Southern California Transportation The Missing Link

Southern California Transportation

The Missing Link

RR-02-2004-10-15-Presentation #1

Regional Rail - The Missing LinkPresent and Future San Fernando Valley Transportation Regional Rail From S.F. Valley to Union StationFrom S.F. Valley to the Santa Clarita x Clarita and the Antelope Valley From S.F. Valley to Oxnard / MontalvoImagine From Union Station to LAX / South BayFrom S.F. Valley to Santa Barbara / xGoletaFrom the Antelope Valley to LAXFrom Oxnard to the South BayChatsworthBurbankAirportBurbankGlendaleUnion StationMETRO Blue LineInglewoodLAX @ Aviation/ImperialSouth BayNorthridgeVan NuysTo Sylmar, Santa Clarita,LancasterLankershim (Red Line) To Oxnard


Proposed Regional Rail MapProposed and existing stationsBart Reed, The Transit Coalition: Next revisions to this map: Extend to show Lancaster, Extension to Goleta


San Fernando Valley Transportation TodayRoads: Local, Secondary & Primary arterials, freewaysGrade Separated Heavy Rail: (Red Line)Stations: N. Hollywood & Universal CityMetrolink Commuter Rail:Stations: Chatsworth, Northridge, Van Nuys, Burbank Airport, Burbank Downtown, Sylmar, Sun Valley & GlendaleBus: Local, Limited & Rapid


RoadsFreeways at capacityStrong local opposition to freeway wideningRecent experience with 101 widening proposalRoad enhancements just shift the problemTo the next bottleneckMore parkingMore traffic on local streetsDegradation of neighborhoodsResult: long journeys at slow speedsLess time for family and other activitiesFrustration and stress in everyday lifeBut currently no good alternatives for xmost people


Grade Separated Heavy Rail: (Red Line)

Red line subway serves only small part of xthe San Fernando ValleyAccess to the Red Line is importantOrange Line Rapidway will helpCity of Burbank adding connection xbetween Red Line and Burbank xemployment centersThe Achilles Heel of transit may be the xlast mile between station and final xdestinationProblem made worse by low density and xdesign for the auto, not the pedestrianNice train!Now how to I get home?


Metrolink serviceNo longer just a morning/evening commuter servicePopularity requires additional capacityCars leased & service added (Daily News; Oct 1, 2004)But:Only 10 round trips per day on Ventura County LineOnly 12 round trips per day on Antelope Valley LineNo weekend service on Ventura County LineLimited Saturday service on AV LineNo Sunday service on AV LineLimited reverse commute serviceNo evening serviceNo entertainment or sports event serviceSource: Metrolinktrains.com


Bus TransitOperates in heavy trafficSlow speeds, long journey timesLocal bus: 9-12 mphRapid bus: 15 mph(average auto speed: 33 mph)Typical 10-30 minute traffic condition xdelays for busEven Rapid Bus is slowUnsuited to the long commutes of many xin Los Angeles


Case Study - Northridge to Union StationMetro Bus Line 166 and Red LineTotal elapsed time over 100 minutesSource: MTA traffic plannerBus service is irregular, unreliableTransfer connections not guaranteed Transfer wait often lengthyActual time often worse, unpredictableSource: Bart Reed, passengerWill Orange Line help?Two changes of vehicleLocal Bus, to Orange Line Rapidway, to Red LineNot much betterMust cross major arterial to transfer to/from Red LineMetrolink40 minutes, with five stops!Source: Metrolinktrains.comReliable, speedy, but limited service


Case Study #2 S.F. Valley to LAX or El SegundoNo alternative to 405 FreewayAutoCity of LA DOT Commuter BusFlyaway service to LAXDirect Local/Limited bus service terminated 06/2003Rapid & Municipal Local Bus can take up to 3 hours Elapsed time anyones guess.405 HOV Lanes up to a decade awayListen to traffic reports on the radio


Looking into the Future - Base CaseContinued but slower population growthCalifornia: 10.1 million to 11.3 million in 2040Continued growth in auto drivingUS (from 1980 to 2000 per DOT BTS)Drivers + 31.2%Miles driven + 81.2%San Fernando ValleyNo reason to believe the trend is any differentBig housing developments in outlying areasNo major freeway enhancementsSome short term improvements searching for funding


Regional Rail: Chatsworth to Union Station and Antelope Valley to Union StationInterconnect with service to Orange County and San xBernardino for jobs, education and medical needsProposed increase in serviceSignificance of Union StationSignificance of other stations on routeTravel alternatives made possibleConnects long distance commutes from home to jobsConnects event participants: Concerts, plays, regional xattractions, art, sporting events and meetings


Metrolink MapExisting xinfrastructureWide xgeographic xreachRidership and xsystem growthSocial benefits xsuch as air xqualityBart Reed, The Transit Coalition: Eliza from Metrolink will get us a current map


Proposed Increase in ServiceIncrease service level from Chatsworth and Antelope Valley xto Union StationNo less than half-hourly, all-day weekdayEvening and weekend serviceAdditional service during peak travel demandsStations already in placeAdd Lankershim Station: direct connection to Red LineDouble track already in place East of Balboa BlvdTrack capacity is in placeAdditional passing tracks as required between xChatsworth and Van Nuys


