MetroRiderLA

… do the transit mash.

MetroRiderLA linked to Better Trolley, a tres cool web site with an interactive flash map of the San Diego Trolley system, and was especially impressed by the pinpointed stations linked to an interactive map. Upon further research, we discovered similar features for other big-city transit systems.

Google Maps Mania, a blog that tracks mash-ups using Google Maps, has a list of interesting transit mash-up maps around the world.

There’s no such service available for Southern California, yet. Although, Google Transit has rudimentary trip planners for Burbank Bus and Orange County Transportation Authority services.

Some items from our neighbors to the south.

The North County Times wrote on the major transit improvements expected to be completed this year. In November, the toll/transit/carpool lanes in the 15 freeway will be completed. After that, North County Transit District plans on opening the Sprinter between Oceanside and Escondido.

Even sooner, San Diego County is getting its own 511 system. The Bay Area has it already. This utilizes modern communications and technology to deliver both road and transit information, through telephone by dialing 511 and through maps and information online.

Another cool online resource — and I thank Fredcamino for forwarding this to me — is Better Trolley. A rider of the San Diego Trolley created helpful maps and information for new and existing riders. It’s a very good resource for a very good rail system.

The Orange County Transportation Authority has something useful for customers. Destination Deals shows a list of stores throughout the county that have partnered with OCTA for discounts. It can be sorted by location and business type. Alas, unlike MetroRiderLA’s Yelpcasts, no bus or train information is provided to the establishments.

A guide can be mailed as well.

In other news, OCTA’s meeting agenda for January 8 is pondering doubling the OC Express bus fares to $2.50 from its present $1.25 promotional fare, with monthly passes for $86. The changes would take effect January 22. This affects lines 757 (Santa Ana-Pomona) and 758 (Irvine-Chino).

Lydia Kennard
Credit: Los Angeles World Airports

Lydia Kennard, who has headed Los Angeles World Airports on two occasions, left the agency that oversees Los Angeles International Airport and two other facilities.

Kennard was praised for her leadership by the Los Angeles Times and the Daily News. She made enemies with the transit community when she publicly opposed an extension of the Green Line. She says an extension would cost about $1 billion and it would be a waste of money. Many, including Exurban Nation blogger and now-MetroRiderLA lurker Robert Coté, believe that the extension is a no-go because LAX wants to protect its parking, shuttle and taxi racket … err … revenues.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl are trying to extend the Green Line, perhaps to the airport, or maybe even beyond — such as a long-talked-about extension up Lincoln Boulevard to Santa Monica.

It all remains to be seen whether any progress is going to be made with Kennard gone.

… parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme?

Metro’s new rapid transit map has made the following changes: the biggest one being the formal rechristening of the Koreatown branch of the subway to the Purple Line; denoting busway services with dashed lines; and the addition of Los Angeles’ two older busways: El Monte and Harbor Transitway.
The Harbor Transitway actually ends at Adams Boulevard, and buses become locals into downtown Los Angeles (or West Hollywood in the case of Line 550).

Metro does not let anyone forget that it runs America’s No. 1 transit system. Meanwhile, riders feel the service is No. 2.

In terms of bus fleet size, though, Metro has the third largest, according to an annual fact sheet by trade publication Metro Magazine. As of its September/October 2006 issue (meaning that the data is at least a month older than that), Metro’s fleet is 2,688 buses. New York City has the largest, naturally, at 4,520. Second largest is New Jersey Transit, with 3,008 buses in a service area spanning four states.

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