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Post by jeisenbe on Dec 8, 2009 23:56:27 GMT -8
Didja, I agree that it makes little sense to stop the buses at Artesia when there are stations already available farther south, and plenty of potential riders in San Pedro. Why make those folks transfer at Artesia? I don't see ridership improving until the line makes it the San Pedro, frequencies increase both during the day and at night, and a more reliable route (dedicated bus lanes, signal priority) is available downtown.
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Post by Justin Walker on Dec 9, 2009 13:50:08 GMT -8
Metro now has a webpage for the Silver Line here.The Source also had a story about the Silver Line today.A quote from The Source that I feel is worth repeating here: "One thing to notice is that the Silver Line connects with every Metro rail line in the system."The Silver Line does go some useful places and the fact that it ties all the lines together is important. Many trip combinations can have the number of transfers reduced thanks to the Silver Line. for example, if someone wants to go from El Monte to Long Beach, the Silver Line can get the rider directly to 7th/Metro Center without using the Red Line. Similarly, a Green Line rider could easily get to the Gold Line directly on the Silver Line without needing to transfer to the Blue or Red Lines. (I sure hope it doesn't flop; the Silver Line is at its core a good idea.)
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Post by tonyw79sfv on Dec 9, 2009 21:57:05 GMT -8
For those that complain about the lack of service to San Pedro; there is LADOT Commuter Express service between Long Beach Metro Blue Line's Transit Mall and 1st Street stations to San Pedro's Ports O' Call, plus the ride goes over a beautiful bridge; it's 90 cents for a ride.
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Post by jeisenbe on Dec 9, 2009 22:53:20 GMT -8
tonywl79sfv, as a frequent rider of the Blue Line in Long Beach, I am afraid that the slow section from the Transit Mall to Willow would make a trip from San Pedro to Los Angeles prohibitively long (about 75 minutes to Metrocenter, best case senario). The 445 on the Harbor Transitway currently takes 55 minutes from San Pedro to Metrocenter. Also, the bridges from San Pedro thru the port get awfully crowded with trucks on bad days, limiting reliability for the express bus.
LADOT needs to get on Google Transit. For some reason, I have never seen that express bus here in Long Beach. I always end up driving if I want to go to San Pedro. I will try the 142 next time; 20 minutes from LB to SP isn't bad.
I also notice that Google can't give me transit directions between San Pedro and Los Angeles after 12/14/09. I hope metro gets the new data uploaded soon. It will be confusing for new riders who need to transfer from the truncated 445 or other routes at Artesia.
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Post by jeisenbe on Dec 9, 2009 23:01:10 GMT -8
In defense of Metro, the improvements in the works for the Silver Line look great: "# Enhance rider access. Metro Silver Line will connect to Union Station’s Patsaouras Transit Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles via an island stop on the El Monte Busway... [Good idea]" "# El Monte Station Expansion. Build additional parking [Yuck! -edit] and installation of bike lockers." "# Transit signal priority in Los Angeles. Metro Silver Line will have partial bus signal priority in Downtown Los Angeles. [This will be key to increasing ridership]" "# Utilize fuel-efficient, environmentally-safe equipment. Metro has ordered 41 CNG 45 foot busesl..." "# Additional Service enhancements on the El Monte Busway, including more frequency. [But what about the Harbor Transitway section?]"
I hope these improvements are made soon, otherwise, this will look more like a hidden service cut with nice rebranding.
Furthermore, Metro needs to increase frequencies along the Harbor freeway if they ever want that section to become popular. And I can't see why it would hurt to run the buses all the way down to the end of the stations, at least to PCH and possibly to San Pedro. Why force a transfer? Or am I wrong; will route 445 continue? Either way, it is needlessly complicated.
Routes in straight lines, in the territory of one agency, should never require transfers if possible. That's the one real advantage of "BRT", the ability to run buses onto city streets!
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Post by ieko on Dec 10, 2009 1:13:52 GMT -8
One of the biggest improvements will be the construction of a Sheriff substation at the Artesia Transit Center.
Also, 445 will go all the way to Downtown LA, but will now be more of an express. It will avoid all the Harbor Transitway stops except for Harbor Freeway Station.
What gets me in this whole thing is the zone fare charge when buses that are faster (450X, 445) charge the same price.
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Post by rubbertoe on Dec 10, 2009 9:20:30 GMT -8
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Post by Justin Walker on Dec 11, 2009 19:50:52 GMT -8
Love it or hate it, it's coming... Took this pic today at Figueroa/Exposition. I am quite pleased that they made the route seem important and different on the bus stop sign. They still could do quite a bit more, though, to make Silver Line stops seem significant...
