Post by bennyp81 on Jun 20, 2005 9:49:08 GMT -8
Bart Reed
User ID: 1606604 Jun 27th [2003] 3:54 PM
Whittier Daily News: Thursday, June 26, 2003
Bus riders angry over loss of route; MTA target of protests over cancellation of Downey-L.A. line
By Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell
Staff Writer
DOWNEY -- Bus riders from Pico Rivera and Downey gathered at the corner of Paramount Boulevard and Florence Avenue Wednesday night to protest the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's changes to bus service in Downey, beginning Sunday.
The group, calling itself Gateway Transit Users, formed in recent months to protest the cancellation of Route 460 in the city of Downey.
The 460 is the Los Angeles-Norwalk-Disneyland route. The change to the bus service here is one of more than 100 the MTA is implementing throughout Los Angeles County to improve the efficiency of its bus operations.
"I have ridden the 460 everywhere for years, because it's a bus that goes places people want to go,' said Philip Capo, a Downey student who uses the 460 to get to school. "Taking it away will have a huge impact on working people and students who need it the most. People who use it at night will literally be stranded.'
Pico Rivera residents who connect from bus routes that run down Paramount and Rosemead boulevards to the 460 in Downey will also be impacted, he said.
"With this change almost everyone from Downey and Pico Rivera will have to transfer to an additional bus to get to Route 460 and travel to places east of Downey, making travel times longer,' said Capo.
Michael Siekert, planning manager of the Gateway City Sector for MTA, said officials decided to make changes based on the Southeast Area Bus Restructuring Study done in 2000 and 2001. The study was done to identify unmet transit needs in the southeast and to improve service.
"I know there is a small group of upset people, who have been regulars on the 460 for 40 years,' he said. "But changes needed to be made. The 460 is a two-hour ride from Disneyland to downtown L.A. on a good day, and because it was taking so long, ridership was declining.'
With the change, the 460 will now operate in car pool lanes on the 105 and 110 freeways and travel time will be reduced.
There will also be alternative routes including the 111 line on Florence Avenue that Downey riders can use, he said.
But bus riders holding signs reading "we need the 460 line in Downey' at Wednesday's protest are still upset about losing the familiar and longtime route.
"I take this bus all the time into Los Angeles to take my daughter to the doctor,' said Maria Y. Hernandez, of Downey. "What will I do now that they are taking my transportation away?'
Although the cancellation will take place Sunday, Capo said he plans to keep fighting it.
"We have done everything, protested at public hearings and they just don't listen,' he said. "So we will keep holding rallies and attending their meetings until they do.'
Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell can be reached at (562) 698-0955, Ext. 3028, or by e- mail at debbie.pfeiffer@sgvn.com.
Roberto
User ID: 9161143 Jun 28th 3:18 AM
Just some info ... ridership on the 460 is about 2,800 daily passengers.
HailStorm
User ID: 9447203 Jul 6th 6:00 PM
fwiw...I am on the other side of the protesting fence. I have taken the 460 twice now since the change.
The new 460 routing easily shaves 30/45 minutes off my commute during non-peak hours. I pick it up at the Norwalk Green Line station. In the time I may spend waiting/transfering between rail lines...the 460 Express is going full bore down a freeway carpool lane.
It has taken an average of 37 minutes b/t both trips from Norwalk Green Line station to 7th & Figuroa where I transfer to the Red Line subway.
This gives riders a quick alternative to the rail lines for those who need to get to one end or the other in times when there is maintenance/problems or during non-peak hours when there may be as much as a 20 minute wait b/t trains.
John
User ID: 9510053 Jul 6th 7:51 PM
What excellent---albeit totally unsurprising--- news, HailStorm! When I go to the South Bay, the trip by bus is also usually at least a little bit faster than it used to be when I was still trying to support the cramped---and frequently somewhat scary---Blue and Green Lines. It sure makes sense, doesn't it?
Roberto
User ID: 9161143 Sep 3rd 4:03 AM
From San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Wednesday, September 3, 2003
Re-route buses
On June 29 of this year the Metro Bus Line rerouted the "267' bus route onto Madre Street in Pasadena. A total of at least 46 buses go by our houses daily. The injustice of this is that none of the residents on this street were given the opportunity to voice an opinion or even given a notice.
One day someone came by, drove a stake into the lawn, painted the curb, and that was it. I realize that we are not as big as MTA nor do we have any kind of backing, but we are citizens who pay our taxes, care about our neighborhood, and one would hope have some rights.
What did this unjust decision cost us? We lost our on-street parking spaces, it increased our traffic flow and noise pollution.
