Metro proposes truncating the Rapid 704 and Local 217 buses. Make your voice heard.

Warninig,

Metro is about to reduce service on the Rapid 704 by terminating the eastern end of the line at Sunset/Alvarado. So you if you were heading downtown on the 704, you would have a forced transfer to the Red Line at Santa Monica/Vermont. Line 2 would be rerouted to go to Union Station instead of the 704, so you'd have to transfer to a local 2 or local 4 to get to Echo Park or further stops downtown.

Here's a thought. Line 304 used to go into the heart of downtown and it used to be packed solid during rush hour. I know this, because I used to ride it. Perhaps the change that needed to be made here was simply switching the 2 and the 704 so that the 704 went into the heart of downtown. (Unfortunately, unlike Penn Station and Grand Central Station in New York and Liverpool Street Station and Charing Cross Station in London, there isn't much "destination" ridership to/from Union Station as it is pretty much used for transfers to/from trains only.

My comment to Metro is that the should simply switch the 2 and 704 routes east of Sunset/Alvarado and try that before truncating the service.

Another bus service truncation you need to know about is Metro's proposal to terminate all northern trips of the 217 at Hollywood/Vine station. This means if you are headed to East Hollywood or Los Feliz, Metro will force you to transfer onto the Local 180/ Rapid 780.

Forced transfers are so discouraging to potential transit riders.

Here are the details of all the proposed service "enhancements". (In bureaucratic language, a service reduction is still called an "enhancement".)

http://www.metro.net/around/service-enhancements/metro-service-enhancements-proposed/

If you have any comment about these proposals, please contact Metro at servicechanges@metro.net

Please send in your comments in and be heard.

City Councilmember Abbe Land responds to West Hollywood Public Transit Questionnaire

Here is West Hollywood City Councilmember Abbe Land's reply to our Public Transit Questionnaire. (We thank her and all the candidates who take time out of their busy schedules to address these issues:

1) Do you support continuing efforts to bring Metrorail to West

Hollywood, and if so, with what alignment?

Yes, any alignment that allows West Hollywood to connect to other lines

and provides our residents an easy way to get downtown and further

west. This would also ease traffic by making it easier for people who

work in West Hollywood to get here from other locations.

(2) Do you support extending the proposed Crenshaw/LAX light rail

line up San Vicente and then on Santa Monica Blvd. to the Red Line in

Hollywood? (Note:This could potentially be a light-rail subway and would provide West

Hollywood with a one-seat ride to LAX.)

Yes, absolutely.

3) As modern streetcars are coming to downtown Los Angeles by 2015,

would you support bringing modern streetcars to West Hollywood on Santa

Monica Blvd, Sunset Blvd. and/or San Vicente Blvd?

I support exploring all options that help connect West Hollywood with

other transit options, and that encourage people to use public transit

I would like to explore the modern streetcar for use on Sunset

Boulevard as well so we can determine best way to align with existing

options and maximize ridership.

(4) Do you support transit-only lanes on Santa Monica Blvd.?

I would want to see and understand the impact as we balance pedestrian

use and bike use for Santa Monica Boulevard.

(5) What are your proposals for improving bus service in West

Hollywood, including Metro, DASH and West Hollywood's City Line?

That we all continue to work together to ensure connectivity, as well

as potentially add lines to best accommodate where people really need to

go.

(6) What is your platform for bicycles in West Hollywood?

I was proud to initiate and co-sponsor the creation of our Bicycle Task

Force in West Hollywood. This is a group of people with varying fields

of expertise related to transportation, bicycling, urban planning and

public safety. I am looking forward to the results of their work, to

seeing what their recommendations to the City Council will be and how

we can best try to implement those. I would really like to see

bicycling become a more viable means of transportation (as well as

recreation) in our city and our region.

(7) What is your platform for pedestrians in West Hollywood?

The city undertook the renovations of Santa Monica and Sunset

Boulevards to improve pedestrian activity and ambiance, and I think the

quality and impact of that work is clear. Our General Plan that is

currently being updated will add more language about the need to

enhance and maintain a pedestrian modality for West Hollywood.

I am a supporter of mixed use, as part of an overall effort to get more

folks to enhance quality of life and give our residents and those who

work here real and safe options to enjoy their neighborhoods and our

iconic boulevards without having to drive/park their cars.

(8) Have you read Donald Shoup's, "The High Cost of Free Parking", and

what do you think about it?

