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Post by bzcat on Oct 8, 2015 8:58:48 GMT -8
AB726 that will create an exemption for Metro to run buses up to 82 ft long on Orange line was signed into law by Governor Brown last week, and enacted into CA Vehicle code this week. So far, Metro has not put out any RFP for 80ft buses so not sure where this stands right now. But 80 ft buses will be a welcome addition to Orange line. legiscan.com/CA/text/AB726/2015 |
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Post by masonite on Oct 8, 2015 16:37:13 GMT -8
AB726 that will create an exemption for Metro to run buses up to 82 ft long on Orange line was signed into law by Governor Brown last week, and enacted into CA Vehicle code this week. So far, Metro has not put out any RFP for 80ft buses so not sure where this stands right now. But 80 ft buses will be a welcome addition to Orange line. legiscan.com/CA/text/AB726/2015Combine this with the approx. $300M plan to grade separate and speed up the line and you have a more efficient outlay of dollars than a light rail line. Spend the difference on getting the Red Line to the Burbank Airport and its Metrolink stations and then work with Metrolink to add service and at the same time provide more dynamic pricing so people would actually want to go from Burbank and Glendale on Metrolink to Downtown LA. This would be perfect since there will be more people from Chatsworth and Northridge and Van Nuys getting off at Burbank Airport to transfer to the Red Line. Now you have full trains and provide more transit to more places without building light rail lines all over the place. Up until now, Metrolink is designed operated to get people to Downtown LA, but LA doesn't really work like that like other Metropolitan areas, which is the main reason Metrolink struggles so much. This doesn't even consider HSR, which is coming to Burbank. Somehow there is a Burbank to LAUS light rail line in the previous long range plan in 2008-2009. I guess if we think we can afford to build light rail lines in competition to our commuter rail lines it might make sense. I don't think we can afford all these light rail lines everywhere even with a Measure R2. Operationally, it becomes a huge anchor. We'll need another Measure R just pay for the fare subsidies unless we put in $3 fares. Looks like Burbank Airport won't make Measure R2. I doubt if the Norwalk extension of the Green Line does either. Huge missed opportunities. Metrolink and other counties outside of LA should be integrated as much as possible into the local rail system not ignored. |
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Post by culvercitylocke on Oct 9, 2015 7:42:25 GMT -8
Red line to Burbank airport is a no brainer, it'd be a huge missed opportunity not to get it there with r2. Why do you say it won't happen?
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Post by masonite on Oct 9, 2015 7:52:48 GMT -8
Red line to Burbank airport is a no brainer, it'd be a huge missed opportunity not to get it there with r2. Why do you say it won't happen? It doesn't seem to be on any of the straw man lists and the Valley doesn't seem to support it. Hope I am wrong, but it seems to be going nowhere like the Green Line to Norwalk Metrolink. It is one of those projects that has strong regional appeal and value but little local support, which is a big shame. Even without the Metrolink connections I never understood why people think it is so important to connect Ontario Airport to the Gold Line, but not Burbank Airport to the Red Line. Makes no sense. |
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Post by jeisenbe on Oct 9, 2015 8:32:52 GMT -8
Burbank airport is a weak destination. It only has about 7000 to 8000 passengers a day, and few of them are coming from places located near the Red Line, or even near bus connections to the subway. The Metrolink station is also a poor destination at this time. If there were a Metrolink train every 15 minutes it might be a useful connection, but there are no concrete plans to upgrade this Metrolink route. Until that happens, there are other more valuable transit investments that should happen first.
