Results tagged “mta”

Last night during rush hour an MTA bus collided with a private vehicle near 1959 N. Glendale Boulevard and the 2 Freeway. "According to Officer Gregory Baek of the Los Angeles Police Department, the No. 92 bus was driving northbound just before the freeway ramp when the accident occurred," explains LA Now. As a result, 19 people suffered injuries, of which 10 "were taken to the hospital," and of those, one "was reported to be in critical condition," according to CBS2. The other nine injuries were described as being "as minor to moderate." Police are currently investigating the cause of the crash, however Sgt. Gregory Hoyte of the Central Traffic Division notes that "the driver seemed to have lost control of the bus and hit the middle divider [also going Northbound on the road] and another object before crashing into the car."

A section of the Pacific Coast Highway was closed this morning after part of a tree fell on a bus around 8 a.m. in the area of Chautaqua Boulevard. The tree fell onto some power lines and a Metro Route 534 bus, knocking out electrical service to about 1,200 customers, according to Kim Hughes of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. No injuries were reported. Eastbound PCH remained closed between Las Tunas beach and Temescal Canyon Road while crews worked to clear the scene.

The MTA has "revamped its policy" and now the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department will assume responsibility for "supervising transit security guards," according to abc7.com. The changes to the transit system's supervisory structure most likely stems from the recent revelation that there have been 11 investigations launched in the past two years by the L.A. County's Sheriff's Department...

Groundbreaking is scheduled to take place this morning on Metro's Orange Line extension, which will expand the dedicated busway that currently runs from North Hollywood to Warner Center. The $215.6 million extension "is the very first project to begin construction under the new voter approved Measure R half-cent transportation sales tax," reports abc7.

Transit projects are long-range, costly, and eagerly watched by Angelenos, and the MTA's Gold Line Extension is no exception. Years in the making, the six-mile stretch of tracks from Union Station to East LA is actually ahead of schedule, but also now behind. How's that?

Last August, a young man sleeping inside Downtown's 7th/Metro Station was roused by an MTA security guard; during the incident the guard delivered a kick to the patron's head, which was not only not part of his job description, but also captured on surveillance cameras inside the station. The footage convinced a jury to find the guard guilty of using excessive force. Cases such as this one happen more frequently than perhaps reported, and today's LA Times offers a look at the the 11 investigations launched in the past two years by the L.A. County's Sheriff's Department into allegations of abuse.

Although Metro has admitted a subway below Wilshire Blvd. could be completed in five to ten years, their most recent staff report suggests that the subway to just La Cienega (that's about 4 miles from the current end of the line) would realistically be built by 2019, to Century City by 2026 and to Westwood by 2032, according to the report that lays out possible timelines to be presented to the agency's board.

It's time for new blood and possibly a fresh approach to public transit in Los Angeles. Metro CEO Roger Snoble announced today that he will retire once someone is hired to replace him.

If you see activity during the workweek taking place on the Gold Line's Eastside Extension tracks it's because Metro Rail has begun the process of "grinding the rails." Using a machine that moves at about 2.5 to 3 miles and hour, workers are making their way down the six mile stretch along Third Street in East Los Angeles. They began at Atlantic Boulevard and Pomona Street and will move westbound along Third Street until Indiana Avenue and end up at Lorena and First streets at the East Portal tunnel entrance.

Although yesterday brought the encouraging news of a service expansion for late-night weekend riders on the Red Line during the holiday season this year, this morning the news about MTA service overall is rather discouraging.

That's right, in only two months since it was first proposed, Metro, at the behest of the city and community, will dabble into extended late-night subway service. Trains will operate every 20 minutes until 3:00 a.m. for a total of thirteen Friday and Saturday nights--November 21st to the end of the year--during the holiday season. "Backers hope that ridership during the holiday trial will convince Metro that late-night service is an ongoing need," reports blogdowntown who has been following the issue closely.

The first of Metro's regional connector meeting for a proposed line that would let the Gold, Blue and future Expo light rail lines to combine for longer trips (think Pasadena to Long Beach without transfer) was held this afternoon. Blogdowntown reports the majority of attendees at the packed meeting voiced support for the underground option, the most logical option considering one auto vs. train accident on the above ground plan could halt a regional transit system. One more public meeting regarding the project will be held next week.

The gas price spike may be over, but it would seem that some are sticking to public transit. The latest numbers coming from Metro show that the Orange Line continues to grow in popularity. September saw the highest ridership ever for the Orange Line in the Valley at 28,000. Which has us asking, when will that feared and applauded (depending on who you are) proposal to turn the dedicated busway into a light rail happen?

If you're traveling into, out of or through areas affected by the Sesnon or Marek Fire, here's the latest as of a 3:15 p.m. update sent out by the Mayor's Office. The more current info is updated at (800) 439-2909. Below are roadway and public transit updates:

Founding member of the folk group Kingston Trio Nick Reynolds died Wednesday in San Diego of acute respiratory disease and other illnesses. The band is credited with jump-starting "the revival folk scene of the late 1950s and paved the way for artists such as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez," according to the Associated Press. One of the groups more popular songs--M.T.A.--which is about the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, interestingly enough still rings true with Los Angeles's own MTA, otherwise known as Metro. Check out the first words about it in this YouTube video.