The entire street is residential with many children, including a day care facility. It does not matter that we have citizens that work during the night and need to get their sleep during the day, which is impossible with over 46 buses running up and down the street all day.
During school season, the street has elementary and middle- school children going to and from school every day. How safe will they be? Families use the on-street parking to pick up and drop off their children. Where should they park
Whatever a citizen wants to do, it seems we have to have a license. We do not have the luxury of doing whatever we want just because we want to do it, even through we are the ones who pay the taxes.
What else has it cost us for this "luxury' that no one wants? Neighbors are considering selling their homes, and daily cleanup in front of the houses is a must with the bus stop. There is loss of privacy because passengers on the bus line choose to wait for their bus not on the street by the sign, but instead in the yard where they litter the front lawn with their refreshments while they are waiting.
We've lost fresh air because you cannot have your windows open because of the noise; it drowns out television and conversation. The result: keep your windows shut.
We're angry; it seems we have no right to express our opinion. Our money, taxes, and hard work that go into making our neighborhood attractive are all down the drain. Property values will decrease, not increase. We have experienced vandalism, something that has not happened on this street in 30 years.
The irony is none of us on this street ride the bus.
Is there an alternative? Yes, rerouting the bus line to a wider and a more commercial street, which is only three blocks away. How about Rosemead Boulevard? Let's get our neighborhood back to what it was and restore a better level of safety for the children.
If only a couple neighbors were upset it would be a different matter. But we are all up in arms.
Patricia Weigel
Pasadena
John
User ID: 9510053 Sep 3rd 8:35 AM
In my opinion, there should be no such thing as "on-street parking," except for deliverypeople, emergency vehicles, moving vans, etc.
Robert
User ID: 2037954 Feb 19th [2004] 1:56 AM
February 18, 2004
CONTACT:
Rick Jager/Marc Littman
MTA MEDIA RELATIONS
(213) 922-2707/922-2700
www.metro.net/press/pressroom
e-mail: mediarelations@metro.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
----------------------------
Metro South Bay Service Sector to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Metro Bus Changes
The Metro South Bay community-based transit service sector will hold a public hearing in March on proposed Metro Bus service modifications and service changes planned for implementation on or after June 27, 2004.
The public hearing will be held on Wednesday, March 10, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the City of Carson Community Center, 801 East Carson St. in Carson.
The purpose of the upcoming public hearing is to receive public comments on proposed changes to Metro Bus services operating in the South Bay and other portions of Los Angeles County.
The proposed service changes are subject to final approval by the Metro South Bay Governance Council at a later date. The service changes are proposed to improve service quality while using resources wisely and include some new services as well as additional service added to corridors with the most passengers. Services proposed for cancellation generally carry fewer passengers and require a higher public subsidy to operate.
The affected Metro Bus lines and service proposals under consideration include:
Proposed New Service
Line 232 (Pacific Coast Highway/LAX) Implement new Line 332 limited stop service in morning and afternoon peak periods.
Line 607 (N. Inglewood Community Shuttle) Implement new community-based shuttle service to operate every 30 minutes in both morning and afternoon peak periods.
Line 609 (Athens/Hawthorne Community Shuttle) Implement new community-based shuttle service to operate every 30-45 minutes in both morning and afternoon peak periods.
Line 681 (Huntington Park/Watts Shuttle) Extend service to the Metro Blue Line Slauson Station.
Modify or Cancel Local Bus Routes
Line 107 (54th Street/Fairview Blvd.) Cancel all service. Alternate service provided by DASH and Line 108/358 (Slauson Ave.)
Line 124 (El Segundo Blvd.) Cancel all service. Alternate service provided by Metro Green Line and Line 125 (Rosecrans Ave.)
Line 202 (Willowbrook/Compton/Wilmington) Cancel all service or cancel route south of Metro Blue Line Del Amo Station.
Line 209 (Van Ness Ave./Arlington Ave.) Cancel all service or modify south end of route to terminate at the Metro Green Line Crenshaw Station.
Line 215 (Inglewood Ave./Redondo Beach/Del Amo Center) Cancel route south of Metro Green Line Marine/Redondo Beach Station.
Modify and Cancel Express Bus Routes
Line 439 (Los Angeles/LAX/Redondo Beach Express) Cancel all service or cancel route south of Metro Green Line Aviation Station
Line 442 (Los Angeles/Manchester Ave./Hawthorne Blvd. Express) Cancel all service. Alternative service provided by Line 340 (Hawthorne Blvd.) Line 315 (Manchester Ave.) and Lines 444, 445, 446/447 (Harbor Transitway Service).
