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There are 5 Responses to “Upcoming fall subway extension meetings”:

1. It’s nice to see that the plans are coming along for the Westside, but I noticed a GLARING omission: there is no proposal for a subway under Vermont Avenue South of Wilshire Boulevard. I was in Los Angeles for Labor Day weekend, and had some time to look at the 204/754 combo on Vermont Avenue on a Saturday-the buses were going past Vermont SB packed to the gills. If this is a normal occurence, then it may be well past the time to think,and start to plan for a Vermont Avenue subway line, which may be operated either as a north=south line from North Hollywood, or something originating from one of the West Side alternate routes for the Purple line. If you want more commentary from me on this, e-mail me at

   Comment by Michael T, Greene on October 19th, 2009 at 8:27 am »Reply«
   
   

2. How about a subway on Broadway? I think the heavy traffic is proof enough that the corridor would be a success.

   Comment by William R. Cousert on October 19th, 2009 at 9:21 am »Reply«
   
   

3. Michael, you are right about the Vermont subway. Unfortunately, the wealthier African Americans in the Crenshaw corridor have pressured the politicians to move their light rail line up Crenshaw Blvd. as a top priority at the expense of the Vermont subway. Vermont is the second highest bus ridership corridor after Wilshire with Western the next major street to the West being the third busiest corridor.

   On the Westside subway, I noticed on Metro’s site for MOS #3, they did not list Barrington as a possible station and instead just had the VA Hospital. I hope they did not already make a decision to go with the VA at the expense of Barrington. This is a huge mistake as the VA has little built in ridership (the hospital would provide a few riders I suppose). Barrington would serve the dense neighborhood of office towers and apartment buildings while still being close enough to the VA to walk there in about 10 minutes or less. If the station is at the VA, you are missing out on all of the population of that neighborhood, although I suppose a few people at its Eastern edge would walk to the VA station.

   Comment by Matt on October 19th, 2009 at 1:51 pm »Reply«
   
   

4. Matt: The VA location is ideal because the land is available and there will be plenty of parking. This is important because MOS#3 will be the western terminus of subway for a LONG time (MOS#4 is the West Hollywood leg). Basically, Metro is (correctly) predicting that people from Santa Monica and large swath of LA west of 405 will use the park & ride lot at VA hospital station.

   When MOS#5 is completed, there will be a station between Bundy and Barrington, which will take care of the need of the Brentwood adjacent (aka “condo hell”) neighborhood. And even after MOS#5 opens, parking demand will still be significant as people will probably drive in from the Valley and park at the VA. Basically, Metro looked at how people will get to the subway station near the 405 and concluded that they will drive… which is not that surprising.

   Comment by bzcat on October 20th, 2009 at 9:45 am »Reply«
   
   

5. bzcat,

   VA parking may be nice, but there are a few problems. One, this is VA land, not MTA land. The VA must have land uses that serve veterans, which a parking lot for a subway station does not. There is a possibility of using the corner at the SE intersection of Federal and Wilshire, which does not have this deed restriction.

   The other big problem is that Wilshire is completely jammed in this area, especially when you get close to the 405 and the VA. Not saying it is the wrong choice, but it isn’t so simple. Even if there is parking here, I’m sure it will not be free as the VA would have to be paid along with any type of structure.

   If it is the VA, I would say that the SE corner would be ideal with a multi-portal entrance across federal so the neighborhood and high rises on Wilshire can be served effectively as well.

   Comment by Matt on October 20th, 2009 at 4:38 pm »Reply«
   
   

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