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Post by wad on Dec 15, 2009 5:01:12 GMT -8
I hope these improvements are made soon, otherwise, this will look more like a hidden service cut with nice rebranding. Why bother with the improvements? This is the service levels Metro runs when a line is close to being canceled. Hourly headways on weekends, with a transfer to hourly buses that at least used to go to downtown L.A. This is the most backhanded improvement Metro has done this decade.
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Post by Justin Walker on Mar 7, 2010 22:43:23 GMT -8
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Post by ieko on Mar 8, 2010 0:08:01 GMT -8
That's a seriously good find! Going to read that for sure.
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Post by jejozwik on Mar 8, 2010 13:35:46 GMT -8
oh how i wish they could find a way to have the silverline stop at del mar. having to wait 2 hours because a 487 bus disappeared, while watching the silverline pass by every 15 min is massively annoying...
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Post by redwings105th on Mar 19, 2010 7:03:09 GMT -8
wouldn't it be reasonable to extend this line to san pedro? i would guess this line would be more efficient if it went all the way and it could get a better ridership. By the way, what's the ridership for the Silver Line anyways?
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Post by ieko on Mar 19, 2010 13:58:49 GMT -8
Yes, I think one of the biggest problems is that the Silver Line short-lines southbound at 7th/flower because of 445 and 450X. It causes frustration and confusion among patrons and it really needs to be fixed.
I'm not sure about the numbers, but from what I've observed it's about the same as it was before the Silver Line took over the many lines that it shortened. I think the ridership may have dipped slightly because of the forced transfers though. 344 certainly doesn't seem to do as well as 444 did.
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Post by redwings105th on Apr 19, 2010 20:17:38 GMT -8
Dispite this, do you think ridership will improve when HOV lanes bocome HOT lanes?
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Post by ieko on Apr 19, 2010 21:57:00 GMT -8
Metro has been marketing the hell out of the Silver Line. You really can't go too far without seeing an ad for the service now, which is nice I suppose.
That being said though, I really am not sure how the HOT will affect Silver Line ridership. On one hand it could lower it since now white collar workers can just pay to get to work faster, which would make the bus slower because of more users in the lanes. On the other, more people may use the service because now they can't even carpool for free.
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Post by Justin Walker on Apr 19, 2010 22:37:41 GMT -8
On the other, more people may use the service because now they can't even carpool for free. I'm not sure I understand what you mean. The carpool lanes will continue to be free for people who meet the carpool requirements (typically 2 or more passengers). Only cars with a single passenger would have to pay to use the HOT lanes.
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Post by ieko on Apr 20, 2010 0:27:05 GMT -8
I thought they were going to bump it to 3 for carpool? I guess I'll have to look when I get the chance.
I think Metro had plans to require transponders for carpooling as well?
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Post by Justin Walker on Apr 20, 2010 10:17:03 GMT -8
I thought they were going to bump it to 3 for carpool? I guess I'll have to look when I get the chance. I think Metro had plans to require transponders for carpooling as well? Yup. All users (single or carpool) will be required to have transponders to use the Harbor Transitway or El Monte Busway. But the carpool requirement will remain the same on both roadways, which is currently: Harbor Transitway: 2+ (all times) El Monte Busway: 3+ (weekdays 5-9am, 4-7pm) El Monte Busway: 2+ (all other times) All the details on how the transponders will work were explained at the recent DEIR/EA meetings and also in this Metro report.
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Post by jamesinclair on Jun 4, 2010 20:08:28 GMT -8
Any news on this? Especially the frequency bit. Phase Two (scheduled for June 2010 completion) * Additional service enhancements on the Harbor Transitway, including service frequencies. * Improved Artesia Transit Center Security. Installation of bike lockers; repurpose existing building as a Sheriff substation. * Harbor Transitway Park & Ride and transit station improvements. Enhance signage, lighting and security at Park & Ride lots. Install CCTV at Harbor Transitway stations. From: www.metro.net/projects/silverline/
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Jun 5, 2010 7:25:55 GMT -8
I hope so...because the frequencies between Downtown and Artesia Transit Center on Sundays are absolutely horrible. 1 bus every hour?
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Post by ieko on Jun 5, 2010 12:24:04 GMT -8
I'm not certain, but I think this is tied in with the HOT lane project. The HOT project was delayed for 19(?) months so perhaps this has been too.
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Post by jejozwik on Jun 7, 2010 11:35:00 GMT -8
It just seems this would be easily convertible to light-rail once the regional connector gets put it. god i hope not... blowing past the entire western san gabriel valley would be a monumental disaster... not to mention freeway running...
