Post by jdrcrasher on Jun 14, 2010 7:12:37 GMT -8
As most of you probably know, this was originally planned as a Red Line Extension to Whittier. It would've continued south from Union Station, then east through Boyle Heights and East LA, and on to Whittier. Unfortunately, with a lack of funding, along with the idiocy of Zev Yaroslovsky, this line was killed.
Instead, the Gold Line was extended, and Phase II of that line has 2 alternatives:
SR-60 alignment, which would go along the south side of the 60 freeway to South El Monte.
&
Washington Blvd alignment, which would go down Garfield and East on Washington Blvd to Whittier.
Quite frankly, both are crap and the traditional "no-build" third alternative should be chosen (although if I had to choose between the two, I would pick the first - but that's another discussion).
But.....after viewing Damien Goodmon's Get LA Moving map, I realized that there's still theoretically chance for a subway to Whittier. This time, the subway would be an extension of the Purple Line from the 7th Metro Station downtown. It could dive down through the Historic District and northern Santee Alley, with a station on Olympic Blvd, then immediately head East onto 6th st (which becomes Whittier Blvd), and on to Whittier, probably to Sante Fe Avenue (although Whittier Quad would be even better).
In the broader picture, if this line is built along with the extension west to Santa Monica, also known as the mayor's "Subway to the Sea", the opportunity is ultimately opened for a 30 mile subway from Whittier to Santa Monica. At 70 mph, a commute would be made in 30 minutes, when stops are included.
And not only would this gain EXTREMELY high ridership, it would be MUCH faster than using the Gold and Expo Lines via the Regional Connector at 55 mph (and 30 mph through the at-grade portions).
This might very well be the most-used HRT line between Hong Kong and Chicago (and potentially.....), and hopefully it gets built.
Instead, the Gold Line was extended, and Phase II of that line has 2 alternatives:
SR-60 alignment, which would go along the south side of the 60 freeway to South El Monte.
&
Washington Blvd alignment, which would go down Garfield and East on Washington Blvd to Whittier.
Quite frankly, both are crap and the traditional "no-build" third alternative should be chosen (although if I had to choose between the two, I would pick the first - but that's another discussion).
But.....after viewing Damien Goodmon's Get LA Moving map, I realized that there's still theoretically chance for a subway to Whittier. This time, the subway would be an extension of the Purple Line from the 7th Metro Station downtown. It could dive down through the Historic District and northern Santee Alley, with a station on Olympic Blvd, then immediately head East onto 6th st (which becomes Whittier Blvd), and on to Whittier, probably to Sante Fe Avenue (although Whittier Quad would be even better).
In the broader picture, if this line is built along with the extension west to Santa Monica, also known as the mayor's "Subway to the Sea", the opportunity is ultimately opened for a 30 mile subway from Whittier to Santa Monica. At 70 mph, a commute would be made in 30 minutes, when stops are included.
And not only would this gain EXTREMELY high ridership, it would be MUCH faster than using the Gold and Expo Lines via the Regional Connector at 55 mph (and 30 mph through the at-grade portions).
This might very well be the most-used HRT line between Hong Kong and Chicago (and potentially.....), and hopefully it gets built.