Idk , I just don’t see it. Why would I want to walk anywhere? Walking sucks. I’d prefer more roads and better maintenance. Cheaper cars and power or fuel. And also, why the hell are we all trying to live in the same places? I see lots of undeveloped land but nobody wants to invest. Or I guess the demand to live in major cities is still high, I just don’t understand why the market isn’t meeting it.
@DavidJamesHenry Was that a dig at West Covina? But when a hipster from Venice Beach needs their IKEA lamp, bookcase, kitchen, or sofa they go to West Covina, if the store in Burbank is out because guess what, the westside beach cities don't have a store within walking distance. Honestly when I saw the title of the video I thought it was real and became concerned--for West Covina. It's not Beverly Hills, but its not Compton or Venice Beach either. There's still bucolic and upscale areas of West Covina, and the heavy indigent population of Venice Beach would use the line to get to WC the way they used the former Gold Line to get from Long Beach (after the transit connector opened) to areas formerly without homeless populations like downtown Azusa. Venice Beach, Long Beach, and Santa Monica have a lot of issues that cities in the San Gabriel Valley don't need.
This (as usual) is an incredibly thoughtful and well conceived video and plan. Especially the transitions to elevated entrenched where possible - but for longer sections as opposed to for short stints. I do think you're going to want a lot of space for your rail yard (lots of frequency means lots of trains) but building a deck over the yard is certainly possible as in Hong Kong. The only other thing I'd say is it's probably worth acquiring some extra land at some of those stations on the far Eastern extent of the line to build bus terminals where various feeder routes could go and connect passengers. Oh, and I do feel like that massive Metrolink station could benefit from some cross-platform transfers... Anyways, awesome watch and incredibly well communicated!
How will you get to stations without cars? WC has the best public transportation in the vicinity, but it is still terrible. I live 10 miles, n this will not help
@@georgefunk9386I don't think they should tear it down, but it does need redevelopment. They could do what they did to Torrance's Del Amo and expand it, with more upscale brands and restaurants. It's already anchored by loved brands like Portos, and of course has the classic mall trappings--Macy's, JC Penny, Best Buy, Lazy Dog, etc. Then there's the Eastland center which is also in West Covina but a couple of miles down the 10. 2 entirely different mall concepts, one indoor, one outdoor. The Eastland center is also next door to IKEA--there's not that many in any given city. LA metro only has 4 stores, 3 full service ones, and one of those is the one in West Covina which serves the San Gabriel Valley, Inland Empire, and north Orange County. Some part of the indoor one should be made into housing. Upscale as well as affordable. I did envision the indoor mall once as having attached built in condos or apartments with a food market and hall similar to one's you find in NYC, San Francisco, or Washington DC, or certain European cities. An Asian strip mall (Hong Kong Plaza) down the street from the mall opened such a food hall recently--Haven City Market and its booming both with customers and a variety of restaurants (Italian, Middle Eastern, Taiwanese, Korean, Chinese, Salvadorean, fusion, etc.), juice and boba tea shops, and even a bar serving tapas. Reminded me of the Time Out food halls in NYC--and in a strip mall of all places. A redeveloped mall would be a much bigger opportunity for food halls like this.
Hypothetical question: If you had the choice between being run over and killed in a crosswalk, would you prefer the car were a gas engine standard drivetrain or an electric car? Answer: the gas engine car because the EV driver could claim the EV crash avoidance system failed and blame the car! Whee!! Merry Christmas all you stupid car drivers.
That's fine. If the former Gold Line is any indication, they could worsen the livability of San Gabriel Valley cities. In many ways the San Gabriel Valley was a pioneer in public transit though. The first Metrolink lines--the San Bernardino line--pretty much served the San Gabriel Valley, and to this day remains one of the most heavily used in the Metrolink system. The Gold Line was also one of the first LA Metro lines, although initially only went to Pasadena. The San Gabriel Valley is really also the cradle of what eventually would become the city and metro of LA.
@@axxxonn Gateway cities will get their light rail sometimes at the beginning of the 24th century. Until then they'll continue to pay LA sales tax to subsidize Venice and Santa Monica residents.
This is a good video presentation of a really great concept. As you note, bold leadership needs to be in place to make it happen, but it must be cooperative and complimentary leadership across the region, not just LA. The downside as I see it is the glacial pace of planning and construction that, at the current pace, will see many of us be very old or gone before this project and others like it become reality. The need for these projects is now, their existence should be now, not 2048 and beyond.
While it’s partly a planning and permitting type issue due to the complexity of CA laws (which can be improved with exemptions for rail transit) the bigger element is funding. Funding comes in a few billion a year so with such a backlog of needed projects it takes forever to run through the existing list. What really needs to happen is to increase the funding by 3-5x. How? Get people excited. Publish a long range plan with multiple lines like this that will literally revolutionize transit in LA.
@ You are correct. As the old saying goes, “No money, no honey.” In this case it’s no rail projects. And considering who will be in the White House in just over a month, their hate for Blue states in general and California in specific, I think it will unfortunately be a pretty tight four years for Metro. This doesn’t count funding already locked in and allocated for projects Metro has currently going. But I wouldn’t put anything past the incoming administration in an effort to mess things up. Like whatever Elon and his “Department of Government Efficiency” has in mind - and the guy’s already stuck his fingers into the ongoing resolution that had been agreed upon in Congress to fund the government. Metro getting clipped should be a serious worry if the jerk gets any ideas. But expect world-class transportation infrastructure projects up and running at Starship City.
Remind critics that Venice is extra wide precisely because Pacific Electric used to run on its own right-of-way down most of Venice Blvd. Cars now go where the Red Cars used to run.
I used to think Southern California had so many wide boulevards with tree medians because the urban planners cared about green space. Once I learned about the red line I've gone back and checked and yeah pretty much 100% of the large boulevards that I have looked at are that way because they used to have tracks running down the middle, whether for the streetcars or to support industry.
I'm always so annoyed when I'm on a street with giant tree medians that are basically just a way to never have to make the street narrower or wider and keep the road as straight as possible, along with masking a small turn lane later. With the apparently perfect weather everyone always talks about for LA, you'd think elevated rail would be a great have since it's cheaper than a subway and keeps it's own ROW. Keep the trees on the side to separate a bike lane from the car traffic and to give shade.
@@blores95 - That's better than the alternative, replacing the trees with pavement, e.g., Venice Blvd., and the Hollywood Freeway. But it would be good to make Angelenos realize that most of those medians exist because of Pacific Electric, and are available for reuse as rail rights of way. The same can be said about power line rights of way.
@@pacificostudios Powerline ROWs and all the little riverbed feeding drains would be great, easy ways to cheaply and quickly make walking/biking trails that cut through the county and avoid cars. Some of them are used for parks or recreational walking trails but it'd be great to create a system for getting around easily.
@@blores95 Well maybe with these fires the power lines will be upgraded and put underground. That would open up space to add bike lanes (way cheaper than transit).
Metro has become an obsession of mine since moving here a year ago. These videos are so entertaining and productive, it scratches that specific itch. Public transportation here could be so much better and this highlights that perfectly. The city needs to see your work ASAP if they haven’t already. Thank you for making these!
“Street slice”; the word you’re looking for is “section” (more commonly invoked as “cross-section”) 😉 Sorry, I had to. If you ever want an architect’s help (drawing axonometrics of one or two of these hypothetical stations, or more likely making quick plan drawings of them, getting high-level architecture input on things like design, code and engineering…etc), let me know! As a SoCal native living in NYC, love your work. Gives me hope that I can move back someday!