I have not read his book, but if his philosophy is about looking at the

true impact of free parking -- i.e., more cars, higher cost to build

housing, less turnover for merchants -- then I share some of his concerns.

(9) How would you pursue additional funding for public transit in West

Hollywood?

West Hollywood voters overwhelming supported Measure R, which is

intended to fund public transit. I would like to look at

developer exaction fees and once we know there is a

feasible option (like light rail), I would be willing to talk with the

community about extra revenue options as well.

(10) What else is in your public transit platform that would you like

the voters and everyone else who lives, works and plays in West

Hollywood to know?

That I am a longtime supporter of alternative vehicles, Flex car and

bike rental/sharing programs; that I am interested in looking at

additional uses of CityLine so people could potentially utilize it for

nighttime use on Santa Monica and Sunset Boulevards.

I am a member of the Westside Cities Council of Governments (COG) and

co-chair of that group's Sustainability Committee. I believe we must

find alternative transit options for people, not only because it's one

of the best things we can do for our environment, but also that our

focus on regional connectivity will enhance the quality of life for all

those who live, work and play in our region.

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Blogger's Note: Councilmember Land clearly "gets" it.

Martin Topp suspends his campaign

Martin Topp, a West Hollywood City Council candidate has decided to suspend his campaign. Here is the note he sent to me:

"Due to business time constraints, I have had to re-evaluate my candidacy for city council. I have had to suspend my campaign going forward."

So that is one less candidate.

A West Hollywood City Councilmember is not a full-time position, so we should be thankful to any candidate willing to spend all of their free time serving West Hollywood.

Dropping the Ball on New Year's Eve in West Hollywood?

At Tuesday evening's West Hollywood City Council meeting, Councilman John Duran spoke of how New York has the ball dropping in Times Square as its iconic New Year's Eve event and other cities have other events, but Southern California really doesn't.

He suggested that West Hollywood could not only be the nexus for Gay Pride weekend and Halloween, but for New Year's Eve (and Mardis Gras too).

This, of course, would be just one more reason to extend Metrorail to West Hollywood.

What should this iconic Southern California New Year's Eve stroke at midnight event in West Hollywood be?

Any suggestions?

West Hollywood's City Council candidates and the Public Transit Questions I Sent Them

According to the City of West Hollywood website, here are the ten "qualified candidates" for City Council in the March 8, 2011, General Municipal Election:

Mito Aviles

John D'Amico

Mark Gonzaga

Mayor John Heilman (incumbent)

Councilwoman Lindsey Horvath (incumbent)

Lucas John

Councilwoman Abbe Land (incumbent)

Steve Martin

Scott Schmidt

Martin Topp

Voters will be allowed to vote for no more than three (3) of these candidates. Incumbents have a natural advantage in most elections and fortunately all of the incumbents running for City Council are pro-transit and seem to "get" these issues. I hope their challengers do too. Below are the questions I sent all of the qualified City Council candidates. When I receive their answers, I will post them for your perusal. You, of course, will then be free to comment on and share any of their answers.

I would imagine most candidates for office in Southern California are asked questions about traffic, parking and the welfare of someone's single-occupancy automobile, so I imagine this might be a refreshing change for them. After all, this is a post-Measure R, 86% vote in favor, multi-modal transportation world in which we are now living, working and playing.

Let's hope as many as possible think about these issues seriously and give intelligent thoughtful answers. You, as citizens who live, work, play and/or vote in West Hollywood deserve nothing less.

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QUESTIONS FOR WEST HOLLYWOOD CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES ON PUBLIC TRANSIT ISSUES:

(1) Do you support continuing efforts to bring Metrorail to West Hollywood, and if so, with what alignment?

(2) Do you support extending the proposed Crenshaw/LAX light rail line up San Vicente and then on Santa Monica Blvd. to the Red Line in Hollywood? (Note: This could potentially be a light-rail subway and would provide West Hollywood with a one-seat ride to LAX.)

(3) As modern streetcars are coming to downtown Los Angeles by 2015, would you support bringing modern streetcars to West Hollywood on Santa Monica Blvd, Sunset Blvd. and/or San Vicente Blvd?

(4) Do you support transit-only lanes on Santa Monica Blvd.?

(5) What are your proposals for improving bus service in West Hollywood, including Metro, DASH and West Hollywood's City Line?

(6) What is your platform for bicycles in West Hollywood?

