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.
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 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.
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.
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.
What to expect:
The Revlon Run/Walk for Women will take place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum this Saturday, May 11 from 7 a.m. to noon. Metro will be detouring the following bus lines in the Exposition Park area to accommodate the event.
Metro Lines: 14/37, 38, 81, 102, 200 and Metro Silver Line
Check Service Advisories for more details. Metro Bus detours will be in effect from 5 a.m. until 1 p.m. or while barricades are present. Lines 81, 102 and 200 will begin detouring at 9 p.m. on Friday, May 10 due to event set-up. Plan ahead and allow extra time for travel.
To avoid traffic congestion around the Coliseum, participants in the Revlon Run/Walk are encouraged to ride the Expo Line to Expo Park/USC Station to get to the event. For more routes and connections, please use the Trip Planner.
