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Metro Investing $81 Million In Blue Line To Reduce Train Delays
(Photo courtesy of the Orbitgal via the on Twitter, on LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
Metro has approved a $81 million contract to add four more interlockings to the Blue Line route in order to improve transportation times and reduce delays. Interlockings are locations where the trains can switch tracks to avoid other trains that are stalled for maintenance work and service issues. The Blue Line suffers from regular delays (it's not alone; the whole Metro system has had problems with scheduling), and Metro hopes these track switches will allow for smoother rides. Currently, the Blue Line also shares one track with the Expo Line once it reaches Downtown.
According to Metro documents, "The addition of four new interlockings is expected to improve single tracking headways to approximately 15 - 20 minutes and allow a better overall emergency operation response."
The Blue Line rail goes from Long Beach to Downtown L.A. and carries between 67,000 and 81,000 riders a day, according to Metro's ridership statistics. It's the most-used above-ground rail line in Metro's system, and second most-used train line behind the Red Line. Metro is planning other upgrades for the Blue Line, including new train cars, pedestrian safety signage, and pedestrian bridges.
[h/t Curbed]
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