Patrons at the Union Station Red/Purple Line station last week. Photo by Steve Hymon/Metro.

On Wednesday, the gates will be latched at all times at the two entrances of the Red/Purple Line subway at Union Station.

Gates at the 15 other Red/Purple Line subway stations will then be latched over the course of the summer. If Metro is satisfied with operations and results on the subway, gates at some Gold, Green and Blue line stations will be latched as early as this fall.

I know there is considerable interest in gate-latching and TAP among Source readers. My sense is that many readers of The Source believe it’s about time the gates are latched while others remain skeptical the program will benefit riders or the agency’s bottom line.

Click to see larger.

One thing that’s hard to argue: Metro Rail ridership has greatly increased in recent years and that hasn’t made the current way of checking fares any easier — especially at peak hours when there are a lot of people aboard trains and exiting and entering stations.

The following Q&A is intended to answer questions that many of you have about the program, as well as help new riders navigate the changes. As always, please feel free to comment and ask questions. We’ll do our best to get answers to the most salient questions.

Why does Metro say ‘latched’ instead of ‘locked?’

Locked implies that customers may be locked out, whereas latched implies customers will be able to pass through the gates. In other words, Metro feels like “latched” is a more accurate way of saying it.

What’s the goal of the gate-latching program?

Metro hopes to create a safer customer experience by reducing fare evasion. The agency also estimates that there will be an annual increase in revenue from the subway alone of $6 million to $9 million because more people riding the system will be paying fares. More on fare evasion below.

Can I ride Metro Rail without a TAP card?

No. You must have a TAP card from Metro or a TAP-enabled paper ticket from another agency.

Do I need to TAP the gates when exiting a station?

No.

That could change in the future if Metro adopts time-based ordistance-based fares.

Where do I get a TAP card? 

They can be purchased for $1 at ticket vending machines at Metro Rail stations. TAP cards can be purchased with a day pass when boarding buses for $6 — $5 for the day pass, $1 for the card.

Monthly (30 days), weekly (7 days), day passes and the regional monthly EZ Pass can be stored on TAP cards. You can also put different amounts of cash on the card (stored value) and use that money to purchase single fares or passes. The stored value is a great way for occasional riders to avoid having to deal with ticket machines every day they ride.

TAP cards are also available at 500 stores across Los Angeles County and can be ordered online at taptogo.net.

Is Metro doing anything about the taptogo.net website, which can be difficult to use?

Yes, it is being revamped and a newly designed website is expected to debut later this year. Booyah!

What if I am transferring to Metro Rail from a bus run by another agency?

When purchasing your bus fare, please ask the bus operator for a transfer to Metro Rail. Those transfers will be on paper TAP cards that you can use to pass through latched gates.

What if I want to take Metro Rail and then transfer to a bus run by another agency?

Visit a ticket vending machine and load a Metro-to-Muni transfer onto your card. If you are transferring to a bus run by an agency that doesn’t use TAP, get a paper transfer at the ticket vending machines.

How many agencies in L.A. County are using TAP cards?

Besides Metro and Metrolink, there are currently these eight: LADOT, Montebello, Santa Clarita, Antelope Valley, Culver City, Gardena, Norwalk and Foothill Transit.

Fifteen more municipal agencies are scheduled to begin using TAP in the next year or so. These include Long Beach Transit and the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus.

How are Metrolink riders going to get through the gates?

Metrolink passengers get free transfers to Metro with the purchase of a Metrolink ticket. In order to get customers through the Metro gates, Metrolink has developed a paper TAP card with a TAP chip inside. The new tickets are available from Metrolink ticket machines.

Please see this recent Source post about the proper way to hold the ticket to get through the gates.

So what’s the big picture here?

Nearly every large transit carrier in Los Angeles County will soon use TAP cards. That means those who use transit across the county can store all their fares on a single reloadable fare card.

Are there other advantages to TAP?

Yes. If you register your card online at taptogo.net it can easily be replaced if lost or stolen.

If all these carriers will soon be on TAP, will there soon be a single regional fare system?

There is nothing imminent and that’s likely a ways off. But TAP cards make it much easier for various agencies to share similar fare structures should they ever choose to do so.

What is the rate of fare evasion on Metro?

There is no firm or definitive number to cite. There have been a variety of estimates over the years but the emphasis should be on the word “estimates.”

Gate-latching tests over the past year have provided Metro with some interesting data. Specifically, when gates were latched at three subway stations, the sale of one-way fares, stored value and passes rose significantly from ticket vending machines while free entries through the latched gates declined (free entries are people who didn’t tap). This Source post includes some charts from the testing.

