For the first time, each of Metro's five regional Service Councils is conducting a “Corridor Study” to evaluate within a heavily used transit corridor in their area. Each of the corridors being studied include multiple routes, which could consist of local service, limited service and/or rapid service. The routes selected for each council are listed below.

Overviews of each of the chosen corridors were presented at the July Service Council meetings and the studies will continue through July 2013. Council member regularly ride buses operating in their region. They have been asked to increase their trips on the lines being studied in their region. In addition to observing the line in operation, they have also been asked to speak with customers and bus operators on the lines. Council members will also be invited to participate in scheduled line rides for the routes in their areas accompanied by Jon Hillmer, Director of the Regional Service Councils.

Throughout the year, councils will share their observations and discuss ideas to improve service in their corridors every other month. Discussion will include:

Evaluation of the days and hours of service.

Frequency of service (peak and off peak hours).

Passenger loads.

Possible route modifications.

Possible schedule changes to improve connections to other bus lines and rail services.

Any proposed ideas for service changes will be considered with the understanding that overall service hours cannot be increased. So, if the Council wants to recommend additional hours in one area – like adding new or additional weekend service, extending the operating hours of a line, increasing service frequency – those would have to be offset with hours from somewhere else. Of course, any recommended modifications would be planned in concert with Metro's Transit Service Planning department. Any changes that are ultimately recommended would receive thorough public review, including public hearings if the proposed changes are major.

The five corridors being studied this year in each Service Council region are:

Florence Avenue in the Gateway Cities region. This will include Lines 111 and 311. The study will look at whether the limited stop service should be converted to local, if short line terminals should be extended, if the owl route should be modified, opportunities to improve on-time performance, conditions of bus stops, and if there are adequate service levels by time of day and direction.

Crenshaw Avenue in the South Bay Cities region. This will involve Lines 210 and 710. This study will review issues such as possibly converting rapid service to local service when the rapid bus operates with less than every 15 minutes, opportunities to improve on-time performance, adequacy of service levels by time of day and direction, and evaluating opportunities to improve late night connections with Green Line and/or Expo Line,

Van Nuys Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley region. This evaluation will focus on Lines 233 and 761. The review will look at the adequacy of service levels by time of day and direction, possible conversion of rapid service to local service when the rapid bus runs less frequently than every 15 minutes, opportunities to improve on-time performance, possibilities for an express line thru the Sepulveda Pass, and opportunities to improve late night connections with the Orange Line.

Garvey Avenue & Valley Boulevard in the San Gabriel Valley region. The review will focus on Lines 70, 76 and 770. The study will evaluate schedule connections to the Foothill Silver Streak, the adequacy of service levels by time of day and direction, opportunities to improve on-time performance, conversion of rapid trips to local when rapid service is less frequent than 15 minutes, possibilities for a route though downtown LA, and considering combining Line 71 into the Line 70 schedule.

Santa Monica Boulevard in the Westside/Central region. The review of this corridor will involve Lines 4 and 704. The review will focus issues such as the adequacy of service levels by time of day and direction, the downtown LA routes of both lines, evaluating opportunities to improve connections of the rapid bus meets with Big Blue Bus, consider converting rapid trips to local service when rapid service is less frequent than every 15 minutes, studying opportunities to improve late night meets connections with the Metro Red Line at Santa Monica/Vermont

The public is invited and encouraged to provide input on bus service in the corridors selected for each council to assist each Service Council in meeting the demands and desires of our riders. You can voice your opinions at a Service Council meeting (click here to view meeting schedules) or, if you are not able to attend a meeting, submit your comments in writing by e-mailing to servicecouncils@metro.net. If you would like more information on Service Councils, click here to read an overview article published in The Source.

Posted with Blogsy