Metro gets some rare screen time in the latest episode of CBS’ series “The Amazing Race.” The contestants are given the challenge of getting to LAX from downtown L.A. using public transportation. Union Station, 7th Street Metro Center, the Blue Line and the FlyAway all get starring roles. If you take away anything from the challenge, it should be that taking the FlyAway from Union Station is much faster than taking the Blue Line to Green Line to LAX Shuttle route.
The Planning Report has an excerpt from a discussion with Metro CEO Art Leahy at the Westside Urban Forum. Leahy talks about Measure R and its impact on the Westside (Subway to the Sea, Expo Line) as well as the challenges Metro faces distributing Measure R money in massive and competitive Los Angeles County. One interesting topic that’s brought up is the difference in transit operations now versus 20 years ago. While ridership of Metro buses is down a third of what it was then, Leahy reminds us that back then there was no rail and that the many municipal operators in the region have really bulked up their service.
The Daily Bruin has a story about how many UCLA students who commute to campus are growing tired of traffic and parking — and are now looking to public transit as an alternative. The majority of UCLA students commute and 25% of those students use public transit to get to school. UCLA offers subsidized bus passes for students and employees that can cut transit costs in half for commuters and saves the university money in the long run by reducing the need to build pricey parking garages.
Check out the rest of today’s headlines, compiled by the Metro Library, after the jump.
The Amazing Race: Season 16, Episode 1 (video : The first leg of the new season kicks off in Los Angeles, requiring 11 racing teams to get from downtown to LAX solely via public transportation)
CBS
Architect Proposes Conceptual Plan To Improve Parking, Traffic Challenges On Culver Boulevard
The Argonaut
The Bikeway Network (includes a collection of bikeway types illustrations)
Reconnecting America
China Sees Growth Engine In A Web Of Fast Trains
New York Times
The Future Of Cities In The Internet Era
Next American City
High-Speed Rail Cash Lays Congressional Track For Billions More To Follow
New York Times
How To Properly Cross Rail Tracks On Your Bike
LA StreetsBlog
In Seattle, As In Most Cities, Transit Works Best When It’s Not Highway-Bound
Transport Politic
Is Privatization Inherently Bad, Or Just Botched?
Greater Greater Washington
LADOT And City Planning Revisit “The Errors Of The Past!”
SoapBox LA
Live Near A Freeway? Heart Disease Risk May Be Higher
Los Angeles Times
Study’s Abstract
Metro CEO Art Leahy Talks Budget, Operations, Capital Projects
Planning Report
Monrovia To Explore Environmental Impacts Of Proposed Rail Maintenance Yard (for Metro Gold Line extension)
Pasadena Star-News
A New Traffic Sign: “Take Turns”
GOOD
Olympic Transit System Hit With Bumps, Glitches
Washington Post
Olympics Host Vancouver Ranked World’s Most Liveable City (Los Angeles ranks 47th)
Reuters
Post-Copenhagen Planning: Sustainable Countries Taking The Initiative On Sustainable Transport
The City Fix
Public Transit Options Provide Alternative Options For UCLA Commuter Students
UCLA Daily Bruin
Ridley-Thomas Calls For Review Of Grade Crossing Policy
Planning Report
Should Ridership Data Be Online?
Human Transit
This Is How You’ll Get There: Cars, Roads, And Parking Could Be Transformed Completely – The Technology Is There, But Is Society Ready?
American Prospect
Vancouver Winter Olympics: Winning A Gold For Transportation?
The City Fix
White House Economic Report Touts TIGER, High-Speed Rail, Transit
DC StreetsBlog
White House: Transit Inflation Outstripping Private Transportation
DC StreetsBlog
Categories: Transportation News