Modify and Cancel Harbor Transitway Bus Routes
Line 444 (Los Angeles/Torrance/Palos Verdes Express) Cancel off-peak service north of Artesia Transit Center.
Line 445 Los Angeles/San Pedro Express) Add service in off-peak periods to establish consistent frequency on the Harbor Transitway.
Line 446/447 (Los Angeles/Carson/Wilmington/San Pedro Express) Reroute all trips to Artesia Transit Center and cancel off-peak service north of the Artesia Transit Center.
Line 550 (West Hollywood/San Pedro Express) Cancel all service or cancel route south of the Artesia Transit Center. Alternative service provided by Lines 205, 305, 445 and Torrance Line 1.
The public is encouraged to attend the public hearing and provide comments on these proposals. Those unable to attend the hearing may submit written comments through March 15, 2004. All comments should be sent to Metro South Bay Sector Office, Attn: March 2004 Public Hearing, 680 Knox St., Suite 150, Torrance, 90502. Comments also can be either e-mailed to customerrelations@metro.net or faxed to (310) 225-6011.
MTA-025
PForce
User ID: 0247944 Feb 19th 1:24 PM
The cancellation of an important bus route exemplifies difference between bus and rail transit systems. Rail cannot easily be moved. Hence, it helps to stabilize communities and tradidtional commute and intra-community travel patterns. Rail systems also determine commuting patterns, rather than the other way around, as with automobiles and buses. This is why our auto-dependent transportation system is so wasteful, inefficient, and costly.
Robert
User ID: 2037954 Feb 19th 5:22 PM
From Richard Morallo of Metro:
Please help promote the attached Metro Bus service change proposals. You may post this notice on your bulletin boards. Thanks.
====================
A public hearing on Metro South Bay bus service change proposals will be held on Wednesday, March 10, at 6 p.m., in the Carson/Dominguez Room of the Carson Community Center, located at 801 E. Carson St. Metro Bus Lines 446 or 447 will arrive at the corner of Avalon Blvd. and Carson St., walking distance to the center.
People can call 310 225-6040 to ask that a copy of the service change proposals be mailed to them.
====================
To view the attached service change proposals file, go to:
www.onstarld.com/bob/metrobuschanges.pdf
File size about 1.4M
User ID: 1606604 Jun 27th [2003] 3:54 PM
Whittier Daily News: Thursday, June 26, 2003
Bus riders angry over loss of route; MTA target of protests over cancellation of Downey-L.A. line
By Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell
Staff Writer
DOWNEY -- Bus riders from Pico Rivera and Downey gathered at the corner of Paramount Boulevard and Florence Avenue Wednesday night to protest the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's changes to bus service in Downey, beginning Sunday.
The group, calling itself Gateway Transit Users, formed in recent months to protest the cancellation of Route 460 in the city of Downey.
The 460 is the Los Angeles-Norwalk-Disneyland route. The change to the bus service here is one of more than 100 the MTA is implementing throughout Los Angeles County to improve the efficiency of its bus operations.
"I have ridden the 460 everywhere for years, because it's a bus that goes places people want to go,' said Philip Capo, a Downey student who uses the 460 to get to school. "Taking it away will have a huge impact on working people and students who need it the most. People who use it at night will literally be stranded.'
Pico Rivera residents who connect from bus routes that run down Paramount and Rosemead boulevards to the 460 in Downey will also be impacted, he said.
"With this change almost everyone from Downey and Pico Rivera will have to transfer to an additional bus to get to Route 460 and travel to places east of Downey, making travel times longer,' said Capo.
Michael Siekert, planning manager of the Gateway City Sector for MTA, said officials decided to make changes based on the Southeast Area Bus Restructuring Study done in 2000 and 2001. The study was done to identify unmet transit needs in the southeast and to improve service.
"I know there is a small group of upset people, who have been regulars on the 460 for 40 years,' he said. "But changes needed to be made. The 460 is a two-hour ride from Disneyland to downtown L.A. on a good day, and because it was taking so long, ridership was declining.'
With the change, the 460 will now operate in car pool lanes on the 105 and 110 freeways and travel time will be reduced.
There will also be alternative routes including the 111 line on Florence Avenue that Downey riders can use, he said.
But bus riders holding signs reading "we need the 460 line in Downey' at Wednesday's protest are still upset about losing the familiar and longtime route.
"I take this bus all the time into Los Angeles to take my daughter to the doctor,' said Maria Y. Hernandez, of Downey. "What will I do now that they are taking my transportation away?'
