Grassroot Effort - Metro Silver Line [Vermont/Santa Monica to El Monte]

[spicytimothy]

http://www.metrosilverline.com/home.htm

I stumbled onto this site just now, and being a Chinese living in the San Gabriel area this is orgasmic!

http://www.metrosilverline.com/SilverEast2.jpg
http://www.metrosilverline.com/SilverLine.gif

This will roughly parallel the always congested 10 and Valley Blvd, and will be so useful for all those commuters that goes westward every morning! It passes thru Union Station, so it's easy to change to all the other existing rails... and if you live in the area, u know how many old ladies and housewives drives up and down Valley Blvd to get their groceries, Chinese food, and Hong Kong drama DVDs! :-)

The only complaint I have for this project is that it is not directly on Valley Blvd, since thaz the where the rail is most needed... but if u visit the site u'll realize thaz becuase they have existing trenches in nearby Mission Rd, therefore cutting the cost of the light rail..

Please voice ur opinions... i'm really interested in this project :-)

[2Easy]

That's a good site. This line is already on MTA's long range plan. Maybe a little grassroots effort will speed things up. I really hope that it happens, but all things being equal I'd still be more excited to see some of the lines in west LA completed.

[leftcoaster]

This will never, ever, ever, may I repeat EVER happen. Well, certainly at least in our lifetimes. And it NEEDS to. And that's a very sad statement about our transpo. planners...

[spicytimothy]

Why are u so negative about this project leftcoaster?
u sound so definite but u offered no support for urself......

?

[Dao]

I think it's great
But aren't they already buildinga n extension of the gold line into east LA it looks like they could just expand that line into some of those same areas
either way if they built the silver line it would be awesome!!

[spicytimothy]

there's quite some distance between the extension of Gold Line and the here suggested Silver Line...

[LAuniverse]

why wont it happen?

I think this one has the potential to be the busiest LRT line in the country - even overtaking the blue line, and the blue line gets 80k/day. I can see this one getting near-subway level riderships considering the corridor its going through.

[PaulCJr]

Hello, I'm new here. But I would have to say that the Silver line would have extremely high ridership. It should be a subway, not light rail.

Paul

[squeemu]

I thought that the MTA had made a list of the top ten priorities for clearing up traffic and that this line was on there. I don't remember where I read this, so I can't provide a link, but I know that this line has been considered. Maybe we should show our support?

[vicecityguy]

Well, technically... Leftcoaster said that it will never ever happen in his lifetime. So I'm guessing he might be 70 or 80 years old?

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Squeemu i think your right but i cant pinpoint the source either. The line was recognized by the MTA in a meeting i believe, and it would definitley have great ridership. we should all email the reps in the area to show our support. remember, the expo line was started the same way, by concerned citizens who wnated to fix a problem and now expo will be under construction in a year. Paul C, welcome to the board! this forum is definitley picking up and were looking forward to your contributions. I agree that the line should be a subway.

[LAuniverse]

The Blue, Gold line East, and Expo line (westside extension) should all have been subways considering the density of the neighborhoods they run through.

It would be nice if the silver line was subway from Vermont/Santa Monica to Cal state. The densities merit it. But I'll take a LRT capable of handling what the Blue line handles if we can get this built in time to handle LA's increasing congestion. Even if we had several lines u/c right now, we would still be overdue.

This line would take so many people off the 10 freeway it would be ridiculous.

[squeemu]

Yeah it should be a subway, but it probably won't be. Lightrail is better than nothing.

[LAuniverse]

In the VERY long run, all this fuss over which line gets funding priority will be forgotten. Public transit and urban vitality are synergistic and share a long term chicken-egg relationship once the initial investment is made in public transit.

[POLA]

Tom LaBonge is a rep for Hollywood Hills and MTA board member. I hope its ok to post this here, or should we have a rail thread of its own? Not sure how much is going on with the subway/ rail scene.

From: Ana Munsell
Project Coordinator
Office of Councilmember Tom LaBonge
818-755-7634
amunsell@c...

