Comments on: By the Time L.A.’s Subway Reaches the Sea, You Could be Dead http://blogging.la/2009/01/06/by-the-time-la%e2%80%99s-subway-reaches-the-sea-you-could-be-dead/ Lizard people dude. Seriously. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:54:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Metro: Um… We’ll Get Back To You | Los Angeles Metblogs http://blogging.la/2009/01/06/by-the-time-la%e2%80%99s-subway-reaches-the-sea-you-could-be-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-17088 Metro: Um… We’ll Get Back To You | Los Angeles Metblogs Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:47:25 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=18804#comment-17088 [...] Litvak of the Metro Westside Extension Study Team joined in on the comment section to update us on the Subway to the Sea’s progess. I shot her an email with a few questions: 1. [...] [...] Litvak of the Metro Westside Extension Study Team joined in on the comment section to update us on the Subway to the Sea’s progess. I shot her an email with a few questions: 1. [...]

]]> By: jonathant http://blogging.la/2009/01/06/by-the-time-la%e2%80%99s-subway-reaches-the-sea-you-could-be-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-17087 jonathant Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:03:28 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=18804#comment-17087 Jason, Thanks for your spot-on post. These timelines are unbelievably long. And if they are in fact 'reality', the window to seize the moment of public frustration over traffic and public support of creating a 'tipping point' for a true regional transportation network will close quite quickly once folks realize how lame these timelines are. It would be a shame indeed to squander this moment in LA's history. In my opinion, the problem is not the dedicated public servants at MTA or the aggressive lobbying for Subway to the Sea by the Mayor, but to be honest I just can’t figure out why people who do this stuff day in and day out with passion and purpose seem to be setting the bar that low. I know we certainly have had historically low expectations and systemically low prioritization/funding of public transport on local, regional, and national levels, which seems to ‘beat transit boosters down'.... And at first glance, the current cratering of the economy appears incredibly daunting. HOWEVER:
 1. Obama’s team is going to support Measure R, Prop 1A etc…regarding transit, thru the large stimulus package. In theory, this should allow for more aggressive timelines.
 2. Aren’t we able to get ANY buy in from the private sector on
investment/partnerships to fast track these projects? These timetables are not only a regional embarassment, they are a national disgrace. While we proceed at a tortoise’s pace, the rest of the world is
 creating the first rate infrastructure that will position them as more efficient and globally competitive. We sent humans 240,000 miles to the moon, taking them from orbit to the moon in less than a decade.
–25 years to push 15 miles from Downtown LA to the Sea? Or should I say, 25 years to push only TEN miles to Westwood/405?— Wow, have 
we devolved or what? I hope that in some way I can participate in helping improve this lame and unacceptable state of affairs. We are better than that as a region and as a nation. Jonathan Trachtman
 Los Angeles Jason,
Thanks for your spot-on post.

These timelines are unbelievably long. And if they are in fact ‘reality’, the window to seize the moment of public frustration over traffic and public support of creating a ‘tipping point’ for a true regional transportation network will close quite quickly once folks realize how lame these timelines are. It would be a shame indeed to squander this moment in LA’s history.

In my opinion, the problem is not the dedicated public servants at MTA or the aggressive lobbying for Subway to the Sea by the Mayor, but to be honest I just can’t figure out why people who do this stuff day in and day out with passion and purpose seem to be setting the bar that low. I know we certainly have had historically low expectations and systemically low prioritization/funding of public transport on local, regional, and national levels, which seems to ‘beat transit boosters down’….
And at first glance, the current cratering of the economy appears incredibly daunting.

HOWEVER:

1. Obama’s team is going to support Measure R, Prop 1A etc…regarding transit, thru the large stimulus package. In theory, this should allow for more aggressive timelines.

2. Aren’t we able to get ANY buy in from the private sector on
investment/partnerships to fast track these projects?
These timetables are not only a regional embarassment, they are a national disgrace.
While we proceed at a tortoise’s pace, the rest of the world is
 creating the first rate infrastructure that will position them as more efficient and globally competitive.

We sent humans 240,000 miles to the moon, taking them from orbit to the moon in less than a decade.
–25 years to push 15 miles from Downtown LA to the Sea? Or should I say, 25 years to push only TEN miles to Westwood/405?—
Wow, have 
we devolved or what?
I hope that in some way I can participate in helping improve this lame and unacceptable state of affairs.

We are better than that as a region and as a nation.

Jonathan Trachtman

Los Angeles

]]> By: Streetsblog » Measure R Highway Funds Ready to Roll. Transit Funds? Not So Much. http://blogging.la/2009/01/06/by-the-time-la%e2%80%99s-subway-reaches-the-sea-you-could-be-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-17086 Streetsblog » Measure R Highway Funds Ready to Roll. Transit Funds? Not So Much. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:36:56 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=18804#comment-17086 [...] The timeline was panned by everyone: first by LAist which noted that less than a year ago Metro officials opined that the line could be open in five years,  Later by Curbed who noted that the Expo Line would be 22 years old by the time it was completed, and lastly by Mayor Villaraigosa who called the timeline "too long."  How long is too long?  Metblogs notes that by the time it is competed, "you could be dead." [...] [...] The timeline was panned by everyone: first by LAist which noted that less than a year ago Metro officials opined that the line could be open in five years,  Later by Curbed who noted that the Expo Line would be 22 years old by the time it was completed, and lastly by Mayor Villaraigosa who called the timeline “too long.”  How long is too long?  Metblogs notes that by the time it is competed, “you could be dead.” [...]

