Expo Line gets mixed reviews so far; Metro says issues with the new train are normal
Emily Chu
Some Downtowners say the Expo line hasn't influenced their commute much since it's opening.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The first phase of the Metro Expo Line is officially complete with the opening of the Culver City and Farmdale stops, but despite Metro's extensive marketing, the new line has been met with mixed reviews. For many travelers at Downtown's 7th Street station, their crosstown commute hasn't changed much since the Expo Line opened.
On the platform where the Blue and Expo lines stop, many passengers Blogdowntown talked to last week were taking the Blue line, and a few hadn't even heard of the Expo -- which was officially completed last week.
Ayo Idewu, a 39-year-old professional in the real estate industry, said he commutes to work on public transportation and has rode the Expo line about seven times so far. He said he's noticed inconsistencies in the Expo line's service. If he weren't taking the Expo line, he'd take the Blue line to Pico, he said.
"Parts of it are kind of slow, but it's convenient," he said.
Other riders have cited issues with the recently completed line as well. Molly Selvin, a professor at Southwestern Law School, told the Los Angeles Times,, that she waited at the La Cienega station for 45 minutes before giving up and driving in her car.
Marc Littman, spokesman for Metro, explained that all the lines-- Blue, Red, Gold, and others-- have experienced "issues that they tweak as they go along." This opening, despite any criticisms from riders, is ordinary, he said.
Littman said he did observe one difference in the Downtown station though; merging two lines at the DTLA stop "makes it a little more difficult" than opening the other lines.
Even so, Littman was confident that Culver City is a major destination that will attract enough daily boardings to meet the MTA's goal of 27,000 boardings a day. They expect to meet this goal by 2030.
"It wasn't just designed for commuters, but for a whole gamut of people," he said.
Terrell Lane, a 20-year-old DJ, is exactly the type of rider Littman described. He was waiting for the Expo line for the first time, with plans of heading to the Culver City mall with some friends. He said he hadn't heard too much about the line, from advertisements or otherwise.
Mainly, he heard vague recommendations that the Expo line is "pretty good, pretty cool, pretty neat."
As he stood on the platform, he commented that he expects to use the Expo line a lot in the future.
Littman said riders shouldn't be so quick to judge the Expo line as its only been open a short period of time.
"It's the first time we've served the Westside in more than 50 years," he said.
Idewu, the daily commuter, said he'll continue to take the Expo line but would like to see improvements to the system before he commits completely.
"If they get faster and it's 24 hours, definitely," he said.
Phase I of the project started in 2006 and was completed last week. Phase II will extend the line from Culver City to Santa Monica, and is slated to open in 2016.
DonnieK on June 25, 2012, at 09:55AM – #1
One of the reasons its so slow is that the train is not given signal priority which mean it has to wait for cars to cross the tracks. Does that make any sense to anyone? Cars should wait for trains, not the other way around. Metro should give Expo (the Gold Line Eastside extension) signal priority at all stops.
Chris Loos on June 25, 2012, at 09:56AM – #2
"Even so, Littman was confident that Culver City is a major destination that will attract enough daily boardings to meet the MTA's goal of 27,000 boardings a day. They expect to meet this goal by 2030."
Pretty sure that when Expo reaches Santa Monica in 2016, we'll blow those projections out of the water. I wouldn't be surprised if we had 50,000 daily boardings on Expo by 2020. Heck, the Blue line already has 90,000 daily boardings.
DC Spring St on June 25, 2012, at 10:28AM – #3
I never heard about the Expo line from advertisements or anything like that. The only reason I know about it is because I'm a former USC student so it was big on campus when they first started planning it.
Fabricio Vai (@dataxy) on June 25, 2012, at 10:28AM – #4
Some stops are to close together. The Expo Line is not slow.. It kind of seem slow when one goes from Pasadena to Culver City through Gold, Red and Expo Line.
24 hrs is too much to ask; but all trains until 2AM (like all big cities in the world) is not.
Jon on June 25, 2012, at 12:04PM – #5
I hope Terrell wasn't referring to the Westfield Culver City.
