MetroRiderLA

All photos for this Ride Report are available in the MetroRiderLA Flickr pool.

We like to complain, and justifyably so, at the glacial pace of making progress on public transit in L.A. It takes decades for a rail line to go from concept to completion. Even something as simple as a bus route change takes about a year of prep work before they are even implemented. Things ought to go faster.

For once, Metro did do something fast. And guess what happened? Nothing. Actually, something did happen. Nothing is a close approximation of the ridership of its seat-of-the-pants planning and operations.

L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wanted Metro to dream with him. His dream was to have the Gold Line extension up and running by the time he celebrated his second inauguration. This left Metro a window of opportunity to tie an opening in with its normal semi-annual bus service shake-ups, which was this weekend. Just one problem: the Gold Line wasn’t going to be ready — even though several lines were rerouted and had scheduled changed as though the trains were operating.

So instead, we have Line 632. Move over Orange Line, because 632 is the bus that acts like a train. Literally. This is a bus line that nudged its way in at the last minute — even bus drivers were caught by surprise, not to mention the flustered riders on East First and Third streets. So, what happens when service is implemented quick and dirty?

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Metro Expo Line construction continues on Flower Street south toward USC
Photo by Alan Weeks and uploaded by Metro Library and Archive on Flickr; used with a Creative Commons license

Remember the Open Source Transit series on bus route changes to the Eastside Gold Line posted here earlier this year? If not, take a look back as it forms the basis for the follow-up: the Expo Line Transit Service Interface Proposal.

This is a rider-generated suggestion of bus line changes to better facilitate ridership along the Expo Line and its connecting services. There are three proposals for the principal agencies: Culver CityBus, Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus and Metro.

Come back Monday, July 6, as the first of the proposals, featuring Culver CityBus, is available for your inspection. Feel free to leave comments here or the provided e-mail address on the post. Any correspondence will be sent along to the respective transit agencies for their feedback.

The tentative schedule will be Wednesday, July 8 for Big Blue Bus and Friday, July 10 for Metro changes.

The last of five Metro service sector meetings, this one for the Gateway Cities, is this afternoon. It begins 5:30 p.m. at The Gas Company Building, 9240 Firestone Bl., Downey. It is accessible by Metro Rapid line 715, Local lines 115, 127 and 266; and DowneyLink lines Northeast, Southwest and Southeast.

If you can’t go, Metro accepts comments by e-mail with “Service Changes June ‘09?” in the subject line, or via normal mail at
Metro Customer Relations
Attn: June 2009 Service Changes
One Gateway Plaza, 99-PL-4
Los Angeles, CA 90012-2932

My opinions of the changes follow the jump.

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Metro is holding its meeting tonight for Westside/Central service sector changes. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. at the La Cienega Tennis Center, 325 S. La Cienega Bl., Beverly Hills. The meeting can be reached by Metro Rapid lines 705, 720 and 728; Express line 550; Limited line 305; and Metro local lines 20, 28 and 105.

If you cannot attend the meeting, you can send Metro an e-mail or regular mail to:
Metro Customer Relations
Attn: June 2009 Service Changes
One Gateway Plaza, 99-PL-4
Los Angeles, CA 90012-2932

My positions follow the jump.

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Metro has proposed service changes to the San Gabriel Valley Service Sector, with the most important changes being a new busway-to-busway service proposal as well as reconfiguring lines to serve the Eastside Gold Line.

Metro is holding two meetings at the same time; the other is for the South Bay sector. Both meetings are at 6 tonight. The San Gabriel Valley meeting is near the El Monte Bus Station, at 3449 Santa Anita Av, 3rd Floor. Transit access includes by Metro Express lines 484, 490 and 577X, Rapid Line 770, and Local lines 70, 76, 176, 267, 268, 270 and 287; Foothill Transit Silver Streak and local lines 178, 269, 481, 482, 486, 488, 492 and 494; and El Monte Transit.

The route proposals were on MetroRiderLA recently. My opinions on the changes follow the jump.

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Metro is holding two service change meetings tonight, one for the San Gabriel Valley sector and the other for South Bay. Teleportation technology is not refined enough to attend both meetings, so attend one and for the other, give Metro the what-for by e-mail or via normal mail at
Metro Customer Relations
Attn: June 2009 Service Changes
One Gateway Plaza, 99-PL-4
Los Angeles, CA 90012-2932

Tonight’s South Bay Meeting is 6 p.m. at the Carson Community Center, 801 Carson St., Carson. It is accessible by Metro Express lines 446/447, Torrance Transit Line 3 and all Carson Circuit buses.

Follow the link above for the proposed service changes. My opinions on the route changes follow the jump.

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