]]> By: jodylitvak http://blogging.la/2009/01/06/by-the-time-la%e2%80%99s-subway-reaches-the-sea-you-could-be-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-17085 jodylitvak Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:01:26 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=18804#comment-17085 After a year and half, we are now concluding the Alternatives Analysis for the Metro Westside Extension. Later this month we will be presenting our recommendation to the Metro Board of Directors and asking them to allow us to proceed into a full enviornmental review known as a Draft EIR/EIS. For those of you most interested in the subway, I invite you visit the study web page at www.metro.net/westside. Click on News & Info to see what we've evaluated, our recommendations and how we got there. Click on Contact us to share your views, ask a question or add yourself to our database so we can keep you informed as we proceed. I also invite you to join our "Metro Westside Extension" group on Facebook. Jody Litvak Metro Westside Extension Study Team After a year and half, we are now concluding the Alternatives Analysis for the Metro Westside Extension. Later this month we will be presenting our recommendation to the Metro Board of Directors and asking them to allow us to proceed into a full enviornmental review known as a Draft EIR/EIS.

For those of you most interested in the subway, I invite you visit the study web page at http://www.metro.net/westside. Click on News & Info to see what we’ve evaluated, our recommendations and how we got there. Click on Contact us to share your views, ask a question or add yourself to our database so we can keep you informed as we proceed. I also invite you to join our “Metro Westside Extension” group on Facebook.

Jody Litvak
Metro Westside Extension Study Team

]]> By: yourfriend http://blogging.la/2009/01/06/by-the-time-la%e2%80%99s-subway-reaches-the-sea-you-could-be-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-17084 yourfriend Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:38:40 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=18804#comment-17084 OK. So what are we going to do to rally the troops here in LA. This is pathetic. Who do we write or call or picket? OK. So what are we going to do to rally the troops here in LA. This is pathetic. Who do we write or call or picket?

]]> By: David http://blogging.la/2009/01/06/by-the-time-la%e2%80%99s-subway-reaches-the-sea-you-could-be-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-17083 David Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:58:04 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=18804#comment-17083 By the time the subways are built, we'll have flying cars and teleportation. By the time the subways are built, we’ll have flying cars and teleportation.

]]> By: lezgull http://blogging.la/2009/01/06/by-the-time-la%e2%80%99s-subway-reaches-the-sea-you-could-be-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-17082 lezgull Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:53:16 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=18804#comment-17082 property taxes alone will have me dead or moved out of LA by then. sheesh! property taxes alone will have me dead or moved out of LA by then. sheesh!

]]> By: rodger http://blogging.la/2009/01/06/by-the-time-la%e2%80%99s-subway-reaches-the-sea-you-could-be-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-17081 rodger Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:50:30 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=18804#comment-17081 To Santa Monica by 2015, eh? Sounds like that's about how long it will take before I'll be able to afford a move back to L.A. To Santa Monica by 2015, eh? Sounds like that’s about how long it will take before I’ll be able to afford a move back to L.A.

]]> By: Chal Pivik http://blogging.la/2009/01/06/by-the-time-la%e2%80%99s-subway-reaches-the-sea-you-could-be-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-17080 Chal Pivik Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:06:39 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=18804#comment-17080 Hey, I thought condescendingly comparing LA to NYC was my turf! Just so you know, NYC has been building (not) the mythic Second Ave. subway for a gazillion years, last time I checked. Still, that timetable is pretty depressing. Hey, I thought condescendingly comparing LA to NYC was my turf! Just so you know, NYC has been building (not) the mythic Second Ave. subway for a gazillion years, last time I checked.

Still, that timetable is pretty depressing.

]]> By: Julia Frey http://blogging.la/2009/01/06/by-the-time-la%e2%80%99s-subway-reaches-the-sea-you-could-be-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-17079 Julia Frey Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:02:17 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=18804#comment-17079 Oh for crying out loud! I'm crying out loud!* I know we live in a democracy and all that, but sometimes a few well placed dictators with public transportation at the top of their lists would be refreshing. Can we ask our new president to include LA metro lines as part of the national infrastructure? *What I really meant to say was "For f*** sake!"" Oh for crying out loud! I’m crying out loud!* I know we live in a democracy and all that, but sometimes a few well placed dictators with public transportation at the top of their lists would be refreshing.

Can we ask our new president to include LA metro lines as part of the national infrastructure?

*What I really meant to say was “For f*** sake!”"

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