Metrolink to cut up to 50 trains: off-peak, weekend, and reverse-commute service

Crap crap. Crap crappity crap crap.

This proposal would essentially strand Riversiders on the weekend. The few LA connections we had were via IE-OC transfers to the SB line, and then via Orange on the IE-OC and OC lines. Not to mention Orange County connections. There's still a bus through the canyon along SR-91, but then no trains with which to move about Orange County once we get there. (And recently-slashed OCTA weekend service.) These are all the damned trains that I ride!

I really can't afford the ride in to LA to yell at SCRRA about this, but I'm going to do it nonetheless.

I thought they were cutting just San Bernardino-station trains, but it looks like they're cutting the entire damn IEOC line on weekends. Crap. :-(

1. Centerline: scrapped.
2. OCTA Bus service: trimmed, cut, sliced, diced.
3. Bravo! BRT: neutered, then cut completely.
4. Metrolink: hollowed

In the last few years I think we have reverted to something like 15 years in the robustness of our transit system.

I half expect to see the headline tomorrow: "OCTA disbanded, buses sold to pay for SUV-only lanes on all major freeways."

Sigh.

Any news on the expanded Metrolink for OC? The planned 18 hour a day service every 20 to 30 minutes? Has that been cancelled too?

>4. Metrolink: hollowed

All because the public wouldn't support a fare increase. Maybe they'll reconsider now that service is being eliminated.

I'd rather pay more than risk losing my job because my only transportation has been eliminated.

>Also, I'm going to a meeting tonight at OCTA headquarters and ask some staffers what's going on with Metrolink.

Did you find out anything at the meeting?

"Depending on where you are going, during the week the cost of your Metrolink ticket can be many times higher than the cost of gas to drive the same distance, and nearly as much as the IRS avg estimate of 50.5 cents per mile to operate a car."

Fullerton to LA monthly pass = $175.25

With a 22 day work month: $175.25 / (26 miles * 2 * 22) = 15 cents per mile

If you are insane and commute from San Bernardino your monthly pass would be $310.75

310.75 / (58 miles * 2 * 22) = 12 cents per mile

If you are only going short distances, then Metrolink is not for you.

Especially when fares have gone up so much over the years, cutting some trains is the right thing to do.

For passengers on the Ventura and Orange County lines, they have alternate service on the Pacific Surfliner. Yes, they might have to go to another station, and they will have to pay more (if they don't have a monthly pass), but it's there.

For the IEOC people, the 149 remains as a connection. Weekend ridership in those counties has always been low, so it is understandable why the cuts are done.

For those in Riverside, you should contact your local city councilperson who is on the RCTC board and try to get them to support more service on Metrolink through an increased subsidy. But don't be surprised if they mention that RTA, and the local dial-a-rides, have needs too. That's just how it goes.

The 149 is NOT an option, compared to the Metrolink IE-OC line. It has all of one stop in Orange County. And then the Orange County line is being cut, so travelers heading south get... what? A long bus ride to Santa Ana and then a pricey Surfliner southbound, which doesn't stop at half of the stations in south county?

And many folks used IEOC-->OC line at Orange to get to LA, including myself on occasion. So what's that choice again? Another ride to Santa Ana and a northbound Surfliner?

Oh, and that doesn't mention the fact that there are all of 4 trips a day on the 149 on weekends. Yah, that's gonna relieve the congestion on SR-91.

Don't worry, the 91 is getting an extra lane with the help of stimulus money. No stimulus for transit, though.

The BNSF (Metrolink 91) line should be like the Chicago-Aurora IL "racetrack." It's triple track with frequent all-day METRA service. Evening and weekend too. That should be the vision for RCTC. Not at all impossible with some ARRA money.

>The 149 is NOT an option,

I want to see the 149 replaced with a new express bus that would run from the Anaheim Resort Area to the Pechanga Casino in Temecula. It could run 24/7, once an hour, with stops in Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Corona, Riverside and finally on to OC.

Pechanga could help finance it - the bus would be bringing in thousands of tourists to their casino.

This would also enable low income Disneyland employees to find affordable housing in the Riverside area.

I think this new route would go over well.

Bill,
Elsinore-->Corona-->Riverside-->OC? Look at a map, sir.
I agree with you, but that's not a productive routing. Better to extend the RTA 206 (Corona/Temecula via Lake Elsinore) and enable timed transfers with the 149 at the Corona Transit Centre (already a 149 and 206 stop).

This is a very faulty service cut. With OCTA slashing service to Irvine station, their temporary service (662-663) loses outside connections. In my opinion, at least, the trainset should be cycling all the way to Oceanside, which is possible during the amount of alotted time. Allow me to demostrate:
662 (Southbound)
LA Union Station: 11:50a
Commerce: -
Norwalk: 12:11p
Buena Park: 12:17p
Fullerton: 12:23p
Anaheim: 12:31p
Orange: 12:35p
Santa Ana: 12:40p
Tustin: 12:46p
Irvine: 12:53p
Laguna Niguel: 1:04p
San Juan Capistrano: 1:09p
San Clemente: 1:18p
San Clemente Pier: -
Oceanside: 1:55p
----------------------------
663: (Northbound)
Oceanside: 2:15p
San Clemente Pier: -
San Clemente: 2:45p
San Juan Capistrano: 2:54p
Laguna Niguel: 2:58p
Irvine: 3:07p
Tustin: 3:13p
Santa Ana: 3:19p
Orange: 3:24p
Anaheim: 3:28p
Fullerton: 3:36p
Buena Park: 3:42p
Norwalk: 3:48p
Commerce: -
LA Union Station: 4:22p
----------------
Basically, this service cut is a big mistake for Metrolink, as the destination of the weekend OC and IEOC line service should be the beaches and not some landlocked, isolated train station in the middle of suburbia. However, they say that trains may resume normal scheduling on June 30, 2010.