Metro looking to ditch the colors for letters (Ontario, Torrance: 2015, mover)

[K 22]

So while Metro is doing its expansion over the next decade or so - it sounds like they're about ready to go the New York route and use letters to signify the lines. So you wouldn't be taking the Blue Line anymore, it would be the 'A' line.

http://la.streetsblog.org/2015/04/13...and-brt-lines/

Metro is proposing new “Letter Designations for Fixed Guideway Lines.” Basically, all Metro rail lines, plus the Orange and Silver BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) lines, would receive a letter designation. The letter would largely replace the current colors. For example, the Metro Red Line would become the “B Line.” The proposed changes are outlined in this presentation [PDF] for April Service Council meetings. The item is not on Board committee meeting agendas for this month, so the proposal will likely go to the full Metro Board of Directors in May or later.

So, is this a case of "running out of colors" and this was their best alternative?

[bruhms]

waste of money and time

the color names are fine. if not colors then why not just stripes line, zigzag line, polka dot line or whatever else? or just name a line after a person or the area it is in like westside line or south central line

[munchitup]

Originally Posted by bruhms

waste of money and time

the color names are fine. if not colors then why not just stripes line, zigzag line, polka dot line or whatever else? or just name a line after a person or the area it is in like westside line or south central line

Is it really that big of a waste? I don't think so.

[StreetLegal]

I think the change makes sense and is not that costly.

[hjt123]

So the Crenshaw Line is terminating at Redondo Beach now? And what is this L Line?

[saybanana]

If you google map Aviation/LAX Green Line station as it crosses over Aviation Blvd, it looks like it was built with a potential spur up Aviation to LAX on both sides. It seems there was an intention to have it go up Aviation years ago when it was built many years ago. It makes sense to connect to South Bay to LAX, Expo and eventually continue to the Purple and Red Line (not in the picture). A really good long north-south line other than the Blue Line. The L line is the spur on the Green Line to LAX's people mover. Some transit enthusiasts suggests the Green L could potentially go to Playa Vista, Marina Del Rey, Venice to Santa Monica via Lincoln Blvd.

I like the idea of letters or numbers. Many local bus companies use numbers which may be confusing. Many world systems use numbered lines, though. Colors are used to show where they go on a map, but similar colors can be confusing. Current Expo and Blue line are shades of blue. If someone not here and you tell them take the Blue line, they might get look at the map and say which blue? I lived in a city with a green and dark green, light blue dark blue, orange and dark orange. Names are doable like the Expo name which is not a color. Purple can be the Wilshire Line. Red Hollywood Line. London uses names.

Maps are constantly having to be changed every few years so there is a cost. Next year when the Foothill to Azusa extension and Expo line to Santa Monica open, they will need to redo all the maps and add them. In 2020 when Crenshaw and Regional connector finish hopefully, redo all the maps again with new colors like the map above. Also the purple line extension more years later and whatever else gets built.

[hjt123]

Originally Posted by saybanana

If you google map Aviation/LAX Green Line station as it crosses over Aviation Blvd, it looks like it was built with a potential spur up Aviation to LAX on both sides. It seems there was an intention to have it go up Aviation years ago when it was built many years ago. It makes sense to connect to South Bay to LAX, Expo and eventually continue to the Purple and Red Line (not in the picture). A really good long north-south line other than the Blue Line. The L line is the spur on the Green Line to LAX's people mover. Some transit enthusiasts suggests the Green L could potentially go to Playa Vista, Marina Del Rey, Venice to Santa Monica via Lincoln Blvd.

I see. I wonder why they dont just extend the People Mover from Century to the Green Line Aviation stop though. Seems easier/cheaper in the long run than running a parallel service along the same line.

A Lincoln Bl light rail line would be excellent though

[909er]

Eventually the Purple (C) line is supposed to go to the ocean. On the east end, the blue (A) line will go all the way to Ontario airport, the gold (E) line east is supposed to go somewhere like Whittier, and an ongoing pipe dream for the green (D) line is to go into Torrance.

[Cruithne]

I like the London tube system that has both a color and a name for each of its lines:




These are really easy to remember because you can associate the names with something:
Circle line for example goes round in a circle
Victoria line runs through Victoria station, one of the main train stations
Central line runs horizontally right through the middle
Piccadilly line runs through Piccadilly circus (Theater district)

and so on.


They wouldn't be so easy to remember if they were just labelled A, B, C... etc.