Category Archives: Policy & Funding

Metro staff report on proposed improvements to Pico Station for Blue and Expo lines to serve Farmers Field

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Pico Station Improvements staff report

Interesting item that will be heard in the Board of Director’s Finance committee on Wednesday afternoon (1 p.m., Metro Board Room, 3rd floor) on a proposed agreement with AEG to add a second platform to the Blue and Expo lines’ Pico Street station (pdf download here). That’s the station, of course, that’s two blocks from Staples Center and the proposed Farmers Field football stadium.

The Metro staff report proposes that the new platform be on the west side of the tracks and that it would eliminate one lane of traffic in that spot on Flower Street, as studied in the environmental documents for the stadium. The report also looks at the issue of street closures near the tracks during big events in order to minimize the number of cars crossing the tracks.

AEG is paying for the improvements and additional staffing that will be needed. All of this is conditional on an NFL team relocating to Los Angeles. And, might I add, if it’s the Chargers, let’s hope last night’s second half was a terrible, horrible aberration.

Work starting on other bridges for Gold Line Foothill Extension

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Here’s the good word from the Foothill Extension Construction Authority, the agency building the 11.5-mile light rail line from Pasadena to the Azusa/Glendora border, funded by Measure R:

Throughout the 11.5-mile Pasadena to Azusa construction project now underway, there are a total of 17 existing bridges that must be altered or replaced to accommodate the dual-track light rail system. Although we have focused much attention on the I-210 Gold Line Bridge over the last year, there will be many stories to tell about these other bridges that support our project and require significant work in the coming months and years.

[Above] is a map of the existing structures along the corridor and photos of the first three that FTC crews are preparing for construction. Lead paint removal on the 700-linear-foot San Gabriel River Bridge (top left), built in the early 1900s, is now complete. The bridge will soon be demolished and a new dual-track light rail bridge will be constructed. Two single track bridges within the Azusa shared corridor – at Palm Drive (bottom) and Citrus Avenue (top right) – will be renovated. Two additional single track bridges will be built alongside the existing bridge in these two locations to support two light rail tracks and one freight track.

Also, here’s the latest video update on the construction of the bridge for the Foothill Extension over the eastbound lanes of the 210 freeway:

Transportation headlines, Friday, October 12

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Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the Library’s Headlines blog, which you can also access via email subscription or RSS feed.

The Endeavour resting this morning near LAX in preparation for its two-day journey to the California Science Center. Photo by David Islas via Flickr creative commons; click above for a larger view. The Expo Line is your best bet transit-wise to see the shuttle on Saturday as it approaches Exposition Park.

Good morning, folks. Headlines is back after a short break. I’ll probably need a couple of days to catch up on the latest news from transpo-world that I think is worthy of your attention. In the meantime, let’s begin with everyone’s favorite topic…TAP cards!

The latest Metrolink TAP solution (L.A. Streetsblog)

Writer Dana Gabbard, who has long covered the TAP saga, looks at the latest proposal from Metrolink on how to deal with locked gates at Metro Rail stations. The problem, of course, is that Metrolink customers have paper tickets that won’t get them through Metro’s locked gates.

And the solution to be considered by the Metrolink Board of Directors? Provide paper TAP cards to those who buy Metrolink one-way, round-trip, weekly and weekend tickets and provide temporary 30-day TAP cards to Metrolink customers with a monthly pass. To say the least, Dana is unimpressed that after years of implementing TAP, the paper TAP cards will initially be distributed by hand to Metrolink passengers.

How to see Endeavour ride into the sunset (ZevWeb)

The space shuttle’s journey is scheduled to resume at about 1:30 p.m. this afternoon as it heads toward the California Science Center. Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky’s website offers tips on where to see the shuttle enroute — it’s a little tricky — along with other interesting facts about the big move.

Measure J hopes to extend half-cent sales tax (KPCC)

The radio station talks to very few proponents and opponents of the proposal on the Nov. 6 ballot to continue the Measure R sales tax until the year 2069 in order to accelerate transit and road projects. The story doesn’t dig very deep into the proposal.

Beverly Hills school board opposes Measure J (L.A. Times)

The Times donates 352 words of real estate on its website to the less-than-shocking news that the Board of the Beverly Hills Unified School District opposes Measure J. The BHUSD has sued Metro to try to stop tunneling for the Westside Subway Extension under the Beverly Hills High campus and Measure J proposes to accelerate subway construction. I wonder if the Times will publish stories about every city council or school board that resolves one way or the other on Measure J.