The Gate Help Phone at Union Station’s subway station. The phone is located on a concrete column just a few feet before the entrance to the gates. Photo by Steve Hymon/Metro.

What if I have a TAP card and the gates won’t let me pass through?

Gates can be remotely unlatched by Metro; all gates can be observed via closed-circuit television at Metro’s Rail Operations Center.

If you can’t get through a gate, there are Gate-Help Phones located near the turnstiles. Each phone is hands-free and also has a video camera and TAP pad to assist Metro in identifying the problem.

When you come close to a Gate Help Phone, watch for a red light that notifies Metro employees you are there. When the amber light comes on, the Metro employee can see and speak to you via the phone.

What if there is a fire, earthquake or other emergency?

In the event of loss of power, the gates are programmed to automatically free-spin and let everyone through without having to tap.

How will those with disabilities get through the gates?

There is a wheelchair accessible gate and elevator at every station where gates will be latched. If the gate won’t open or you can’t tap your card, please use the Gate Help Phones.

What about those with bikes or strollers?

Please use the wheelchair accessible gate, which is wider and provides more room to get through.

Why is Metro latching the gates?

The Metro system was designed to be a hybrid system with both barrier-free and latched stations. As the Metro Rail system has grown, along with ridership, there has been an increased interest by the Metro Board in latching gates.

But Metro couldn’t latch gates as long as paper tickets were still in use — the electronic gates only recognize TAP cards.

It took a long time to transition all the types of paper tickets to TAP cards. Now that it has happened, the gates can be latched.

How many stations will eventually be latched?

Forty-one of the existing 81 stations will be latched; here’s the list for the subway stations. Many of the light rail stations that won’t be latched lack sufficient room for turnstiles without taking needed space from pedestrians.

Even though not all the gates will be latched, civilian fare inspectors and Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department deputies will patrol stations where there are no gates and randomly check fares.

Why has it taken so long to get to this point?

The TAP system has the most regional partners and most fare products of smart card systems in use in the U.S., according to Metro officials. It’s a very complex system and it took time for other agencies in Los Angeles County to adopt the system. While there were definitely some bumps in the road, testing has gone well. There are also some 21 million transactions on TAP monthly, a sign that many people are using the cards.

It’s not exactly a secret that technology moves quick these days. The next challenge for Metro will be working with all of its transit partners to explore emerging technologies and select the best ones that will ensure seamless travel for all our customers.

How much have the gates cost Metro?

Metro is leasing the gates from Cubic Corporation for about $46 million for 10 years — with six years remaining on the lease. That figure includes the cost of handheld TAP card readers for the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, software, computer servers for Metro, gating equipment and installation of the gates, among other items.

Since the inception of the TAP program in 2002, the Metro Board has authorized expenditures of $255.3 million with actual contract costs totaling $222.2 million. The TAP program has overall involved substantial contracts with five contractors and consultants: Cubic, ACS/Xerox, Booz Allen and Hamilton, CH2MHill and Systra.

Whether you love it or you hate it, we’re curious if gate latching is expanding the reach of TAP cards to bus rides.  Answer this quick poll, and view the results to see how other readers and patrons are using TAP cards on the bus.

For results from our last poll, continue reading.

With the launch of our new Metro Research Webpage, we created a quick poll to kick it off, asking simply: “What is your favorite Metro Line?” The Results are in: Gold and Red Lines are the favorite lines of those of you who visited our new Research page.

A third of respondents favored the Gold Line, and as a close second, the Red Line won 31% of your hearts. The Expo line made a good showing, especially for such a newcomer, with 17% of responses.

The Purple Line, my personal favorite, only racked up 8%, and the Orange, Blue and Green trailed behind further.

This is contradictory to what we might expect according to ridership numbers. The Red line does get the most riders, but Blue, Green and Gold are more on par than the results suggests. Why do you think folks favor some lines over others based on more than just usage?

A new poll is now available on the website. Click here to weigh in!

]]> http://thesource.metro.net/2013/06/18/metrolosangeles-twitter-tuesday-june-18-edition/feed/ 6 lacmtashymon http://thesource.metro.net/2013/06/18/one-mile-of-new-traffic-lane-added-to-the-405-project/ http://thesource.metro.net/2013/06/18/one-mile-of-new-traffic-lane-added-to-the-405-project/#comments Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:11:46 +0000 Dave Sotero http://thesource.metro.net/?p=56430 Continue reading →]]>

New traffic lane on I-405. Photo credit: Ned Racine

Metro, Caltrans and Kiewit have opened another one-mile section of new freeway lane on the I-405 between Santa Monica Boulevard and Wilshire Boulevard, making good on a promise to continue opening parts of the freeway improvements project as soon as they’re ready for public use.

