Antonio's Rail Service Switch

Just another example of Mayor-raigosa pandering to the crowd. In this case the ominous Bus Riders Union.

Maybe if a large crowd gathers at the L.A. Zoo the Mayor can pander to them and set Reggie the Alligator free.

Yes, you heard right. The BRU believes that all rail travel is racist, and a violation against the civil rights of minorities.

They fail mention the majority of riders on Metro Rail are minorities. They wish to tear down all rail transit completely and replace it with buses, which have way less capacity than light rail. And yes, that will clog our already congested streets.

It is sad that L.A. is one of the last major cities in the world to have a 1st rate rail system. I know many of you are experienced travelers both international and domestic and understand the importance to a good rail system. Now more than ever we need to continue building up our rail infrastructure. The traffic in L.A., is one of the primary reasons many new residents of downtown have moved. If the problem continues it may also be the reason why many leave the city altogether.

In addition to extending the rail line to the beach along Wilshire Blvd. we need a city loop line (ie. London, Chicago, Tokyo et al.). Also we should create a better transfer point for visitors to the airport. Really, have you ever seen a more scared look on the faces of travelers at the Wilmington Station after 7 pm out of town?

Increasing rates for public transportation now is the wrong move. With the increase in gas prices now is the best time to introduce people to the bus and rail services.

For anyone in the know has LADOT done any research into IMPROVING the rail system and getting people to use it? I've done a lot of traveling since I've moved from LA (I'm dying to get back!) and it sickens me that we could alleviate much of our traffic woes but we seem to drop the ball. Bolix.

How serious is our city to improve public transportation? What will it take to kick our "public servants" into gear. I'm sure the money on the Westside is fed up with the traffic enough to prompt something, rigtht?

"Bus Riders Union"????

Say whaaaaat??? I understand a "Bus Divers' Union", as they actually work for the MTA... but riders??? Do bus riders pay union dues? Do they get a union card and shop at the union store? Do they enter into collective bargaining agreements to protect their riding salaries? Do they provide services such as health care programs, insurance and pensions as do "real" unions? It seems to me they are some PAC working to keep bus fares low... then wonder why the service sucks. Oh, it must be because the MTA wants to spend all the receipts on building... rail, of all things! Racist, elitist, rich people's rail. Well, then, if that is so - why is Cheviot Hills fighting rail so hard??? Hello!!!

Seriously.

I know the organization exists, but come on now. Unions are supposed to advocate for the workers of an industry. Can I join the Beverage of My Choice Drinkers' Union? The Downtown Walkers' Union? The freakin' I Pay Taxes Union??? After all, I do all of those things, some more frequently than others... LOL. Where's MY advocacy group?

Rail transit is the backbone of a successful modern metropolitan city. Just look at New York, London, Paris, Moscow (well, sort of successful), Tokyo or even San Diego and San Francisco. Rail. Rail. Rail!

Bus riders' union...

Dear Metro,

This is a disaster on every level. The obvious reasons have been mentioned. But, the fare increases themselves don't even make sense.

Single fair will remain unchanged at $1.25 on July 1, 2007, while the Day Pass will go up from $3 to $5.

I often take the Red Line from Universal to Hollywood/Highland and back again. I get the Day Pass just in case I decide to hit the town. Two single passes will cost me a total of $2.50, while a Day Pass will now cost double that.

Essentially, Metro will be rewarding one-way travel and not frequent riders. This will not encourage people to embrace rail or bus and leave the car at home.

You really want to raise fares? Fine. But, build rail that will actually get me more places around the city. I want better security at every station. I want trains that arrive every 5 minutes. I want it all undergound. And I want it done in 5 years.

Am I asking too much? So are you.

So...I pose this question again (as I did on other blogs)...it's OKAY that Metro has to increase its minimum wages and give into union demands (Metro unions, not bus riders bulls*), but NOT allow a fare increase? Are you guys doing a double standard? Gas has more than tripled in the last 12 years, minimum wages have at least doubled, but you want Metro prices to remain the same???? I just don't understand people. Take economics class people....

The "Bus Riders Union" is not a union. It is part of some other pro-labor group which I forget the name of. Its leader, Eric Mann, makes over $200K a year and drives (DRIVES!) a luxury car. What a tool. I have no idea why anybody listens to this group.

Yes, we needed these fare increases. Other cities had fares on their transit systems that are similar to these. And don't you dare tell me our system is not up to those levels. We currently have the sixth largest rail system in the USA (going up to fourth by 2010) and we just won the award for Best System in the Nation by the American Public Transit Association.

Don't compare our system to New York. New York is a special case. We need to be comparing Metrorail to the systems in Boston, Philadelphia and Denver, which our rail system compares favorably to.

You people who say that MTA sucks don't know anything. You are JUST WRONG! Do your research.

whitman lam,

I love the light rail lines in L.A. too, but I think that Bus Rapid Transit on arterial roads is a better option. Why does this idea get ignored whenever the topic of buses vs light rail comes up?

Is it because taking away a lane of car travel, and dedicating a bus would "increase congestion" ? Is this perception all that is holding BRT back?

The real issue with the MTA is balancing the budget. Like any business more revenue equals more profit. The solution is not bus versus rail but how to make an integrated metro system. Los Angeles is too big for one type of mass transit to fix all its problems. That said raising ticket/pass prices now is not he right thing. The problem is empty seats. Increasing the fare would not solve this problem but only make it worse. As gas prices increase people look for alternatives to save money. At the current rates public transportation is a bargain and saves people money. Increasing the fares would make public transportation less competitive as an alternate means of transportation.

Now is the time to reorganize the bus systems to better connect local bus routes to existing metro lines. Add more busses and trains during peak hours to reduce waiting and overcrowding. Have more express routes during rush hour. Lastly create routes that take people to places where they would want to go after hours and weekends. Why not create an entertainment loop route that only hits major points of interests such as the city center, Hollywood and mid-Wilshire + Grove districts.

Lastly, the image of the metro must be changed. We need clean busses and safe bus/metro stops.

The BRU preaches a form of "Transit Socialism". Their theory is to reduce fares or eliminate fares entirely. The entire cost of mass transit is passed onto the taxpayer. Therefore transportation is a form of government welfare used exclusively by the poorest of the poor. Like any socialist theory they really don't care about the quality or efficiency of service. The economics don't make any sense.

I agree that the BRU is obsessively anti-rail and has rendered itself into a shrill but increasingly irrelevant voice in the debate over the future of mass transit in Los Angeles.

However, my experiences with "transit socialism" in socialist and demi-socialist nations have proven to be quite positive and Los Angeles has much to learn in terms of quality and efficient service from these places where public transit is heavily subsidized by tax revenue. Indeeed, it is often understood in other nations that mass transit is a public utility whose expense due to revenue shortfall is counterbalanced by the desired mitigation of automobile traffic and air pollution.

The most successful transit oriented cities augment their service at the cost of car owners (toll roads, parking fees, high parking fees, etc.) These countries realize that everyone must make a sacrifice to live in a better, healthier city, this runs against our American "God given right to drive" mentality. Driving a car is not a free privelege. It comes with a responsibility that many people ignore. Look at the rude drivers, hit and runs, distracted phone talkers.

Drivers feel they are entitled to run over pedestrians.