The city's new Orange Line busway has made little system-wide impact; should the mayor continue to strive for more transit options, or is it time to give up?
"...after several months running and lots of time for drivers and riders to get used to them, the Orange Line Metro Liner express buses chug along relatively accident-free on a dedicated 'busway' through the middle of the San Fernando Valley. But while the buses have exceeded early expectations for the number of riders, they hardly seem destined to put much of a dent in this city's chronic congestion."
"It may come as a surprise that the Los Angeles area has one of the most extensive public transit systems in the country, with 73 miles of subway and light rail, 500 miles of commuter train lines and 2,670 buses covering 18,500 stops. The problem is that people live and work in pockets spread over an area larger than Rhode Island, and that going long distances on mass transit can mean long waits and frequent transfers that send public-transit newcomers rushing back to their cars."
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has vowed to do something about the problem. "The mayor has added traffic officers at 38 choked intersections. He has sped up plans to synchronize traffic lights at all of the city's 4,300 intersections. And he promises to double the number of left-turn signals in four years.
The mayor's biggest proposal by far, however, may be the toughest to make happen, a bid to extend the city's Red Line subway nearly 13 miles from downtown to the sea."
FULL STORY: In Land of Freeways, Mass Transit Makes Nary a Dent
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
How California Transit Agencies are Addressing Rider Harassment
Safety and harassment are commonly cited reasons passengers, particularly women and girls, avoid public transit.
Significant Investments Needed to Protect LA County Residents From Climate Hazards
A new study estimates that LA County must invest billions of dollars before 2040 to protect residents from extreme heat, increasing precipitation, worsening wildfires, rising sea levels, and climate-induced public health threats.
Federal Rule Raises Cost for Oil and Gas Extraction on Public Lands
An update to federal regulations raises minimum bonding to limit orphaned wells and ensure cleanup costs are covered — but it still may not be enough to mitigate the damages caused by oil and gas drilling.
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