A Little Ditty About L.A. Public Transportation

Boyle Heights-based hardcore band It's Casual has come up with an ode to public transportation in Los Angeles. "The Redline," the first single from the band's upcoming release "The New Los Angeles Part I: Through The Eyes Of A Bus Rider," looks at what it's like to avoid the freeways and take public transportation (and a skateboard) to work. (In real life, It's Casual lead singer Edward Solis doesn't own a car and really does ride public transportation.)

Rick Kosick ("Jackass") shot and directed the video, above. The group's album is released on March 13.

Alex P. Keaton's Dad on Rail Safety

Michael Gross -- yes, Steven Keaton to you and me -- stars as the voice of reason in this unintentionally semi-hilarious MTA safety video. Just to make clear, driving in front of a rapidly moving Metro train is *not* a good idea.

BTW, I also learned a bit of Michael Gross trivia tonight, if you want to believe Wikipedia. The site said Gross was behind the painting that opened every episode, yet I can't find that info anywhere else, so take it with a grain of salt.

Exploring L.A.'s Railway Past in Perris

Driving to Perris, California -- deep inside the Inland Empire -- is a chore. And let's be honest, the town itself isn't that hot. (Indeed, Perris... is no Paris.)

But for Los Angeles history buffs, railroad fanatics and kids who simply enjoy choo-choos, the Orange Empire Railway Museum is worth making the trek at least once.

We hit the museum last year with Blogger Kid in tow for a special "Thomas the Tank Engine"-themed weekend. Evan enjoyed riding the trains -- but I loved climbing aboard old Los Angeles Yellow and Red cars, and examining old L.A. transit maps and memorabilia. I'm a nerd.

Some pics from the museum:

Is There Any Chance We'll Be Riding A Subway To The Sea Before We're Old and Grey?

Probably not. Like most of you, I was disheartened to read earlier this week that the Metropolitan Transit Authority's timetable for the much-discussed "subway to the sea" means we'll be card-carrying AARP members before ever getting to ride it.

If, of course, these dates are met -- and honestly, I still wonder if even the promise of a subway to Westwood by 2032 is too optimistic. (At least I'll still be just 58 -- perhaps we'll celebrate Franklin Avenue's 30th anniversary by taking a group ride down the Purple line; see you there.)

Jason at MetBlogs LA asked Metro about the timetable, and got back some pretty unsatisfying answers from a PR rep:

The next steps before subway construction could start are estimated to take 2 to 3 years. This includes full environmental review, approvals, engineering and design. We then estimate that construction could take about 7 years (1) depending on what the final project ends up being & (2) if all funding is available.

The funding generated by Measure R will come in over a 30 year period and therefore the schedules are based on an allocation of these revenues to many projects over the life of the sales tax. The schedule for the Westside project which identifies completion to Westwood by 2032 is driven more by the availability of funding than the time needed to construct. The actual time needed to construct the Purple Line Extension to Westwood would be considerably less than 23 years.

In case you missed it, here's what Metro has currently set as a timetable for rapid transit:

Subway to La Cienega -- 2019
Subway to Century City -- 2026
Subway to Westwood -- 2032
Expo Line light rail phase II, Culver City to Santa Monica -- 2015
Gold Line light rail extension -- 2017
Wilshire Boulevard bus lane in city of Los Angeles -- 2015
Crenshaw Boulevard light rail or bus rapid transit -- 2029
Green Line to LAX -- 2016 to 2018
Westside to San Fernando Valley transit project along the 405 Freeway -- 2038
Regional Connector downtown light rail -- 2018

I guess it's at least encouraging to see the Expo Line (gah, c'mon Metro, grow a pair and bring back the "Aqua Line" name!) expected to hit Santa Monica in six years.

Sig-Alert: Carpool Lanes to Go Toll?

(Pic by Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times)

Oh yeah, this is going to go over well with drivers. As the Los Angeles Times writes, the MTA and Caltrans are considering turning the currently free carpool lanes on Los Angeles County freeways into toll lanes. Whaaa?

From the paper:

The idea is part of plans by the MTA and Caltrans to implement "congestion pricing" in L.A.: charging a toll to use certain roads in return for faster speed. The toll prices would rise during rush hour.

The concept quickly gained steam in November after the U.S. Department of Transportation said it would give out more grants to fund such projects.

L.A. missed out in the last round of grants issued in August because local officials did not seriously consider such a congestion pricing plan in the county's last federal application.

"We're just too congested to turn our backs on that kind of opportunity," said Carol Inge, chief planning officer for the MTA. The cost of the toll lane conversion could be about $100 million, Inge said.

Officials said the plan would not only add revenue to shore up the region's crumbling roads, but help manage traffic congestion on the converted carpool lanes. As the tolls rise during peak hours, penny-pinching commuters may opt to use the regular lanes, freeing up space in the toll lanes.

Those who pay the higher toll win the prize of a shorter commute.

So much for the free carpool usage among properly registered Hybrid drivers as well.