Category Archives: Metro Lifestyle

Paris to Metro customers: stop acting like animals!

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One of the more common gripes I often hear about Metro isn't directly related to Metro. Rather, it's a complaint about other Metro customers and their sometimes annoying or — let's face it — odd behavior.

Of course, it's hardly a complaint unique to Metro. Take, for example, Paris. As this great post in the Atlantic Cities notes, a recent survey of passengers on the Paris Metro reported seeing behavior that was either in direction violation of transit rules or was, at the best, unseemly and/or rude.

So the folks who run the Paris system have come up with an ad campaign that uses posters to urge their customers not to act like animals. Seriously. The above poster caption translates to “when it's at 86 decibels, it's no longer a secret.” In other words, don't squawk like a chicken.

The rest of the posters are in the Atlantic Cities post. Funny thing is that none of them deal with what I consider the most annoying behavior — the dreaded loud music from MP3 players, sometimes with headphones, sometimes not.

If you're curious about the L.A. Metro's code of conduct, here it is. Happy reading!

 

Metro converting ticket machines to TAP only

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As some Purple and Red Line riders have noticed in recent days, Metro is in the process of converting ticket machines at stations to TAP only. That means that all paper tickets will disappear except for Metro to Muni transfers.

The conversion has taken place at ten subway stations and will continue in coming weeks to include all Metro Rail stations, as well as the Orange Line and any other Metro ticket vending machines in the area.

The bottom line: If you don’t currently have a TAP card, you will need one in order to pay fares at Metro Rail and Orange Line stations. (Please see below for more information for Metrolink riders).The ticket machines are being converted to TAP as a prelude to locking the turnstiles at some Metro Rail stations. The first gates are expected to be locked later in 2012.

 

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All aboard Expo for the dinosaur train

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Want to take your kids to a fun, educational and air conditioned event? Go to the Natural History Museum this Saturday, August 11 and celebrate BIG BIG Dinosaur Day.

The event kicks off the start of DINOSAUR TRAIN’s BIG BIG Dinosaur Week on PBS Kids. You’ll get to meet Buddy the T. Rex, explore the NHM’s Dinosaur Hall, watch the premiere of a BIG BIG Dinosaurs episode and see series creator Craig Bartlett and his band perform songs from the show live.

The day starts at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. Go Metro and get a discount on admission. The Natural History Museum is right next to the Expo/Vermont Station off the Expo Line, so hop on board and go have an adventure!

Go Metro Weekends, Aug 3 – 5

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Catch MANDRILL this Saturday at the Ford Amphitheatre. Photo from MANDRILL’s Official Facebook

Pixar in Concert rocks the Hollywood Bowl on Friday! Listen to all your favorite songs from your favorite Pixar movies (yeah right, like you can really choose just one favorite Pixar movie) performed live. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets start at $11 (plus fees). (Metro Red Line to Hollywood/Highland, transfer to free Bowl Shuttle, Metro Bus 156 to Highland/Odin, Metro Bus 222 to Odin/Fairfield)

Go to Leimert Plaza Park on Saturday for a little taste of New Orleans. The 7th Annual New Orleans Cultural Festival features dancing, soul food, Creole/Cajun cuisine, arts and crafts vendors and more. The Mardi Gras Parade is at noon, but the event starts at 11 a.m. and lasts until 6 p.m. Admission is free, and if you go Metro you will receive free Mardi Gras beads. Just show your valid TAP card at the New Orleans Cultural Festival booth. (Metro Bus 40 to Martin Luther King Jr/Sutro)

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Metro offers extended service for HARD Summer Music Festival

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Is everyone ready for the auditory awesomeness that is HARD Summer Music Festival? The event takes place on Friday, August 3 and Saturday, August 4 at the Los Angeles State Historic Park, which is just a short walk from the Gold Line Chinatown Station. The music starts at 6 p.m. each night, with final sets ending around 2 a.m.

With over 60 live performances and world-class DJs (Skrillex, anyone?) on four stages, this event is not to be missed, and Metro’s making it easy for you to get there – and back.

If you don’t already know, parking in the area isn’t exactly convenient or cheap, which is why Metro will run special extended service just for HARD Summer.

  • last Gold Line train to depart Union Station for Sierra Madre Villa at 2:39 a.m.
  • last Red Line train to depart Union Station at 2:42 a.m.
  • last Purple Line train to depart Union Station at 2:47 a.m.
  • last Blue Line train to depart 7th/Metro at 2:57 a.m.
  • last Expo Line train to depart 7th/Metro at 2:54 a.m.
  • last Green Line train to connect with Blue Line at 3:30 a.m.
  • last Orange Line bus departs North Hollywood at 3:18 a.m.

Please note times are subject to change to allow for system maintenance, so check Metro’s service advisory page for the most up-to-date info and the full extended schedule.

Furthermore, all HARD Summer attendees can ride the Metro for free! Just show your printed ticket or concert wristband to ride free to and from the festival.

So what are you waiting for? Get your HARD Summer ticket, load up your TAP card and get ready to have your world rocked.

Video: Metro launches late-night service on weekends

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Video from news conference today at the Metro Gold Line Memorial Park Station in Pasadena: Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metro Board Chair Michael D. Antonovich today joined Pasadena Councilman Chris Holden, Santa Monica City Council member Pam O’Connor, Pasadena and Hollywood business leaders and workers, and Metro CEO Art Leahy in promoting expanded late-night Metro Rail service on all Metro Rail lines and the Metro Orange Line starting tonight.

On Friday and Saturday nights all Metro Rail lines – Red, Purple, Blue, Gold, Green and Expo – will operate until 2 a.m. The Metro Orange Line busway will run until 2:40 a.m. to accommodate the transfer of riders from the Metro Red Line at the North Hollywood station. Depending on the line, service is being extended from 1 to 2 hours. The expanded service will promote more local business activity along the transit alignments and offer residents and workers the option to go out and use public transit late on weekend nights.

