Tag Archives: Metrolink

Metrolink to offer “Rail Series” connection to Angels/Dodgers games

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Metrolink is offering special round trip service from Orange County to Union Station next Monday and Tuesday as the Dodgers take on the Angels. There will be station events featuring Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda and former players Jay Johnstone and Bob Boone.

Here’s the full press release from Metrolink with all the details.

Metrolink will provide special round-trip service between Oceanside and Los Angeles on Monday, May 27 and Tuesday, May 28 as fans travel to Dodger Stadium to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim square off.

The Rail Series service will be highlighted with Metrolink station events, including an appearance in Fullerton on Monday by Baseball Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda. The legendary former manager of the Dodgers is scheduled to be at the station beginning at 2 p.m. and will subsequently ride the train to Los Angeles Union Station.

The day’s festivities will begin at 1:30 p.m. with an appearance by 20-year Major Leaguer Jay Johnstone at the Irvine Metrolink Station. The two-time World Series champion and former Angels and Dodgers outfielder will also board the train heading to Los Angeles.

On Tuesday, Orange County Line train 609 will bring fans from Oceanside to Union Station, while a special train will be offered for passengers to their return destination.

Former Angels catcher Bob Boone will be at the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Station Tuesday to meet fans at 3:15 p.m. and ride the train to Union Station.  Boone was a four-time All Star and a seven-time Gold Glove Award winner during his career with the Philadelphia Phillies, the California Angels and the Kansas City Royals.

The station events will also highlight special Dodger and Angels attractions including a pitching inflatable, a spin wheel, photo opportunities and autograph signings.

Fans are also encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item donation for Second Food Harvest for a chance to win free Metrolink tickets and other prizes. This event is sponsored by Metrolink and Orange County Transportation Authority.

All Little League and other youth baseball players who are dressed in their team uniforms can ride free with a fare paying adult.

Metrolink tickets will be available the day of the event at Orange County Line stations. Adult round-trip tickets are just $7, while senior/disabled and youth (ages 6-18) tickets are just $6 and $4, respectively. Children ages 5 years and under ride free with a paying adult. Tickets can be purchased on the day of the game only, while no advanced ticket sales are available from the Metrolink ticket vending machines (TVM). For complete ticket and train schedule information click here.

The May 27 Rail Series special train is the only Metrolink service offered on Memorial Day, with the exception of a pair of round-trip Antelope Valley Line trains.

The special Metrolink train service will complement the Dodger Stadium Express buses operated by Metro from L.A. Union Station to Dodger Stadium and back. Passengers can ride the Dodger Stadium Express shuttle for free with their Dodger game ticket or show their train ticket.

Metrolink is partnering with the Angels, the Dodgers, the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC), Metro, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the City of Fullerton to provide transportation to the Rail Series.

ABOUT METROLINK (www.metrolinktrains.com)

Metrolink is Southern California’s regional commuter rail service in its 20th year of operation. The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), a joint powers authority made up of an 11-member board representing the transportation commissions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, governs the service. Metrolink operates over seven routes through a six-county, 512 route-mile network. Metrolink is the third largest commuter rail agency in the United States based on directional route miles and the seventh largest based on annual ridership.

Metrolink to conduct public outreach process for potential fare increase, fare policy changes and Title VI policies

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Here’s the news release from Metrolink, the agency that runs commuter rail in Southern California. Because this involves a potential fare increase up to seven percent, I want all readers to understand that Metrolink and Metro are separate agencies, although Metro is one of the five counties in So Cal that provides funding for Metrolink.

The official notice is above.

The release:

Metrolink to conduct public outreach process for potential fare policy changes, a fare increase, Title VI policies

Positive Train Control and increased operational costs drive $14.5 million funding gap for FY 13-14 budget

LOS ANGELES - The Metrolink Board of Directors approved staff to initiate a public outreach process for potential fare policy changes and a potential fare increase as one element to help close an existing $14.5 million funding gap for the Fiscal Year 13-14 budget. Additionally, a Title VI Disparate Impact and Disproportionate Burden Policy Thresholds will also be considered.

The public will be asked to give feedback regarding an average system-wide fare increase of up to 7 percent, which would go into effect on or after July 1, 2013.

“This is absolutely one of the most difficult situations for any transportation agency,” said Metrolink CEO Michael P. DePallo. “We try exhaustively to keep operating costs at the very lowest levels, while providing for the safest and most efficient commuter railroad in the nation.”

