Transportation headlines, Monday, May 13

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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.

Laurie Becklund on transactional planning in Hollywood (The Planning Report) 

The Hollywood Hills resident wants to see development in her end of Hollywood but has a lot of issues — issues she wants studied further — with the Millenium Hollywood skyscrapers being proposed near the Hollywood/Vine Red Line station. The gist of it: she thinks the project is too large and will greatly harm traffic in the area. Thoughts, readers?

Extreme commuter: UCLA staffer commutes 22 miles from Valley to campus (UCLA Today) 

Good post for the first day of Bike to Work Week.

Opinion: Metro must keep faith on Gold Line (San Gabriel Valley Tribune) 

Two members of the Foothill Extension Construction Authority Board say that Metro must commit $950 million to complete the Gold Line to Claremont instead of just funding it to Azusa as part of Measure R. I think it’s important to understand that Measure R doesn’t fully fund all of the Measure R transit projects or the more expensive alternatives of those projects. For example, outside money will be needed to complete the Airport Metro Connector, the Regional Connector, the Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor and the light rail alternative for the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor.

Transportation headlines, Friday, May 10

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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.

CicLAvia: iconic Wilshire Boulevard (CicLAvia) 

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I predict big crowds for this one — go early for better cycling! The June 23 event will be easily accessed from Metro’s Red and Purple Line subway.

Lower bus fares? One transit agency is considering it (GOOD)

AC Transit is studying a possible 10 cent reduction from $2.10 to $2, a more common fare among large transit agencies; AC Transit runs bus service in Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the Bay Area.

The article also has this excerpt:

The agency will also look into other cost-saving alternatives, like getting rid of paper transfers in favor of day passes. AC Transit says abuses of paper transfers, like re-using or selling them, are a source of lost revenue. Other proposals include increasing the automated transit pass Clipper Card network and reducing the cost of a monthly pass.

That line of reasoning contributed to Metro getting rid of transfers and instead going with day passes. Not mentioned here is that making those who transfer pay more is extremely unpopular among riders — and perhaps impacts ridership.

Transit commuters are stinking low-lifes, Subaru tells commuters (Streetsblog) 

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As the Streetsblog post explains, the above ad ran in a Canadian newspaper and conveniently fails to mention the joy of sitting in traffic, smog, climate change, etc. I own a 2007 Subaru and it’s a great car, but the idiots who came up with this ad overlooked another reality: some customers use their 2007 Subarus to drive to transit stops.

Rep. Howard ‘Buck’ McKeon authors letter supporting Metro New Starts projects

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The federal New Starts program helps local transit agencies build large and high impact transit projects; Metro is seeking $2 billion of New Starts money to help fund the Purple Line Extension and the Regional Connector.

The letter from Rep. McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) is very helpful, given the uncertainty of transportation funding in Congress these days. The 25th district that McKeon represents includes Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster and parts of eastern Ventura County.

Go Metro Weekends, May 10 – 12

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Grab a last minute gift for mom – or better yet, take mom to pick out something nice – at Unique LA this weekend. The spring show is taking place at the California Market Center from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Shop directly from over 350 designers and artists and support the local community. Admission for the whole weekend costs $10. (Metro Bus 66 to Main/9th)

Catch Scooby-Doo LIVE! at the Dolby Theatre this Sunday; it’s the show’s only stop in Southern California. Tickets start at $25. The musical mystery goes on at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. (Metro Red Line or Metro Rapid 780 to Hollywood/Highland)

CHESS the musical begins its run at East West Players this week. Showtime is 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets start at $51, go Metro to save $10 on admission. (Metro Gold Line to Little Tokyo/Arts District Station, Metro Bus 40 to Judge John Aiso/1st)

Metro takes second place overall at 2013 International Bus Roadeo

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Metro placed second overall at the 2013 APTA International Bus Roadeo. Photo via APTA.

The APTA International Bus Roadeo took place this past weekend from May 3 – 7 in Indianapolis, and Metro fell just shy of bringing back the Grand Champion Award and took second place overall achievement honors.

The Grand Champion Award this year was won by Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, and Orange County Transportation Authority placed third. Competitors in this year’s Bus Roadeo represented twenty eight states and three Canadian provinces.

Bicyclists can ride Metrolink for free on Bike to Work Day

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Have bike, will travel. Bring your bike to work with you on May 16 and hop on Metrolink for free.

Here’s the press release from Metrolink:

Metrolink will celebrate Bike to Work Day on Thursday, May 16, by offering free train rides to Southern California commuters who bring their bicycles on board Metrolink trains.

Metrolink bicyclists can transfer for free to Metro Rail and Bus (metro.net), as well as buses operated by 10 other transit agencies:

 

  • Culver CityBus
  • Glendale Beeline
  • LADOT
  • Long Beach Transit
  • Montebello Bus Lines
  • Norwalk Transit
  • Pasadena ARTS
  • Santa Clarita Transit
  • Torrance Transit
  • Big Blue Bus (must use coupon from bigbluebus.com)

Metrolink bicyclists traveling to Orange County can take part in the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA)’s three-mile Bike Rally at 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. from the Metrolink Orange Station to the OCTA headquarters (octa.net).

“Metrolink is pleased to work with transit agencies across Southern California to support the bicycle community on Bike to Work Day,” said Metrolink CEO Michael DePallo. “It’s a great opportunity for us to promote driving alternatives and highlight the many regional connections available to commuters.”

Metrolink is committed to providing bicyclists with convenient, seamless travel options. The agency has a total of 17 Bike Cars, each of which can accommodate 18 bicycles compared to the other cars designed to hold three bicycles. Due to high demand for bicycle space, Metrolink is in the process of designing four additional Bike Cars that will hold nine bicycles each. The new cars will have only one set of bicycle racks instead of two so bicycle owners can sit next to the racks. Metrolink altered the design based on feedback from the bicycle community.

Metrolink introduced its Bike Cars in July 2011. The agency has carried more than 340,000 bicycles since January 2012.

Visit metrolinktrains.com for more information about Bike to Work Day activities.

Full northbound I-405 closure from Santa Monica Boulevard to Wilshire planned from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. Friday

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Here’s the news release from Metro:

The I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project contractor is scheduled to conduct a full northbound I-405 freeway closure from Santa Monica Boulevard to Wilshire Boulevard in West Los Angeles beginning Thursday night, May 9 2013 from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m.

The full northbound freeway closure is scheduled to prepare the Santa Monica bridge for the approach slab repair work scheduled for Friday night, May 10.

  • Detour: Exit at the Santa Monica Boulevard off-ramp, right on Santa Monica Boulevard, left on Sepulveda Boulevard, right on Wilshire to the northbound I-405 on-ramp.
  • Traffic control officers will be deployed.
  • CHP will be monitoring the area surrounding the closure.

What to expect:

  • Construction schedule is subject to change based on daily progress and field conditions.
  • Notification of ramp closures will be provided on a daily basis through the PM Closure e-mail notices. Subscribe to daily e-mail alerts at www.metro.net/405.
  • 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