Chatting with Los Angeles transit expert Ethan Elkind
The original Purple Line Extension project was part of Measure R, the half-cent sales tax approved by L.A. County voters in 2008. Although the project was often discussed as "the subway to the sea," the Metro Board ultimately approved enough funding in the ballot measure to get the project as far as Westwood. That was basically a compromise so that funding would be available for transit and road projects in other parts of L.A. County.
In the runup to Measure M, Metro did ask local officials which projects they would like to see funded in their areas. There was some interest in extending the subway further west, but there was more interest in the Sepulveda Pass project that is planned to run between the Orange Line in the San Fernando Valley and LAX. And that was the project that ultimately will receive more than $9 billion in Measure M funding over its three phases.
One other issue that is brought up sometimes about this: Santa Monica now has the Expo Line. To run the subway all the way west would be to run it very close to an existing transit line. Others have mentioned that perhaps it would be best to go only as far west as Barrington or Bundy. We’ll see. I wouldn’t be surprised if in the future this subject is raised again, especially if ridership is as high as I expect on the Purple Line Extension when it opens to Westwood in the mid-2020s. Stay tuned!
Chatting with Los Angeles transit expert Ethan Elkind
There are several north-south lines in the works. The Crenshaw/LAX Line is due to open in late 2019 and will allow trains to run from the Redondo Beach Station north to the new station at Expo/Crenshaw, where riders can transfer to the Expo Line.
The Measure M ballot measure that was approved by L.A. County voters last year also included several north-south projects. These include:
•The Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor that eventually will build a high-capacity transit line between the Orange Line in the SFV and LAX with a route that will likely be near the 405. Latest: http://thesource.metro.net/2017/04/26/metro-releases-rfp-to-study-sepulveda-pass-transit-options/. Also worth noting that Metro is looking at some public-private partnerships that could accelerate this project.
The Crenshaw Line will open in 2019—how are residents feeling about it?
This is a good start and a much needed north/south link in Metro’s rail network. This line would become infinitely more valuable once it gets extended north to the Purple Line, West Hollywood, and the Red Line.
Until the Crenshaw North extension to West Hollywood/Red Line is complete, LA will not have a true rail network. You can travel west/east just fine (Expo line, Green line, and Purple line eventually). But you cannot go north/south unless you connect through downtown, which is WAY out of the way if you live anywhere on the west side. Also, who is going to ride the Crenshaw line to LAX, unless you live along the current Crenshaw line, or live in downtown. Once the Crenshaw North extension is complete, then you add in lots of people on the west side (Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Mid City, etc…). The Crenshaw North extension needs to be among the highest priority lines in the network (Right up with the regional connector and purple line).
He also never mentions that "affordable" housing cannot be built without a subsidy in a city with high land costs, i.e., every single desirable city on the west coast. There is a fixed floor to the cost of even the most bare bones development represented by the combination of land price, labor, materials, permitting, design, connecting to the utility grid, etc. So if he is complaining about a lack of affordable housing, it’s surprising that he simply rails against new development (which lowers displacement) rather than calling for more subsidized affordable developments.
His arguments aren’t serious, they rely on cherry-picked data and conclusions that don’t follow from their premises, all in service to an underlying NIMBY approach to development and affordability that is continually shown to be a complete failure. So there you go, his arguments suck, and you are a sucker for believing them.
What happened to the talk of extending the Crenshaw line north through West Hollywood? We were hearing a lot about it when they needed votes for Measure M, but I haven’t seen any more updates. Anyone know anything?
Chatting with Los Angeles transit expert Ethan Elkind
All great questions so far, and I can’t wait to see your answers.
1. If only 1/4 of LA’s population lives within walking distance of a rail line, why not build more parking structures near rail lines? I understand they cost money, but a few more metro parking garages at key stations would open up the lines for far more riders. I would much rather have someone drive 3 miles to a light rail stop and take the train the rest of the way instead of drive the entire trip.
2. The city of LA’s rail network mostly runs west/east. The Crenshaw line will be a good N/S addition, but it leaves the only way to go N/S while north of I-10 to connect through downtown, which is way out of the way for anyone living on the west side. I believe LA will not have a true network until Crenshaw north to West Hollywood/Red Line is complete. What are the actual chances that this project gets fast tracked? Right now it seems that no one north of I-10 will take the Crenshaw line to LAX (unless you live in downtown).
Chatting with Los Angeles transit expert Ethan Elkind
1) Why hasn’t LA prioritized north-south routes at all? The Expo line and purple line extension to Westwood are excellent for east-west use, but the blue line and crenshaw line aren’t helpful for anyone using the 405. Why not a Sepulveda/Lincoln line?
2) Why are monorails never used? Of course we all love them from Disneyland, but truly they seem to have such a smaller footprint than our current light rails. It seems like you could run an elevated one right up the middle of the 405 and use far less space than the green line requires on the 105. Similarly, put one on Lincoln from LAX to Wilshire. Lincoln is far too narrow for a line like Crenshaw is getting, but a monorail with, say, 5-foot wide columns in the center—why not?
The best way to get to and from LAX? The FlyAway shuttle
Wow, that sounds so much better than the shuttle that used to be the "cheap" option. For $30 it took me 2.5 hours to get to West Hollywood. Never again! Though, Bwanster does have a scaring point about it filling up. I think I’ll stick with Lyft.
I am guessing you have never really spent time in south LA. West Adams/Liemart Park/Crenshaw Manor/Baldwin Hills are all great, neighborhoods. Friendly people, young families, and an up and coming social scene.
I have taken my son to a Lakers & USC game, the History museum, the beach, Culver City restaurants, art walks at the Bergamont art collective, all without using a car. 10 years from now I will have another train line connecting me to the airport, the Rams/Clippers stadium complex, a Glendale-esk shopping mall, the George Lucas Museum and a dozen other mega projects along the line. Again, all while living in a very nice neighborhood with treelined streets, neighborhood walk groups, and a ton of young families.