Early notes from Metro Board meeting: update on ExpressLanes speed, Metrolink TAP-enabled tickets, Airport Metro Connector

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A couple of notes from early in the meeting:

•After two-plus months of operation, the ExpressLanes on the 110 freeway have allowed for travel speeds of 45 mph or over 100 percent of the time, reported Metro officials. That's important because the federal grant that allowed Metro to construct the lanes is dependent on speeds remaining over 45 mph at least 90 percent of the time. As motorists likely already know, officials also reported that congestion remains in the general lanes.

•Metro CEO Art Leahy also said that progress toward latching of the gates at Metro Rail stations is being made and he showed a prototype paper ticket for Metrolink riders that is TAP enabled — it has a chip embedded in it — and can be dispensed from Metrolink ticket machines. Here's a pic:

And the Metrolink folks just emailed over a look at some of the design prototypes they're working on for TAP-enabled tickets:

•LAWA Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey said that LAX continues to make progress on its specific plan amendment study, the document that has to be completed before the airport can launch any kind of effort to build a people mover or light rail station on airport property. She said that LAWA staff continues to work closely with Metro staff on the Airport Metro Connector project to connect the airport to the larger Metro transit system. Alternatives being considered by Metro include bus rapid transit, light rail and a people mover.

Lindsey also made the point that LAX remains the busiest in the United States in terms of the number of passengers who start or end their trips at LAX.

 

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9 replies ›

  1. LAWA can’t possibly be serious. Their proposals seem to be doing their damndest to discourage sane connections from Metrorail to the airport. Buses? Seriously?

  2. I am kinda curious why there was K9 units on the 7th and Metro platform last month. is Metro looking for fare jumpers or something else? During rush hour its mostly people leaving work and trying to get home.

    How would the locked turnstyles work for commuters with bicycles and handicapped people in wheelchairs?

  3. One thing about the new turnstiles is that originally they had similar turnstiles at the subway stations in NYC. People were jumping over them to ride free. They had to install cage like turnstiles at subway stations to eliminate the problem. MTA doesn’t foresee this happening in LA?

  4. OK, Steve, I’ll bite!

    How?

    Opening the turnstiles at the unstaffed stations for the day?

    • Hi Erik;

      That’s ‘never’ in your opinion.

      Steve Hymon
      Editor, The Source

  6. Emily, in all likelihood that would require Metrolink to adopt the Cubic TVMs and then have to add the T.A.P. stanchions to all their stations.

  7. Is there something wrong with Metrolink just moving to TAP altogether instead of sticking to paper tickets?