MetroRiderLA

Thought your favorite band was the coolest and most socially correct? Well check this out: Not only are the Secret Machines playing a show in San Diego this week to benefit the hardest hit regions in Dafur, but early next week they will be playing a show at Union Station to raise awareness of public transportation here in LA. There will also be a special DJ set by Shepard Fairley and a photography exhibit by Mark The Coberasnake featuring people riding public transportation. Here’s the catch - you can’t come by car. The 8:00pm show requires a valid incoming Metro ticket to get in. And they’ll apparently be checking to make sure you didn’t park at Union Station and buy a Red Line ticket once there. Ok, so when we said free, we really meant $1.25. But hey, a cool band in a cool building. You can’t really go wrong.
Secret Machines
Tuesday, October 24^th
7:30pm @ Union Station
Valid Metro Ticket required for admission

http://www.thetransitcoalition.us/newspdf/ttc20061017c.pdf
www.myspace.com/secretmachines

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Ahh Los Angeles… the smog-ridden cultural and transit wasteland. At least that’s what they’d like us to believe. But MetroRiders know better, and we’ve found that one of the best ways to experience the “cultural” side of Los Angeles is by never setting foot in a personal automoblie… those just lead us to parking lots and pricey valets. Why not hop on LA’s most scenic rail line, the Gold Line, and experience some of LA County’s finest art in one of its finest (and transit centered) cities: Pasadena.

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Two proposals in the November 7 elections will direct the way taxpayer money will be used for transportation in California.

Proposition 1A places new requirements on how gas tax money is to be spent and reinforces a previously passed ballot proposition with the same effect. Proposition 1B authorizes the state to float $19.5 billion in bonds for road, rail and public transit improvements.

Five other initiatives also have varying effects on transportation money and policies.

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Credit: San Fernando Valley Transit Insider

KCBS-Channel 2/KCAL-Channel 9 reported that Metro chief executive officer Roger Snoble will stay with the agency for another two years.

He stays with a salary of over $300,000, and allowances for housing and automobile. The irony of the last perk is not lost on anyone.

Is Snoble worth the money?

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The Metro [COLOR HERE] Line, better known as the one running along the Exposition Boulevard right of way, is set for a groundbreaking Friday morning, September 29, 2006 at 8:30 a.m. The site will be near Crenshaw Boulevard.

RSVP recommended but not required to Genetha Eddins at (213) 245-5506 or via e-mail at geddins@exporail.net.

Information from Friends4Expo Transit.

My favorite local NPR affiliate, KPCC, has really been on the ball lately with news regarding LA transportation. Here are links to a few current stories:

Roger Rudick
Diesel Multiple Units for LA
08/31/2006

Patt Morrison
A Streetcar Is Desired?
09/05/2006

Please take a look at Roger Rudick’s section on the KPCC site. He has a slew of interesting pieces on LA transit and the right ideas about Elhay mass trans.