MetroRiderLA

Metro slowly inches forward in providing its customers with essential transit information.  At Union Station, the fancy new Transit Passenger Information System (TPIS) displays have been updated at long last to include a tiny bit more transit passenger information.  The displays now show a message specifying which train on the platform will be departing next.  This information has the potential to help the somewhat minor passenger conundrum of trying to guess which train to get on if there are two trains waiting on the platform.  Unfortunately this information is only of use to those who are not traveling beyond Wilshire/Vermont as the displays do not inform passengers of whether the next departing train is a Red Line train or a Purple Line train.  As you can see in the photograph, the signage still implies the the train is headed to both North Hollywood and Wilshire/Western, and in fact in my mind the visual hierarchy implies that North Hollywood and Wilshire Western are the next upcoming station stops.  Criticisms aside, it’s nice to see Metro attempting to do a little bit more with these pricey displays, it may seem like a tiny step forward now, but it’s a step forward nonetheless.

Image courtesy of igetrad.

• Metro wins at the Rail Rodeo, a competition to see which agency is  the best at rail maintenance, for the second year in a row. America’s Best!
• Wendy Greuel talks about the staggering costs of traffic congestion in Los Angeles.
• The United States gets a D+ in transit infrastructure which generally means people are stuck in their pricey gas-guzzling cars or on over-crowded buses.  Land of the free!
• Marketplace takes a look at the ridership/infrastructure gap. It seems the idea that transit is just for poor people doesn’t bode well in a era where everyone is poor because of pricey gasoline.
• Congestion pricing works! For the wealthy, L.A.’s freeways are suddenly fun to drive on again.
• Los Angeles used to be a two funicular town.  How the mighty have fallen.
• Santa Clarita Transit to add GPS tracking information at 35 busy bus stops.

Image courtesy of puck90.

• Pricey gas could lead to a better tomorrow.
• Air travel is no longer the default when it comes to long distance travel.
• The Los Angeles Metro Mole returns with more tales from the sordid side of the transit oriented lifestyle.
• As transit use sky rockets, so do transit costs, leading to higher fares and reduced service.

• The high price of gas has to be the fault of some greedy corporation or overzealous government, right?
• The United States is stuck in oil based stasis as the rest of the world moves on.
• Transit agencies face increased ridership and increased fuel costs.
• Planners transforming Sepulveda and Lincoln Boulevard in Westchester into pedestrian friendly thoroughfares.
• Starting in July, it may be a lot easier to catch a cab in Downtown and Hollywood.
• Questioning the solvency of the Gold Line in spite of increased ridership.

Image courtesy of igetrad.

• Los Angeles has a small carbon footprint compared to other American cities… with some caveats.
• Another day, another story about Americans trading in their car keys for bus passes because of rising gas prices.
• It’s not over until it’s under… City Beat looks at the Expo Line’s arduous battle.
• Libertarian think tank wants an end to long range transportation planning because it creates congestion.
• Airports across the country are creating rail links to ease mobility woes.
• ABC7 looks at a local phenomenon with national implications, Angelenos giving up their cars for mass transit.

• A Damien Goodmon video from earlier this year surfaces.  Comments ensue.
• Megabus bids adieu to the West Coast.  We hardly knew ye.
• Don’t worry drivers, money spent on gasoline is just 17% of the total cost of car ownership.
• Republicans don’t realize that money spent on gasoline is just 17% of the total cost of car ownership.
• Even though the cost of gas is only 17% of the total cost of car ownership, the price increase is leading more people to the Gold Line.  If these people choose to dump their cars altogether they could get back the other 83%.