guest

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 19:02:00 -0800

I made a google map with similar intentions. Check out the Traffic Dodger Blue Line: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&om=1&msa=0&msid=118224662423249406389.00000111e4aa171462a8e&ll=34.020597,-118.398058&spn=0.528138,0.933838&z=10

Wad

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 23:23:17 -0800

I tried posting this on Boi's site following the link above. I don't know if it made it through, but I agree with the author that West Hollywood deserves a subway line. Here's the comment: Tom Wetzel, who frequented the la.transportation newsgroup, suggested a plan for extending the subway to the ocean -- via West Hollywood. Since then, I have called it the Wetzel Plan, since he made a great case for turning the line north or northwest at Fairfax Avenue rather than shooting it straight on Wilshire Boulevard. Overall ridership would be much higher than a straight-shot along Wilshire. Between Fairfax and Santa Monica Boulevard, there are mostly office and medical buildings along Wilshire. There's heavy demand during rush hours, noticeably lighter demand during mid-days, and a virtual ghost town on weekends. However, if the subway were to run north along Fairfax or San Vicente Boulevard to somewhere in the West Hollywood city limits, and then return to Wilshire via Santa Monica Boulevard, this would actually gain anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000 additional boardings. This is because there is heavier overall ridership in the WeHo area. Much of it comes from the senior citizens, but the trains will be used during mid-days and nights because of the nightlife. Don't forget, low-paying service jobs are jobs, too. WeHo and Fairfax provide thousands more of these at more hours. Also, is parking a nightmare? Thought so. The subway, along with high-frequency bus service that exists right now, makes public transit very attractive in such an area. So, a West Hollywood alignment is not unreasonable. Actually, it should be the preferred alternative.

LAist: Wilshire Subway Watch: WeHo Gets Shafted

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Wad