In this video I go over how to add a TAP card bought from a ticket vending machine (TVM) to taptogo.net. This is one of the most common questions we get about TAP, and admittedly it’s not as obvious as it should be – but it is really easy.
This step-by-step video will show you the whole process, but you can also just follow the steps listed after the jump.
Why ask the above question? Because the American Public Transit Assn. recently burped out the pie chart below about ridership on a national level and I was curious how our local numbers might compare.
Here’s one take on the pie chart from the California Transit Assn., which raises some points about how the data was collected from agencies across the country.
I’ll be honest: I’m not entirely sure how to interpret the chart. My two small thoughts are: 1) The chart suggests that riding transit for a majority of riders is an ingrained habit and/or transit riders don’t have a choice, and; 2) There seems to be a healthy influx of new riders — with 30 percent riding continuously for a year or less.
Metro, in fact, posed this question in its 2010 rider survey: “How many years have you been riding Metro?” The answers:
Less than one (13%)
1-2 years (16%)
3-4 years (17%)
5+ years (54%)
I tend to think that these numbers could change greatly once more Measure R transit projects come online and we have more of a regional transit network in place to attract new riders. To name just three, I think projects such as the Westside Subway Extension, the Regional Connector and the Expo Line phase 1 and 2 have the potential to be game-changers in terms of getting people to try transit.
What do you think?
Angels Flight shut down by inspectors over damaged wheels (L.A. Times)
After being open for a little more than a year, Angels Flight – the short funicular railway in downtown Los Angeles – has been shut down again due to signs of deterioration on the wheels of the rail cars. Those familiar with the railway recall that it was out of service for much of the last decade after a fatal accident due to brake failure. Hopefully Angels Flight is able to fix the issue – the railway is a charming attraction and a great piece of L.A. history.
Are the Millennials driving downtown corporate relocations? (The New Republic)
After decades of major corporations moving their headquarters to low-rise suburban office parks, it looks like the trend is reversing. Companies are relocating to central cities across the country because that’s where America’s emerging workforce of Millennials (those born between 1980 and the early 2000′s) want to be. As someone who just makes the cut as a Millennial I can say this doesn’t surprise me – I grew up in low-rise auto-centric suburban America and as an adult have ultimately rejected that lifestyle. It seems as if I’m not alone, and corporate America wants to bank on that.
Is L.A.’s public transit a a joke? This comedian sure hopes so (GOOD LA)
Here’s a great example of a Millennial who’s rejected the car culture. Kristina Wong is an L.A. comedian who lives in high-density and transit accessible Koreatown without a car and her experiences have become the source for her comedy act. One of Kristina’s jokes mocks the complexity of navigating L.A.’s many municipal transit operators. The punchline: “As you can see, it’s a really easy system to understand.”
Commuter tool kit: The 405 Project (NBC LA)
NBC LA has put together a nice list of links to keep commuters in the loop about the 405 project and the July 15th-18th weekend closure of the freeway.
Below is the good news from Metro’s government relations team. This may not be the most glamorous issue, but Metro CEO Art Leahy and others of his ilk have noted that many transit agencies will face a lack of expertise in the future if something isn’t done to reverse course.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Announces Workforce Development Grant for Our Agency – Grant is Second Largest in the Nation
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced the award of $3 million from the Federal Transit Administration’s Innovative Workforce Development Program to support programs around the country that train, hire, develop and retain transit workers.
Our agency’s proposal (“Metro University: Developing the Next Generation of Transportation Professionals”) is among 12 programs selected for funding from a total of 35 applications that were received from across the nation. Our $480,000 grant request was fully funded and represents the only grant awarded in the State of California and the second largest nationwide (with a $500,000 grant ceiling). Continue reading
photos by Chris Valle, via his Flickr page and photography website
The top photo is of the 105-405 interchange, the photo below of the 105-110 junction. From a transportation standpoint, they are two of the busier interchanges in the region — the Green Line passes through both — and the assortment of sky-high ramps connecting the 105-110 manage to be iconic, brilliant and kinda scary.
From a photography standpoint, I like the very different approach Chris took to shooting these photos — above, we get a lot of sky and the sun being screened by a ramp. Below, he found the perfect spot to convey the geometry of the interchange. Chris, by the way, is a local pro shooter and I encourage you to check out his website if you’re interested in photography.
To submit a photo for the Art of Transit, post it to Metro’s Flickr group, email it to sourcemetro@gmail.com or Tweet it to @metrolosangeles with an #artoftransit hashtag. Many of the photos we’ve featured can be seen in these galleries on Flickr.
The folks running Metro’s website deserve a pat on the back. L.A. Weekly has announced the 2011 winners for its Los Angeles Web Awards, and Metro took home honors for “Best Home Page.” Here’s their take:
Three members of Metro's web team: From left, Omark Holmes, Senior Marketing & Communications Officer (Customer Communications); Lan-Chi Lam, Web Design & Strategy Manager, and; Doug Goodwin, Lead Developer, Creative Services.
Need to make the switch to public transportation but feel like you have no understanding as to how the Metro system works? Metro’s website is a ridiculously user-friendly portal into the world of public transportation. Use it to plan trips, keep updated on traffic and even check out the Metro Art program.
These accolades come on the heels of 2009′s award for “L.A.’s Best Government Site.” Kudos especially for jumping out of the government category and into the mainstream.
Congratulations to Metro’s web team and all the departments that contribute information to the homepage: Trip Planning from Customer Relations, Blog Headlines by Media Relations, Service Alerts and Planned Service Advisories by Service Planning & Development, Destination Discounts by Customer Services, and weekly featured content by Communications.
Nice shot from the Expo Line Construction Authority’s Flickr page of art being installed at the 23rd Street station.
