Late Night Subway proposed
Thread started by
skd at 09.17.08 - 1:17 pm
Subway to run until 3AM?
After passing out of the transportation committee last week, the motion to extend Metro Red Line service to 3:00 a.m. Thursday through Saturday nights from November 1st to January 3rd will be considered by City Council today. Because Metro doesn't have the funding for the expanded service, the "service would be supported in part by private sponsorhips," the motion states.
If passed, the city will also convene a task force with the affected council disticts, the city's transportation department and the business community to create a marketing campaign. Many people are excited for this so see what happens later today. The full motion text is below:
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE REPORT relative to a pilot program to extend the operation hours of the Red Line between North Hollywood and Downtown during the holiday season.
Recommendations for Council action, pursuant to Motion (Huizar - Greuel - et al):
1. REQUEST the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) to consider a pilot program for the extension of operation hours of the Red Line between North Hollywood and Downtown through 3:00 am on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays during the holiday season, November 1 through January 3, 2008. The cost of expanded service would be supported in part by private sponsorships.
2. CONVENE a task force with affected Council Districts, Los Angeles Department of Transportation, Metro, and other departments and agencies as necessary, along with the business community, to design a creative and immediate marketing campaign to support this public-private effort and increase awareness of the benefits and availability of special extended holiday Metro Red Line service hours.
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wow. it might become a real subway? not just a tourist tram for universal studios?!
Roadblock09.17.08 - 1:22 pm
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They say they don't have the money in the budget to run the subway until 3AM, but if they can get enough sponsors (meaning more ads in the subway and maybe commericals on the Samsung flat screens TV's used for notices and schedules) then the proposal will go forward.
I for one don't care if they have more ads and commercials on the tv screens, if I can ride a subway until 3AM, it will be worth it.
skd09.17.08 - 1:28 pm
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BS they cant afford it! If it runs til 1230 ish right now, how much more money would it take to extend it 2 or 3 hours?
Anyway I read somewhere that it cuts out early because of lobbying from the taxi cab union that wants the fares getting out of the bars. Just like how they pressured the green line from going to LAX initially, they wanted those airport fares.
Oh well it dont matter, Ive noticed quite a few Ridazz adapting to the situation by just partying til 4 when the trains start running again!
tallcans4tallbikes09.17.08 - 1:34 pm
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"Anyway I read somewhere that it cuts out early because of lobbying from the taxi cab union that wants the fares getting out of the bars. Just like how they pressured the green line from going to LAX initially, they wanted those airport fares. "
I've heard this as well.
Roadblock09.17.08 - 1:38 pm
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Subway till 3am? Fuck that. That's not the LA I've known and loved.
I'm leaving for a more car friendly city.
Houston?
marino09.17.08 - 1:42 pm
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If Metro needed more money, why can't they include advertising in the red line stations. The Athens blue line subway stops are a combo of museums and advertisements. The Los Angeles red line subway stops are all "oooh Hollywood themes" Awesome.
They should also extend the 3am rule to all lines too, not just the red/purple line.
Noble Experiment09.17.08 - 2:05 pm
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WHAT ABOUT THE FUCKIN GOLD-LINE???
RICH PEOPLE UP THIS WAY WITH THEIR NOSES UP IN THE AIR.
eddieboyinla09.17.08 - 2:18 pm
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advertisers dont want to spend money on a market they don't feel is worth talking to.
ask an advertiser who their target audience is. it ain't going to pay much if they think the only people who will see it are in their minds, broke people.
Roadblock09.17.08 - 2:20 pm
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The City Council Approves 3 AM Subway....but wait.
Without much discussion, the LA City Council approved the late-night subway motion which would expand service on the weekends to 3:00 a.m. between November 1st and January 3rd. But this doesn't mean everything is said and done.
The City doesn't run Metro--they are two separate government agencies. Now that the City officially wants it, the issue will need to be approved by Metro's Board (hopefully next week), explained Eric Richardson of blogdowntown over the phone. Richardson has been following the issue closely and says that more private money has to be raised. It was last reported that $50,000 of the $90,000 need to make the two-month pilot program go through.
Thursday nights are no longer being considered due to funding and Metro's need to have time for maintenance.
skd09.17.08 - 2:23 pm
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That's all ??? $50,000 ???