Although the cancellation will take place Sunday, Capo said he plans to keep fighting it.
"We have done everything, protested at public hearings and they just don't listen,' he said. "So we will keep holding rallies and attending their meetings until they do.'
Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell can be reached at (562) 698-0955, Ext. 3028, or by e- mail at debbie.pfeiffer@sgvn.com.
Roberto
User ID: 9161143 Jun 28th 3:18 AM
Just some info ... ridership on the 460 is about 2,800 daily passengers.
HailStorm
User ID: 9447203 Jul 6th 6:00 PM
fwiw...I am on the other side of the protesting fence. I have taken the 460 twice now since the change.
The new 460 routing easily shaves 30/45 minutes off my commute during non-peak hours. I pick it up at the Norwalk Green Line station. In the time I may spend waiting/transfering between rail lines...the 460 Express is going full bore down a freeway carpool lane.
It has taken an average of 37 minutes b/t both trips from Norwalk Green Line station to 7th & Figuroa where I transfer to the Red Line subway.
This gives riders a quick alternative to the rail lines for those who need to get to one end or the other in times when there is maintenance/problems or during non-peak hours when there may be as much as a 20 minute wait b/t trains.
John
User ID: 9510053 Jul 6th 7:51 PM
What excellent---albeit totally unsurprising--- news, HailStorm! When I go to the South Bay, the trip by bus is also usually at least a little bit faster than it used to be when I was still trying to support the cramped---and frequently somewhat scary---Blue and Green Lines. It sure makes sense, doesn't it?
Roberto
User ID: 9161143 Sep 3rd 4:03 AM
From San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Wednesday, September 3, 2003
Re-route buses
On June 29 of this year the Metro Bus Line rerouted the "267' bus route onto Madre Street in Pasadena. A total of at least 46 buses go by our houses daily. The injustice of this is that none of the residents on this street were given the opportunity to voice an opinion or even given a notice.
One day someone came by, drove a stake into the lawn, painted the curb, and that was it. I realize that we are not as big as MTA nor do we have any kind of backing, but we are citizens who pay our taxes, care about our neighborhood, and one would hope have some rights.
What did this unjust decision cost us? We lost our on-street parking spaces, it increased our traffic flow and noise pollution.
The entire street is residential with many children, including a day care facility. It does not matter that we have citizens that work during the night and need to get their sleep during the day, which is impossible with over 46 buses running up and down the street all day.
During school season, the street has elementary and middle- school children going to and from school every day. How safe will they be? Families use the on-street parking to pick up and drop off their children. Where should they park
Whatever a citizen wants to do, it seems we have to have a license. We do not have the luxury of doing whatever we want just because we want to do it, even through we are the ones who pay the taxes.
What else has it cost us for this "luxury' that no one wants? Neighbors are considering selling their homes, and daily cleanup in front of the houses is a must with the bus stop. There is loss of privacy because passengers on the bus line choose to wait for their bus not on the street by the sign, but instead in the yard where they litter the front lawn with their refreshments while they are waiting.
We've lost fresh air because you cannot have your windows open because of the noise; it drowns out television and conversation. The result: keep your windows shut.
We're angry; it seems we have no right to express our opinion. Our money, taxes, and hard work that go into making our neighborhood attractive are all down the drain. Property values will decrease, not increase. We have experienced vandalism, something that has not happened on this street in 30 years.
The irony is none of us on this street ride the bus.
Is there an alternative? Yes, rerouting the bus line to a wider and a more commercial street, which is only three blocks away. How about Rosemead Boulevard? Let's get our neighborhood back to what it was and restore a better level of safety for the children.
If only a couple neighbors were upset it would be a different matter. But we are all up in arms.
Patricia Weigel
Pasadena
John
User ID: 9510053 Sep 3rd 8:35 AM
In my opinion, there should be no such thing as "on-street parking," except for deliverypeople, emergency vehicles, moving vans, etc.
Robert
User ID: 2037954 Feb 19th [2004] 1:56 AM
February 18, 2004
CONTACT:
Rick Jager/Marc Littman
MTA MEDIA RELATIONS
(213) 922-2707/922-2700
www.metro.net/press/pressroom
e-mail: mediarelations@metro.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
----------------------------
Metro South Bay Service Sector to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Metro Bus Changes
The Metro South Bay community-based transit service sector will hold a public hearing in March on proposed Metro Bus service modifications and service changes planned for implementation on or after June 27, 2004.
The public hearing will be held on Wednesday, March 10, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the City of Carson Community Center, 801 East Carson St. in Carson.
