Are there rail lines in CA? (Los Angeles, Long Beach: apartment, rental, job)

[snowlandcook]

My son and his wife, both musicians, will be moving from Boston to Los Angeles. She just landed a spot with the LA Opera Co. (located across from the Disney Center, I understand).

They are looking for a home to rent, but they prefer to use public transportation (train, subway).

My cousin (who lives out there) has mentioned the town of Walnut as a nice possibility, but she doesn't think public transit goes from Walnut to LA.

Can someone please tell me for sure if it does or does not?

What are some other locations they should consider? They would like to be within a one-mile walk to public transit, and as their mom, I'm hoping it's a safe neighborhood.

Suggestions?

[WannaGoHome]

If shes moving from Boston, tell her to get a car. She'll be really disappointed by public transit. While it might work (if you are directly on the line) to go to and from work to some locations, it isn't really helpful for getting groceries and everyday rudimentary things. Public transit is awesome in Boston. LA? Not so much. It's very car-centric. I'm not saying that it can't be done but if she's expecting anything nearly as efficient as the T, she'd better look elsewhere.

Even if she has a car though, she'll be fighting traffic. The best thing to do is try to find something close to where she works. I'm not too familiar with LA as I lived in Long Beach, Pasadena, and most of Orange County. I do know that public transit ain't the greatest (in comparison to other cities). I think it's time she thought about a car. It'll open her options up for renting a place. Sorry! I hope this helps!

[snowlandcook]

Originally Posted by WannaGoHome

If shes moving from Boston, tell her to get a car. She'll be really disappointed by public transit. While it might work (if you are directly on the line) to go to and from work to some locations, it isn't really helpful for getting groceries and everyday rudimentary things. Public transit is awesome in Boston. LA? Not so much. It's very car-centric. I'm not saying that it can't be done but if she's expecting anything nearly as efficient as the T, she'd better look elsewhere.

Even if she has a car though, she'll be fighting traffic. The best thing to do is try to find something close to where she works. I'm not too familiar with LA as I lived in Long Beach, Pasadena, and most of Orange County. I do know that public transit ain't the greatest (in comparison to other cities). I think it's time she thought about a car. It'll open her options up for renting a place. Sorry! I hope this helps!

Yes, this helps, but it's not what they'll want to hear!

What makes public transit so bad out there?

[sav858]

If she wants to take public transit just look for communities along LA's rail lines. I'd forget the Blue line since there are no nice parts it goes through.

Look along the Red Line or the Gold Line. I'd look around the Pasadena area along the Gold Line and the commute to Downtown LA will be easy and not too long at all.

I'd just look at a map of LA's rail lines then find the best community among them.

[jamesandveybe]

Originally Posted by snowlandcook

Yes, this helps, but it's not what they'll want to hear! What makes public transit so bad out there?

LA and Seattle are both way behind in mass transit. It will take her forever to get anywhere that way. You must have a car in LA unless you live above your employer.

[snowlandcook]

Originally Posted by sav858

If she wants to take public transit just look for communities along LA's rail lines. I'd forget the Blue line since there are no nice parts it goes through.

Look along the Red Line or the Gold Line. I'd look around the Pasadena area along the Gold Line and the commute to Downtown LA will be easy and not too long at all.

I'd just look at a map of LA's rail lines then find the best community among them.

Good to hear! Thanks. I'll google LA rail lines and see what I can find.

[FinkieMcGee]

Originally Posted by snowlandcook

Yes, this helps, but it's not what they'll want to hear!

What makes public transit so bad out there?

It's in the process of being developed, whereas in Boston it's been around for a long time. Southern California was built around the automobile. So you CAN live near public transportation, but your options as to the locations are limited (for now). They do have a lot of plans in the works for expanding the rail service though.

It's just not as effiicient and people tend to take their cars because the infrastructure here allows for it.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by snowlandcook

Good to hear! Thanks. I'll google LA rail lines and see what I can find.

metro.net | Metro Maps

this site has all the rail and bus maps for LA, the nicest communities are along the Gold Line from the Mission station eastward towards Sierra Madre.

You'll want a car overall in LA but for at least work and going to and from downtown, Mid Wilshire, or Hollywood there are good rail lines.

[missionhome]

It is possible to use public transportation to get to downtown Los Angeles where the LA Opera is from select communities. Downtown is by far the easiest spot in all of Los Angeles to get to by public transportation. Still, you will want to own a car for day to day transportation for stuff like the grocery or getting all the way across town. Remember, the entire Boston Metropolitan area is just a little bit bigger in population than just the city of Los Angeles itself. In greater LA there are around 18 million people and stuff isn't all centralized in one place. A car is by far the easiest way to get around. The LA map is here: http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/maps/system_map.pdf (broken link)


Now, for getting to the Opera there are a few neighborhoods along rail lines that she might like. There are two major forms of rail in So Cal. There is the light rail and subway operated by the Los Angeles County Metro or the heavy train lines operated by Metrolink.

Pasadena is located off the Gold Line. If she lives close to the station, she can ride the Gold Line Light Rail train directly into work. Pasadena is a great community with a charming downtown area.

Hollywood, Universal City, and North Hollywood are located off of the Red Line subway that heads to downtown LA.
^^^ Those neighborhoods (Red and Gold Line) are the easiest to reach downtown LA by in my opinion by using public transportation.

The cities of Burbank, Glendale, and Santa Clarita have Metrolink stations with trains to downtown LA and she may like these areas.
Orange County has some cities with stations like Fullerton, Orange, Anaheim, Tustin, or Irvine where she can ride the train in.
There are other Metrolink cities also. Check out the system map here: Metrolink :: Welcome

[snowlandcook]

Originally Posted by missionhome

It is possible to use public transportation to get to downtown Los Angeles where the LA Opera is from select communities. Downtown is by far the easiest spot in all of Los Angeles to get to by public transportation. Still, you will want to own a car for day to day transportation for stuff like the grocery or getting all the way across town. Remember, the entire Boston Metropolitan area is just a little bit bigger in population than just the city of Los Angeles itself. In greater LA there are around 18 million people and stuff isn't all centralized in one place. A car is by far the easiest way to get around. The LA map is here: http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/maps/system_map.pdf (broken link)


Now, for getting to the Opera there are a few neighborhoods along rail lines that she might like. There are two major forms of rail in So Cal. There is the light rail and subway operated by the Los Angeles County Metro or the heavy train lines operated by Metrolink.

Pasadena is located off the Gold Line. If she lives close to the station, she can ride the Gold Line Light Rail train directly into work. Pasadena is a great community with a charming downtown area.

Hollywood, Universal City, and North Hollywood are located off of the Red Line subway that heads to downtown LA.
^^^ Those neighborhoods (Red and Gold Line) are the easiest to reach downtown LA by in my opinion by using public transportation.

The cities of Burbank, Glendale, and Santa Clarita have Metrolink stations with trains to downtown LA and she may like these areas.
Orange County has some cities with stations like Fullerton, Orange, Anaheim, Tustin, or Irvine where she can ride the train in.
There are other Metrolink cities also. Check out the system map here: Metrolink :: Welcome

Wow. Thanks!!

They have mentioned Pasadena as a possibility but are having difficulty finding a place to rent--probably because they are trying to find a place in CA while they are still living in Boston. But she starts her new job in three weeks, so they need to find something soon!

Do you think they will be able to find a small house to rent in a safe area in Pasadena for around $1200 per month? Could people recommend rental sites (besides Craig's List)?

They can't do an apartment or duplex b/c they practice music all day long (him=piano; her=voice), and they would drive their neighbors batty.