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Post by rubbertoe on Oct 22, 2009 11:43:57 GMT -8
All, As many of you probably know, I have been tracking the MTA rail ridership for several years. I typically only post the Gold and Red line numbers, primarily to see how those are affected when the Eastside Extension opens up in November. Anyway, I also track the Orange Line ridership. The MTA had been showing numbers for the Orange Line just like they showed for the rail lines. Then, when the July numbers were released, the Orange Line numbers for June were still posted even though all the rail lines were showing July numbers. Then when the August numbers came out, the same thing happened. The Orange Line numbers were still only reporting their June level. I happened to click on the graph link back then to see if the graph had been updated. Sure enough, it had been, and the July and August levels were quite a bit down from the June numbers. Exactly how much was hard to tell cause the graphs are small, but it was a significant drop. Now, the entire Orange Line section has been removed from the ridership page, and been replaced with the following comment under Bus - Directly Operated: "Includes Orange Line Ridership estimates" Check it out: www.metro.net/news_info/ridership_avg.htmIt looks to me like the Orange Line ridership numbers were pulled out from their own section and merged into the normal bus section because they were declining. I will send them an e-mail and ask why they did it, and if they could either post it like they had been or send me the Orange Line data directly. Here is a shot of my last ridership graph: img]http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/5828/orangeline.jpg[/img] RT |
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Post by tonyw79sfv on Oct 25, 2009 22:41:06 GMT -8
The other sad part of the Orange Line is that it was relegated from running extra late night service for tonight's U2 concert; like as if it's not part of the rail system (but then it's not rail, just pretends to be one).
On another note, Orange Line ridership may fall even more when Metro starts running Metro line 902, which is a continuous line going from NoHo Red Line station, stopping at Valley College via Burbank, then making 233 stops north of Burbank Blvd on Van Nuys Blvd as a contingency measure from the large amount of alighting and boardings at Van Nuys station.
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Post by nickmatonak on Nov 17, 2009 21:54:23 GMT -8
I clicked on the link you listed and there was a separate section of Orange Line Statistics for October. What may be confusing is that the Orange Line ridership numbers are also included in the overall bus ridership statistics.
Yes, there is a decline but that is probably the result of the economic downturn that is affecting every transit system since if there are fewer people going to work then there follows that there will be fewer people needing transit.
The fundamental problem with the Orange Line is that it is nearly at capacity, especially during peak rush hour times.
I ride that line at various times 5-6 days a week and 90% of the time I ride it there are 100 plus people in that bus by the time it arrives at North Hollywood
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Post by Jason Saunders on Nov 17, 2009 22:01:23 GMT -8
The fundamental problem with the Orange Line is that it is nearly at capacity, especially during peak rush hour times. I ride that line at various times 5-6 days a week and 90% of the time I ride it there are 100 plus people in that bus by the time it arrives at North Hollywood Metro is very good at efficiency. The Gold Line has the lowest (or should i say use to have the lowest?) of all the light rail lines yet it's cars are always full. Why? Because they run fewer cars when demand is low, thus usually assures a relatively full vehicle. I wouldn't be surprised if the Orange Line had fewer buses running if ridership is down. |
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Post by tonyw79sfv on Nov 17, 2009 23:12:20 GMT -8
I'd rather not have fewer buses on the Orange Line, just shorter ones during low demand periods. I feel that the high frequency of the line during peak periods makes up for the "slow" speed and the random unreliability of the line.
There's been a problem with bicyclists trying to use the Orange Line during off peak hours when the frequency is 20 minutes and the bus can only take 3 bikes at a time, although it's at the discretion of some bus operators as to whether 4 or more bikes can be taken in the back.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Nov 18, 2009 21:18:28 GMT -8
The fundamental problem with the Orange Line is that it is nearly at capacity, especially during peak rush hour times. I ride that line at various times 5-6 days a week and 90% of the time I ride it there are 100 plus people in that bus by the time it arrives at North Hollywood Metro is very good at efficiency. The Gold Line has the lowest (or should i say use to have the lowest?) of all the light rail lines yet it's cars are always full. Why? Because they run fewer cars when demand is low, thus usually assures a relatively full vehicle. I wouldn't be surprised if the Orange Line had fewer buses running if ridership is down. I rarely ride on a "full" gold line car, even at rush hour. There are almost always seats for everyone and then some, even if some people prefer to stand. But ridership has picked up. When they used to run 1-car trains on weekends a few years ago I once saw a train arrive at Union Station with only 5 or 6 people on board. |
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Post by Jason Saunders on Nov 18, 2009 21:22:38 GMT -8
Metro is very good at efficiency. The Gold Line has the lowest (or should i say use to have the lowest?) of all the light rail lines yet it's cars are always full. Why? Because they run fewer cars when demand is low, thus usually assures a relatively full vehicle. I wouldn't be surprised if the Orange Line had fewer buses running if ridership is down. I rarely ride on a "full" gold line car, even at rush hour. There are almost always seats for everyone and then some, even if some people prefer to stand. But ridership has picked up. When they used to run 1-car trains on weekends a few years ago I once saw a train arrive at Union Station with only 5 or 6 people on board. You know you're right, I should not have said "full." I should have said "they put cars in service according to demand." |
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Post by tonyw79sfv on Dec 5, 2009 13:43:37 GMT -8
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Post by tonyw79sfv on Apr 13, 2010 18:11:39 GMT -8
Just FYI on how the Orange Line is doing, here are the March numbers: 23,810 weekday, 13,696 Saturday, 11,315 Sunday. Not too pretty for the weekend; I wonder how many choice riders simply park at North Hollywood or Universal City station and skip the Orange Line entirely.
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Post by tobias087 on Apr 13, 2010 23:32:34 GMT -8
Just FYI on how the Orange Line is doing, here are the March numbers: 23,810 weekday, 13,696 Saturday, 11,315 Sunday. Not too pretty for the weekend; I wonder how many choice riders simply park at North Hollywood or Universal City station and skip the Orange Line entirely. On a personal note, I do that all the time. I live about 3.5 miles from the Orange line, and about 10 from the Red line (at least when school's out) and if there's no or light traffic, driving to the Red line is much easier. And the bus that connects my house to the Orange line tends to not run at the hours/days I need it  |
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Post by jdrcrasher on Apr 14, 2010 5:32:10 GMT -8
Some of the drop could be attributed to the collapse in gas prices.
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Post by rubbertoe on Apr 14, 2010 7:04:45 GMT -8
Some time after I e-mailed them they resumed showing the Orange Line numbers separately:
img]http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac27/RubberToe420/OrangeLine02-10.jpg[/img]
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Post by jdrcrasher on Apr 14, 2010 14:13:42 GMT -8
^ Very similar to the Green Line:
IMG]http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac27/RubberToe420/GreenLine02-10.jpg[/IMG]
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