Originally Posted by
Khabibul35
I still think it's important for state infrastructure to build a high-speed rail. People migh actually start moving to Bakersfield and Fresno if there was a reasonable way to get to civilization.
Yes, it's expensive, we know. But how long can we wait. And what are the proposed alternatives... more highways? Yeah, OK!
Anyway, having lived in the Bay Area I have no idea about the failures of the subway system but I imagine it's just doesn't connect the dots the way it should. I found this proposal and am wondering how would this cover LA.
http://la.curbed.com/goodmon_final-thumb.gif
as oppossed to:
http://subway.umka.org/maps/los-angeles.gif
Thanks for the links. I've seen a few of those before. The views down south are different up here. Having lived in both, here are my observations.
1. The bus riders in LA have a ton of political weight. They actually have a union,
http://www.busridersunion.org/engli/index.html , that has considerable leveraging stregth. One arguement was that the rail/subway projects were only benefical to non-minorities, IIRC, esp the Red Line. They feel that buses make the system more reachable to minorities in LA and will protest any future non bus project.
2. In much of LA, there are restriction on future subway construction. That Wilshire corridor I keep talking about... well the reason why they will never build it its because of a ban on the use of federal money for these projects. From Wiki on the Metro Red Line:
The line was originally intended to run along the Wilshire Corridor to Santa Monica, but a 1985 methane gas explosion at a Ross Dress For Less in the Fairfax area resulted in Rep. Henry Waxman's (D-CA) legislation for a ban on Federal money being used for tunneling under Wilshire Blvd in his district due to methane gas safety concerns althrough and anti-subway sentiment by developers and neighborhood associations along the proposed route. Metro had always maintained that technological advances would allow it to tunnel safely.
3. The negative stigma with subways from the Red line fiasco. Left a bad taste in people's mouth.
4. Car mentality... people drive 2 blocks to go to store to buy a quart of milk... not good :P
Hopefully it gives you some idea of the problems in LA... the solutions are definitely not short term, but I do wish LA adopted more of the attitude I see here towards mass transit.
In terms of the map itself, part of that aqua line is coming online, which will (*fingers crossed*) alleviate some of the 10's traffic and game day traffic for events along the line, mainly SC football.
Actually, maybe its just Angelinos want to see immediate results from systems that are designed to provide long term benefits and cost recovery
Not sure, but I hope it gives you some idea of the situation there.