If the drunks took the subways instead of their cars late at night think of the savings. The auto insurance industry ought to pay for it.
Now while we are on a roll expanding rail transportation, how about a parallel line for Metrolink to separate commuters from cargo? The last accident is going to cost them over 200 million in lawsuits.
marino09.17.08 - 2:29 pm
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Oh. It's just for Fridays and Saturdays.
$100,000 for 8 weekends, 16 days, that's $6,250/day
That could be paid with a fraction of a cent tax on gas.
marino09.17.08 - 2:40 pm
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Where do they come up with these numbers? How many people does it take to drive a train a couple hours later? They pay those guys like 22 bucks an hour! I know it takes more one man driving it, and the handful at MTA watching it on some computer...
We'll see if Mayor Villaraigosa uses his clout as MTA chair to get this done
tallcans4tallbikes09.17.08 - 2:46 pm
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Yes, this would be plenty good for the drunks that get tanked on weekday-nights!!
I mean, you know how many near misses I have with these clowns when taking a container back home at 2:30 in the AM?!?!
As for the advertisers, they should remove their heads from their asses and realize that there are people that have money, that probably don't like cars, or suffered some psychological episode that permanently pushed them away from one for good.
bentstrider09.17.08 - 2:48 pm
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if those numbers are right - what about sheriff services how much does that cost - then MTA and the city are DOUCHEBAGS that kind of money is NOTHING.
Roadblock09.17.08 - 3:52 pm
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@tallcans4tallbikes
That's right....almost everytime i go to the valley we just party in the park after the ride til the train starts running again...good times with good people....
but sometimes i just want to sleep...so i am down with a 3am end time
MOM-RIDA-Raquel09.17.08 - 3:54 pm
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GREEN LINE???
(please dont fuck the green line) to be honest sometimes i wish la cats were sustainable as the people in frisco...most people up there are on bikes... on the train or on bart... la is so hollywood!!!
pretti*ugli09.17.08 - 4:53 pm
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TAX GAS at $1 for 5 years. that's REAL CHANGE.
Roadblock09.17.08 - 5:34 pm
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This is an awesome start... I think they'll gain a lot of ridership by extending their hours. I think many people feel that they can't use the Metro as often as they would like to because although getting to where they need to be is simple enough, getting back is a nightmare! Before I was comfortable with biking everywhere, there were so many times I'd have to leave shows/parties early just to catch the last stupid 12:30 train. A lot of the time that inconvenience resulted in me just not going out to begin with.
So I guess corporate funding through advertising is important to get this ball rolling, but I think after a while, once the Metro services actually become CONVENIENT, people will use them, and the system will pay for itself. Of course, they need to really step up and advertise their new convenient hours...
canadienne09.17.08 - 5:54 pm
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"TAX GAS at $1 for 5 years. that's REAL CHANGE. "
I think it is worth mentioning that gas taxation has some flaws to it. Infrastructure crumbles under heavy use, but gas tax only collects on resource, not how much driving is done. So a well off person who can afford the latest low fuel vehicle can get off with paying less infrastructure taxes, even though their car is doing just as much damage to the road as every other car even if it is cleaner emissions. In fact hybrid cars with their heavy drive trains probably do more damage to the road then a similar conventional vehicle, since weight is the biggest factor in vehicle damage to roads.
I think the gas tax should be higher, but i think we need to start looking at taxation for vehicle miles, possibly with different tax categories for heavier or lighter vehicles.
GarySe7en09.17.08 - 6:43 pm
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I hope its true what they say:D
This will keep my mom from nagging at me and telling me to live a normal life! shit Women!! always nagging:D
I tend to just party until the train starts running again but I sleep in the next day and loose a whole day of riding...
I sometimes wish i could just fly!
puglife09.17.08 - 6:44 pm
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damn that would be awesome!!! i wouldnt miss all the valley rides anymore. oh and barchopz!!!
funanu09.17.08 - 7:09 pm
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they need to start treating rush hour as 4pm to 9pm too.
