Dodgers Emphatic on Government's Role to Fund Public Transportation
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
Cars enter Dodger Stadium through the Academy Dr. gate in this file photo from May, 2007.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — At the City Council's Transportation committee today, a representative from the Dodgers was clear on the organizations view that public transportation to the stadium should be paid for by government and not by the team.
A task force comprised of two council offices, the city's Department of Transportation and Metro have been working on the problem of transit to the stadium since a motion by Concilman Jose Huizar in February. Recently they came back with a proposal that would have the city paying the $70,000 tab for service the remainder of the year.
Today's committee meeting was a small one, with only Councilwoman Wendy Greuel and Councilman Bill Rosendahl present. It was Rosendahl who was particularly upset at the prospect of city-funded service. "I love the Dodgers," he said. "I want them to have a shuttle, and I want them to pay for it." After listening to public comments, both in support and with concerns, he again expressed his feeling that the team should pay the bill for the service. "I just think it's a cheap shot that a firm as successful as that doesn't come up with the funds."
Rosendahl even attempted a compromise, offering to the Dodgers representative the idea of splitting the cost. The answer left no room for uncertainty. "We're not willing to do that, Mr. Rosendahl."
The item goes to the full Council on Friday.
Bert Green on June 25, 2008, at 07:07PM – #1
I agree with the Dodgers that public transportation should be paid for by government. But that Dodger shuttle is NOT public transportation. It serves a single business entity, on a part time basis, when there are games. That's hardly public.
If a light rail station were built adjacent to the ballpark, would it make sense to run trains 24 hours a day, all year round, even when the park was empty? Didn't think so.
Chavez Ravine Was Enough on June 25, 2008, at 07:55PM – #2
McCourt's star on the Walk of Fame probably cost him more than this shuttle would.
iluvhatemail on June 25, 2008, at 08:52PM – #3
it's so obvious that the Dodgers should have to pay for this. I just hope all of our leaders see it that way too. As a Anti-baseball fan, I have no interest in this "public" route.
Bob on June 26, 2008, at 07:34AM – #4
OK - Let the city pay for it by having a dollar transportation tax placed on every ticket sold. This would be used for shuttle service, road repair, and public safety.
Joshman on June 26, 2008, at 09:30AM – #5
I love the Dodgers, but let's not forget that McCourt was only able to purchase the team because he leveraged a huge parking lot in Downtown Boston that he inherited from his dad. He is a parking lot guy.
Russell Brown on June 26, 2008, at 04:03PM – #6
Why not just repeat the Hollywood Bowl park and ride model. 13 different neighborhood options. Go to the Hollywood Bowl web site and you see all the choices. When I recently purchased tickets via the web site for both the Hollywood Bowl and Staples Center, parking options and pre-purchase info is available. Add in a Chinatown Gold line shuttle and a Union Station station shuttle and you have some real options. Better yet get Phase 1 of the Streetcar from the Music Center, via Historic Core Broadway and Hill Street to South Park/ LA Live/ Convention Center built. Then add another route that goes from Union Station/ El Pueblo to Chinatown to Echo Park entrance to Silverlake and East Hollywood at Vermont RedLine Station. From Hollywood Bowl website, Park and Ride choices include: Lot 1 Sherman Oaks (Line 651) Lot 2 Westwood (Line 652) Lot 3 Chatsworth (Line 653) Lot 4 Westchester (Line 654) Lot 5 Pasadena (Line 655) Lot 6 El Monte (Line 656) Lot 7 Torrance (Line 657) Lot 8 Santa Monica (Line 658) Lot 9 East L.A. (Line 659) Lot 10 Lakewood (Line 660) Lot 11 Downey (Line 661) Lot 12 Culver City (Line 662) Lot 13 Arcadia (Line 663) Lot 14 Rowland Heights (Line 665) The following information pertains to events for the regular Hollywood Bowl season. View Park and Ride information for Lease Events. (What's a lease event?) Buy your Park & Ride tickets online at Ticketmaster or for more information, please call 323.850.2000. Tickets are only $5 roundtrip (exact change on site).