I have family that's live by Soto and Valley. They enjoy going to Venice Beach on weekends and shopping in Midtown. They kids go to Cal State LA and Cal Poly Pomona. They work in West Covina, and their doctor's appointments are usually at Kaiser in Baldwin Park. Perfect metro line for them.
do you know how difficult it is to travel from west covina to KPBP without cars. It is probably faster to walk than taking the buses. Do you know how difficult it's to travel to KP west covina or Plaza shopping center, walking miles. How do you get to fantasy stations? The rail fanatics just pop all the stupid idea without consideration that what happens if you don't have cars. The sad truth is the lousy public transportation in WC is the best in all the vicinity. I lived in this area for almost 4 decades. I studied Cal Poly Pomona. I transfer bus at that school. I used to live in Culver city n travel to Venice Beach n SM all the time at that time. I passed by CSULA when I take bus to downtown LA for additional transfer. One time I took bus at Plaza, the bus driver said I am the expert that I should work in customer service at foothill transit. We, non car drivers, suffer a lot. You guys keep coming non sense
@commentorsilensor3734 I have been faithful metro rider since bus tokens to tap cards. I personally lived in Boyle Heights when I was younger and took RTD. Then, I moved Montebello and mastered those bus lines, too. For the past two decades, I have been living in the SGV and appreciate Foothill Transit. I take a few lines every day to work and back, and for groceries, run too. Metro is missing a huge gap in SGV. GOLD LINE is awesome, but cover the northern section of SGV. I guess something is better than nothing.
@@commentorsilensor3734 the people that drive around for an hour to find the absolute closest parking space at Costco are the same people that hypothesize about a world without cars. Just walk a few miles to your closest station, and then a few miles to your destination once you arrive. After all, Angelinos love walking 5-10 miles a day. Also don't pay attention to the total lack of security and safety and privacy. It's one big happy family of man.
City council and county reps have virtually no knowledge of urban planning/transit planning. I went to a Vermont BRT meeting and Curren Price said "i have not yet decided if i will support this project. This is fall 2024. Funds were approved in 2016. Talk about completely disconnected.
The fact that you're not an incredibly sought after professional is criminal! The amount and quality of your work is astounding, and it boggles my mind that you're not in charge of planning transportation for at least some sort of city. Unless of course you are already hired or don't want to be.
Sydney provides a great example of this with 34 miles from Tallawong to Sydneham, although with 'only' 21 stations and a harbour to cross under. There were 1.4 million trips in the first week and the impact it has had on the city already is astonishing.
The terminal station at Venice should have at least 3 tracks so there's a buffer in case of delay. I know it's not strictly necessary if it's an automated metro, as delays are less likely, but if you want to run 90 second headways it's good to have a buffer.
@@1224chrisng Very true, you could absolutely throw in a pocket track at Midtown Crossing and maybe somewhere near the Soto station that could facilitate either short turnarounds or for staging extra trains in case of delays. Automated trains would make something like that a lot easier to dispatch.
Recently moved from the LAX area to DTLA. Holy crap, my commute to work in Culver City is sooo much easier since everything is on the E line. Really hope more and more people can experience this kind of convenience.
The westside areas of LA were the last ones to get metro rail lines. It was the most underserved for a while. Still somewhat is. DTLA meantime has rail spoking out in every direction.
It would be fine--the new building has indoor dining. I grew up in the area down the street from the first In-N-Out in Baldwin Park (lived there at a time the original founder Esther Snyder ran the company and donated money to the city to build a senior and community rec center). The old drive thru restaurant was torn down, and there's now a replica museum of sorts there across the highway. Pedestrians would also be able to shop at the In-N-Out retail store--yes there is one across from the In-N-Out restaurant. And down the street there's In-N-Out University. Actually this area is also well served by retail shops like Target, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Starbucks, a massive LA Fitness gym, etc within walking distance of In-N-Out and the proposed stop highlighted in the video.
Wow, the amount of work you've put into this is insane! One critical comment though at 26:17: There should never be a station with just a single entrance in such a dense area. There should at least be a second one in the opposite corner As you said: you need additional emergency exits anyways, so it's not so much more work to make one of these a additional entrance
As someone who took the bus from Overland to Normandie daily for school, a rail option like this would have been a lifesaver along this route! I think it's especially needed now since the metro consolidated the 733 line that had less frequent stops with the slower 33 line along Venice.
For my sweet So-Cal NIMBYs: (can’t imagine a ton of them watch anything on this channel, but still) As a Seattle resident, I PROMISE - Elevated rail is not only fine, it’s awesome
I’d love a video on Vermont HRT. That seems like one of the most important pillars to our heavy rail system. Aside from that, I’d love a video on Reseda/Ventura rail. That’s one of the most important rail lines for the valley.
Great channel !! I’m an Angelino born and raised and although it’s taken DECADES to finally see some light shown in any progress in LA for a mass transit project that actually begins to solve issues and actually make progress. It’s always seemed to me that the subway system which is massively overpriced and underwhelming in usage is still being developed with years to go before completion. It’s egregiously expensive and makes no sense as we had a fantastic light rail until we didn’t in 1965. If you would and if you already haven’t made a video on why exactly LA as far back as Mayor Bradley green light such a massive digging program. It seems by laymen thought process that a light rail system across all major streets in LA could have theoretically been finished long ago. Instead we are paying for a subway that will take decades to finish and pay for. Would love to see that story . I see that your content is focused on the positives of future possibilities and that’s great !
This is of course a great video and project. There is something odd to me about using the term urban renewal to describe large new developments, even though by the dictionary that is what we’re trying to accomplish. The reason I find it odd and offputting is that in the midwest and northeast, and maybe in California too I’m not sure, the term urban renewal historically refers to a specific period and program of destroying minority neighborhoods and replacing them with tower blocks and highways, especially in the 60s and 70s. I don’t think that’s the vibe you’re going for and that term is often used imprecisely in a way that can alienate some of the most important people to convince on projects like this. Keep up the videos please. They are really good
it's funny that TOD is unheard-of in the states, I'm fairly sure the Vancouver Expo Line has many times more TOD than the LA Expo Line, despite being in a city 4 times smaller, but I'm glad our neighbours to the south are moving in the right direction
TOD is expensive. It is cheaper to request Uber 4 times a day. There is talk to make TOD cheaper, but there is not much to do. Near rail stations mean high real estate cost
For the stations being developed under car parks, e.g. Toy District station, the station should be built along with overground development. This would allow a larger station box beneath (as foundations need to be dug anyways) and longer escalators, making the journey from street to platform level easier.
Love this line! Excited to see other potential lines like this. LA needs high quality regional scope transit that literally crushes travel time when compared to cars, and this is a great example. A network across LA of a few of these would revolutionize travel across the region.
Commenting as I go: 6:30 - looking at the railyards for the E line near Stewart St, I'd hope that the lot NE of Fairfax Ave would be able to handle it, especially a smaller capacity yard before later Phases. 15:37 - you don't even need to acquire that property for the highway onramp, just make David Ave handle the capacity to get to that existing on ramp to the west. Only watched up through the Segment 3 overview, but great stuff so far. We appreciate the work!
Comment on the area in El Monte between the freeway and Rio Hondo: a large union training facility was JUST built there and theres no way in hell that place is moving. That being said it is a large facility that will attract thousands of students daily so it is a good fit for such a transit line.
