Originally Posted by
writerguyfl
Creating additional modes of transportation increases ONT's customer base. That is something that needs to be done. Anyone that uses the train to ONT wouldn't have to worry about traffic. While less congested that other parts of the Southern California freeway system, anyone from the San Gabriel Valley would still need to drive through some messy interchanges to get to ONT.
As for other airports, it's not a zero sum game. That's particularly true here because ONT is in San Bernardino County with may lead to funding from different categorical funds. Multiple projects can happen simultaneously.
Again, I go back to my point about imaginary lines on a map. You can't have a functional regional transportation system without occasionally partnering with someone outside your area. Of course rail is different than buses. But, sending the Gold Line about 9 miles into San Bernardino County isn't some revolutionary concept.
Most of the right-of-way to ONT already exists. There is local support and San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBag) has already studied the concept. Admittedly, the gave the Metro Line a low priority. But, that's exactly why I think OIAA should champion the plan. Someone needs to act as a leader.
Gold line extension to ONT is something nice to have, not something that needs to happen. From a regional transportation standpoint, double track and electrification of the Metrolink San Bernandino line is much more of a priority and will benefit far more riders than yet another quixotic extension of the Gold line with low projected ridership.
Agree to disagree here, I guess. I'd say LAX has grown in spite of LAWA, not because of it. The growth is a function of geography, population, and because it's an O&D (origin and destination) airport. It's not because LAWA anything substantive.
Oh really? So the decline of ONT is also just a function of geography, population, and because it is an O&D airport right?
Originally Posted by
IceTrojan
Metro operates bus lines to other counties, so I don't think there would be a jurisdictional issue (or issues could be ironed out) there if they hypothetically wanted to run the Gold Line all the way to ONT. Whether that's financially viable is another matter.
I always thought the Metrolink station was too underutilized and has so much potential for ONT, but the Riverside line is the redheaded stepchild of the route network. Perhaps building a new station at Grove & Mission + a timed airport shuttle service from the Upland Station would help?
It is actually very complicated to send buses into another jurisdiction. I won't bore you with all the technical and bureaucratic details but suffice to say that transit agencies are like gangs and they take their turf wars seriously. But your point about financially viable is key - the problem with Gold line to ONT is that it will be very expensive with very little ridership potential.
The Metrolink station at ONT was talked about before as well but SB County did not want to pay for a study, never mind the likely construction of the actual station.