>>> LaBonge News 2/10/2005 11:10:33 AM >>>
February 10, 2005


Greetings:

Thanks you for your continued support of my initiative to reverse a
Los Angeles County-wide ban on subway tunneling. We have made
considerable progress in the six months since I first pursued this
objective at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) where I
serve as a member.

Just last week, I spoke before the Beverly Hills City Council which
expressed its support for expanding our subway system, including
through their city. What is interesting to note is that for decades,
Beverly Hills opposed running a freeway or extending the Red Line
through its city limits. Traffic has worsened that much through
their streets, along with so many other cities in the county.

We may never build another inch of subway, but it is smarter regional
planning to have all options available before discarding those that
will work for the greatest number of potential riders. This is the
basic premise that I am working off of.

One obvious example of how rail works well in an urban built
environment is BART, Bay Area Rapid Transit in the San Francisco Bay
area. The BART system incorporates at grade, below grade and above
grade rail all along one or more lines. This is the model we should
emulate.

I would like to encourage you to attend the MTA's next Planning and
Programming committee meeting on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 to voice
your support to the committee members who will be voting on this
proposal. The meeting starts at 1:00 p.m. and is held in the MTA
board room at MTA headquarters at One Gateway Plaza at Union Station
in downtown Los Angeles.

I hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

TOM LABONGE

[VansTripp]

Tom LaBonge is a rep for Hollywood Hills and MTA board member. I hope its ok to post this here, or should we have a rail thread of its own? Not sure how much is going on with the subway/ rail scene.

From: Ana Munsell
Project Coordinator
Office of Councilmember Tom LaBonge
818-755-7634
amunsell@c...

>>> LaBonge News 2/10/2005 11:10:33 AM >>>
February 10, 2005


Greetings:

Thanks you for your continued support of my initiative to reverse a
Los Angeles County-wide ban on subway tunneling. We have made
considerable progress in the six months since I first pursued this
objective at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) where I
serve as a member.

Just last week, I spoke before the Beverly Hills City Council which
expressed its support for expanding our subway system, including
through their city. What is interesting to note is that for decades,
Beverly Hills opposed running a freeway or extending the Red Line
through its city limits. Traffic has worsened that much through
their streets, along with so many other cities in the county.

We may never build another inch of subway, but it is smarter regional
planning to have all options available before discarding those that
will work for the greatest number of potential riders. This is the
basic premise that I am working off of.

One obvious example of how rail works well in an urban built
environment is BART, Bay Area Rapid Transit in the San Francisco Bay
area. The BART system incorporates at grade, below grade and above
grade rail all along one or more lines. This is the model we should
emulate.

I would like to encourage you to attend the MTA's next Planning and
Programming committee meeting on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 to voice
your support to the committee members who will be voting on this
proposal. The meeting starts at 1:00 p.m. and is held in the MTA
board room at MTA headquarters at One Gateway Plaza at Union Station
in downtown Los Angeles.

I hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

TOM LABONGE

Great news. :)

Red Line Extansion will be coming soon.

[Thinkahead]

The Blue, Gold line East, and Expo line (westside extension) should all have been subways considering the density of the neighborhoods they run through.

It would be nice if the silver line was subway from Vermont/Santa Monica to Cal state. The densities merit it. But I'll take a LRT capable of handling what the Blue line handles if we can get this built in time to handle LA's increasing congestion. Even if we had several lines u/c right now, we would still be overdue.

This line would take so many people off the 10 freeway it would be ridiculous.

If this is the case then it would be easier and more cost-effective to extend the Red Line out to El Monte via that same right-of-way(it will cost about the same and provide a neccessary transfer point for existing Busway Riders AND new riders riding the 10 freewayand then have a small LRT line between Downtown and LACC

[VansTripp]

POLA, I inviting you to city vs. city forum in SSC.

I'm tired of one guy from Atlanta, he said LA have earthquake everyday. :weird:

[SoCal Guy]

Hello, I'm new here. But I would have to say that the Silver line would have extremely high ridership. It should be a subway, not light rail.

Paul

I agree, L.A needes more subway lines. No matter what, it would be good for L.A to have another train line.

[POLA]

*Not sure if she would be happy posting a personal email of her's, but it provides a ray of hope for the silver line!*

Thank you for contacting my office regarding the proposed Silver Line.