As a San Gabriel resident, this excited me so, so much-- LA Metro needs to hire you. San Gabriel has always been trapped with the worst "last mile" problem-- stuck with the L/Old Gold/Foothill light rail line 3-4 miles north, and the El Monte Transit Center J/Silver Bus line 4-5 miles southeast, making public transit options to commute to DTLA simply not worth the opportunity cost relative to driving. This line would be less than 2 miles for most San Gabriel residents, and along streets with existing major busways that could enable you to get to the New Ave or SG Blvd stops in sub 10 minutes. And of course, would be a huge economic spike for Monterey Park that would spill over to SG and surrounding communities. Great idea, great video, I wish this were a real thing.
And might I add-- HUGE connection for Monterey Park, San Gabriel, and El Monte residents to get to Cal State LA -- a major hub for upward social mobility for residents of these cities -- and to get to Baldwin Park Kaiser.
Terrible idea without good local bus connection. LA has worked hard to make sure if you don't drive, you cannot use rail. SGV bus services is even worse
Bike lanes and more frequent buses would be cheaper and come faster than an automated subway line. It also wouldn't require as much property acquisition and thus would be more feasible politically. I attended the board meeting for the K Line extension to Torrance and if LA Metro is having trouble getting an elevated train down an existing rail right of way, I'm unsure how you get the million who live along Venice and Garvey to get behind this project.
@PASH3227 frequent bus routes will be cheaper n more practical. They can even be easily be modified. Don't give me wrong. Rails are good ideas if they are connected with good bus services, but rail systems in LA require cars. So much money is spent on rails, stations, gigantic stations, good supplemental services are out. The rail supporters don't care. They just want the rails on the expensive of non car drivers. The rail supporters are so desperate that surface trains compete with cars is perfect fine. Check EXPO at the beginning. During the design stage, people already pointed out, but train fanatics don't really care. Don't make mistakes on K line. It has to be elevated ones. The sad truth is people can take trains to Torrance, but they still need uber. Train fanatics think it's OK. BTW, Torrance transit has bus from DTLA to Torrance, but it's not frequent. 8 forget whether it runs on expressway. Silver Line goes to Torrance. It runs on bus way, so its faster. What it needs is added frequency. Also, Torrance needs more frequent buses, but train fanatics just want the trains. They don't care about rest. I went to Torrance couple time in 90s. It was pain. The recruiter approach me for position at Honda. I would have taken lousy bus to El Monte, Silver line, n even worse terrible Torrance transit lines. Silver Line was the reason I applied. I applied couple times. I never got replies. It's too far even with driving. Silver Line is great, but lack of connection is the problem. Love train lovers saying connection to this point to that point. You can live anywhere. This dumb video is one of them. Unfortunately, most people who can give input are car drivers, n the design will work well for car drivers. That defeats the purpose.
Now if we can get Metro to invest in more buses for them and their main Metro associated regional affiliates (Foothill Transit and LADOT) This could be a very successful transit line!
This is a fantastic video and the planning is very sound. Those sorts of massive redevelopments have been a dream of mine for decades now... That being said, I do think a better option for a yard would be just west of Rosemead, between Rio Hondo and Lee Avenue south of Garvey, it does cut into some of the land prime for redevelopment but is not space constrained in any meaningful way so you could consolidate everything into one yard reducing overhead, and because it's not near any existing residential areas it would be much easier to build politically. As much as the auto auction site seems like a good idea on paper, I think the aerial mainline to underground yard transition tracks would be overly complicated to build and significantly cut into the amount of usable space you could have for storage and maintenance tracks.
For your next study, consider restoring the Pasadena Short Line up Huntington Blvd. as an at-grade LRT. I think the line should branch from the existing E line tunnel at Soto Street, run underground to the 10 Freeway (former Ramona Blvd., former PE Upland-San Bernardino line) and then daylight somewhere north of there. This would put a lot of traffic on the Regional Transit Connector and make the E line finally worthwhile. In fact, I think the main E line should go between Santa Monica and Arcadia, for another connection to the A line. The original Pasadena Short Line went up Fair Oaks Ave., crossing the existing A line near Glenarm Ave. Laying tracks on Huntington Blvd.--half of which was graded by Pacific Electric--has to be less expensive than trying to extend the E line to Whittier.
Did nobody tell nandert about AB2097? No such thing al a parking requirement by a transit station. If somebody's putting parking there anyways, either they just wanted to (or the project is pre-AB 2097). You'd need parking maximums if you want to force, instead of encourage, transit-friendly developments
Another person who could affect change would be our first county executive who we will elect in 2028. I think it’s almost a guarantee that they will get a seat on a reformed Metro board.
I worked on the MTA’s plans for Midtown Crossing in 1995 when the Purple line was anticipated to head south to Venice Blvd because of the ban on tunnels under Wilshire due to natural gas fears. There were full plans drawn up for it including engineered tunnels. I wonder if those plans are in an archive somewhere.
Nice! Starting to dig for it and it isn't in Metro's EIR/EIS archive (libraryarchives.metro.net/dpgtl/eirs/EIR_List.htm), presumably as it wasn't a full EIR, but there is one graphic of the alternatives in this board report accepting the study from 1996: boardarchives.metro.net/BoardBox/Box02/00000546.pdf . I'll see if I can find more.
To maximize ridership, I recommend focusing on serving low-income neighborhoods. The Segment 5-6 segment is my choice for an IOS, and maybe not even going all the way to CSU-LA, which will be costly. The Soto Street/Lincoln Park area would be a fantastic area to redevelop, and the X line make a fantastic stub to the A/B/D lines, even if it is only two stations long. The office workers can transfer at LAUS to downtown or anywhere else. Fun Fact: The crossing of Soto Street over the Alhambra Division is where the Pasadena Short Line route of Pacific Electric used to cross the tracks. Most of the route along I-10 and US 101 was formerly PE.
Leo's! That venice beach station is basically at current sea level, and I used to see some of that area flooded after winter storms (see also giant water storage tank under Ven. traffic circle)
I think you should consider extending the line further East along the river until Barranca. This will allow it to interchane with the OC Harbor Line without needing that line to detour and then the terminal station would serve the Eastland Center, and other developments such at the Jollibee headquarters and Ikea. Many of those parking lots can be redeveloped. A total of 2 new stations and 2.1 miles.
Extending the X Line to Cal Poly Pomona would be perfect. Section 8... Citrus Station at Eastland Center, Mt. San Antonio College and finally Cal Poly Pomona.
Maybe build rail along Valley to Cal Poly. It's studied, but at least it benefits me. Rails cannot go anywhere. Rails are expensive. Local bus service must improve. Reading from comments, people are happy to help oil industry
@commentorsilensor3734 from KPBP to CPP that might work. Redevelopment possibilities along the line and connects to major bus routes 7th Ave, Hacienda, Azusa, Nogales, Grand, MtSAC, and CPP. Maybe a connection to Metrolink at Brea Canyon Industry Station. From KPBP, a new redevelopment for affordable housing and service yard. It would benefit both KPBP staff and warehouse workers at Vineland Station, 7th Ave Station redevelopment along Valley between 7th and 6th Ave in industrial area, Hacienda Station with two exits one by Industry Sheriff's Station and the other in Old Town Puente, Azusa Station at northeast corner and redevelope TOD center northwest corner, Nogales Station along Valley between Nogales and Fairway, Brea Canyon at Industy Metrolink, Walnut Station at Grand Ave and Valley, Mt SAC and CPP.
