Halfway Through Pilot Phase, Central City East DASH Lacking Riders
Ed Fuentes
City officials and area stakeholders were on hand to kick off the new Central City East DASH service on September 4.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Service on the Central City East DASH kicked off in September, with officials touting the route as filling a hole on Downtown's east side. The six-month pilot program was made possible when a bus was freed up by the elimination of the City Hall Shuttle.
Three months later, ridership has yet to materialize. The route is currently averaging only six passengers per hour. Boosters are hoping that increased awareness of what's along the route will bring more riders in the new year.
System-wide, DASH averaged 47 riders per revenue hour in 2006. Downtown routes averaged 40 - 50 riders per revenue hour, with the highly under-performing DASH C drawing just 21.
The Central City East Association has put together a map that shows destinations along the 2.2 mile Central City East route. It's available as a PDF on the organization's website and highlights nearly fifty amenities on or adjacent to the line.
The report that created the new service asked LADOT to report back to Council on its performance after 180 days, roughly the beginning of March.
Jason Li on December 18, 2008, at 02:00PM – #1
I ride this line about 2-3 times a week. One problem I see is that it doesn't always run consistently. Sometimes it comes early, sometimes late, and on a few occasions not at all, having to wait for the next one after 20 minutes. As a result, I usually walk if it doesn't come within 5-10 minutes of its schedule.
Bert Green on December 18, 2008, at 02:13PM – #2
I think part of the problem might be the route. I'd prefer to see it serve the Red Line one one end and maybe travel 5th & 6th streets all the way east to Santa Fe or Alameda (perhaps as far as Barker Block or Toy Factory). That way it would serve everybody on that area and provide a critical link to the train.
Jerard on December 18, 2008, at 02:47PM – #3
Exactly Bert, The problem with the route is that there is no anchot to feed off of, a key piece needed for a pilot line to thrive. It does well to circulate passengers in the immediate area but it does nothing to connect to the main backbone of the system, Metro Rail.
Pershing Square a key station that would use this service doesn't have a stop at the 4th/Hill entrance. Also if there is a way to bite the bullet and spend $$$ for one extra bus that would mean the route would serve American Apparel, that would mean at the very least a high density of ridership during the workshift changes, even an extra sponsor to fund this route.
Lauren on December 18, 2008, at 06:00PM – #4
I live right near this line and have never taken it. It runs very infrequently (every 20 minutes), and I can walk to the opposite corner of the line before I would make it there by taking the bus. I agree that there should be a DASH line to fill holes in central city east, but this line does not meet that goal. The route should be longer and the buses more frequent for it to become a viable option. Extending it further south would be a great option.
As a note: I ride other DASH lines daily and have a monthly pass. Were the new route a more useful one, then I would take it regularly, too.
aldo on December 18, 2008, at 06:09PM – #5
I have to agree with Lauren. I'm looking at the map now and it only covers 5 blocks from seventh to second street? You could pretty much walk that in 10-15 minutes.
The Dash A line also covers anyone who would want to get to the northern/little tokyo part of this line from downtown, which is probably where most would be going. And the Dash D line also runs parallel just one street over going north from 7th?? Very weird route.
Don Garza on December 18, 2008, at 06:28PM – #6
From it's very inception the central City east dash was meant for failure. All Dash buses running downtown run very frequently because they are a part of the Downtown DASH service. The Central City East DASH was made as a community DASH system run of every 25 minutes. Even I have to time it right or I have to walk to 3rd street or have to walk where I am going.
The Problem is as everyone says : the connections should extend to Broadway. IF it did so many workers would ride it instead of wait for the MTA Bus on 7th Street. The Central City East DASH bus was meant to fail. I guarantee that after the 6 months it will be taken off of that route and put into service into the late night services to the LA LIVE area.
I have been a part of the political system for 10 years in Los Angeles and I understand this issue. There were many people at LADOT that did not want Central City East to be a part of the DASH System that included skid row and they are still there.
Why can't we have a better connection on the south side of downtown for the Central City East DASH? We all know the reasons. The reason is for it to fail.
General Jeff on December 18, 2008, at 07:19PM – #7
This route would only make sense if it were to continue traveling west on 7th to the 7th and Metro Center, a direct connection to both the Red and Blue lines. Then, come back down 7th to Main, head north and resume it's regular route.
Not only would ridership instantly increase, but the new extension would also ease congestion on regular Metro buses as well as other Dash routes.
I'd like to know who is the "genious" that decided, "let's create a new dash route that goes from Skid Row all the way to Central City East, and back".
Don Garza on December 19, 2008, at 03:32AM – #8
The route was made by LADOT and JAn Perry's office and the MAyor's office along with the Midnight Mission , LAMP , and Union Rescue Mission who were allowed to attend meetings with LADOT and none of the actual residents were allowed to attend those meetings.
We made suggestions at the meetings held at the James Woods Community Center only after the routes were decided at LADOT meetings that did not notice those of us who live in skid row as actual residents.
Of course I asked for a Skid Row Dash and of course this is what we got... SO if you are referring to a certain genius, thanks a lot.
It is going to take convincing LADOT and Jan Perry's office to make a better route by the community. OH YEAH!!! Since when do they listen to the actual residents and low income employees that are in Downtown Los Angeles....
Like I said .. LA DOT came up with this route themselves with the help of those I mentioned above. It was presented to the community at the James Woods Community Center as these are the two routes and this is what you get , either or and not any of the input from the actual residents of skid row was even put into the making of the route....
Randall BusTard on December 22, 2008, at 01:25AM – #9
I feel that it should be noted that the well-paid civil servants that floated the line for so many years did so without paying a fare, when the DASH under review ran the City Hall route and did so for free. (No other DASH does this, I might add.) Now, said DASH goes through an two distinctly different areas, both of which can be easily walked and which are peopled by denizens that rarely wander into each others' areas. Also of note is that the new DASH line charges a fare for those who might use it—despite its frustratingly infrequent schedule.
qathryn on December 22, 2008, at 02:34PM – #10
Since the route is a loop and has only one bus the 20 minutes between buses is long. Be great to add one block west and one block on the east to really connect the Districts, but that would add another 10 minutes to the route time. The bus only makes right hand turns for economic reasons and schedule timing.
Please download the Destination Map (follow link in this main story) and give it a try. This route has been long fought for and inprovemnets are hopefully possible rather than letting the route disappear for good.
Bert Green on December 23, 2008, at 12:39PM – #11
The route is too convoluted, and makes too many turns. I think it can be extended both east and west but then not go as far north as 2nd street or as far south as 7th. It could meet up with the A at Sci Arc and with the D at Spring/Main, and still run close to the current schedule. That would allow it to serve Skid Row, the Arts District, and Historic Core, connecting to the Red Line.
I don't want us to lose it either, but we will if it runs a route that nobody rides. The frequency is less of the problem, its the route.