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Post by Transit Coalition on Oct 9, 2015 8:42:07 GMT -8
Red line to Burbank airport is a no brainer, it'd be a huge missed opportunity not to get it there with r2. Why do you say it won't happen? The Red Line needs to go north on Lankershim to capture east-west Valley traffic at Victory, Sherman Way and Roscoe. That is where the greatest ride shed would originate from. The Orange Line can be routed to Bob Hope Airport, as the ridership demands are significantly lower. At this point, it doesn't even appear that Van Nuys Blvd. to Sylmar Light Rail is going to make R.2 and that is almost ready for a locally prefered alternative and a complete EIR. There has never been any study to extend the Red Line north, so it will not be a priority at this time. |
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Post by masonite on Oct 9, 2015 10:32:58 GMT -8
Burbank airport is a weak destination. It only has about 7000 to 8000 passengers a day, and few of them are coming from places located near the Red Line, or even near bus connections to the subway. The Metrolink station is also a poor destination at this time. If there were a Metrolink train every 15 minutes it might be a useful connection, but there are no concrete plans to upgrade this Metrolink route. Until that happens, there are other more valuable transit investments that should happen first. It is more like 11k plus workers. Of course this would go up by quite a bit once connected to the Metro system.. Hollywood and Downtown are a short ride away and they are the primary hotel markets in LA. Not to mention, if Crenshaw is extended to Hollywood and the Purple Line to Westwood, you suddenly have access to all that. Two Metrolink lines as well as the premier Amtrak Line in the Western U.S. plus HSR make this an obvious choice. People in the Valley must realize they must connect to destinations too to get people in the rest of the County to vote on a measure. No one outside the Valley knows any destinations on the Orange Line save for Warner Center, which is just an odd branch not even on the main part of the Line. |
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Post by culvercitylocke on Oct 9, 2015 11:43:17 GMT -8
Metrolink, airport, high speed rail, ought to qualify burbank airport as a destination. And burbank airport passengers are less significant than burbank airport workers.
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Post by jeisenbe on Oct 10, 2015 0:08:16 GMT -8
The Red Line needs to go north on Lankershim to capture east-west Valley traffic at Victory, Sherman Way and Roscoe. That is where the greatest ride shed would originate from. The Orange Line can be routed to Bob Hope Airport, as the ridership demands are significantly lower. Agreed! The road is wide enough to build it as elevated instead of subway, which would make it somewhat cost-effective. And a new Metrolink station could be added at Lankershim to get a transfer. Too bad there has been no serious study of the cost vs benefits. At this point, it doesn't even appear that Van Nuys Blvd. to Sylmar Light Rail is going to make R.2 and that is almost ready for a locally prefered alternative and a complete EIR. That's a shame. It is more important than changing the Orange Line to rail (it's not at capacity, if LADOT will allow more buses), and the Valley needs something to rally behind to help pass R2. Do you suspect that the Sepulveda pass tunnel will be included, at least? |
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Post by masonite on Oct 11, 2015 7:30:09 GMT -8
Red line to Burbank airport is a no brainer, it'd be a huge missed opportunity not to get it there with r2. Why do you say it won't happen? The Red Line needs to go north on Lankershim to capture east-west Valley traffic at Victory, Sherman Way and Roscoe. That is where the greatest ride shed would originate from. The Orange Line can be routed to Bob Hope Airport, as the ridership demands are significantly lower. At this point, it doesn't even appear that Van Nuys Blvd. to Sylmar Light Rail is going to make R.2 and that is almost ready for a locally prefered alternative and a complete EIR. There has never been any study to extend the Red Line north, so it will not be a priority at this time. An extension to Burbank Airport would likely include a station at Victory. Sherman Way just dead ends into Burbank Airport. Roscoe is way up there and would need a bigger extension than what we were talking about. |
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Post by masonite on Oct 12, 2015 15:06:02 GMT -8
The Red Line needs to go north on Lankershim to capture east-west Valley traffic at Victory, Sherman Way and Roscoe. That is where the greatest ride shed would originate from. The Orange Line can be routed to Bob Hope Airport, as the ridership demands are significantly lower. At this point, it doesn't even appear that Van Nuys Blvd. to Sylmar Light Rail is going to make R.2 and that is almost ready for a locally prefered alternative and a complete EIR. There has never been any study to extend the Red Line north, so it will not be a priority at this time. An extension to Burbank Airport would likely include a station at Victory. Sherman Way just dead ends into Burbank Airport. Roscoe is way up there and would need a bigger extension than what we were talking about. Looks like the North Hollywood to Burbank Airport shuttle is doing quite well. Even thought they don't list total ridership it seems like about 8k passengers based on their increases. Full Story |
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