@robserrano8971 i live in this area for 40 plus years. In order for this dream rail to come true, more frequent bus must be implemented. Hate has not happened yet. Past 3 decades, so many rails have been built, but not only bus services do not improve, but they got reduced because rail supporters in LA insist you must drive to train stations. I live 3 1.5 mile from Brea Canyon station, i live right by bus stop, n it's faster to walk to metrolink station than no bus routes. 194 serves Valley. Many warehouse workers depend on that. Guess what, up to 2 years ago, 194 kept cutting services. Finally, it increased to 20 minute frequency in regular hours. Still bad, but better in past 40 years. Despite lots of warehouse in Brea Canyon. Nothing changes. I walked from Diamond bar city hall to Valley via Brea Canyon, nothing changed. I met bus riders at metrolink station, they were angry that nothing was done. Again, people just care about parking lots at each station. Same thing at Vineland, 7th Ave, Nogales. I don't anticipate any change if any dream rail ever built. Gold line is there. How do I get around Irwindale, BP. People would rather deposit their second cars in parking lots. Pasadena has much better public transportation with qold line station. Kaiser IT n headquarter n IT are around rail station. I believe KP shuttle stops at train station. I could be wrong. People still prefer to drive or park cars at train stations. I have argued with train supporters that good rail systems must come with best local bus service instead of parking lots, i got a lot verbal attacks. If it doesn't work in Pasadena, it is not going to work in BP. Forget about TOD. They are expensive. The strategy is any city that has train stations must have public transportation in all commercial areas n major streets. For example, there used to bus route along the wealth area in Pasadena. That route maybe gone. Thanks to Goldline. Any disagreement, check your lovely countries, Japan. Even Vancouver n Toronto don't have such stupid design. This is LA. People love cars. I used to think auto industry causes the problem, after 30 year of rail construction, it is rail. The rail supporters fight very hard for free parking lots in WLA. They fight big parking structure in Brea Canyon. All those rail videos fail to mention. I bet those TH-camrs love to drive to train stations n take uber. They call themselves environmentalists. Your ideas if bus services greatly improve. The first step will be train lovers will not depend cars to get to rail stations in WLA n Pasadena. Public transportation is much better over. Train lovers fight to improve public transportation further in WLAn Pasadena. Train lovers demand change in city of industry, Rowland Heights, BP, WC, Irwindale and any change. So far the demand I see is more rail n big parking lots. Do not bring TOD. That is dumb. In Pasadena, it cost 3200 to rent studio back in 2008. Pasadena should have high walkable score, but it doesn't. All cities that have rail stations should have high walkable scores, but they don't. I can counter more since livein this area. If people insist drive to get in n out of stations , nothing will change
Also would it be possible to have two yards? Make the one on the west side juuuust big enough to store enough trains to provide the required service, and construct the one east of downtown to store the remaining trains required to provide 90s service on the much longer full line
Yeah it would be a bit tough, STCP (Bechtel)'s Sepulveda line plans for example have tail tracks at the Expo line interchange station. In particular on the X line as illustrated it doesn't make sense to have separate EB/WB platforms. Operationally, just in terms of the physics I mean maayyybe it's possible (a center platform instead of side platforms, destination track alternates every train and they just use the crossover to go either from WB track to EB platform or vice versa, again differing every other train). But at 90s headways CPUC probably says no (for good reason!). What I would do though, if there's no room for tail tracks, is have the service pattern as described above but quad track maybe a half mile to reduce potential conflicts/delays from CBTC stuff as the crossover is occupied - so, the two extra (outer) tracks here handle EB traffic while the two 'original' ones WB traffic. The center platform proposal I describe above means there's one more diamond crossing in this quad tracking service pattern, but that's better than the original situation. You can of course do the same with side platforms (then the two extra tracks are the inner two, instead of outer two), but then riders have to wait (gasp) up to 3 minutes instead of 90 seconds.
I love most of this design. However, I feel section 6 is really problematic especially around CSULA. There would need to be a significant amount of geotechnical work to even make it feasible. Said work may make already established connectivity unusable. You may have to move the Soto station south closer to USC medical center and cross over to City Terrace where you add a station there with shuttle to CSULA for either an easier flyover over I-710 or dipping under.
Love this proposed line. Living in Pomona, this would be close enough for me to hop on at West Covina and head west. Now, if elected officials and government leaders can only do something about making sure Venice is clean and safe…
32:50 I think you should consider elevators & escalators to a mezzanine just above the tunnel and then making the station elevator only with at least 7 elevators.
Leaning hard into single bore, you don't have to do fully cut and cover stations to build a station box below ground, if the soil condition works out there are a few options like New Austrian tunneling method
Technically you could use the E-Line yard if you use rolling stock with the same size as the E-Line Cars, except longer. An underground rail yard could also work but if thats too expensive first site (vehicle yard) is big enough for a small rail yard that will handle the base amount of cars needed to run good service on the first couple western segments, until you get to Union and can use Division 20.
On the trenched section on Venice; infrastructure like this - historically highways built in this fashion, tend to cut neighbourhoods and communities in half, especially as I assume a lot of mid-street pedestrian crossing happens here. I'd be weary of using lots of trenching, and making sure proper street design such as frequent raised crosswalks (ideally where lanes are split such that pedestrians only cross two lanes at a time ala Not Just Bikes and Amsterdam) are provided so that the neighbourhood can stay, and perhaps become even more connected as a result.
Just think, if you had started to view this video in Venice, you would have reached your destination by the time this video ended in West Covina.
True, but the sad part is, now you're in West Covina
@@DavidJamesHenry Ha Ha Great.
@@DavidJamesHenry 😂
Idk , I just don’t see it. Why would I want to walk anywhere? Walking sucks. I’d prefer more roads and better maintenance. Cheaper cars and power or fuel. And also, why the hell are we all trying to live in the same places? I see lots of undeveloped land but nobody wants to invest. Or I guess the demand to live in major cities is still high, I just don’t understand why the market isn’t meeting it.
@DavidJamesHenry Was that a dig at West Covina? But when a hipster from Venice Beach needs their IKEA lamp, bookcase, kitchen, or sofa they go to West Covina, if the store in Burbank is out because guess what, the westside beach cities don't have a store within walking distance.
Honestly when I saw the title of the video I thought it was real and became concerned--for West Covina.
It's not Beverly Hills, but its not Compton or Venice Beach either.
There's still bucolic and upscale areas of West Covina, and the heavy indigent population of Venice Beach would use the line to get to WC the way they used the former Gold Line to get from Long Beach (after the transit connector opened) to areas formerly without homeless populations like downtown Azusa.
Venice Beach, Long Beach, and Santa Monica have a lot of issues that cities in the San Gabriel Valley don't need.
This (as usual) is an incredibly thoughtful and well conceived video and plan. Especially the transitions to elevated entrenched where possible - but for longer sections as opposed to for short stints. I do think you're going to want a lot of space for your rail yard (lots of frequency means lots of trains) but building a deck over the yard is certainly possible as in Hong Kong.
The only other thing I'd say is it's probably worth acquiring some extra land at some of those stations on the far Eastern extent of the line to build bus terminals where various feeder routes could go and connect passengers. Oh, and I do feel like that massive Metrolink station could benefit from some cross-platform transfers...
Anyways, awesome watch and incredibly well communicated!
BE STILL MY BEATING HEART ... Every time theres a Nandert upload
WHAT IS THIS CONSISTENCY
I'm enjoying the LA Metro Fan Fiction :)
As someone from West Covina, I absolutely LOVE this. The SGV is ripe for this kind of transformation
hey neighbor!! yess i agree!
I live in West Covina, too. I love this plan. Knock down the West Covina Mall while you're at it!
How will you get to stations without cars?
WC has the best public transportation in the vicinity, but it is still terrible.
I live 10 miles, n this will not help
@@georgefunk9386I don't think they should tear it down, but it does need redevelopment.
They could do what they did to Torrance's Del Amo and expand it, with more upscale brands and restaurants. It's already anchored by loved brands like Portos, and of course has the classic mall trappings--Macy's, JC Penny, Best Buy, Lazy Dog, etc.
