make it easier for me to get to all the other worthy projects. :-)