The purpose of the upcoming public hearing is to receive public comments on proposed changes to Metro Bus services operating in the South Bay and other portions of Los Angeles County.
The proposed service changes are subject to final approval by the Metro South Bay Governance Council at a later date. The service changes are proposed to improve service quality while using resources wisely and include some new services as well as additional service added to corridors with the most passengers. Services proposed for cancellation generally carry fewer passengers and require a higher public subsidy to operate.
The affected Metro Bus lines and service proposals under consideration include:
Proposed New Service
Line 232 (Pacific Coast Highway/LAX) Implement new Line 332 limited stop service in morning and afternoon peak periods.
Line 607 (N. Inglewood Community Shuttle) Implement new community-based shuttle service to operate every 30 minutes in both morning and afternoon peak periods.
Line 609 (Athens/Hawthorne Community Shuttle) Implement new community-based shuttle service to operate every 30-45 minutes in both morning and afternoon peak periods.
Line 681 (Huntington Park/Watts Shuttle) Extend service to the Metro Blue Line Slauson Station.
Modify or Cancel Local Bus Routes
Line 107 (54th Street/Fairview Blvd.) Cancel all service. Alternate service provided by DASH and Line 108/358 (Slauson Ave.)
Line 124 (El Segundo Blvd.) Cancel all service. Alternate service provided by Metro Green Line and Line 125 (Rosecrans Ave.)
Line 202 (Willowbrook/Compton/Wilmington) Cancel all service or cancel route south of Metro Blue Line Del Amo Station.
Line 209 (Van Ness Ave./Arlington Ave.) Cancel all service or modify south end of route to terminate at the Metro Green Line Crenshaw Station.
Line 215 (Inglewood Ave./Redondo Beach/Del Amo Center) Cancel route south of Metro Green Line Marine/Redondo Beach Station.
Modify and Cancel Express Bus Routes
Line 439 (Los Angeles/LAX/Redondo Beach Express) Cancel all service or cancel route south of Metro Green Line Aviation Station
Line 442 (Los Angeles/Manchester Ave./Hawthorne Blvd. Express) Cancel all service. Alternative service provided by Line 340 (Hawthorne Blvd.) Line 315 (Manchester Ave.) and Lines 444, 445, 446/447 (Harbor Transitway Service).
Modify and Cancel Harbor Transitway Bus Routes
Line 444 (Los Angeles/Torrance/Palos Verdes Express) Cancel off-peak service north of Artesia Transit Center.
Line 445 Los Angeles/San Pedro Express) Add service in off-peak periods to establish consistent frequency on the Harbor Transitway.
Line 446/447 (Los Angeles/Carson/Wilmington/San Pedro Express) Reroute all trips to Artesia Transit Center and cancel off-peak service north of the Artesia Transit Center.
Line 550 (West Hollywood/San Pedro Express) Cancel all service or cancel route south of the Artesia Transit Center. Alternative service provided by Lines 205, 305, 445 and Torrance Line 1.
The public is encouraged to attend the public hearing and provide comments on these proposals. Those unable to attend the hearing may submit written comments through March 15, 2004. All comments should be sent to Metro South Bay Sector Office, Attn: March 2004 Public Hearing, 680 Knox St., Suite 150, Torrance, 90502. Comments also can be either e-mailed to customerrelations@metro.net or faxed to (310) 225-6011.
MTA-025
PForce
User ID: 0247944 Feb 19th 1:24 PM
The cancellation of an important bus route exemplifies difference between bus and rail transit systems. Rail cannot easily be moved. Hence, it helps to stabilize communities and tradidtional commute and intra-community travel patterns. Rail systems also determine commuting patterns, rather than the other way around, as with automobiles and buses. This is why our auto-dependent transportation system is so wasteful, inefficient, and costly.
Robert
User ID: 2037954 Feb 19th 5:22 PM
From Richard Morallo of Metro:
Please help promote the attached Metro Bus service change proposals. You may post this notice on your bulletin boards. Thanks.
====================
A public hearing on Metro South Bay bus service change proposals will be held on Wednesday, March 10, at 6 p.m., in the Carson/Dominguez Room of the Carson Community Center, located at 801 E. Carson St. Metro Bus Lines 446 or 447 will arrive at the corner of Avalon Blvd. and Carson St., walking distance to the center.
People can call 310 225-6040 to ask that a copy of the service change proposals be mailed to them.
====================
To view the attached service change proposals file, go to:
www.onstarld.com/bob/metrobuschanges.pdf
File size about 1.4M