One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
More trains on crowded Expo Line may not solve the problem
FILE: Reporters and officials on a test ride of the Expo Line near 7th Street/Metro Center station in downtown Los Angeles in March. The line has since grown in popularity, leading to overcrowded trains.
(
Kevin Ferguson/KPCC
)
Listen
0:54
More trains on crowded Expo Line may not solve the problem
The new Expo Line section to Santa Monica has become so popular and crowded, some passengers are reporting they can’t fit on the train and have to wait for the next one.
But adding more trains may only provide temporary relief.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's train car shortage dates back to contractual delays when the agency ordered the cars years ago.
New cars are now being delivered, although they still have to be tested before they can carry passengers. Metro has received 41 new cars and is still testing 13.
Officials said with new cars in circulation, they should be able to reduce the time between train arrivals from 12 minutes to 6 minutes by December.
Until then, passengers will see shorter trains and longer waits, resulting in overcrowding during peak times on the Expo Line.
But transit planning consultant Jarrett Walker, author of the book and blog Human Transit, warns even after new trains are added, passengers shouldn't expect the overcrowding to be permanently resolved.
Sponsored message
"What actually happens when you put out more service or relieve the crowding in any way is that more people start riding and so the crowding comes back," he said.
Once word gets out that overcrowding has eased, more people decide to use the trains. He said the phenomenon is also seen on crowded freeways.
Take the 405 freeway. Even after it was expanded, congestion wasn't fully relieved. Similarly, popular train lines will support as much crowding as people will endure.
One dramatic example of this is the packed trains of Tokyo, where platform attendants literally stuff crowds through the doors.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
