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February 1, 2008
14 Minutes from NoHo to Century City via Subway
'Santa Monica Subway: Alternative 4' is one of the 17 routes presented by Metro
Last night, a packed room of community members at LACMA listened attentively to Metro present nineteen options to serve the Westside. This first in a series of three public input meetings (two more meetings next week) was exciting -- wheels are in motion to get Los Angeles moving, even if that reality be around ten years from now.
One of the most interesting facts coming out of last night's presentation came in 'Santa Monica Subway: Alternative 4,' a route that would go from both the Valley and Hollywood to the Westside. David Mieger, Metro project manager for the study, mentioned that traveling from the Metro Red Line North Hollywood Station to Century City would take 14-minutes.
Part of this estimate comes from few stops between the two city centers: two in the Valley, two in West Hollywood, one in Beverly Hills and finally Century City. Notice that Hollywood and Highland is skipped in lieu of a swing cut off from Universal City to Santa Monica and Fairfax.
In essence, if only this route were to be built, there would be three subway lines. The first would be the Red Line as we know it today, traveling from North Hollywood to Union Station. The second would be from North Hollywood to Century City and beyond. The third would be from Union Station to the Westside.
If last night was a governing board deciding which route to build first, a Wilshire Blvd. subway would be built, based on the public comments from the Miracle Mile/Mid-Wilshire audience. No one from West Hollywood spoke, no one from The Valley. If no one from these areas comment on the Santa Monica alternatives, will we surely only get a Wilshire subway? However, Metro said that when the Valley extension of the Red Line opened, the ridership doubled from 60,000 to 120,000, practically overnight.
Two more meetings discussing the alternatives are to take place next week in West Hollywood and Westwood.
Previously on LAist
- Which Way, LA? Metro Has Some Plans for the Westside
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this is brilliant! i am ready right now to hop on the red line and transfer to the santa monica line and ride out westward...
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It is brilliant! I say shut up and build!
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What are the odds that this happens and what would a realistic timetable be?
I work not far from Century City and if there was decent rapid transit to get there from any moderately interesting neighborhood, i'd up and move in an Echo Park minute.
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I am partial to the "alternative 4" myself, because i live in west hollywood...that being said, why aren't people realizing that the the MTA already owns the right-of-way on the south side of SM blvd going through beverly hills? i was just driving down it today and thinking that from doheny all the way to century city would be relatively easy to construct, since they could build under (or on) that stretch of land. traffic wouldn't have to be disrupted, like it was on vermont and on hollywood blvd when they built the red line. wouldn't it be a good idea to build this alignment for that reason alone? also, i know the wilshire line has lots of businesses, but there are A LOT of people living in hollywood, west hollywood, and the valley that really have no quick & easy transportation options westbound.
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@ andy
during the comments section of the presentation some people voiced there concern about how long it takes for metro to do anything. the spokes woman explained that it could be built in 2-3 years, but that takes a lot of money. something we all know metro does not have
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during the comments section of the presentation some people voiced there concern about how long it takes for metro to do anything. the spokes woman explained that it could be built in 2-3 years, but that takes a lot of money. something we all know metro does not have
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grr! double post!
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The Plummer Park meeting will no doubt have lots of respondents advocating the Santa Monica Blvd. subway.
But don't stay at home and expect someone else to advocate for you. Show up at the forum! Every person and comment counts if you want Santa Monica Blvd. included!
We need BOTH the Wilshire and Santa Monica Blvd. subways built quickly and safely. I will pay any reasonable tax or fee increase to pay for it.
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i plan on going to the meeting :)
and yes, i agree...BOTH routes need to be built! (selfishly i want the one closer to my house built first though. hehe)
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Yes, everyone should speak up, whether you do it in person, by e-mail, by phone or snail mail! The 450 comments from the October meetings developed all but one of the 17 routes Metro is presenting. Power to your voice and writing!