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 is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Westside Subway Report Released: it Won't Relieve Westside Traffic Congestion, but Does that Matter?
One of the Westside Subway Extensions under consideration. See them all here. | Image via Metro
One of the Westside Subway Extensions under consideration. See them all here. | Image via Metro
Just as Metro did for the regional connector, Metro today released the draft environmental report for the Westside Subway Extension, the proposed project that would extend the Purple Line down Wilshire Boulevard and possibly add a spur in West Hollywood.
But just as soon as it was released, fuel was added to opposition's fire. "Westside subway extension won’t do much to ease traffic, MTA report says," the LA Times wrote in a breaking news e-mail alert, linking to their story.
The Times says by 2035, a subway on the westside will only reduce automobile traffic congestion by around 1%, thanks to population growth.
The Westside Subway Extension Study Area | Download a larger version here (.pdf)
In Metro's in-house blog post about today's documents, officials admit to this, but in a very different way:
This is a rather huge and obvious point, but here goes anyway: Nowhere in the report does it say that a subway will “fix” traffic on the Westside or make it disappear. The subway is expected to lure some drivers to mass transit and improve what traffic would be without the subway. The report views the subway as an alternative to sitting in traffic, kind of like building a freeway under the Westside — but one for trains, not private vehicles.
Sponsored message
On Metro's Facebook page dedicated to the project, a follower noted that it's not that big of a deal. "All major cities, even ones with amazing public transit, have bad traffic," Alan Hall said. "The point of the subway is that you don't HAVE to sit in traffic if you don't want to."
So if a subway is not built, what should L.A. do? Population growth means more vehicles on the road. Metro estimates about a 26% increase in daily vehicle miles traveled within the westside subway extension area (see the immediate above image). In 2006, vehicles traveled four million miles daily; by 2035, that number will be upped to 5 million.
What does all those added people and miles mean? More time spent in the car, the report concludes. Within the study area, vehicle hours traveled will increase by nearly 50%, from 165,000 to 247,000 between 2006 and 2035. Regionally, vehicle hours traveled will increase about 207%, 9.5 million to 29.2 million, in the same time period.
Meanwhile, a trip on the subway from Union Station to UCLA will remain 25 minutes.
Five public meetings about the report will be held beginning later this month.
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