I have asked staff with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
to conduct an internal review of the Silver Line proposal the next time
they update either their long-range and/or short-range planning
documents. This is the first step in determining the proposed Line's
feasibility and potential rider benefit. The MTA is currently
accelerating the design of the Expo line in order to begin construction
as soon as possible. Expediting the rail projects that are already in
the planning process will open up opportunities to create new lines,
such as the Silver line.

Thank you again for supporting mass transit in Los Angeles County. If
you have further questions, please contact my Transportation Deputy,
Nicole Englund, at (213) 974-4111.

Sincerely,

GLORIA MOLINA
Chair of the Board
Supervisor, First District

[spicytimothy]

*Not sure if she would be happy posting a personal email of her's, but it provides a ray of hope for the silver line!*

Thank you for contacting my office regarding the proposed Silver Line.

I have asked staff with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
to conduct an internal review of the Silver Line proposal the next time
they update either their long-range and/or short-range planning
documents. This is the first step in determining the proposed Line's
feasibility and potential rider benefit. The MTA is currently
accelerating the design of the Expo line in order to begin construction
as soon as possible. Expediting the rail projects that are already in
the planning process will open up opportunities to create new lines,
such as the Silver line.

Thank you again for supporting mass transit in Los Angeles County. If
you have further questions, please contact my Transportation Deputy,
Nicole Englund, at (213) 974-4111.

Sincerely,

GLORIA MOLINA
Chair of the Board
Supervisor, First District

wow... some positive gov't response... guess we should keep sending the emails and letters...

also i do agree a subway would be even better then a Light Rail, coz to me, I really think they should line the whole silver line underneath Valley Blvd (if you're an Asian with a 626 area code u know wht i'm talking about)... this would not only get the commuters' ridership, but also get locals (Asian ladies who does ALL their shopping on Valley) to use it from Fremont to Rosemead stations...i think the reason they are suggesting a Light Rail is coz it's cheaper that way coz of the existing infrastructure...

[leftcoaster]

Well, technically... Leftcoaster said that it will never ever happen in his lifetime. So I'm guessing he might be 70 or 80 years old?
LOL nope early 30's...my point is that realistic people must realize that there is no political will for this project, and you would have to be very naive to think otherwise based on a form letter sent out by a councilperson's flunky. The reality is that this would cost billions, the state is basically broke, the feds under Bush are going to do nothing to help California, and the people that plan our mass transit are largley corrupt and clueless. I'm not saying give up, this would be an amazing line. But get real. If we can just get the Red Line extended to Santa Monica (which would revolutionize transport in this city) it will be a miracle, and won't be done for 20 years. It's just childish to wish it were otherwise.

[POLA]

Well, excuse me but, fuck Bush, we may not have fed funding now but we have to think about the future. My mom used to live in LA over twenty years ago, and she told me she remembered votinig and pushing for the red line subway in 1980!! She will never ride on it, she hasn't lived here in decades, but at least she didn't say oh, that will never happen soon, why bother. Keep your spirits up, and things will start to snow ball.

[POLA]

Write, call, fax, email the MTA board members and tell em you want the red line extention on whilshire!!

http://www.friends4expo.org/contact.htm

[leftcoaster]

Well, excuse me but, fuck Bush, we may not have fed funding now but we have to think about the future. My mom used to live in LA over twenty years ago, and she told me she remembered votinig and pushing for the red line subway in 1980!! She will never ride on it, she hasn't lived here in decades, but at least she didn't say oh, that will never happen soon, why bother. Keep your spirits up, and things will start to snow ball.
Agreed....this city had the best street cars in the country at one time I believe. It CAN happen again..I'm just saying that the powers that be are not going to be too helpful. I mean yeah, it's easy to say "fuck Bush" but that does not change the fact that his administration will make the next four fed budgets and you think they give a toss about LA's transportation issues? The Red Line was financed mostly with Fed. money. But I love your spirit and you're right we should all make our voices heard loud and clear...

[POLA]

Thanks, and you are right, this isn't sim city, a lot of the things talked about on this board may not happen during our lifetime.