The major increases include:

  • $8.3 million for implementation and operation of positive train control (PTC). PTC refers to technology capable of intervening and automatically stopping a train, preventing train-to-train collisions.
  • $2 million in increases to contracted vendor costs for service providers.
  • $1.6 million for new operations at the Eastern Maintenance Facility (EMF) to reduce traffic at Metrolink’s Central Maintenance Facility in Los Angeles, allowing equipment to be serviced in the most efficient and effective manner. Continue reading →

Metrolink posts details on TAP-enabled tickets for its customers

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Metrolink_Ticket_Stock_2013

As has been discussed previously on The Source, Metro is preparing to begin latching gates at Red and Purple Line subway stations beginning this summer, with gates at other Metro Rail stations to be latched subsequently. All Metro riders will need to ‘tap’ their TAP cards to get through the gates.

That, of course, is an issue for Metrolink passengers who get free transfers to Metro as part of their fares — Metrolink uses paper tickets, not the plastic “TAP” cards that have become the norm on Metro. In order for Metrolink passengers to get through latched gates, Metrolink and Metro have worked together to develop paper TAP cards for Metrolink customers.

The following has been posted to Metrolink’s website and explains the transition from the current ticketing system to TAP-enabled paper tickets. Bottom line: The TAP-enabled Metrolink tickets for destinations in Los Angeles County (the area served by Metro) will be available through Metrolink ticket machines and for those purchasing Metrolink monthly passes. Metrolink customers will have to ‘tap’ those tickets when using Metro Rail and will continue to show their tickets to bus operators on Metro bus lines.

Many more details below from Metrolink:

Metrolink to provide TAP-enabled tickets

Metrolink and Metro have worked collaboratively to create a Metrolink ticket that is compatible with the Metro TAP system. TAP-enabled tickets will be dispensed from Metrolink Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) to allow passage through Metro’s turnstiles leading to Metro rails lines and stations.

All Metrolink tickets with Los Angeles County destinations will be TAP-compatible, and all riders will be required to physically tap their tickets at the turnstiles and validators when transferring to a Metro Rail line. When boarding a bus, the current policy of simply showing the bus operator your Metrolink ticket will still be in effect. Tapping is not required on buses.

Continue reading →

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.

Celebrate National Train Day at Union Station on May 11

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Don't miss the Chuggington Kids Depot at L.A. Union Station this Saturday!

Don’t miss the Chuggington Kids Depot at L.A. Union Station this Saturday!

Amtrak will host the sixth annual National Train Day this Saturday at L.A. Union Station from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The family friendly event is free to the public.

Drop by to tour luxurious historic rail cars, freight trains and more. There will be live entertainment and giveaways, plus interactive and educational exhibits for all ages.

Metrolink offers weekend service to Union Station on the Antelope Valley, Orange County and San Bernardino lines. You can also get to Union Station on the Metro Gold, Red and Purple lines, as well as a multitude of buses. Use Trip Planner for routes and connections.

OCTA gears up for Bike to Work day

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Photo from Metrolink Official Facebook

Photo from Metrolink Official Facebook

Metro has a few great events coming up for Bike Week L.A., but the Orange County Transportion Authority has some plans of their own. Commuters in Orange County are invited to join OCTA for a bike rally on May 16, Bike to Work Day.

OCTA will be hosting a bike rally from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. Participants will meet at the Metrolink Orange Depot at 7:30 a.m. and join more than 50 cyclists for a 3-mile ride to OCTA Headquarters. In addition, Metrolink will be offering free train rides on May 16 to Southern California commuters who bring their bicycles on board Metrolink trains.

“Biking is an inexpensive and healthy alternative to driving and with more than 1,000 miles of bikeways and 700 more planned, Orange County is an ideal environment for biking,” said OCTA Chairman Greg Winterbottom. “We encourage the public to grab their helmets and join the bike movement.”

Draft alternatives released for Los Angeles Union Station Master Plan

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The Los Angeles Union Station Master Plan team is releasing its draft alternatives today for improving the venerable station as a transit center. Among some of the proposals (shown above) are replacing the parking lots in front of the station with open space, building a new bus terminal to handle most of the considerable bus traffic at the station and possibly replacing the current transit plaza at the rear of the station with other structures and/or green space.

While all the alternatives will work without high-speed rail, they each offer a variety of ways that high-speed rail could access the station, including configurations in which the tracks are above the current platform, below grade at both the east and west of the current Union Station and running through the current city of Los Angeles Piper Tech facility.

