MetroRiderLA

That sign at the top may become a hot seller on eBay come Monday.
Photo by Yours Truly via Flickr. See more photos like it, or contribute yours to the MetroRiderLA Flickr pool

Just as quickly as Metro Line 632 came into existence, much of it is already going away … and it has only been in service for a week.

Metro is cutting back 632 to within Los Angeles city limits effective Monday. The line will only travel from Union Station to Indiana Station. Passengers wishing to go between Indiana and Atlantic/Pomona stations must transfer to Montebello Bus Line 40.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, always the center of attention, is at the center of this press conference in November urging for the passage of Measure R. And it did. Now we live with the consequences.
Photo by Ned Racine, uploaded by Metro Library and Archive on Flickr; used with a Creative Commons license

Remember November? In an election where at least a majority turned out to vote, we not only elected Barack Obama president but also bet big for both statewide high-speed rail and major local transit.

Obama, who began January 20, is now through his honeymoon period. High-speed rail work has yet to begin, and the state is officially broke as of today, so those bonds we approved might go to the IMF structural adjustment California will get by October.

The sales tax in Los Angeles County goes up to 9.75 percent today; the added half cent is for improvements outlined in Measure R. If you care about the subway like those placard wavers in the photo — or any other project in your nabe — go forth and spend recklessly like when Bush was in office.

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.

Image by Yours Truly via Flickr
View and upload your transit photos like this one to the MetroRiderLA Flickr Pool

The biggest news of the upcoming service changes this Sunday is not on the full sheet of changes. It’s a late addition and likely will disappear in a few months.

Beginning Sunday, Metro is running Line 632, a Gold Line emulator service. It will follow the path of the Gold Line along East First and Fourth streets and stop near the rail stations. It costs $1.25 and will run weekdays only, every 10 minutes during rush hours and every 15 minutes midday.

Metro CEO Art Leahy has said the Eastside Gold Line may start running sometime before September, according to several news reports.

Photo by David A. Galvan via Flickr; used with a Creative Commons License
View and upload your transit photos like this one to the MetroRiderLA Flickr Pool

Metro is rolling out with its twice-annual shake-up Sunday and Monday for weekday-only lines.

The biggest changes include the restoration of weekend limited-stop service on San Fernando Road, as Line 794 will run from Sylmar to Downtown L.A. This will also mean the cancellation of Rapid Line 724, which ran along San Fernando Road and Lankershim Boulevard.

Another Rapid taking a big hit is Line 711 along Florence. It is losing weekend service.

The Eastside Gold Line is not running, but the bus service changes will go in place as though it is. Line 30 will no longer run along Floral Drive, and service will be reduced along East First Street. The Eastside will now get the new Line 287, which will run from the future Indiana Gold Line station and also take over service between East L.A. College and Montebello Town Center of Line 68.

The proposals to restructure El Monte Busway and Harbor Transitway service for new Line 910 have been postponed.

Following the jump is the list of all changes, as well as what had been proposed earlier this year:

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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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