LA Has Best Mass Transportation System!?! (Los Angeles, Bakersfield: how much, home, live in)

[TheRealAngelion]

L.A., Long Ruled by Cars, Becoming a Transit Leader
Evolving Region Pushes for More Rail Lines
[mod cut - newspaper article]
To see full article in today's Washiongton Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...121600923.html

[UB50]

Good story! I've really enjoyed taking Metrolink when I've been able to. If I lived out in the Inland Empire and worked downtown, I think I would take it everyday.

[marilyn220]

Best transportation system next to who?

California dreamin! LOL!

[SandyCo]

If L.A. supposedly has the best transportation system, why can't I use mass transit to go from my home to the airport (LAX)?! Maybe when the plans they have now are put into place, then L.A. will be #1 in this area... but I'm not holding my breath. So much money is wasted doing this study and that study that it costs an arm and a a leg, and decades, to get anything done. Sorry, but I remain skeptical.

[UB50]

Originally Posted by SandyCo

If L.A. supposedly has the best transportation system, why can't I use mass transit to go from my home to the airport (LAX)?! Maybe when the plans they have now are put into place, then L.A. will be #1 in this area... but I'm not holding my breath. So much money is wasted doing this study and that study that it costs an arm and a a leg, and decades, to get anything done. Sorry, but I remain skeptical.

Well, there is the Van Nuys Fly-Away bus... Have you tried taking that? That's not far from Sherman Oaks.

It's going to take a long time for LA to really have a "great" mass transit system but at least we are working on it. I lived in a city in Florida where there was NO mass transit at all. Not even a functional bus system.

[SandyCo]

UB50, I have used the Flyaway bus service before, and it's great. That's privately owned, though, and has nothing to do with MTA. I would love to see a rail or subway go from the Valley to LAX someday. Think of how much congestion it would relieve on the 405!

[UB50]

Originally Posted by SandyCo

UB50, I have used the Flyaway bus service before, and it's great. That's privately owned, though, and has nothing to do with MTA. I would love to see a rail or subway go from the Valley to LAX someday. Think of how much congestion it would relieve on the 405!

I think these things will happen eventually. You just have to give it time.

[TheRealAngelion]

Originally Posted by SandyCo

If L.A. supposedly has the best transportation system, why can't I use mass transit to go from my home to the airport (LAX)?! Maybe when the plans they have now are put into place, then L.A. will be #1 in this area... but I'm not holding my breath. So much money is wasted doing this study and that study that it costs an arm and a a leg, and decades, to get anything done. Sorry, but I remain skeptical.

I think the point of LA being rated as having the best mass transit was a tip of the hat to the progress that's been made, particularly over the last 20 years. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has pumped billions into new buses and bus lines, light rail, and the subway. And plans for further expansion are currently underway. I don't think any other major city in the US is spending as much as LA is right now on mass transit improvements and expansion.

[Sorcerer68]

Originally Posted by SandyCo

If L.A. supposedly has the best transportation system, why can't I use mass transit to go from my home to the airport (LAX)?!

You don't live near any busses!? Where do you live?

[Winston Smith]

Originally Posted by SandyCo

If L.A. supposedly has the best transportation system, why can't I use mass transit to go from my home to the airport (LAX)?!
...
Sorry, but I remain skeptical.

From far and wide you can get to LAX. That's actually one of the EASIEST destinations in my experience.

The ones I know --
Along any rail line that leads to Union Station: train there and ride a (free?) dedicated bus to LAX (every 30 minutes, or something)
Van Nuys: Flyaway
West Ventura County: Ventura County Airport Shuttle
Santa Barbara County: Santa Barbara Airbus
Bakersfield: Airport Bus of Bfield (exact name, unsure)

You should get over your skepticism. I'm old enough to remember the City of Los Angeles' RTD -- during the dark ages of LA transit. The big joke was that the RTD was anything but a Rapid Transit District. The pits!

Now that the County has taken everything over, I must say that getting around in LA is much easier than it used to be. I don't live in LA, but I go there often enough -- and I RARELY drive! I've figured out which train stations connect with the Metro Rapids (red buses), the DASH or other transit lines. For me, it's much more civilized and FAR cheaper than driving my own car, not to mention parking. Back in the dark ages there was NO rail, not even commuter trains, only raggedy diesel buses. LA has spent a lot of money on rail and transit and it HAS made a difference. Believe me.