"The budget will cut $33 million from Medi-Cal, $8 million from probation camps, $10 million from mental health and $6 million from alcohol and drug programs, according to a memo by county Chief Executive Officer Bill Fujioka... The state budget will also cost the Metropolitan Transportation Authority about $133 million this year"

For those who have been following Assembly Bill 2321, you can take a breath of relief. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the bill into law yesterday afternoon, allowing Metro to place a half-cent sales tax increase proposal on this November's ballot. It will take a 2/3rds vote to pass and if it does, it could raise $30-40 billion in funding for transportation projects over the next 30 years. On the ballot, it is known as Measure R and a website from the proponents will be launched soon. Metro, who obviously wants initiative to pass, has already launched a website to, uh, inform the public about the measure, but nothing, uh, more.

At today's Metro board meeting, the group unanimously approved a pilot program that would extend Red Line hours until 3:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays from November through January 3rd. Yes, Los Angeles will finally have a subway that operates until 3:00 a.m... well, at least for a short period of time.

Now that the LA City Council approved pilot late night Metro Red Line subway service for Fridays and Saturdays, it's up to Metro to take up the issue. It's on their board agenda for tomorrow, but the plan is even more slim than before. Instead of beginning November 1st and going through January 3rd, Metro's written motion has it starting on November 14th (that cut is 25% of the project's length). Likewise, the original idea was to have Thursdays included, but that was cut down during the city's proposal process because Metro wanted maintenance time. On the good side of things, Metro says that "it appears that a majority of the necessary $85,500 has been identified.”

Without much discussion, the LA City Council approved the late-night subway motion which would expand service on the weekends to 3:00 a.m. between November 1st and January 3rd. But this doesn't mean everything is said and done.

As the gas prices fell last month, so did ridership on public transit. Metro documents show that people are riding less on a daily basis, but numbers are still a lot higher than usual when compared to 12 months ago or even earlier this year.

Blogdowntown has been following a city council motion that would extend the Red Line subway hours to 3:00 a.m during the holiday season on weekend nights. At Wednesday's Transportation Committee meeting, the group pushed it another step forward when they endorsed the idea. Since there is little funding for this on Metro's end, it's the business community that's committing funds in hopes to prove that the late-night service can sustain itself. The city council will vote on the motion next Wednesday, September 17.

Metro sent out a press release today telling people how to get to USC games via public transit. By the summer or fall of 2010, the Expo Line is expected to be completed with three stops in and surrounding the USC campus (two near the Coliseum and one by the Galen Center). When that day happens, getting to a USC game will be a cinch. But until then, you've got to read dizzying Metro directions like this:

       

For about a year Metro has been meeting with the public over the Westside Extension Project (they have a Facebook group too), usually dubbed as the "Subway to the Sea." In the Fall of 2007 Metro met with the public to talk about initial conceptual designs. Metro planners came back to the public in the Winter with 17 options (or alternatives as they call them) which included light rail, aerial rail, bus rapid transit and subway among them. Then in the late Spring, they focused the routes down into a set of seven options including two options that legally must stay through the process to the end: no build and transit system maintenance (improvements at the street level).

With one more step to go until the half-cent sales tax increase proposal goes on the November ballot, Metro has launched an extensive website to inform the public what a "yes" vote would mean: "Measure R is a half-cent sales tax increase that will provide the local resources to finance new transportation projects and accelerate those already in the pipeline. Over 30 years, it is expected to generate $40 billion for countywide congestion relief projects – and attract additional state and federal matching funds that will otherwise go to another county. The average cost is $25 a year per person." (thanks, Curbed LA!)

San Fernando Business Journal writer Jason Schaff is a fan of the Orange Line, but with the gas prices and higher ridership, the "Valley's Shortcut" is no longer that desirable he says. "At the end of summer 2008 the buses are crowded all hours of the day. I will go to the office sometimes at 7 a.m. – they’re crowded. I’ll come home sometimes at 8 p.m. or later – they’re crowded. I stand up half the time. And the buses seem to be getting slower. It’s supposed to take 45 minutes to cross the Valley on the Orange Line. It’s five minutes longer than that many times. That may not seem like much, but if I’m spending 50 minutes traveling I might as well be in my car and in control." Metro told him that they are in "catch-up mode" since they weren't expecting this "balloon" in ridership.

The time is nearing for Metro to announce what they recommend should be the mode of transit for the Westside Extension. Will it be a subway down Wilshire Blvd.? Down Santa Monica Blvd. to Wilshire? Both? Just buses?

Four people were injured with superficial wounds on a Metro Red Line subway train at or near the Universal Red Line station after someone pulled out a pair of scissors this evening around 10:25 p.m. "Everyone is being detained and questioned at this point," said Lt. Greg Hinkel of the LA County Sheriff's. However, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported that paramedics transported at least one person to a local area hospital.