Then there's the Eastland center which is also in West Covina but a couple of miles down the 10. 2 entirely different mall concepts, one indoor, one outdoor. The Eastland center is also next door to IKEA--there's not that many in any given city. LA metro only has 4 stores, 3 full service ones, and one of those is the one in West Covina which serves the San Gabriel Valley, Inland Empire, and north Orange County.
Some part of the indoor one should be made into housing. Upscale as well as affordable.
I did envision the indoor mall once as having attached built in condos or apartments with a food market and hall similar to one's you find in NYC, San Francisco, or Washington DC, or certain European cities.
An Asian strip mall (Hong Kong Plaza) down the street from the mall opened such a food hall recently--Haven City Market and its booming both with customers and a variety of restaurants (Italian, Middle Eastern, Taiwanese, Korean, Chinese, Salvadorean, fusion, etc.), juice and boba tea shops, and even a bar serving tapas. Reminded me of the Time Out food halls in NYC--and in a strip mall of all places. A redeveloped mall would be a much bigger opportunity for food halls like this.
Hypothetical question: If you had the choice between being run over and killed in a crosswalk, would you prefer the car were a gas engine standard drivetrain or an electric car? Answer: the gas engine car because the EV driver could claim the EV crash avoidance system failed and blame the car! Whee!! Merry Christmas all you stupid car drivers.
LA Metro planning board be like--"what is a san gabriel valley?"
What is a valley in general
Same thing for the gateway cities. Specifically those bordering OC.
That's fine. If the former Gold Line is any indication, they could worsen the livability of San Gabriel Valley cities.
In many ways the San Gabriel Valley was a pioneer in public transit though. The first Metrolink lines--the San Bernardino line--pretty much served the San Gabriel Valley, and to this day remains one of the most heavily used in the Metrolink system.
The Gold Line was also one of the first LA Metro lines, although initially only went to Pasadena.
The San Gabriel Valley is really also the cradle of what eventually would become the city and metro of LA.
@@axxxonn Gateway cities will get their light rail sometimes at the beginning of the 24th century. Until then they'll continue to pay LA sales tax to subsidize Venice and Santa Monica residents.
how do we vote you into whatever office handles this shit.
Another unfathomably based video by nandert. The quality and detail of these designs you are showing is truly unmatched, and not just for LA.
Babe wake up Nandert just posted a new video.
This is a good video presentation of a really great concept. As you note, bold leadership needs to be in place to make it happen, but it must be cooperative and complimentary leadership across the region, not just LA. The downside as I see it is the glacial pace of planning and construction that, at the current pace, will see many of us be very old or gone before this project and others like it become reality. The need for these projects is now, their existence should be now, not 2048 and beyond.
While it’s partly a planning and permitting type issue due to the complexity of CA laws (which can be improved with exemptions for rail transit) the bigger element is funding. Funding comes in a few billion a year so with such a backlog of needed projects it takes forever to run through the existing list. What really needs to happen is to increase the funding by 3-5x. How? Get people excited. Publish a long range plan with multiple lines like this that will literally revolutionize transit in LA.
@ You are correct. As the old saying goes, “No money, no honey.” In this case it’s no rail projects. And considering who will be in the White House in just over a month, their hate for Blue states in general and California in specific, I think it will unfortunately be a pretty tight four years for Metro. This doesn’t count funding already locked in and allocated for projects Metro has currently going. But I wouldn’t put anything past the incoming administration in an effort to mess things up. Like whatever Elon and his “Department of Government Efficiency” has in mind - and the guy’s already stuck his fingers into the ongoing resolution that had been agreed upon in Congress to fund the government. Metro getting clipped should be a serious worry if the jerk gets any ideas. But expect world-class transportation infrastructure projects up and running at Starship City.
Remind critics that Venice is extra wide precisely because Pacific Electric used to run on its own right-of-way down most of Venice Blvd. Cars now go where the Red Cars used to run.
I used to think Southern California had so many wide boulevards with tree medians because the urban planners cared about green space. Once I learned about the red line I've gone back and checked and yeah pretty much 100% of the large boulevards that I have looked at are that way because they used to have tracks running down the middle, whether for the streetcars or to support industry.
I'm always so annoyed when I'm on a street with giant tree medians that are basically just a way to never have to make the street narrower or wider and keep the road as straight as possible, along with masking a small turn lane later. With the apparently perfect weather everyone always talks about for LA, you'd think elevated rail would be a great have since it's cheaper than a subway and keeps it's own ROW. Keep the trees on the side to separate a bike lane from the car traffic and to give shade.
@@blores95 - That's better than the alternative, replacing the trees with pavement, e.g., Venice Blvd., and the Hollywood Freeway. But it would be good to make Angelenos realize that most of those medians exist because of Pacific Electric, and are available for reuse as rail rights of way. The same can be said about power line rights of way.
@@pacificostudios Powerline ROWs and all the little riverbed feeding drains would be great, easy ways to cheaply and quickly make walking/biking trails that cut through the county and avoid cars. Some of them are used for parks or recreational walking trails but it'd be great to create a system for getting around easily.
@@blores95 Well maybe with these fires the power lines will be upgraded and put underground. That would open up space to add bike lanes (way cheaper than transit).
Metro has become an obsession of mine since moving here a year ago. These videos are so entertaining and productive, it scratches that specific itch. Public transportation here could be so much better and this highlights that perfectly. The city needs to see your work ASAP if they haven’t already. Thank you for making these!
Man, I want to live in this LA!
Go get cars even if this rail were built
“Street slice”; the word you’re looking for is “section” (more commonly invoked as “cross-section”) 😉 Sorry, I had to.
If you ever want an architect’s help (drawing axonometrics of one or two of these hypothetical stations, or more likely making quick plan drawings of them, getting high-level architecture input on things like design, code and engineering…etc), let me know!
As a SoCal native living in NYC, love your work. Gives me hope that I can move back someday!
I have family that's live by Soto and Valley. They enjoy going to Venice Beach on weekends and shopping in Midtown. They kids go to Cal State LA and Cal Poly Pomona. They work in West Covina, and their doctor's appointments are usually at Kaiser in Baldwin Park. Perfect metro line for them.
do you know how difficult it is to travel from west covina to KPBP without cars. It is probably faster to walk than taking the buses.
Do you know how difficult it's to travel to KP west covina or Plaza shopping center, walking miles.
How do you get to fantasy stations?
The rail fanatics just pop all the stupid idea without consideration that what happens if you don't have cars.
The sad truth is the lousy public transportation in WC is the best in all the vicinity.
I lived in this area for almost 4 decades. I studied Cal Poly Pomona. I transfer bus at that school. I used to live in Culver city n travel to Venice Beach n SM all the time at that time. I passed by CSULA when I take bus to downtown LA for additional transfer.
One time I took bus at Plaza, the bus driver said I am the expert that I should work in customer service at foothill transit.
We, non car drivers, suffer a lot. You guys keep coming non sense
@commentorsilensor3734 I have been faithful metro rider since bus tokens to tap cards. I personally lived in Boyle Heights when I was younger and took RTD. Then, I moved Montebello and mastered those bus lines, too. For the past two decades, I have been living in the SGV and appreciate Foothill Transit. I take a few lines every day to work and back, and for groceries, run too. Metro is missing a huge gap in SGV. GOLD LINE is awesome, but cover the northern section of SGV. I guess something is better than nothing.
@@commentorsilensor3734 the people that drive around for an hour to find the absolute closest parking space at Costco are the same people that hypothesize about a world without cars. Just walk a few miles to your closest station, and then a few miles to your destination once you arrive. After all, Angelinos love walking 5-10 miles a day. Also don't pay attention to the total lack of security and safety and privacy. It's one big happy family of man.
