Metro Expo Line on KCET HD Life & Times -- 2007/03/27

[EdM021]

The people who are opposed to the Exposition Line along the old RR right-of-way should visit Boston and take a ride along its 'T' Green Line Riverside Branch. Then drive out to the Riverside 'T' Station via Mass. Route 9. Once both routes in Boston is seen it will be obvious that the Cheviot Hills alignment is the better choice.

[EdM021]

@EdM021 are seen

[bongopatrol]

the only people oppsed to this where old ass white people. to me that says totaly out of touch with reality.

[CampHighYella]

We wouldnt need light rail if we DIDNT HAVE IMMAGRATION!

[gesirgen]

@CampHighYella Regardless of what side you are on on the immigration issue, this has nothing to do with it. Remember that Los Angeles had the biggest light-rail system in the world before World War II, when the immigration wasn't an issue.

[WDI2008]

Didnt the MTA recently approve the Cheviot Hills line ?

[gesirgen]

Actually, according to the environmental-impact report, the two routes have about the same ridership, with the railroad right-of-way having slightly higher ridership than the Venice/Sepulveda route. This is because the railroad route is faster and it picks extra ridership at the Westwood Blvd Station from the buses going to UCLA and Century City. The railroad right-of-way route is slighthly higher in ridership, about five minutes faster, and about $500 million cheaper to build.

[AARONDELREY]

Eventually we should have rail on both Venice Blvd and the Expo right of way. I agree that this route isn't where most of the riders are but right now it's cheaper and it is gonna actually get done! it will be very succesful when completed.

[Xomanowar99]

sad pathetic selfish racist people oppose this rail line

[DJJamminC]

I wonder if there's a racist element at work here considering that the route borders the South Central LA area and Expo Park.

[Sora31]

if it were racist then metro wouldn't have built the gold line through East LA

[DJJamminC]

You have a point there. But by the same token you have to wonder what's going through these people's minds as well as try to figure out what their motives really are.

[denny906]

What a bunch of idiot fools who oppose this rail line. It's a much needed transit option to driving or the bus. It'd be nice to be able to ride the train down to the S.M. beach without being stuck in that congested traffic in a car or a bus.

[alexhlau]

Great video! I live in the suburb of South Pasadena and recall the opposition some residents had against the Gold Line. It was similar to Cheviot Hills...affluent suburban community with a strip of pre-existing but defunct rail running through. Opposition ran from fear of noise to "poor residents in East LA" coming into Pasadena and robbing homes. Now, the benefits to the city are everywhere, including a downtown redevelopment project that will help stimulate the city's economy.

[philiproice]

In major cities like New York and London, people would kill to have a lightrail or subway station in their neighborhood.

Only in Los Angeles do we have people who are opposed to having public transit in their neighborhoods. It's like pulling teeth to improve traffic in this city, I swear.

[TrainMan7070]

Its basically everywhere in the US, bud. Apparently people like sitting in their cars all day.

[ubrayj02]

eddiebunker - People DO get out of their cars to ride light rail. They don't do it when the rail line runs down the middle of a freeway. They do take the train when it takes them into areas where something exists for them to go to: their home, their school, and businesses.

Public subsidy induces demand - just look at the highway system! Only a fraction in user fees and gas taxes pays for our car-only roads. The rest comes from general funds and transportation bonds.

Why not the same for rail?

[Truthseeker31]

eddibunker, thousands of people ride Metro everyday in LA. How do you suppose these people would get around if Metro Rail didn't exist? CARS

[eddiebunker]

what is the advantage of putting it through the neighborhood? why not have it where people would use it?

the real question is" are people really going to get out of the cars to ride the rail?"

so far it hasn't worked for the pasadena fwy, the 105 fwy, the long beach 405.

[goriajk]

A great piece on L&T that spotlights an important issue which needs resolution - We are at a 'crossroads' for mass transit in our city. We need to act. Peace - JG