MetroRiderLA

It should be of no surprise that I’m late on this, but as I’m sure many of you know, this Thursday, May 22nd, The Seaside Institute is holding a workshop called Street Smart: Streetcars and Cities in the 21st Century based on the book of the same name. The workshop will be held at The Orpheum Theater in Downtown Los Angeles.

A summary of the event from the Seaside Institute:

The spectacular success of the Portland streetcar has revolutionized the way cities think about transit and development by stimulating $3.5 billion in investment in two new neighborhoods near Portland’s downtown. The brand new Seattle streetcar is having similar success in South Lake Union. San Francisco’s F-Line streetcar has played an important role in the rebirth of the Embarcadero as a walkable, transit-oriented neighborhood since the freeway was taken down. And streetcars have promoted economic development and investment in walkable, higher-density, mixed-use neighborhoods in communities as diverse as Tampa, Little Rock, and Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Streetcars are a boon for pedestrians and streetlife, link disparate places into “someplace,” connect to regional transit systems and promote ridership, and create sustainable communities where it’s possible to live without a car. Streetcars are cheaper than other rail transit (affordable even for small cities), fit easily into built environments, they’re energy efficient, and they are strong and proven economic development engines for revitalizing neighborhoods.

Hear about the success of the most robust new streetcar systems at the last of four national workshops, hosted by the national nonprofit Reconnecting America and the Seaside Institute. Speakers from around the country will talk about the political and funding strategies that are getting new streetcar systems built, and all the benefits of these public-private partnerships.

The workshop begins at 7:30am on Thursday with a continental breakfast provided. Council members Jose Huizar and Jan Perry, along with Glenn Wasserman from the Community Redevelopment Agency, will kick things off at 8:00am. Gloria Ohland, author of the book that inspired the workshop, will then talk about why streetcars are more important now than ever. The rest of the day will consist of a number of panel discussions with business leaders, politicians, and stakeholders about the previous successes of streetcars in places like Portland and the potential for that success to be repeated in Downtown Los Angeles.

Unfortunately I’m posting this so late that online registration has closed, but apparently it’s still possible to register via fax, phone, or at the door. Residents, businesses, and property owners in the City of Los Angeles can attend the event for $25. Students get in for free. For all others, entrance to the workshop is $75. Breakfast, lunch, and reception is included in the price.

This MetroRider is likely to attend, so stay tuned for a report.

I found this LOL worthy story from the Transit Sleuth blog. The headline reads: “Car drives into MAX tunnel, disrupts service”.

It seems that even grade-separated tunnels can’t keep us safe from law-breaking automobile drivers. Apparently a Portland drunk driver took an early Sunday morning drive into a Portland MAX light rail tunnel. Our drunk friend entered the tunnel from the east entrance and, according to Fox 12 Oregon, drove for over a mile until coming to a stop 75 feet from the Washington Park MAX station. It took hours to get the car out, service was supsended, and the estimated cost of actions of this one negligent driver? $20,000.

Luckily, this was all happening in the wee hours of the morning, so no one got hurt, including the driver who would have surely, as the Transit Sleuth points out, have been a top contender for a Darwin Award had he collided with a MAX train. Of course, in that hypothetical event it’s likely the train would somehow be blamed.