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Post by redwings105th on Jun 7, 2010 17:38:40 GMT -8
I read somewhere (sorry can't remember) that Metro is going to renovate Wilmington/Rosa Park Station and in the renovation sound walls (or sound glass) is going to be included for the Green Line platfrorm. If this was succesful in improving ridership, they were going to do the same in all freeway level stations. Maybe this will include the Silver Line's stations? Also, wasn't the Harbor Transitway built the way it is today so in the future it could've easily converted to rail?
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Post by bluelineshawn on Jun 7, 2010 17:54:50 GMT -8
I read somewhere (sorry can't remember) that Metro is going to renovate Wilmington/Rosa Park Station and in the renovation sound walls (or sound glass) is going to be included for the Green Line platfrorm. If this was succesful in improving ridership, they were going to do the same in all freeway level stations. Maybe this will include the Silver Line's stations? Also, wasn't the Harbor Transitway built the way it is today so in the future it could've easily converted to rail? link
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Post by redwings105th on Jun 7, 2010 20:46:52 GMT -8
Thanks for the link bluelineshaw. That's what I exactly read. lol
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Post by jamesinclair on Aug 27, 2010 22:38:56 GMT -8
Any news on this? Especially the frequency bit. Phase Two (scheduled for June 2010 completion) * Additional service enhancements on the Harbor Transitway, including service frequencies. * Improved Artesia Transit Center Security. Installation of bike lockers; repurpose existing building as a Sheriff substation. * Harbor Transitway Park & Ride and transit station improvements. Enhance signage, lighting and security at Park & Ride lots. Install CCTV at Harbor Transitway stations. From: www.metro.net/projects/silverline/I asked this in June. Here is my answer Major delays! It used to say phase 2 in june and phase 3 by December 2010. Now, the mention of better frequencies is gone, then they took part of phase 2 and made it phase 3 and on top of that, they took phase 3, renamed it phase 4, and delayed it a full year. ---- Phase Two (scheduled for December 2010 completion) * Improved Artesia Transit Center Security. Installation of bike lockers; repurpose existing building as a Sheriff substation. * Harbor Transitway Park & Ride and transit station improvements. Enhance signage, lighting and security at Park & Ride lots. Install CCTV at Harbor Transitway stations. * Enhance rider access. Metro Silver Line will connect to Union Station’s Patsaouras Transit Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles via an island stop on the El Monte Busway. This provides riders direct access to Metro’s region-wide bus and rail network, as well as Metrolink and Amtrak. Phase Three (scheduled for March 2011 completion) * Transit signal priority in Los Angeles. Metro Silver Line will have partial bus signal priority in Downtown Los Angeles. Phase Four (scheduled for December 2011 completion) * El Monte Station Expansion. Build additional parking and installation of bike lockers. * Utilize fuel-efficient, environmentally-safe equipment. Metro has ordered 41 CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) – powered 45-foot buses for the Silver Line. The new technologically-advanced buses are being built by North American Bus Industries at the company’s facility in Anniston, Alabama. * Additional service enhancements on the Harbor Transitway and El Monte Busway, including service frequencies. www.metro.net/projects/silverline/
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Post by metrocenter on Sept 16, 2010 14:51:45 GMT -8
Two updates on the El Monte Busway. First, the El Monte Station is going to be rebuilt. In anticipation of this, Metro has just opened a temporary bus station nearby until the new building is completed. Full story here. Second, Metro has come out with a sweet-looking rendering of the new Silver Line station at Union Station. Looks like it extends east from the rail platforms and stretches across Vignes Street. Full story here.
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Post by jeisenbe on May 3, 2011 22:07:44 GMT -8
Metro's proposed budget will include increased service on the underutilized Harbor Transitway portion of the Silver Line (which currently only gets a bus every 30 minutes during much of the day): thesource.metro.net/2011/05/03/metro-to-hold-public-hearing-on-may-18-on-proposed-fy-2011-12-budget/#more-22668I noticed that the Green Line is promoting the connection to the Silver Line as being a fast way to get downtown for people coming from the west, compared to going all the way over to the Blue Line to transfer. This is true, but only if the bus comes frequently enough. Increasing Silver Line service on the Harbor Transitway to match the Green Line during the day would be a great way to improve transit service from the South Bay and South LA, at a low cost.
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Post by jeisenbe on May 3, 2011 22:18:44 GMT -8
Looking at the timetable, the Silver Line runs 30 minute headways (south of Downtown - the route to El Monte is always every 15 minutes or better) from 8:30 to 3:20, about 7 hours. The route takes 25 to 30 minutes each way, so it would take 2 additional buses to double service during those times. At Metro's cost of about $100 per hour for bus costs, this would cost about $1,500 per week day, or less than $400,000 per year.
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