(7) What is your platform for pedestrians in West Hollywood?

(8) Have you read Donald Shoup's, "The High Cost of Free Parking", and what do you think about it?

(9) How would you pursue additional funding for public transit in West Hollywood?

(10) What else is in your public transit platform that would you like the voters and everyone else who lives, works and plays in West Hollywood to know?

Thank you!

What about the Beverly Hills right-of-way on Santa Monica Blvd.?

Anyone traveling on Santa Monica Blvd. through Beverly Hills notices the unused, Metro-owned right-of-way on the southern side of the street.

It seems a bit of a missed opportunity?

It seems any subway alignment that runs via Santa Monica Blvd. through West Hollywood will head south to the Beverly Center instead of through the low density back end of Beverly Hills.

There are two basic ideas of how to use this right-of-way to increase mobility.

(1) Turn the right-of-way into transit-only lanes. This would take buses off of Santa Monica Blvd. and allow them to move quickly through this area, adding to their appeal.

(2) Turn the right-of-way into a modern streetcar or light-rail route between Century City and West Hollywood that could then be extended east on Santa Monica Blvd. to Hollywood and beyond.

(3) Do both. In Seattle's downtown transit tunnel, both buses and the new light rail share the tunnel.

Yes, this would require redesigning parking structures and redesigning part of Beverly Hills Civic Center, but that could be a great opportunity. However, it would be worth it as a light-rail/streetcar stop at Beverly Hills Civic Center would allow even more people to get to/from Beverly Hills.

I don't believe those homeowners on the north side of Santa Monica Blvd. would mind a light-rail/streetcar on the south side, as it would be more attractive than what is there now, which is nothing.

Perhaps West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Century City, Hollywood and the rest of Los Angeles can work together to create something wonderful for the future on this unused right-of-way.

What do you think?

What Questions Should I Ask West Hollywood City Council Candidates?

I am inviting all West Hollywood City Council candidates to answer a few questions about their public transit and liveable streets platform and will share their answers with you on this blog.

Here are the questions I am considering asking all of the candidates for West Hollywood City Council. If you have any tweaks or additional suggestions, please add your comment.

(1) Do you support continuing efforts to bring Metrorail to West Hollywood, and if so, with what alignment?

(2) Do you support extending the proposed Crenshaw/LAX light rail line up San Vicente and then on Santa Monica Blvd. to the Red Line in Hollywood?

(3) Do you support bringing modern streetcars to West Hollywood on Santa Monica Blvd, Sunset Blvd. and/or San Vicente Blvd?

(4) Do you support transit-only lanes on Santa Monica Blvd.?

(5) What are your proposals for improving bus service in West Hollywood, including Metro, DASH and West Hollywood's City Line?

(6) What is your platform for bicycles in West Hollywood?

(7) What is your platform for pedestrians in West Hollywood?

(8) What else is in your public transit platform that would you like the voters in West Hollywood to know?

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What do you think?

Metro plans to reduce Rapid 704 service in upcoming cuts

You need to know that Metro plans cutting the Rapid 704 but making the eastern terminus at Alvarado/Sunset. (Line 2 would be rerouted to terminate at Union Station.)

Click here to see planned service reductions

Please make sure to comment at servicechanges@metro.net if you do not think this is a good idea.

I also wonder if Metro has considered alternate eastern terminals for the 704 other than Union Station. For example, what about 7th St Metro or Pershing Square stations more into the heart of downtown?

The Rapid 704 needs to be enhanced, especially to include late night service as does the 720. Many people travel on this corridor late at night to/from their service jobs and entertainment destinations.

Every Wednesday night when i get on the #4 bus at Bundy towards West Hollywood, it is standing room only. This corridor does not operate under traditional “rush hour” 9-5 workaday service.

At the very least bring back the articulated #4 after the 704 stops running.

There is no reason to force people to stand like packed sardines inside a crowded 40 foot bus during late night when there are articulated buses available. Simply turn the articulated #704 buses to #4 after the 704 stops running or run the #704 until 2:00 a.m.

I also wonder if Metro has considered alternate eastern terminals for the 704 other than Union Station. For example, what about 7th St Metro or Pershing Square stations more into the heart of downtown?

Another bus change you should be aware of is the extension of the 217 south to the Expo Line station opening next year. This makes sense. Unfortunately, it may mean you have a forced transfer onto the 180 at Hollywood/Vine if you are headed to Los Feliz.