  • Video by Mario Noriega

MORE: You wanted it, you got it: Late-night service

Go Metro Weekends, July 27 – 29

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This excited little boy was the first kid (of many) to enjoy the new interactive splash pad at Grand Park. Photo by Anna Chen/Metro

REDCAT’s New Original Works Festival is back, and week one features programs by Opera Povera, Poor Dog Group and Susan Simpson. Head out this Friday and catch some great theatre performances. The show starts at 8:30 p.m. at the Walt Disney Concert Hall complex and general admission tickets are $18. (Metro Red/Purple Line to Civic Center Station, Metro Bus 70 or 96 to Grand/2nd)

If you haven’t heard about Metro’s expanded late-night service yet…read about it now, and then start taking advantage of it! Go ahead and take Metro to Chinatown Summer Nights, you can stay the entire time and not worry about missing the last train home. With food, music, dancing and more, there will be plenty to keep you occupied. The first of three Summer Nights is this Saturday from 5 p.m. to midnight and it’s absolutely free. Go Metro and receive a free souvenir at the info booth in Central Plaza while supplies last. (Metro Gold Line to Chinatown Station, Metro Bus 45 to Broadway & Chinatown)

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You wanted it, you got it: Late night Metro Rail and Orange Line service begins tonight!

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Metro Board Chairman and County Supervisor Mike Antonovich talks about Metro’s new late night service at a press event this morning at the Gold Line’s Memorial Park station in Pasadena. Photo: Steve Hymon/Metro.

There was a media event in Pasadena this morning to remind everyone that late night weekend service until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights begins tonight.

“The new late night service on Metro Rail and the Orange Line is a win-win situation for everyone in Los Angeles County,” said Metro Board Chair and County Supervisor Mike Antonovich. “Businesses will be able to reach a new range of clientele. More people can go out to eat, drink and have fun on weekends without worrying about a midnight curfew, and more workers now have the option of taking that later shift and can rest assured they’re going to have a safe, reliable way to make it home. Los Angeles County residents will benefit from the connections to the rail system, and people from the San Fernando Valley will be able to travel to other destinations in the county such as Pasadena, Long Beach, Norwalk or Culver City late at night.”

At the event, Antonovich also added that “long range we do have a vision…we want to continue this momentum.” In particular, he said Metro needs to keep focusing on connecting to popular destinations — such as the region’s airports.

Metro CEO Art Leahy said that ridership will be evaluated after six months to determine whether late night service will be added every night of the week. Metro is currently evaluating the possibility of late night service on the Silver Line and is also working with Metrolink on the possibility of extending their service to connect with Metro Rail and the Orange Line.

Here are the times that the last trains and buses will be leaving stations tonight and here is a link to all Metro timetables:

RED LINE

The last train departing Union Station will be at 2:12 a.m.

The last train departing North Hollywood will be at 1:56 a.m.

PURPLE LINE

The last trains departing Union Station will be at 2:02 a.m.

The last trains departing Wilshire/Western will be at 2:03 a.m.

GOLD LINE

The last train departing Atlantic will be at 1:43 a.m.

The last train departing Sierra Madre Villa will be at 1:39 a.m.

EXPO LINE

The last train departing 7th/Metro Center will be at 2:12 a.m.

The last train departing Culver City will be at 1:49 a.m.

BLUE LINE

The last train departing Long Beach to downtown L.A. will be 12:58 a.m.

The last train departing 7th/Metro will be 2:07 a.m.

Service between the Long Beach Transit Mall and Wardlaw will continue past 12:58 a.m. with the last train leaving the Transit Mall at 3:07 a.m.

GREEN LINE

The last train departing Redondo Beach will be 1:58 a.m.

The last train departing Norwalk will be at 2:09 a.m.

ORANGE LINE

The last bus departing North Hollywood will be at 2:53 a.m.

The last bus departing Chatsworth will be at 1:50 a.m.

Timetables with late night hours are posted

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The new late night timetable for the Red Line!

As some people in the Twitterverse discovered yesterday — thanks Carter! :) — the new timetables for Metro Rail and the Orange Line have been posted and they include the new late-night hours scheduled to begin this Friday night/Saturday morning.

Metro is extending the hours for Metro Rail service until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. In some cases, the last trains don’t roll until after 2 a.m. — for example, the last Expo Line train leaving 7th/Metro Center for Culver City departs at 2:12 a.m.

If you want to check the new timetables, the links are posted below.

Blue Line

Red Line / Purple Line

Green Line

Gold Line

Expo Line

Orange Line

Students at summer science camp study the Expo Line

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Science camps have come a long way since the days of making bottle rockets and building balsa wood bridges. The middle school students attending the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp at USC this year were studying urban infrastructure, green technology and how to reduce congestion and pollution through light rail transit. As it so happened, the Expo Line was conveniently available for them to use as a case scenario.

A future urban transportation planner at work! This camper is at the computer programming his robot “train” for its run through the LEGO city.

The 48 campers from grades 6-8 spent two weeks analyzing the Expo Phase II Final Environmental Impact Report, studying the route alignment and designing their own cities and autonomous light rail vehicles. They also got the chance to go on excursions and see the science at work out in the field. Earlier this morning, the students presented their LEGO-made master cities, the robots they designed and programmed to run through those cities (see video posted above, and yes that is this year’s Festival of Books dinosaur in the background) and stated their findings and opinions on the Expo Line Phase II.

While the summer science camp ended today, the campers’ love of science and engineering continue on. Who knows, one of these kids could be designing a real rail system for Metro one day!