Just before the Memorial Day weekend, the project opened a 1.7-mile section of additional lane between the I-10 and Santa Monica Boulevard to help ease traffic flows for drivers navigating through the I-10/I-405 interchange. See this earlier Source post for details.

This latest lane opening now officially extends nearly three (3) miles – one-third of the overall 10-mile freeway widening project. The No. 1 lane closest to the freeway median will continue to operate as a general purpose lane until the contractor can later convert it to an HOV lane.

Reaching the three-mile marker is significant because it adds key lane capacity all the way to Wilshire Boulevard, ostensibly the busiest corridor that connects to the I-405 in West Los Angeles. Santa Monica Boulevard is the second busiest in traffic volumes.

During construction of the additional traffic lane, drivers entering the freeway ramp at Santa Monica were bottlenecked into one lane that also merged with traffic trying to get onto the freeway from Wilshire Boulevard, creating extended delays. As part of the lane addition, this bottleneck was rectified. The existing barrier at the Santa Monica on-ramp and Wilshire off-ramp was removed, providing additional merge time for both the Santa Monica on-ramp and Wilshire off-ramp traffic.

The project continues to make steady progress, and is now two-thirds complete. Earlier this year, the 405 project team conceded that parts of construction would take longer to complete and cost more due to unknown utility relocation work, Sepulveda widening, delays in acquiring needed rights-of-way and other challenges. That said, major portions of the project are expected to be completed this year, including all reconstructed bridge (including the “Carmageddon” bridge on Mulholland Drive), utilities and the Wilshire ramps. Final completion of the project is now anticipated in mid-2014.

Sound monitoring microphone.

Buses, trains, cars and construction all make noise. That’s why Metro monitors sound levels at Metro properties and projects.

How do they do that?

Sound level measurements are taken throughout the Metro system … but not everywhere. The measuring can be part of routine maintenance. It can be in preparation for a construction project. Or it can be the result of a question or complaint from a patron or someone who lives or works near a Metro project or facility. Whatever the reason, the analysis is done pretty much the same way.

Typically an acoustical engineer measures noise levels with a microphone connected to a sound level meter or other sound recording device that collects the sounds for later analysis.

Sound level meter.

Noise levels measured at a moderately busy downtown bus stop generally are about 70 decibels. The highest noise levels collected at Metro stations are found at trains running down of the middle of a freeway. Those could be 85 to 90 decibels — by far the noisiest places in the system because of the surrounding vehicle traffic but still safe for human ears in part because the sound exposure doesn’t last long.

By comparison, the humming of a refrigerator is 45 decibels; normal conversation is approximately 60 decibels. Noise-induced hearing loss can result from short bursts of sound from firecrackers or small firearms emitting sounds of 120 to 150 decibels. But sounds of less than 75 decibels, even after long exposure, are unlikely to cause hearing loss, according to the National Institutes of Health. Since bus and train noise is brief and noise level takes into consideration duration as well as intensity, stops and stations are well below what would be considered harmful to the human ear. And that, of course, is what’s important. 

To get a relevant sound reading at a station, measurements are taken at places where patrons are likely to linger — near seating or queuing areas, for example. To determine noise exposure potential, sound levels at those locations are averaged over the typical amount of time between trains and the maximum exposure time.

Metro may check sound levels periodically — particularly if a potential problem is perceived. If corrective measures are implemented (sound walls built, for example) then the sound levels will be checked again and any modifications necessary made.

In train stations background noise levels also are checked so that the intelligibility of the public address announcements can be assessed. Speech comprehension measurements are made to determine compliance with National Fire Protection Agency requirements for voice alarm systems, as well as to help with adjusting announcement volumes.

It’s not just the stations that are monitored. During environmental analysis prior to a construction project, noise measurements are made along a proposed right-of-way to determine pre-project background levels. Before construction can begin, Metro also models expected noise levels along planned rail and busway alignments. Construction noise is monitored during construction. This is followed up with monitoring during the pre-revenue testing period, just before a line is opened.

Metro isn’t the only place sound is monitored. Airports, factories and industrial work areas are measured to ensure that the hearing of workers and patrons is protected. One place where sound is not monitored, however, is on our own personal listening devices. Remember that a high amplitude sound could come from a screeching brake, the roar of traffic on a freeway or from recorded rock music. So think twice before you rock out with your personal music recording device or, at least, keep the duration short.

Regional Connector construction concerns (Downtown News) 

The editorial loves the project but has concerns about Metro’s request for construction permits that could potentially allow the agency to work around-the-clock. Metro, in turn, has said that it is seeking flexibility to help keep the project on schedule and on budget. My three cents: one reason the Connector project is so expensive ($1.36 billion) and work intensive is because Metro listened to downtown residents and workers and is building the project underground instead of mostly at street level.

