Dave Sotero reflects on the "mammoth undertaking" necessary to build L.A.'s modern subway system. He begins with the completion of the first phase of the Metro Red Line 20 years ago, and ends with a look at its promising future.
David Sotero reports, "Today, Metro marks the 20th anniversary of the Metro Red Line’s first phase from Union Station to MacArthur Park, a nearly 4.5-mile construction milestone that began a brand new chapter in regional rail construction and placing L.A. among other major cities across the globe with high-speed, high-capacity subways."
He recounts its "quixotic" history, spearheaded by former Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, which required "$1.431 billion for the initial segment" that was started in 1986 and opened in 1993. It faced construction challenges including a subway fire, buried fuel oil tanks, and the draining and refilling of an eight-acre lake. "Workers also found the oldest and most diverse collection of fossils ever reported from the L.A. Basin’s Miocene period — with some dating back 15.5 million years," he adds.
Subway development has introduced countless benefits, initially to Downtown Los Angeles, and later to Hollywood Boulevard, revitalizing neighborhoods, and offering Angelenos more "transit-friendly" lifestyle options. It created the “live, work and play” ethos that "continues to draw new residents, cultural venues and entertainment centers to invest in downtown," writes Sotero. And it has continued to expand phase by phase, segment by segment. "Following the subway’s opening to Westlake/MacArthur Park in 1993, consecutive construction phases brought the line to Wilshire/Western in 1996, Hollywood in 1999 and North Hollywood in 2000."
Despite its many benefits, continued expansion and increased ridership (reaching 48 million riders on the Red and Purple lines in 2012), Sotero points out that, "[o]ne of the peculiarities of the subway is that even today many residents in parts of the county have never used it or do not know it exists." "However," he adds, "that is likely to change as the subway moves from adolescence to maturity with the extension of the Metro Purple Line to the jobs-rich Westside."
The Expo Line is expected to open in Santa Monica in 2016 and the Metro Purple Line is expected to reach La Cienega Blvd by 2023, making its way to Westwood in 2036, "unless Metro finds a way to fund an acceleration of the project."
FULL STORY: First phase of Metro Red Line celebrates 20-year anniversary
Op-Ed: Los Angeles Needs a Vermont Avenue Subway
As the second busiest bus corridor in the area, Vermont Avenue is currently a candidate for bus rapid transit. But would rail be a better choice?
With a Growing Number of Transit Projects Planned, L.A. Considers Renaming Rail Lines
Like many cities, L.A. already has two trains in the blue color family. With more rail projects in the works, some think it's time to update the system.
Purple Line Extension Gets $1.6 Billion Boost in Los Angeles
The Purple Line subway extension is picking up momentum in Los Angeles. With construction already underway on the first phase, the second phase should commence in 2018.
The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.
America’s Best New Bike Lanes
PeopleForBikes highlights some of the most exciting new bike infrastructure projects completed in 2022.
Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.
L.A. County Towns Clash Over Homelessness Policies
Local governments often come to different conclusions about how to address homelessness within their respective borders, but varying approaches only exacerbate the problem.
A Mixed-Use Vision for Houston Landfill Site
A local nonprofit is urging the city to consider adding mixed-use development to the site, which city officials plan to turn into a stormwater detention facility.
Milwaukee County Makes Substantial Progress on Homelessness
In 2022, the county’s point-in-time count of unhoused people reflected just 18 individuals, the lowest in the country.
Town of Palm Beach
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