Transit tax may hurt Gov. Brown’s Prop 30, Ridley-Thomas warns (L.A. Times)

News that’s actually interesting: Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, also a member, of the Metro Board of Directors, tells a community forum that having Measure J on the same ballot as Prop 30 will lead voters to believe they’re being over-taxed and that if Brown’s tax measure fails, counties already struggling financially will have to contend with more budget cuts. Metro Board Member Richard Katz provides the counter-view, saying that Prop 30 appears of Measure J on the ballot and that Prop 30 is facing serious opposition from both the left and right.

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Transportation Secretary LaHood bring big check to L.A. for Crenshaw/LAX light rail project

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From left, Assemblyman Mike Feuer, Santa Monica Councilmember Pam O’Connor, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Lakewood Mayor Diane DuBois, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Congresswoman Janice Hahn. Photo by Steve Hymon/Metro.

A news conference with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was held Wednesday at the Green Line’s Aviation station for the recently announced $545.9-million federally-backed TIFIA loan Metro will receive to help fund construction of the Crenshaw-LAX Line. The loan was first announced in 2010, with the deal closing earlier this month.

Many of the speakers congratulated Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who successfully lobbied Congress to adopt his America Fast Forward program to expand the TIFIA loan program. In plain English: the program will make it far easier for transit agencies to borrow money needed to build projects

“This is a program that the Mayor came to us with,” said Secretary LaHood. “He had a great vision…The U.S. Department of Transportation is very proud to provide the MTA with this $545.9-million TIFIA loan to help build a new light rail line along the Crenshaw corridor.”

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Metro Silver Line and Foothill Silver Streak riders can soon ride either line, using the same ticket and paying the same fare

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The new program begins Sunday, when the new El Monte Station is open to the public. Here’s the news release from Metro:

When was the last time something actually became easier? Soon transit riders will be able to hop aboard either the Metro Silver Line or the Foothill Transit Silver Streak using the same ticket or paying the same fare for travel between the brand new El Monte Station and downtown Los Angeles.

Metro and Foothill Transit have teamed up to offer this new easy and convenient combined service for all Silver Line and Silver Streak riders, as part of a one-year demonstration program. Beginning Sunday, Oct. 14, when the new El Monte Station opens, all categories of Foothill Transit 31-Day passes and Metro 30-Day, 7-Day or Day passes will be accepted on either Metro Silver Line buses or Foothill Silver Streak buses, and riders paying cash will pay the same fare ($2.45, one way) no matter which bus they take.

Patrons wanting to travel on the El Monte Busway can just board the first bus to arrive — Metro Silver Line or Silver Streak — show their fare media from either Metro or Foothill Transit and be on their way.

Metro Silver Line buses operate every 5-10 minutes during morning and afternoon peak periods, every 15 minutes midday and every 60 minutes late at night. The Metro Silver Line travels from El Monte Station to the Artesia Transit Center, with several stops in downtown Los Angeles. The Foothill Transit Silver Streak operates approximately every 10 to 20 minutes during morning and afternoon peak periods, every 20 minutes midday and every 60 minutes late at night. The Silver Streak travels from Montclair Transit Center to downtown Los Angeles.

For more information on this new easy and convenient fare arrangement, including cash and pass fares, visit foothilltransit.org/silver or metro.net/silverline.

Preview of October Service Council meetings

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October Service Council meeting agendas have been set, though changes may be made prior to the meeting dates. For a complete listing of dates, times and locations for all five Service Council meetings, click here. For more information about each service council, click on the name of the service council listed below.

All October Council meetings include a report from Metro Service Council Director Jon Hillmer on monthly and year to date statistics on ridership, performance and other measures of Metro service. In addition, each council will receive a Measure J informational presentation, and discuss bus lines included in their region’s Corridor Studies. An article on the various corridor studies each Council is involved with was published last month on The Source. Click here to read the story.

Meeting topics for Service Councils in October, in addition to the Measure J informational presentation, include:

San Fernando Valley (6:30 pm, Wednesday, 10/3) – Swearing in of new San Fernando Valley Representative Kathryn Engle, Update on Van Nuys Corridor, Consideration of Motions regarding Metro Orange Line Enhancements and Study of Proposed Metro Express Service to Westwood, Discussion on Non-Smoking Ordinances Near Bus Stops, Proposed Modifications to Term End Date for Service Council Seats SFV-6 and SFV-9, Review Van Nuys Blvd. Bus Lines 233 and 761 (San Fernando Valley’s Corridor Study lines)

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Governor signs bill that officially puts Measure J on the Nov. 6 ballot in L.A. County

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Some news from Sacramento yesterday; see the release below from Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), who wrote the state bill needed to get Measure J on the ballot. Measure J would continue the Measure R sales tax from mid-2039 to mid-2069, with the sales tax money being used in part to accelerate Measure R projects.

