Los Angeles Eyes a More Frequent Bus Network for No New Cost

The tradeoffs would include more crowded buses and some service cuts.

 http://www.citylab.com/cityfixer/2015/07/los-angeles-eyes-a-better-bus-network-for-no-new-cost/397988/

By Eric Jaffe, July 8, 2015




 

The big trend in U.S. transit bus service is to do more with less—or, in some senses, to do something different with the same. So we see cities like Houston and Omaha redesigning their bus systems, at zero additional cost, into networks that cover less territory than before but that run more frequently where they do go. That crowd may soon get a high-profile new face: Los Angeles.

At least that’s the service direction indicated by a series of recent documents posted online by L.A. Metro’s Blue Ribbon Committee, a panel tasked with suggesting a new transit vision for the city. Over the course of five meetings dating back to February, the committee has drafted a service plan that centers around an expanded network of frequent bus—those running at least every 15 minutes. Here’s the proposed map (spotted by Human Transit), with proposed expansions in red and purple:

A draft map of frequent bus service in Los Angeles. Dark blue routes already run every 15 minutes; those in red and purple are proposed frequent network expansions.  (LA Metro)

The plan would give Angelinos something closer to reliable all-day transit service. That’s a great benefit to any city: it reduces car reliance, promotes equitable mobility, and ultimately increases transit ridership. It’s also a great thing for riders, because it means they can more or less show up at a stop without consulting a schedule and know a bus will come soon.

But that sort of flexibility comes with some costs. In this case, it looks like there are three main ones (which appear to have emerged from a network analysis conducted by the American Public Transportation Association):

More crowded rush-hour buses. Right now L.A. buses have an all-day “loading standard” of 1.3—meaning they allow 1.3 passengers for every seat. The new plan would up that standard to 1.4 during rush hour. The last thing any commuter wants is a more crowded bus, but in reality we’re talking about a matter of four-to-six people per bus, depending on its size. And the move would help keep down costs, because it means Metro wouldn’t have to run as many peak buses.

 

Fewer bus stops. The Metro draft plan also considers consolidating bus stops—in other words, eliminating some that currently exist. That will mean a bit of a longer walk to and from the bus stop for some riders, but it also means a faster ride. So long as the pedestrian infrastructure in a city keeps up with new walking demands, getting rid of some bus stops can actually improve service for the system as a whole.

Less coverage to low-ridership corridors. Last but not least, the draft plan also calls for service cuts on some of the bus system’s lower-ridership routes. Again, that will result in lost or worse service for some Angelinos, and likely some who rely on transit to get around. But in the absence of new bus funding it’s the surest way to balance out the money going toward the increased frequency on other parts of the system.

So there it is: a faster network in exchange for a slightly smaller one. Some of the documents indicate the Blue Ribbon Committee has even grander sights; in an earlier meeting, it presented a map of an even more rapid system, complete with two tiers of bus-rapid transit running every five minutes (below, in dark red and red). A system this impressive would no doubt require an equally impressive source of funding, but it’s an encouraging glimpse into Metro’s ideal vision for the city:

A proposed strategic bus network would have two tiers of BRT service running every 5 minutes as part of a broad frequent service network. (LA Metro)

The Metro documents indicate the new draft policy will be taken to the Metro Board of Directors in July 2015. Until then it remains subject to change, and of course it also remains subject to rejection. But if nothing else it shows the city is trying to do a bit better with what it’s been given.

Survey: Many Southern Californians Ready to Turn Toward Transit

http://tunnelingonline.com/survey-many-southern-californians-ready-turn-toward-transit/

June 29, 2015


 

A new survey from HNTB Corp. finds many Southern California residents hungry for a more efficient multimodal transportation system, including better scheduling and improved transferability from one mode to another.

“California is the most populated state in the nation, and we love our cars, so it’s no wonder our roads are extremely crowded,” said Michael Palacios, HNTB Southern California district leader.