(Or maybe he was, and there's a bus connection b/w the mall and the Culver City stop.)
Dana Gabbard on June 25, 2012, at 12:06PM – #6
"Metro should give Expo (the Gold Line Eastside extension) signal priority at all stops."
Streets are controlled by local jurisdictons. To this day the Blue Line doesn't have priority (along Washington signals are timed to minimize waits).
The Blue Line took a while to build ridership.
And as usual the Reason Foundation bashes rail while paying lip service to Bus Rapid Transit being superiodr http://reason.com/blog/2012/06/21/la-expo-line-opens-two-more-rail-station
And it is lip service -- they have been AWOL in te battle to get the Wilshire bus lanes past political obstacles.
LAofAnaheim on June 25, 2012, at 12:23PM – #7
@Fabricio - SF and Moscow (3rd largest rail ridership in the world), trains stop at 12 am flat. Our rail lines actually go longer than most large cities outside of New York, Chicago, London or Tokyo.
@Chris Loos - 27K is projected on Phase 1 portion through 2030, 64K is projected with both Phase 1 and 2 through 2030. Litteman is talking about Phase 1 ridership in 2030.
People should be fully aware of Expo Line now. There are signs everywhere in 7th street station about Expo Line and billboards on Venice blvd. Buses have had outside advertising noting the Expo Line. Metro did extensive research; it's whether people actually decided to check out www.metro.net for more information. We cannot inform 100% of the people, some need to be more aware and learn themselves of the Metro rail system.
Fabricio Vai (@dataxy) on June 25, 2012, at 12:43PM – #8
@LAofAnaheim: It still doesn't reflect on how LA is constantly wanting to be the standard for everyone else. Trains in Europe run until at least 1:30 AM average and in all stops; specially BCN and MAD. I didn't want to compare but along with the trains they have RELIABLE buses all night also that connect trains. Basically.. you cannot be stranded. SF is a 'tiny' example.
Alan Fishel on June 26, 2012, at 06:17PM – #9
The new Expo is a great way to reach west LA or at least as far as Culver City. By serving Downtown, The Staples Center Convention Center, USC Expo Park and Museums, the Mid City area and Culver City makes for a wonderful line. The route is ideal, it is well built and attractive. It is a pleasure to ride and use. The only real problem is that it is just too darn slow. Let’s get our “Transit Mayor” to have LA DOT work with the MTA so that the Expo and Blue Lines get signal priority or at least hold the green as the train approaches. After all a train of 600 plus riders should have priority over a few cars with only 1 or 2 occupants. A train can approach and pass an intersection in about 30 seconds. This is the way to go. Also I understand why the train stops at the Farmdale Station then crosses the street at 5 mph, but why does the train have to wait for the last car to clear the street and not the first car of the train before it can speeds up? On my last trip on the line from Culver City we spent more time stopped than moving not counting stations.
Alexander Hollywood-Man on June 26, 2012, at 06:17PM – #10
@ LAofAnaheim: A small correction: Moscow metro opens at around 5:30 a.m. and closes at 1:00 a.m. (not at 12:00 Midnight as you mention)
jerry blue on June 27, 2012, at 12:25PM – #11
I've used Expoline three times. We took it to the Science Center, and downtown LA this weekend. Yes, it's slow going north towards downtown, and the trains need to be cleaner (observed lots of trash). Nonetheless, I'm excited about this transportation alternative.
DenOfLosAngeles on June 27, 2012, at 12:40PM – #12
I ride the Expo line from the 7th & Flower Metro Center station to the museums in Exposition Park. However, I have no reason to ride beyond this area.
John Ciacci on June 27, 2012, at 07:20PM – #13
@LAofAnaheim & @Fabricio Vai » SF is NOT the 3rd largest rail ridership in the world, in Norte Americá alone there is Mexico City, Nueva York, Chicago and then Los Angeles, SF is way down there! Train in the United States of Europa usually stop at 11:59 it is the last train coming back that departs at 12:30 - 01:30 AM usually coming back into the city useless for us who need to get home!