Mayor Villaraigosa unveils new downtown L.A. park (L.A. Times) 

Goodbye parking lot, hello new 2/3-acre park along Spring Street. And more excellent news: the city of L.A. has purchased the plot of land along 1st Street between Spring and Broadway. It used to house a state office building, but has been empty and an eyesore since 1976. The mayor said it will become a park which makes sense given it’s adjacent to Grand Park. If the federal courthouse ever gets built and Related ever builds its Grand Avenue project, the Civic Center part of downtown may actually look like a…downtown. The Red/Purple Line already serves the area and the Regional Connector will have stations at both 2nd/Broadway and 2nd/Hope.

Can a Fairfax area trolley solve wall-to-wall congestion from the Grove? (CityWatch) 

The article suggests that it would be better to improve the pedestrian experience in the areas around the Grove so more people could walk there — perhaps from the future subway.

A train that flies (Global Rail News)

If they could clip a couple of Amtrak cars to a Southwest plane, I’d give it a try. It would solve my travel woes: I won’t take long-distance trains in the U.S. — pack mules are usually faster — and I don’t like to fly, because I don’t like waiting in lines and the concept of carry-on luggage makes my see red.

Walk, bike or skate down six miles of Iconic Wilshire Boulevard this Sunday with CicLAvia! There are 5 Metro Purple Line stations along this summer’s route – 7th/Metro, Westlake/MacArthur Park, Wilshire/Vermont, Wilshire/Normandie and Wilshire Western – so whether you’re heading out or heading home, Metro can help you get there.

Also, if you’re going to CicLAvia, you’ll get the chance to view 2 of the locations where new stations will be built for the Purple Line Extenison – La Brea and Fairfax. Metro will have a mock-rail car at the Fairfax hub with info on the project and more, drop by to say hi!

Iconic Wilshire Boulevard will be car-free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Purple Line connects at 7th/Metro with the Red, Blue and Expo Line. Bicyclists who want to get to CicLAvia by Metro should review Metro’s bike rules. For those of you riding bikes from Union Station to Wilshire, here’s a downtown Los Angeles bike map. The gist of it: there are north-south bike lanes on Spring Street and then you can pick your way west toward Wilshire on 5th (one way going west), 7th (traffic in both directions) or 8th (one way west). Be safe!

Bus lines detouring for the event include: 20, 60, 206, 210, 460, 487, 720 and Metro Silver Line. Detours will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or when barricades are present. For more details, please check the Service Advisories page.

The Iconic Wilshire Boulevard route will connect One Wilshire in downtown Los Angeles to Fairfax Avenue along Miracle Mile. These two anchor hubs will feature pedestrian zones with performers, activities, food trucks and more. Additional hubs along the route include MacArthur Park, Koreatown and Mid-Wilshire. Have your TAP card handy and save 15% on CicLAvia T-shirts at the hubs along the route.

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Due to urgent track repair work must be completed on the Metro Blue Line, there will be limited train service between Willowbrook Station and Long Beach Transit Mall this Friday, June 21.

Starting at 9 p.m. until close of service, trains will only run every 30 minutes between Willowbrook Station and Long Beach Transit Mall. Announcements will be made at Blue Line stations, you can also follow real time alerts on Twitter or check Metro’s Service Advisories page. Please plan ahead and expect extended wait times if you need to travel that segment Friday night.

Regular Friday evening service will run between 7th/Metro and Willowbrook.

The I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements project contractor is scheduled to implement full directional freeway closures on the nights of Tuesday, June 18, through Friday, June 21, 2013 to install girders for the Skirball Bridge in the Sepulveda Pass.

Closure Location	Anticipated night
Southbound 405 from 101 Freeway to Getty ramps (lane closures start at 10 p.m.)	June 18 – 19
Northbound 405 from the Getty ramps to Ventura Boulevard (lane closures start at 10 p.m.)	June 20 – 21
Skirball Bridge Closure (from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.)	June 18 – 21

Each night, ramps within the freeway closure limits will begin to close as early as 7 p.m. and freeway lanes will begin to close as early as 10 p.m., leading up to the full directional freeway closure between the hours of 12 a.m., midnight, to 5 a.m. For Friday night, the full closure will occur from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.

• Sepulveda Boulevard will remain open during the nights of the full directional freeway closure
• Emergency vehicle access will be maintained. Pedestrians will be rerouted to a safe area outside of the construction zone.
• Detour maps are available at www.metro.net/405
• Schedule and details are subject to change. 

For a listing of daily closures and latest updates visit our website at www.metro.net/405 or follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/I_405  and Facebook at www.facebook.com/405project