I'd vote for you in the council.
City council and county reps have virtually no knowledge of urban planning/transit planning.
I went to a Vermont BRT meeting and Curren Price said "i have not yet decided if i will support this project. This is fall 2024. Funds were approved in 2016. Talk about completely disconnected.
this super specific content makes me feel like gods favorite as a west side resident
This video is so insanely high quality. Nothing like it on TH-cam today.
The fact that you're not an incredibly sought after professional is criminal! The amount and quality of your work is astounding, and it boggles my mind that you're not in charge of planning transportation for at least some sort of city. Unless of course you are already hired or don't want to be.
Babe I know you just went to sleep but wake up Nandert just posted a new video its another Christmas miracle
Sydney provides a great example of this with 34 miles from Tallawong to Sydneham, although with 'only' 21 stations and a harbour to cross under. There were 1.4 million trips in the first week and the impact it has had on the city already is astonishing.
These videos simultaneously give me hope and fills me with sadness when comparing with reality
i love super local high quality content
Really hope someone with authority at LA Metro watches and enjoys your videos!
all hail nandert!!! pls never stop making videos
Amazing that you have everything thought out 😮
The terminal station at Venice should have at least 3 tracks so there's a buffer in case of delay.
I know it's not strictly necessary if it's an automated metro, as delays are less likely, but if you want to run 90 second headways it's good to have a buffer.
With PSDs there shouldn't be much in the way of delays, but I didn't see them in the drawings so... I agree with you
@@DanielSchramm you can always have storage tracks elsewhere in the system, given how wide the ROW is, it should be fairly easy
@@1224chrisng Very true, you could absolutely throw in a pocket track at Midtown Crossing and maybe somewhere near the Soto station that could facilitate either short turnarounds or for staging extra trains in case of delays. Automated trains would make something like that a lot easier to dispatch.
Amazing video as always, thank you. I've dreamed of stuff like this on Long Island where I live.
Can’t wait for the concept line From Azusa to Huntington Beach
While I don’t live in the LA metro these videos are just fascinating to me I can’t stop watching them
Recently moved from the LAX area to DTLA. Holy crap, my commute to work in Culver City is sooo much easier since everything is on the E line.
Really hope more and more people can experience this kind of convenience.
The westside areas of LA were the last ones to get metro rail lines. It was the most underserved for a while. Still somewhat is. DTLA meantime has rail spoking out in every direction.
50:30 The idea that In N Out will have to primarily serve pedestrians instead of drivethru is going to be hilarious
It would be fine--the new building has indoor dining. I grew up in the area down the street from the first In-N-Out in Baldwin Park (lived there at a time the original founder Esther Snyder ran the company and donated money to the city to build a senior and community rec center). The old drive thru restaurant was torn down, and there's now a replica museum of sorts there across the highway.
Pedestrians would also be able to shop at the In-N-Out retail store--yes there is one across from the In-N-Out restaurant. And down the street there's In-N-Out University.
Actually this area is also well served by retail shops like Target, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Starbucks, a massive LA Fitness gym, etc within walking distance of In-N-Out and the proposed stop highlighted in the video.
Wow, the amount of work you've put into this is insane!
One critical comment though at 26:17: There should never be a station with just a single entrance in such a dense area. There should at least be a second one in the opposite corner
As you said: you need additional emergency exits anyways, so it's not so much more work to make one of these a additional entrance
As someone who took the bus from Overland to Normandie daily for school, a rail option like this would have been a lifesaver along this route! I think it's especially needed now since the metro consolidated the 733 line that had less frequent stops with the slower 33 line along Venice.
Man that station serving Lincoln Park/ Heights is just *chef's kiss*
I've been on the 33 on Venice at like midnight on a friday and there's barely even standing room no seats we need this so bad!
For my sweet So-Cal NIMBYs: (can’t imagine a ton of them watch anything on this channel, but still)
As a Seattle resident, I PROMISE - Elevated rail is not only fine, it’s awesome
I’d love a video on Vermont HRT. That seems like one of the most important pillars to our heavy rail system. Aside from that, I’d love a video on Reseda/Ventura rail. That’s one of the most important rail lines for the valley.
perfect way to start the week, with a nandert upload.
Congrats on the new family addition. love your content take care and look forward to future videos
Great channel !!
I’m an Angelino born and raised and although it’s taken DECADES to finally see some light shown in any progress in LA for a mass transit project that actually begins to solve issues and actually make progress. It’s always seemed to me that the subway system which is massively overpriced and underwhelming in usage is still being developed with years to go before completion. It’s egregiously expensive and makes no sense as we had a fantastic light rail until we didn’t in 1965. If you would and if you already haven’t made a video on why exactly LA as far back as Mayor Bradley green light such a massive digging program. It seems by laymen thought process that a light rail system across all major streets in LA could have theoretically been finished long ago. Instead we are paying for a subway that will take decades to finish and pay for. Would love to see that story .
I see that your content is focused on the positives of future possibilities and that’s great !
These in-depth videos on specific lines are really amazing
As always, I love the graphics, maps, music and clear uncomplicated explanation of a transit utopia. Nandert, you have a great narration voice, too.
This is of course a great video and project. There is something odd to me about using the term urban renewal to describe large new developments, even though by the dictionary that is what we’re trying to accomplish. The reason I find it odd and offputting is that in the midwest and northeast, and maybe in California too I’m not sure, the term urban renewal historically refers to a specific period and program of destroying minority neighborhoods and replacing them with tower blocks and highways, especially in the 60s and 70s. I don’t think that’s the vibe you’re going for and that term is often used imprecisely in a way that can alienate some of the most important people to convince on projects like this. Keep up the videos please. They are really good
LET’S GOOOO MORE PLANNING VIDEOS!!! You’re making my finals week tolerable thank you Mr. Nandert.
Wonderful work
it's funny that TOD is unheard-of in the states, I'm fairly sure the Vancouver Expo Line has many times more TOD than the LA Expo Line, despite being in a city 4 times smaller, but I'm glad our neighbours to the south are moving in the right direction
TOD is expensive. It is cheaper to request Uber 4 times a day.
There is talk to make TOD cheaper, but there is not much to do. Near rail stations mean high real estate cost
For the stations being developed under car parks, e.g. Toy District station, the station should be built along with overground development. This would allow a larger station box beneath (as foundations need to be dug anyways) and longer escalators, making the journey from street to platform level easier.
I think due to the depth of the station, it’s best just to serve it with elevators like Washington Park station in Portland
@@TheLiamsterBarcelona line 9 has a bunch of those stations too. Just a bank of 6 elevators
This is the kind of analysis we would have paid a consulting firm $400k to do, and this is better quality too. Keep up the incredible work :)
Love this line! Excited to see other potential lines like this. LA needs high quality regional scope transit that literally crushes travel time when compared to cars, and this is a great example. A network across LA of a few of these would revolutionize travel across the region.
16:00: The return of an aerial cross-over station to this intersection from P.E days! This needs priority the 33 gets so jammed.
There's a lot of new developments between Santa Anita and 5 Points in El Monte.
Nandert legend
Commenting as I go:
6:30 - looking at the railyards for the E line near Stewart St, I'd hope that the lot NE of Fairfax Ave would be able to handle it, especially a smaller capacity yard before later Phases.
15:37 - you don't even need to acquire that property for the highway onramp, just make David Ave handle the capacity to get to that existing on ramp to the west.
Only watched up through the Segment 3 overview, but great stuff so far. We appreciate the work!