According to the HNTB survey, 91 percent of Southern California residents drive on freeways, highways or toll roads, on average, four days a week. Looking back at the unofficial start of the summer travel, AAA expected 2.31 million people in Southern California would hit the road Memorial Day weekend, and 37 million Americans would do so overall. These numbers were the highest estimates since 2005 as consumer confidence is buoyed by an improved economy and lower gas prices.

“Rising congestion has put up a number of roadblocks to the Golden State’s love affair with the automobile,” said Palacios. “It’s to the point that we must address, particularly in Southern California, our historical public transportation deficit.”

In recent years, Los Angeles has been doing just that, insisting on better bus service and expanding its transit network – including the Crenshaw/LAX, Purple Line Extension and Regional Connector projects – through Measure R, a half-cent sales tax that took effect in July 2009.

Southern California residents want a more accessible and efficient local transit system. The HNTB survey showed more than 4 in 5 (84 percent) would like to have greater access to local transportation options.

Today, just more than half (51 percent) of Southern California residents use local public transportation. Sixty percent of those who use public transportation use it at least once a week. Still, residents are hoping for more ways to get around, such as walkways (37 percent), bike paths (36 percent) and highways (29 percent).

“It’s about choice,” Palacios said. “We can’t necessarily build our way out of congestion any more. But we can make the most of the systems we do have by getting them to work better together.”

Southern California residents ages 18-54 are more likely than those 55 and older to desire greater access to public transit (52 percent versus 39 percent), rails (42 percent versus 31 percent), walkways (40 percent versus 28 percent), bike paths (43 percent versus 21 percent) and highways (33 percent versus 20 percent).

More residents in urban areas than those in suburbs would like additional access to rail (42 percent versus 35 percent) and bike paths (39 percent versus 32 percent).

Three in 4 (75 percent) Southern Californians would fork over their own money to have a better travel experience. “In fact, we found if local multimodal mobility choices were smoother, traffic congestion might be reduced, as many said they would switch to public transit,” Palacios said. More than one-third (34 percent) of this group would be most willing to spend more to use rail for this reason, while buses come in second (15 percent).

More than 8 in 10 (83 percent) Southern California residents think local modes of transportation need to be improved in order to run more efficiently. Among those residents, better scheduling (62 percent), easier access and transferability from one mode of transportation to another (59 percent) and more frequent arrival and departure times (58 percent) top the list of improvements. Nearly half (49 percent) say a more cohesive single payment system would help. Palacios said Southern California might be able to leverage lessons being learned in the San Francisco Bay Area, which is moving toward such a system with Clipper®, a renewable, stored-value transit card designed to encourage intermodal travel and incentivize ridership.

Seamless local mobility would result in nearly 9 in 10 (87 percent) Southern Californians changing their transportation behaviors. More than half (55 percent) of those who would change their behavior predicted they would go more places. Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) would reduce their driving, some would hop onto public transportation (63 percent) or walk (55 percent) more often. And 26 percent would even encourage more people to visit.

“We have much to look forward to,” Palacios said. “With the transportation and transit projects now in the pipeline, Southern Californians will see a more connected transportation system in their future.”

HNTB is currently working on or has completed a variety of transportation projects in Southern California designed to improve the multimodal system, including the Alameda Corridor-East San Gabriel Trench grade separation; the Interstate 405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project; the Caltrain Jerrold Avenue Bridge Replacement; the Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement; and the Kraemer Boulevard railroad grade separation project. It also serves as lead designer to Walsh/Shea Corridor Constructors for the planned Crenshaw/LAX Line will connect the existing L.A. Metro Green Line with the Expo Line and integrate Los Angeles International Airport into the regional rail network.

More than one-third (35 percent) of Southern California residents believe they will be using local public transportation more often in the next five years. Southern Californians also think they will be driving vehicles (40 percent) more in the next five years, while some think they will walk (30 percent) and ride bikes (22 percent) more to their destinations.

There may be a boost in carpooling or ride-sharing as well, as 17 percent think they will do so more often. And 1 in 10 (10 percent) thinks he or she will take advantage of car sharing more often.