cedric

Well, I decided to take your advice and consider a rental. Unfortunately, the offices at the station close well before the train arrival and, at least with Hertz, "after hours pickup is not available". Budget's website does not state that but will not let me make the booking.

That means I'd have to hoof it down to the airport first, and then rent from there. That really seems like it's a lot more hassle than it's worth.

I think I'll just book the through ticket to Santa Ana. What is Amtrak's policy regarding connections? Would they typically hold the last train a few minutes, or would they just rebook on the bus? I know with VIA up here in Canada, they would generally hold the train for connections if it is not too delayed.

mlshanks

Frankly, I find the possiblity of Amtrak holding the last Surfliner train darn low, unless they knew there was a *large* group connecting (more than a bus load), and it was a short (5-10 minute) hold...

Frankly, if the Starlight was over an hour late, I'd prepare to wait for the late bus...although they *might* call for an immediate bus if they knew there was a large connecting crowd.

ninerfan

I would say take the train to Irvine and then taxi from there, if you can catch the last one.

milemonkey

I'm going to a concert at the Staples Center and was wondering what the best form of transportation would be from/to the UCLA area. Is driving myself make sense or getting a limo better?

FlyingBear

You can take the 10 down or some of the wider East West streets like Pico or Venice. There's plenty of parking lots nearby. Last time I was there and had to pay for parking in the lots... IIRC I think it was somewhere between $10-20, but keep in mind, this was for a Kings game. I have no clue how much a limo will cost.

All your options involve being stuck in traffic during the week though, so plan accordingly.

biggestbopper

You can take the bus down Wilshire and transfer to the subway (at Western?) which will take you to Staples. The subway is fast, the bus depends on traffic.

This avoids a lot of hassle with parking and after event traffic.

Another option is to eat at the Original Pantry and walk to Staples afterwards. The Pantry is historic (for L.A.) and never closes--pretty cheap, too with pretty good food. http://www.pantrycafe.com/ You can usually park for free on the street by the pantry if it is not during the business day.

FlyingBear

Good point. I thought about suggesting that; I guess for me it seems like a long bus ride, esp at night, but YMMV.

Anyways, catch either the 720 (ideally), 20 or 21 to Western and Wilshire. Enter the Metro Red Line station and catch any train (they all head downtown). Get off at 7th St. Metro and Transfer to the Metro Blue Line. Take it one station down to Pico. Staples Center will clearly be visible. On the return trip, at the 7th St. Metro Station, make sure to catch a Wilshire/Western bound train and not a North Hollywood bound train. It'll say on the train and the red LED display overhead.

For the round trip, I would suggest getting a day pass as each ride is $1.25, while a day pass is $5.00. I know some folks will say that they don't check tickets on entry for the Metro Rail lines, but skipping fare is 1) bad karma and 2) a big fine if your just unlucky enough to be on train where the PD are checking for tickets.

I'm not sure about late night frequency, so you will probably want to check mta.net for details.

UNITED959

This is a great suggestion, just allow yourself plenty of time as the Pantry can often have a line, especially when there is an event at SC.

warreng24

At approximately 7pm on a Friday evening... how bad will traffic be?

Google maps is showing an "up to 1 hr, 0 min" in traffic travel time.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=lax+to...ox-a&z=11&om=1

Any advice for the best routing to avoid traffic?

And, don't suggest LAX-SNA on the EMB120.

flyinbob

Departing LAX at 7pm on a Friday likely will be about an hour to 90 minutes to go the 45 miles. The problem is too long a stretch of the 405 to say for any certainty. With all the interchanges you pass, any backups on any one of them and it can double your travel time. Going to SNA itself or the area? The 405 is really the only direct route, unless you're going elsewhere in OC.

SkiAdcock

I'd allocate 90minutes, and agree re: the 405 being the most direct route unless you're going elsewhere in the area.

Cheers.

stevechin

I did that exact commute a few weeks ago picking up a friend from LAX and taking her back home of the 405/Jamboree in Irvine. (one offramp further than SNA) Picked her up and left LAX at 6:45 PMish on a Friday. Traffic was slow on the 405 South, but still moving up until you reach the 605 interchange, then it gradually gets back up to speed, about 90-100 min total.

Going NORTH on the 405 towards LAX is a totally different story though.


Good luck!
Steve

UNITED959

Definitely have to allow yourself a minimum of 90 minutes if you have to be somewhere in OC at a certain time.

bltserv

You know why we call it the 405 ?
Cause sometimes it takes 4 o 5 Hours to get from LA to OC.

Seriously. For a normal late Friday commute. LAX to SNA. No Carpool.
90 Minutes would be normal. Get a carpool buddy and then 60 Minutes is a resonable estimate. BEWARE. Any major accidents or overturned trucks and all bets are off. Listen to the radio 1070 KNX for tarffic updates.

uscsailor

1070 gives trafic on the 5's i.e. 7:15 7:25 etc
and 980 gives it on the 1's 7:01 7:11 etc.