All four of the alternatives and much more will be discussed by Metro officials at a community meeting Thursday (May 2) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo at the intersection of Central and 1st streets. The meeting will be live streamed at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/lausmp and will be recorded for later viewing.

Here’s a Q&A I put together on today’s news that covers the basics.

What do all the alternatives have in common?

That the historic Los Angeles Union Station built in 1939 is preserved and remains at the center of transit operations. The idea is to embellish the station so that it works as the region’s transit hub for many decades to come while better connecting it to the surrounding neighborhoods — i.e. Chinatown, Little Tokyo, the Arts District, the Civic Center and Boyle Heights.  While the details are not developed yet at this stage, all of the alternatives will create improved pedestrian and bike pathways, including a bike lane through the site.

Union Station is already serving about 10 times the number of people it did after opening in 1939. The expansion of Metro Rail, increased bus service and plans for high-speed rail make it extremely likely that Union Station will only get more crowded if nothing is done.

Do the alternatives propose building designs?

No, that comes later. The alternatives released today are concepts about where to put facilities and future development on the 47 acres of land (and in some cases beyond that) that Metro owns.

Of course, the design of any future buildings, open space and bike and pedestrian connections matter a lot — the devil is always in the details. At this point of the master plan process, however, Metro is first trying to determine where to put everything transit-related. In its current configuration, bus and rail operations at Union Station are widely dispersed. For example, there are five different locations where local and regional buses stop, leading to some confusion among riders and a lot of walking.

Continue reading →

Head to Union Station and recycle on Earth Day

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Metrolink and Metro are encouraging the public to be environmentally friendly this Earth Day by recycling. The first 200 people to arrive at Union Station to recycle their electronic waste (any item with a cord or requiring a battery), clothes, office paper and glass, aluminum and plastic containers will receive a free Metrolink round-trip ticket good for travel anywhere on the Metrolink system starting on Tuesday, April 23. Metrolink round-trip tickets, like all other Metrolink tickets, are good for a free transfer to Metro’s subway, light rail and buses that operate within Los Angeles County.

Collection time will be from 7 a.m. to noon on Monday, April 22. The collection area is located on the Alameda Street side of Union Station near the rose garden.

Click this link for more information on Metrolink’s sustainability initiatives. To check out some of the ways Metro is going green, click here.

San Fernando Valley Council of Governments offers interesting list of transit priorities — check it out

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Final Motion for SFVCOG March PP 2013

First, a caveat: don’t get too excited. The above list of projects recommended recently by the San Fernando Valley Council of Governments are just that — recommendations. And, as usual, funding is always an issue.

But I thought I’d post the motion because I know from reader comments and email there’s quite a bit of interest in some of the above. In particular, the idea of connecting Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank’s Bob Hope Airport by transit is appealing; getting between Pasadena and Burbank by transit often involves a trip through downtown Los Angeles. I’m also a big fan of speeding up the long Metrolink trip (up to two hours, 10 minutes) between Los Angeles Union Station and Lancaster, which are about 70 miles apart.

By the way, Metro’s long range plan has a couple of similar projects, although both are in the tier 2 unfunded section (basically meaning they’re in the back of the line for funding for now). These include a Red Line extension to Bob Hope Airport and an undefined “transit corridor” between the NoHo Red Line station and the Gold Line’s Del Mar station in Pasadena.

One last note: it’s worth noting the four names on the motion for the Metro Board: Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, Glendale Councilman Ara Najarian, city of Los Angeles appointee Mel Wilson and Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. Interesting.

Two TAP updates and dedicated lane coming for Dodger Stadium Express

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Three quick notes from the Metro Board of Director committee meetings on Thursday morning:

•The Dodger Stadium Express will be back this season, once again offering free bus service between Los Angeles Union Station and the ballpark for those holding tickets to the game. And there's a wrinkle: in cooperation with the city of Los Angeles, there is expected to be a dedicated bus lane near the stadium this year to speed up the bus trips.

•TAP-enabled paper tickets for Metrolink are expected to show up in Metrolink ticket machines this spring. Gate latching tests with the tickets have gone very well.

•Metro will be moving TAP validators at some rail stations so they're more convenient for customers and easier to find. The first change will be the validators at the busy 7th/Metro Center station used by the Red/Purple Line subway and the Blue Line and Expo Line.