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ChineseRide report: Metro Rapid 741
Decisions, decisions.
The December 2006 shake-up has seen Metro’s largest expansion of limited-stop service in 12 years. This expansion includes a brand-spanking-new Rapid line for Reseda Boulevard, Line 741.
The San Fernando Valley’s incessant whining for improving transit service out of proportion to actual ridership has again paid off.
And in the case of Reseda Rapid, quite handsomely.
Line 741 did it right on its first day. The 1:26 p.m. northbound NABI #7127 arrived at Ventura Boulevard on time. Line 741 is starting a new tradition with regards to bus stop signage, one that should continue. Instead of the red teardrop or the “new style” sign with the giant M logo, Metro has gone back to the 1981 standard sign with large route number and destination, accented by a small red Rapid ribbon.
In contrast to the Valley’s other new Rapid service this year, Line 734, riders took to this service immediately. On this trip, 27 passengers boarded. For a line that takes 30 minutes end-to-end, the service has a robust productivity of 54 passengers per hour. Plus, the transponders controlled the traffic lights favorably for the bus. The longest waits were at the Orange Line and at the north end turnaround.
Boarding was pretty much even, with an average of 4-5 passengers boarding at every stop. Reseda also has the distinction of being one of a few north-south Valley arterials with relatively frequent bus service, and it is the last street in the West Valley where north-south service is in the 30-60 minute range. Strategically, Reseda is a wise choice for a Rapid service.
The street itself is an interesting mixture. The intersections with Rapid stops have strip malls or gas stations, but between stops are large apartment complexes or office buildings. Reseda also has brief stretches of “main street” storefronts, where the front doors meet the sidewalks and most of the parking is on the street. Reseda is also an eclectic mix of ethnic businesses, catering to Hispanics, Persians and Armenians, among others. Major destinations along the route include California State University Northridge (just east of Reseda between Devonshire Boulevard and Nordhoff Street), Northridge Hospital Medical Center at Roscoe Boulevard, the Orange Line station and Tarzana Medical Center near Ventura.
Line 741 made a great first impression. Bus riders can thank Valley-centric insolence. Now, if they can only kick and scream for a Sherman Way Rapid … .
Discussion
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Nice report Wad, I was waiting to see how this new service was after seeing all the new brochures. I too appreciate the signage… simple, instantly readable, and effective.
Oh and in case you were wondering, on both of your most recent articles, for the headline images, I resized them to fit a width of 400 pixels, something I’ve taken to doing in order to create a visual consistency to the main page. Hope you don’t mind.
I don’t mind. It looks great. I just don’t know how to enlarge the photos with the editor and still preserve the aspect ratio.
You can post them like you usually do, if I notice it I’ll conform it.
The “new sign tradition” is interim. The teardrop was abolished by Metro Communications Executive Officer Matt Raymond, who prematurely instituted the awful signage that appears on Rapid lines 754 (among others). That sign design has now been rejected, and the Metro Stops & Zones department, with no direction at the moment, did the 741 with a modified version of the existing signage.
Eventually there will be a new design, very close to the current one, with the addition of color-coding to tell the type of service at the stop.
Current like the 1981 sign (seen on 741) or the 2005 sign (with the big logo and the route number but no destination information)?
I like the color-coding except for the fact that colors fade fast under the sun. The strips would need to be replaced more frequently.