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on June 26, 2008, at 05:07PM – #7
In the meeting yesterday it was mentioned that the Hollywood Bowl shuttle system is subsidized roughly $6 to $7 per rider. If nobody wants to put up $70,000, who's going to pay for that?
Russell Brown on June 26, 2008, at 07:24PM – #8
We actually subsidize single family cars and roads to a great extent.
What is wrong with making mass transit be the priority? Imagine the Grove, 3rd Street Promenade or even Disneyland if the only way to get around was cars on the streets competing with pedestrians.
Yet we live in our neighborhoods and downtowns with that same constant priority to cars.
It's Their Arrogance on June 26, 2008, at 09:03PM – #9
The problem is it worked so well in the past, let's repeat the experiment at the expense of the City of Los Angeles, not MTA while racking up some free publicity through a public display of arrogance that gets headlines and people talking:
MTA 2003:
http://www.metro.net/news_info/archives/2003/03_March/mta_041.htm
MTA 2004:
http://www.metro.net/news_info/archives/2004/03_march/mta_058.htm
Scott Mercer on June 26, 2008, at 09:05PM – #10
The Hollywood Bowl shuttle system is a CRAPPY model or example for this type of thing. We have a subway passing RIGHT BY the Hollywood Bowl, and yet, we didn't even build a station there. And that could have been done with public money, since the Hollywood Bowl is owned by the public (I think the County of LA?)
Another wasted opportunity.
Purple Haze on June 27, 2008, at 12:28AM – #11
The Bowl gets used three months out of the year. Of course, Hollywood & Highland/Hollywood Boulevard don't get used at all! Such a waste of taxpayer funds.
I mean really, they ought to have routed the subway from Union Station to Dodger Stadium to the Greek Theater to The Bowl to Universal Ampitheater and then to the Inglewood Forum and LAX and then an express route to Staples and right on back to Union Station. All aboard!
Subways should be built expressly for entertainment and getting to LAX. That's it. We gotta put the Limo industry out of business.
Ginny-Marie Case on June 27, 2008, at 10:27AM – #12
As a season ticket holder who's now too pregnant to walk up the three hills from Sunset to my seat - I welcome the potential for a shuttle. I would love to get to the game without having to stop 6 times, and making my first restroom stop once inside the gates.
And, here's the reason why the City should pay for it:
1) Get the cars off of Sunset Blvd and local Metro and DASH service will be improved on game nights. 80 nights during the season the buses sit in traffic, waiting and waiting to get past Elysian in order to get to Hollywood. Why should people who are just trying to get home from work be penalized for getting caught in the pickle of traffic?
2) Had the City and Metro had the foresight the craziness that ensued at the Red Sox/Dodgers game as the coliseum probably wouldn't have happened. The Dodgers are good at baseball - not transit engineering! But, godblessem for trying.
3) Baseball fans (Pointing finger at myself) who regularly attend the games will not pay $15 to park in the lot. We have paid once to park in the lot, and that was because I was in heels. And, I've talked about how much I hate walking around in Los Angeles in heels. We park in the residential areas around the stadium, which makes us no friends, particularly on garbage night.
If you don't ever go to a game, I'm sure that you would appreciate getting the baseball fans off the residential streets, taking up residential parking, and hooting and hollering when the game is out. Put us on a bus and let us take our noisy selves back to Union Station.
There's a significant City benefit for the City to pay for this. 56,000 people will make the trek to the stadium tonight - for just ONE GAME, and there are 80 home games in a season.
The Greek holds about 6,000. The Hollywood Bowl: a little over 17,000. Your Lakers/Clippers: not quite 19,000.
We just have to think outside of the 9 innings of baseball that this beloved and beautiful game impacts.
And, with that...
Angels Suck.
Ginny on June 30, 2008, at 03:05PM – #13
Yeah! I heard this passed! I can go to the games again!!!
Mark my words today...I'll go into labor during some 7th inning stretch.