Here’s a web page on metro.net that gives all the particulars on Measure J. On the transit side, Measure J seeks to build all the Measure R transit projects by 2025.

The release:

GOVERNOR SIGNS FEUER LEGISLATION

TO EXPEDITE L.A. COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS

AB 1446 Authorizes L.A. County Metro to Seek Voter Approval for Extension

Of Existing Measure R Sales Tax for Infrastructure Projects

September 30, 2012 (Sacramento) – Governor Jerry Brown has approved AB 1446 by Assembly Member Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles).  The measure would, with voter approval, fund Los Angeles County rail, highway, bus and local transportation improvement projects more quickly, jumpstarting those projects and getting Angelenos back to work.

Specifically, the bill would authorize the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) to ask County voters to extend the term of the Measure R sales tax authorization.  This extension would enable Metro to bond against future Measure R revenue and build transportation projects much sooner than originally contemplated, relying only on local funds.

“We need to get these transportation projects underway now,” said Feuer.  “By signing AB 1446, the Governor has agreed to empower L.A. County voters to jumpstart 250,000 jobs and break through traffic congestion that chokes our region.”

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Agenda for Thursday's Metro Board meeting

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And the usual reminder that the Metro Board of Directors is back in action Thursday for their first full meeting since early August. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Board Room on the 3rd floor of Metro headquarters adjacent to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. It is, as always, free and open to the public.

If you would like to listen in by phone, please call 213-922-6045.

The meeting agenda is below or download here (pdf). The item that seems to be getting the most attention is the contract with CBS Outdoor to supply advertising on Metro buses, trains and other properties.

Sept Metro Board Agenda

Metro Board committees tackle TAP issues, Expo safety and phone theft

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A few notes from today's committee meetings of the Metro Board of Directors:

•A contract that would pay Metro with $110 million in exchange for allowing ads from CBS Outdoor to be placed on Metro properties was moved to the full Board of Directors for their consideration at their Sept. 27 meeting. The item was moved without discussion or a recommendation, as frequently occurs.

•Metro TAP officials told the Board that they are working on allowing day passes to be sold online at the taptogo.net website. Currently, TAP card holders have to wait at ticket machines at rail stations to buy a day pass — readers have complained this negates some of the convenience of having a TAP card.

In addition, Board members and TAP officials discussed some of the other issues that have received a lot of attention, including: the appropriateness of charging tourists and others $1 for a TAP card they may only use once or a few times; confusion at ticket machines when customers initially buy a TAP card and want to buy a round-trip (two single rides), and; the need for more signage and possibly staff at times to help riders use the machines.

The takeaway here: the legitimate issues that many readers and riders have raised with TAP cards have not fallen on deaf ears. Metro staff and the Metro Board is aware of it and they are working to resolve some of the issues.

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Metro August ridership numbers

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Here are the latest ridership numbers across the Metro system.

The average weekday ridership for the Blue Line (92,006 boardings) and the new Expo Line (19,776) were the highest ever. The Orange Line had its second-best average to date (27,513) and the Green Line its third-best month ever (45,536).

Below are the July numbers, which on the rail side are tabulated over the prior several months and then crunched to come up with the monthly numbers:

Bus – Directly Operated

Aug. 2012 Aug. 2011 Aug. 2010
Average Weekday Boardings 1,074,951 1,048,258 1,050,267
Average Saturday Boardings 723,663 728,213 725,903
Average Sunday and Holiday Boardings 552,120 547,722 538,147
Total Calendar Month Boardings 29,827,005 29,213,674 28,700,221

Directly operated bus ridership includes Orange and Silver Line ridership.

Bus – Contract

Aug. 2012 Aug. 2011 Aug. 2010
Average Weekday Boardings 45,836 41,327 42,870
Average Saturday Boardings 26,702 24,266 24,838
Average Sunday and Holiday Boardings 20,881 18,727 18,660
Total Calendar Month Boardings 1,244,551 1,122,490 1,135,790

Bus – Systemwide

Aug. 2012 Aug. 2011 Aug. 2010
Average Weekday Boardings 1,120,787 1,089,585 1,093,137
Average Saturday Boardings 750,365 752,479 750,741
Average Sunday and Holiday Boardings 573,001 566,449 556,807
Total Calendar Month Boardings 31,071,556 30,336,164 29,836,011

Directly operated bus ridership includes Orange and Silver Line ridership.

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