Yay new Nandert vid!
Metro needs to jump on the LA Auction abandoned lot.
Yay Christmas came early this year!
I love you Nandert
33:57 "a full 100 feet under street level"
nice. We're getting a station 100 meters below ground in Stockholm in a few years.
It's my party and I choose the movie!
Amazing video as always. As someone who frequently works in Burbank, I'd love a video on the G and R lines!
Comment on the area in El Monte between the freeway and Rio Hondo: a large union training facility was JUST built there and theres no way in hell that place is moving. That being said it is a large facility that will attract thousands of students daily so it is a good fit for such a transit line.
I HATE that Nick thinks industrial space needs to be redeveloped. They generate ridership through all the jobs they provide.
This is so cool!!!! Metro needs to hire you, QUICK!
My vote is for either Vermont, or for the C line extensions
As a San Gabriel resident, this excited me so, so much-- LA Metro needs to hire you. San Gabriel has always been trapped with the worst "last mile" problem-- stuck with the L/Old Gold/Foothill light rail line 3-4 miles north, and the El Monte Transit Center J/Silver Bus line 4-5 miles southeast, making public transit options to commute to DTLA simply not worth the opportunity cost relative to driving. This line would be less than 2 miles for most San Gabriel residents, and along streets with existing major busways that could enable you to get to the New Ave or SG Blvd stops in sub 10 minutes. And of course, would be a huge economic spike for Monterey Park that would spill over to SG and surrounding communities.
Great idea, great video, I wish this were a real thing.
And might I add-- HUGE connection for Monterey Park, San Gabriel, and El Monte residents to get to Cal State LA -- a major hub for upward social mobility for residents of these cities -- and to get to Baldwin Park Kaiser.
Terrible idea without good local bus connection.
LA has worked hard to make sure if you don't drive, you cannot use rail.
SGV bus services is even worse
Bike lanes and more frequent buses would be cheaper and come faster than an automated subway line. It also wouldn't require as much property acquisition and thus would be more feasible politically.
I attended the board meeting for the K Line extension to Torrance and if LA Metro is having trouble getting an elevated train down an existing rail right of way, I'm unsure how you get the million who live along Venice and Garvey to get behind this project.
@PASH3227 frequent bus routes will be cheaper n more practical. They can even be easily be modified.
Don't give me wrong. Rails are good ideas if they are connected with good bus services, but rail systems in LA require cars. So much money is spent on rails, stations, gigantic stations, good supplemental services are out.
The rail supporters don't care. They just want the rails on the expensive of non car drivers.
The rail supporters are so desperate that surface trains compete with cars is perfect fine. Check EXPO at the beginning.
During the design stage, people already pointed out, but train fanatics don't really care.
Don't make mistakes on K line. It has to be elevated ones.
The sad truth is people can take trains to Torrance, but they still need uber.
Train fanatics think it's OK.
BTW, Torrance transit has bus from DTLA to Torrance, but it's not frequent. 8 forget whether it runs on expressway.
Silver Line goes to Torrance. It runs on bus way, so its faster. What it needs is added frequency. Also, Torrance needs more frequent buses, but train fanatics just want the trains. They don't care about rest.
I went to Torrance couple time in 90s. It was pain.
The recruiter approach me for position at Honda. I would have taken lousy bus to El Monte, Silver line, n even worse terrible Torrance transit lines. Silver Line was the reason I applied. I applied couple times. I never got replies. It's too far even with driving. Silver Line is great, but lack of connection is the problem.
Love train lovers saying connection to this point to that point. You can live anywhere. This dumb video is one of them.
Unfortunately, most people who can give input are car drivers, n the design will work well for car drivers.
That defeats the purpose.
Without looking at the route my immediate answers to wear to put a west side yard is any golf course 😅
Nick you have to run for office. This is great!
Rosemead Station has endless potential.
You need good bus connection. I know a person who walked from El Monte to Rosemead cannot contribute
Now if we can get Metro to invest in more buses for them and their main Metro associated regional affiliates (Foothill Transit and LADOT) This could be a very successful transit line!
48:29 similar to Jamaica station on Long Island!
Just nitpicking here, but 35 stations over 34 miles is actually exactly 1 mile per station since you have a station at mile 0 too
This is a fantastic video and the planning is very sound. Those sorts of massive redevelopments have been a dream of mine for decades now...
That being said, I do think a better option for a yard would be just west of Rosemead, between Rio Hondo and Lee Avenue south of Garvey, it does cut into some of the land prime for redevelopment but is not space constrained in any meaningful way so you could consolidate everything into one yard reducing overhead, and because it's not near any existing residential areas it would be much easier to build politically. As much as the auto auction site seems like a good idea on paper, I think the aerial mainline to underground yard transition tracks would be overly complicated to build and significantly cut into the amount of usable space you could have for storage and maintenance tracks.
my city 🥰🥰
For your next study, consider restoring the Pasadena Short Line up Huntington Blvd. as an at-grade LRT. I think the line should branch from the existing E line tunnel at Soto Street, run underground to the 10 Freeway (former Ramona Blvd., former PE Upland-San Bernardino line) and then daylight somewhere north of there. This would put a lot of traffic on the Regional Transit Connector and make the E line finally worthwhile. In fact, I think the main E line should go between Santa Monica and Arcadia, for another connection to the A line. The original Pasadena Short Line went up Fair Oaks Ave., crossing the existing A line near Glenarm Ave. Laying tracks on Huntington Blvd.--half of which was graded by Pacific Electric--has to be less expensive than trying to extend the E line to Whittier.
Did nobody tell nandert about AB2097? No such thing al a parking requirement by a transit station. If somebody's putting parking there anyways, either they just wanted to (or the project is pre-AB 2097). You'd need parking maximums if you want to force, instead of encourage, transit-friendly developments
genius, blessing from god you are
Another person who could affect change would be our first county executive who we will elect in 2028. I think it’s almost a guarantee that they will get a seat on a reformed Metro board.
All the board members don't cars.
Oh, i forget, they care about car drivers like rail supporters.
I worked on the MTA’s plans for Midtown Crossing in 1995 when the Purple line was anticipated to head south to Venice Blvd because of the ban on tunnels under Wilshire due to natural gas fears. There were full plans drawn up for it including engineered tunnels. I wonder if those plans are in an archive somewhere.
Nice! Starting to dig for it and it isn't in Metro's EIR/EIS archive (libraryarchives.metro.net/dpgtl/eirs/EIR_List.htm), presumably as it wasn't a full EIR, but there is one graphic of the alternatives in this board report accepting the study from 1996: boardarchives.metro.net/BoardBox/Box02/00000546.pdf . I'll see if I can find more.
teeny bit more detail here boardarchives.metro.net/Items/1995/07_July/items_g_0037.pdf
To maximize ridership, I recommend focusing on serving low-income neighborhoods. The Segment 5-6 segment is my choice for an IOS, and maybe not even going all the way to CSU-LA, which will be costly. The Soto Street/Lincoln Park area would be a fantastic area to redevelop, and the X line make a fantastic stub to the A/B/D lines, even if it is only two stations long. The office workers can transfer at LAUS to downtown or anywhere else. Fun Fact: The crossing of Soto Street over the Alhambra Division is where the Pasadena Short Line route of Pacific Electric used to cross the tracks. Most of the route along I-10 and US 101 was formerly PE.
Leo's!
That venice beach station is basically at current sea level, and I used to see some of that area flooded after winter storms (see also giant water storage tank under Ven. traffic circle)
I think you should consider extending the line further East along the river until Barranca. This will allow it to interchane with the OC Harbor Line without needing that line to detour and then the terminal station would serve the Eastland Center, and other developments such at the Jollibee headquarters and Ikea. Many of those parking lots can be redeveloped. A total of 2 new stations and 2.1 miles.