Significance of Union StationRegional Rail Hub - A Huge Potential AssetGold Line to Pasadena and East Los AngelesAmtrak to San Diego / San Luis ObispoRed LineTo Blue Line (South Los Angeles, Long Beach)To Expo Line (USC, Coliseum, Exposition Park)To Wilshire residential / office districtTo Hollywood entertainment / office districtEmployment CenterOffice, Retail, Government, Wholesale, NonprofitCultural and Sports Staples Center and proposed developmentsDodger Stadium, Shrine AuditoriumDisney Hall, Music Center, The Cathedral Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Loft / Art District


Warner Center, Chatsworth, Northridge and Van NuysWarner Center Office Hub / Orange Line TerminusChatsworth Industrial CenterLos Angeles Pierce CollegeNorthridge Mall Retail CenterCal State Northridge28,000 students3,300 faculty and staffVan NuysServed by Rapid Bus / Orange Line connectionVan Nuys Blvd. Government CenterLos Angeles Valley CollegeSherman Oaks / Encino Commercial District


Burbank and GlendaleBurbank AirportApprox 400,000 passengers per monthSource: Burbankairport.comBurbankMajor entertainment industry employmentBus to Media Center employmentClose to Media DistrictDowntown Media City Center retail / entertainmentGlendaleEmployment centerTrolley to Metrolink station is under studySource: Daily News: Sept 1, 2004


Regional Rail from Union Station to South BayWould use MTA Harbor Sub Division (HSD)Owned by MTAWould require:Flyover at Redondo Junction over the Alameda CorridorRefurbish and upgrade track to bi-directionalStationsGrade crossing improvements / full separationsPotential direct service from S.F. Valley to South BayEstablish rail as commuter service of choiceMajor speed advantage on long distance regional tripsComparable bus service trip times are prohibitive


Potential StationsLong Beach Blue Line (interchange at Slauson)70,000 boarders per day40 minutes to Downtown Long BeachInglewood City CenterLAX / Imperial at AviationProposed Intermodal Transportation CenterFast People mover to Los Angeles International AirportInterchange with Green Line, bus servicesLAX and El Segundo employment55 million passengers in 2003 (www.lawa.org)Daytime population of 70,000 in El Segundo (www.elsegundo.org)59,000 jobs on or near LAX (www.lawa.org) South BayBus connections to Beach CitiesWalk to employment centers


Metro Rail and the South Bay - TodayGreen Line offers the ride to nowhereNo useful connections to beachesShunned by Beach City governmentsWe dont want those people here

Not enough to excite South Bay residentsAffluentCar ownersConcernsConvenienceTimelinessSafety

Impressive but underused stationsWelcome to the South Bay!


Metro Rail - South Bay to Union Station

Tortuous journey to Union Station23 stopsApproximately 100 minutesTwo changes of trainWait in Freeway median at Rosa Parks85 decibel noise

Personal decisionNo to a $150K job in BurbankNo to commute from South Bay

Why was it built this way?A simple sound barrier would have helped.


Regional Rail and the South BayFast, comfortable ride to important employment destinations:LAX ITC (one stop)Downtown Los Angeles (four stops)Glendale (five stops)Burbank (six stops)Enough to excite South Bay residents or governmentsGet serious about local feeder connectionsVoila, Regional Rail can take you to the beach


Case B - High Energy Prices - Passenger Miles per GallonCurrent Metrolink trains compare very favorably with other means of transport


Electrification OptionSuccessful Metrolink lines may be electrified if and when xeconomic conditions are appropriateBenefits of electrificationHigher person miles per gallon equivalentCombined cycle generation more efficient than dieselElectricity generated from fuels other than oil/gasCoalNuclearRenewablesNo local pollutionLower maintenanceLonger depreciation periodsFaster and quieter operationBart Reed, The Transit Coalition: Ed Tennyson wrote me about this specific topic. He may provide us with good info.


ConclusionsSome Benefits of Regional RailFast, comfortable, viable transit alternative to autoExpands a concept already proven to be popularEases long commutesAllows reading, relaxation during commuteUses existing infrastructure and ROWUpgrade of infrastructure benefits goods movementRemoves trucks from the roadLeverages and enhances other transit investmentsEnergy efficient transportation in an era of much more expensive energyEspecially transportation fuels (oil and gas)Can be electrifiedTraffic mitigation


Traffic mitigationSome possible journey times with Regional Rail, including xuse of the Harbor Sub Division.Northridge to LAX ITC, 70 minutesSouth Bay to Glendale, 40 minutesLAX ITC to Burbank Airport, 45 minutesGlendale to Northridge, 30 minutesSanta Clarita to Norwalk, 80 minutesChatsworth to Cal State Los Angeles, 55 minutesOntario Airport to LAX ITC, 100 minutesSources: Metrolinktrains.com, and our estimates of 30 minutes from Union Station to LAX, 10 minutes from LAX to South Bay.Result: for many, a viable alternative to FreewaysRoutes 5, 101, 118, 170 and 405 from ValleyRoutes 105, 110 and 405 from South Bay


GoalWork with an MTA Board Member to get the Harbor Sub Division included in the Metrolink Strategic Plan.

Specifically we would like the LA County Transportation Authority Regional Planning Department to request that the Metrolink Strategic Plan include a possible extension to LAX and the South Bay Galleria down the Harbor Sub Division .


Regional Rail: The Missing Link

12463 Telfair Ave. * Sylmar, CA 91342-3736 * V: (818) 367-1661 * F: (818) 362-7997www.transitcoaltion.org * www.regionalrail.org * www.friendsofmetrolink.org

Prepared by Andrew Shaddock and Bart Reed


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Southern California Transportation The Missing Link