Roadblock09.17.08 - 7:12 pm
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If there's any alternatives to a gas tax, because I'm sure gas taxes will fail when more people don't buy gas anymore if it's too costly, would be congestion fees. Congestion fees work when drivers have to pay a fee to enter a certain perimeters of a major city. It works at Stockholm and London. The closest thing to this here in California are the High Occupancy Toll lanes at the Escondido Freeway at Miramar to Escondido. If the Congestion pricing revenues are used to maintain our roads and expand mass transit here, it would be great. Congestion fees on Wilshire and Olympic would be a good start.
Noble Experiment09.17.08 - 7:59 pm
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Trying to raise taxes is always a political minefield, whether it's gas, sales tax, or even raising the fines on people who don't clean up after their dog shits.
The better solution would be to get advertisers to foot the bill. Plaster the subway station with ads. Use those color Samsung flat screen TV's that show the time of the next train arrivals to blast commercials.
You have 3.8 million boardings on the Red Line and Purple Line every month. A very captive audience.
skd09.17.08 - 8:12 pm
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Do you people not ever actually take the Red Line? There have been ads there for months, and they're hideous. Walk into the 7th/Metro station and you are immediately thwacked in the face with the stupid things.
PC09.18.08 - 12:37 am
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PC,
it's only because the nose on your face is so big.
spiraldemon09.18.08 - 9:02 am
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there are SOME ads on the redline... but compared to the Toronto subway system it's nothing. (Which is the one thing I like more about the L.A. subway). Not only are the Toronto trains plastered with ads everywhere on the inside, but the stations themselves are rows and rows of posters, and some station walls are actually covered completely with vinyl ads. But apparently the revenue they get for all that crap is close to nothing... and the ticket prices are up to almost $3 a ride now because they're low on funds. What is my point? I dunno... but seriously, the ads they have on the red line now are NOTHING.
canadienne09.18.08 - 10:21 am
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I just hope they don't put TVs with sound like they've done on buses.
You can escape visual ads if you want to (close your eyes) but you can't escape sound. No to sound polution.
marino09.18.08 - 11:23 am
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Your momma thinks the nose on my face is big.
('cause it is)
PC09.18.08 - 2:26 pm
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(Also I fucked her with it!)
PC09.18.08 - 2:31 pm
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Yeah, you emailed her a picture of the bags under your eyes.
PC09.18.08 - 2:39 pm
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ZZZZZZZZZZZZIIIIINNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
PC09.18.08 - 2:39 pm
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hey spiral, I left my sunglasses at your mom's house last night... can you pick them up for me and bring them to the next ride? otherwise I will just grab them next week.
Roadblock09.18.08 - 2:41 pm
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Ha ha ha ha, I win. I'd like to thank all the fans for coming tonight.
PC09.18.08 - 2:44 pm
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what would I do without you guise?
oh yeah, my job
spiraldemon09.18.08 - 2:45 pm
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I'm kinda done with CRANK Mob. I may go to Soundwalk instead. Or go to Carlsbad and buy a banjo, one of those.
PC09.18.08 - 2:47 pm
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From
LAist
Metro Approves Late-Night Subway Pilot Program
At today's Metro board meeting, the group unanimously approved a pilot program that would extend Red Line hours until 3:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays from November through January 3rd. Yes, Los Angeles will finally have a subway that operates until 3:00 a.m... well, at least for a short period of time.
The approved motion allows for the program to begin on November 1st, but "those familiar with the discussions have indicated the 14th as a more realistic launch," notes blogdowntown who has been following the issue closely. The program will only exist on the backs of private businesses donating funds, which are due by October 17.
skd09.28.08 - 9:46 pm
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We'll see how well this one goes.
If the service is used to its full-blown potential, it may be enough to raise some hairs and make some inner-bulbs glow.
As for PC at a CRANK Mob, the last one I encountered him at was the one from March.
The one where my friend discovered his non-love for bicycles and unjust love for over-time.
Oh well, sit back and enjoy the sunset in San Pedro and that Chris Brown playing on your IPod, or something.
bentstrider09.28.08 - 10:35 pm
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Who's the lucky girl?
Eman09.28.08 - 10:45 pm
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yes! fucking awesome! Let's get the word out so we can show how much LA needs at least the red line to be open late at night! I have already told friends who go to the clubs and bars out there...hopefully they'll take my word and give it a try.
Vince09.28.08 - 11:25 pm
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i thought you were talking about subway as in subway sandwiches
markcruzniggah09.28.08 - 11:42 pm
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