Extending the X Line to Cal Poly Pomona would be perfect. Section 8... Citrus Station at Eastland Center, Mt. San Antonio College and finally Cal Poly Pomona.
Maybe build rail along Valley to Cal Poly.
It's studied, but at least it benefits me.
Rails cannot go anywhere. Rails are expensive.
Local bus service must improve.
Reading from comments, people are happy to help oil industry
@commentorsilensor3734 from KPBP to CPP that might work. Redevelopment possibilities along the line and connects to major bus routes 7th Ave, Hacienda, Azusa, Nogales, Grand, MtSAC, and CPP. Maybe a connection to Metrolink at Brea Canyon Industry Station. From KPBP, a new redevelopment for affordable housing and service yard. It would benefit both KPBP staff and warehouse workers at Vineland Station, 7th Ave Station redevelopment along Valley between 7th and 6th Ave in industrial area, Hacienda Station with two exits one by Industry Sheriff's Station and the other in Old Town Puente, Azusa Station at northeast corner and redevelope TOD center northwest corner, Nogales Station along Valley between Nogales and Fairway, Brea Canyon at Industy Metrolink, Walnut Station at Grand Ave and Valley, Mt SAC and CPP.
@robserrano8971 i live in this area for 40 plus years. In order for this dream rail to come true, more frequent bus must be implemented. Hate has not happened yet. Past 3 decades, so many rails have been built, but not only bus services do not improve, but they got reduced because rail supporters in LA insist you must drive to train stations. I live 3
1.5 mile from Brea Canyon station, i live right by bus stop, n it's faster to walk to metrolink station than no bus routes.
194 serves Valley. Many warehouse workers depend on that. Guess what, up to 2 years ago, 194 kept cutting services. Finally, it increased to 20 minute frequency in regular hours. Still bad, but better in past 40 years. Despite lots of warehouse in Brea Canyon. Nothing changes. I walked from Diamond bar city hall to Valley via Brea Canyon, nothing changed. I met bus riders at metrolink station, they were angry that nothing was done. Again, people just care about parking lots at each station.
Same thing at Vineland, 7th Ave, Nogales.
I don't anticipate any change if any dream rail ever built. Gold line is there. How do I get around Irwindale, BP.
People would rather deposit their second cars in parking lots.
Pasadena has much better public transportation with qold line station. Kaiser IT n headquarter n IT are around rail station. I believe KP shuttle stops at train station. I could be wrong. People still prefer to drive or park cars at train stations. I have argued with train supporters that good rail systems must come with best local bus service instead of parking lots, i got a lot verbal attacks.
If it doesn't work in Pasadena, it is not going to work in BP.
Forget about TOD. They are expensive. The strategy is any city that has train stations must have public transportation in all commercial areas n major streets. For example, there used to bus route along the wealth area in Pasadena. That route maybe gone. Thanks to Goldline.
Any disagreement, check your lovely countries, Japan. Even Vancouver n Toronto don't have such stupid design.
This is LA. People love cars. I used to think auto industry causes the problem, after 30 year of rail construction, it is rail.
The rail supporters fight very hard for free parking lots in WLA. They fight big parking structure in Brea Canyon. All those rail videos fail to mention. I bet those TH-camrs love to drive to train stations n take uber. They call themselves environmentalists.
Your ideas if bus services greatly improve. The first step will be train lovers will not depend cars to get to rail stations in WLA n Pasadena. Public transportation is much better over. Train lovers fight to improve public transportation further in WLAn Pasadena. Train lovers demand change in city of industry, Rowland Heights, BP, WC, Irwindale and any change.
So far the demand I see is more rail n big parking lots.
Do not bring TOD. That is dumb. In Pasadena, it cost 3200 to rent studio back in 2008.
Pasadena should have high walkable score, but it doesn't. All cities that have rail stations should have high walkable scores, but they don't.
I can counter more since livein this area.
If people insist drive to get in n out of stations , nothing will change
Instant like as usual
Is a station without tail tracks or layup lines (like your proposed western terminus) able to support turning around 90 second headways?
Also would it be possible to have two yards? Make the one on the west side juuuust big enough to store enough trains to provide the required service, and construct the one east of downtown to store the remaining trains required to provide 90s service on the much longer full line
Yeah it would be a bit tough, STCP (Bechtel)'s Sepulveda line plans for example have tail tracks at the Expo line interchange station. In particular on the X line as illustrated it doesn't make sense to have separate EB/WB platforms.
Operationally, just in terms of the physics I mean maayyybe it's possible (a center platform instead of side platforms, destination track alternates every train and they just use the crossover to go either from WB track to EB platform or vice versa, again differing every other train). But at 90s headways CPUC probably says no (for good reason!). What I would do though, if there's no room for tail tracks, is have the service pattern as described above but quad track maybe a half mile to reduce potential conflicts/delays from CBTC stuff as the crossover is occupied - so, the two extra (outer) tracks here handle EB traffic while the two 'original' ones WB traffic. The center platform proposal I describe above means there's one more diamond crossing in this quad tracking service pattern, but that's better than the original situation. You can of course do the same with side platforms (then the two extra tracks are the inner two, instead of outer two), but then riders have to wait (gasp) up to 3 minutes instead of 90 seconds.
I love most of this design. However, I feel section 6 is really problematic especially around CSULA. There would need to be a significant amount of geotechnical work to even make it feasible. Said work may make already established connectivity unusable. You may have to move the Soto station south closer to USC medical center and cross over to City Terrace where you add a station there with shuttle to CSULA for either an easier flyover over I-710 or dipping under.
please do any of the OC lines! The one to YL or the K Line into Santa Ana would be great
you should plan a river refreshe for every river/creek in LA... they're going to a be a huge source of green space in LA
Love this proposed line. Living in Pomona, this would be close enough for me to hop on at West Covina and head west. Now, if elected officials and government leaders can only do something about making sure Venice is clean and safe…
I hope y’all can get something like this soon!
32:50 I think you should consider elevators & escalators to a mezzanine just above the tunnel and then making the station elevator only with at least 7 elevators.
Venice & Hughes is a huge win. Palms doesn't get enough love for medium density development and public transit
I would love to see real feasible proposals for the gateway cities bordering OC (Whittier, La Mirada, Santa Fe Springs, Cerritos, etc.).
One of the train station will be just a walk away from my house. A dream to fathom.
A good bus network is need
Leaning hard into single bore, you don't have to do fully cut and cover stations to build a station box below ground, if the soil condition works out there are a few options like New Austrian tunneling method
Technically you could use the E-Line yard if you use rolling stock with the same size as the E-Line Cars, except longer. An underground rail yard could also work but if thats too expensive first site (vehicle yard) is big enough for a small rail yard that will handle the base amount of cars needed to run good service on the first couple western segments, until you get to Union and can use Division 20.
Bravo! This line concept is amazing. Los Angeles has so much potential.
X Line Extended West From Venice Beach To Turn South on To South LA Beaches and North To Malibu Beach
Come on Skyline LA!! 👏
Love it
On the trenched section on Venice; infrastructure like this - historically highways built in this fashion, tend to cut neighbourhoods and communities in half, especially as I assume a lot of mid-street pedestrian crossing happens here. I'd be weary of using lots of trenching, and making sure proper street design such as frequent raised crosswalks (ideally where lanes are split such that pedestrians only cross two lanes at a time ala Not Just Bikes and Amsterdam) are provided so that the neighbourhood can stay, and perhaps become even more connected as a result.