Improved public transit in L.A.? (Los Angeles, Ontario: home, neighborhood, construction)

[mtkomori]

To those who have lived in L.A. for more than five years...do you see a major improvement in public transit (buses, metro) in your neighborhood? Is it more convenient than in the past and is ridership increasing?
Whatever happens in L.A. can be an example to the rest of North America. We really can't continue to rely on our cars. That said, I live in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and have been for 5 years. I've seen some improvements in the bus system here. Five years ago in my neighborhood, there was only one bus stop serviced by a bus that ran twice/hour. In 2007, another route was added, so it then became four buses/hour. Starting this week, there has been a route change so there's another service making it 6 buses/hour between the two bus stops. Also a new express bus was added not too far away from my home and I found it to be quite convenient, having been on it twice this week. Ridership on buses has increased to 1.5 million riders last year. Thanks for your input in advance!

[$musicman$]

I have lived in the L.A. area for 31 years..

The public transportation is mostly for illegal aliens..and I'd like to get rid of it all. Roads are cheaper to build..much cheaper..and they are the most efficient way for people to get where they're going.

[$musicman$]

But yes..I know public transportation works in many other cities..there's just no way it can work here. The city and county are both too spread out..and none of us are going to the same place.

[pwright1]

For someone who's lived here for 31 years you don't know much about LA's public transportation. Only illegal aliens? How ignorant can you be?

[$musicman$]

Originally Posted by pwright1

For someone who's lived here for 31 years you don't know much about LA's public transportation. Only illegal aliens? How ignorant can you be?

I think we'll need to check your paperwork.

[mtkomori]

Well, are there ANY areas in L.A. that you know of where pubilc transit works? And has it improved over the years?

[$musicman$]

Originally Posted by mtkomori

Well, are there ANY areas in L.A. that you know of where pubilc transit works? And has it improved over the years?

Honestly, we can't say it's worked, because the costs were so outrageous compared to what it costs to build roads..(something like 1000 to 1)..that unless the whole city decided to pile on them..they will always be a joke.

And there has been no reduction in auto traffic..and the trains..(mostly light rail)..remain near empty.

..and thanks to car pool lanes..(most of which are very lightly used)..have made auto traffic much worse as well.

Most cars have one person..and the restricting of these cars from the left lane..(reserved for car pools)..has made traffc much worse.

In short..we have less lanes to drive on then we used to..and more and more cars.

All one has to do..is take the 5 freeway to Orange County.

Orange County sunk their money into bigger and wider freeways..and as soon as you leave L.A. County..you go from a huge mess to an absolute pleasure to drive.

[BRinSM]

in the last 5 years the gold line was extended to east LA, construction of the expo line has commenced, the rapid bus program has expanded, the orange line extension got started, and measure R passed to expand the red line subway. the problem is that LA has a lot of people like musicman who don't care about any of this, meanwhile, a significant percentage of the population is quite poor and relies on public transit to get around the city. however, musicman is also right about LA being spread out. LA is huge. The valley alone is larger than most big cities in this country. creating a network of high speed public transit that can get people across the city (and even the region, LA city has 4M people, 10M in the county) is VERY expensive. using a car here is much more efficient for probably over 90% of commutes. LA also really didn't explode in population until after WW2, when a new model of growth built around the automobile was emerging.

having said all of that, rail transit will continue expand in LA, albeit at a snail's pace. also, unless we completely run out of oil, the car will continue to dominate the landscape of LA into the foreseeable future. the car is built into our culture here and it would take a radical shift to change this (such as running out of oil).

[SalParadise]

Originally Posted by mtkomori

Well, are there ANY areas in L.A. that you know of where pubilc transit works? And has it improved over the years?

Hey Mtkomori: I grew up in LA County and have been here longer than Musicman. Please don't take his word as gospel.

1. No...public transit in Los Angeles is NOT "mostly" illegals. It is true that the M.T.A. BUS system is used by more low-income residents (both citizens and illegals).

2. However, the rail system including subway, light rail, and commuter rail has a wide vareity of users. In fact, the Metrolink (commuter rail) is a very affluent customer base.

3. Yes, the LA County mass transit system has improved in the last 20 or 30 years. And there are MORE improvements planned. Read this link about the "30/10 Plan" to build 30 years of mass transit lines in 10 years.

30/10 Initiative

4. LA County is more spread out than traditional east coast or Canadian cities; however, the urban core of LA County is VERY dense and the bang for the buck in building rail lines is GOOD. For example, the planned "Subway to the Sea" down Wilshire Blvd will complete the subway under Wilshire Blvd, one of the densest corridors in Los Angeles.

5. There is no silver bullet to LA's traffic problems. But adding a decent mass transit system will help....

[pwright1]

Over the past 60 years what has building more roads and highways done to the region? Ruined it.