What about a Fly Away bus in West Hollywood?

Upon landing in LAX on the way back from spending Christmas in Seattle, I was waiting for the Super Shuttle. I asked the Super Shuttle gentleman if he had one going to West Hollywood soon. He said to me, "Of course. Everyone is going to Santa Monica or West Hollywood". I found that interesting.

We already have Fly Away buses to/from LAX and Union Station, Irvine, Van Nuys and Westwood. I wonder if one is viable to/from West Hollywood or nearby?

If you support a northern extension of the Crenshaw/LAX light-rail project (a.k.a. "Rose Line") to Hollywood via West Hollywood (San Vicente & Santa Monica Blvds.) as I do, one of the primary benefits to this alignment is a one-seat ride to/from Hollywood, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills and points between to/from LAX.

As the risk of angering Super Shuttle and Prime Time with this suggestion, perhaps Hollywood, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills can investigate creating a Fly Away bus route to/from LAX until that northern extension of the Crenshaw Light Rail is adopted.

West Hollywood City Council elections upcoming

Elections to the West Hollywood City Council are upcoming in Spring.

I am happy to provide a forum here for any candidate who wishes to discuss public transit issues in the area.

Here are my principle questions of all the candidates:

1) Do you favor efforts to extend Metrorail to/through West Hollywood and Santa Monica Blvd.?

2) Do you support the new proposal of a Metro light-rail subway connecting the Santa Monica Blvd. transit corridor via San Vicente Blvd. to the Crenshaw/LAX light rail project approved in Measure R?

3) Would you be in favor of transit only lanes on Santa Monica Blvd. even if that means taking away lanes of traffic and parking, and would you favor modern at-grade streetcars/light-rail running on those transit-only lanes?

4) Would you favor serving the Sunset Strip with streetcars -- noting that tourists and affluent riders would love them?

5) What are your proposals for bicycle and pedestrian improvements in West Hollywood?

I will ask all the West Hollywood City Council candidates these questions and will let you know the answers when they are provided to me.

----------------------

Note: One City Council candidate who I won't name contacted me and mentioned to me about how he wanted to increase the amount of parking available to make life easier for motorists.

If your primary transportation concern is the welfare of single-occupancy automobiles, then I think you've contacted the wrong blogger. :)

Bring Back Articulated #4 Buses at Nighttime

About six months ago both Lines 4 and Lines 704, the local and rapid buses on Santa Monica Blvd. respectively, had larger articulated buses. Then the Line 4's were reduced to the old 40 foot buses. Without knowing the ridership figures, perhaps during the day the articulated buses were needed more on another line.

However, this has left an awkward situation late at night after the Rapid 704 bus stops running around 8:00 p.m. I now have to get on late night 40 foot buses from West Los Angeles to West Hollywood that are packed like sardines and are standing room only. The articulated Rapid 704 buses are no longer running.

Many of the people taking the #4 bus late night are getting off work at their restaurant/service sector jobs and they could use a seat, or they are going to nightclubs and other entertainment venues

Here is my question:

Why can't the Rapid 704 run until midnight like the Rapid 720 since there is late night demand? Or why couldn't those same 704 buses turn into local 4's after 8:00 p.m?

Not all transit corridors have the same traditional 9-5 with rush hour patterns.

I've sent a message to Metro asking this question. I'll let you know if I hear anything.