OCTA staff halts high-frequency Metrolink service for 2010; Metrolink fees, cuts postponed
Orange County was about to launch high-frequency Metrolink service in 2010, but a 40% decline in sales tax receipts has prompted OCTA staff to continue the tradition of neutering transit projects: the Board will now only add 12 weekday trains per day instead of 32 more. At the moment, only 19 trains service the Orange County Line between Fullerton and South County.
Metrolink's Service Expansion Program — along with the Bravo! rapid bus project — was approved after OCTA's Board killed plans for light rail in Orange County. Trains were supposed to travel every half-hour between Fullerton and Laguna Niguel. So far, the OCTA Board has spent $420 million in capital improvements for "transit" — largely going to track improvements and grade separation — along with quiet zone implementation.
Now you can't seriously say that these improvements help to improve transit itself. It's more for improving the experience of others "inconvenienced" by transit: that of nearby homeowners who bought homes near active railroad tracks, and for motorists whose commute is inconvenienced by a paltry minute whenever a train rolls by.
It's hard not to get bitter about OCTA, because in the same OCTA memo on the Renewed Measure M Early Action Plan Review (around page 316 of this massive PDF document), they've described $165 million that will be going to signal synchronization and road upgrades, and starting construction on $445 million dedicated towards expanding more freeways: SR-91, SR-57, and the I-5. The only remaining public transit-related project mentioned in this Measure M EAP memo is funding for transit fare discounts for seniors and the disabled, and this program won't be implemented until April 2011 at the earliest. I suppose it's obvious that OCTA's transportation policies are unfortunately skewed towards road and freeway projects, instead of more environmentally- and community-friendly public transit.
On the other hand, scaling back the Metrolink Service Expansion Program could be a blessing in disguise: how likely is it that people would want to ride between Fullerton and Laguna Niguel? Nearly half of the Metrolink stations on this segment have poor, low-frequency transit connections.
Metrolink cuts and fare hike plans delayed
In other Metrolink news, Metrolink's Board has deferred making a decision on the proposed 3% fare increase and the 50-train service cuts. According to the Los Angeles Times, "The action could exacerbate a multimillion-dollar shortfall in the current year's operating budget, officials acknowledged. But a slim majority of members said they wanted to continue exploring other cost-cutting measures and potential sources of new revenue."
Comments
Service Cuts? In New York...Huge
I am always amazed how clueless some blog commentators can be. Here is the answer to his New York crack:
Bad news for transit in the Big Apple
Posted by Steve Hymon on December 17, 2009 - 11:09 am
Remember all those stories about soaring mass transit use in the summer of 2008, when gas prices soared? Well, here are the first two paragraphs of a story published by the New York Times:
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority approved a punishing slate of service cuts on Wednesday that would amount to the most significant erosion of New York City’s transit system since its recovery from the ruinous days of the 1980s.
The cuts represent some of the first concrete consequences of a fiscal crisis in New York State that until now had mostly been restricted to ominous words from politicians.
The New York state budget deficit is $6.8 million, according to the NYT. That, of course, is peanuts compared to the budget holes Sacramento has been trying to fill the past few years.
Albany, of course, has long been known for its pugilistic politics. But it’s always surprising to hear New York City — the nation’s capitol of mass transit — cutting transit service.
Among the cuts this time around were two subway lines, service reductions on dozens of bus lines and the elimination of free fares for students.
The cuts represent some of the first concrete consequences of a fiscal crisis in New York State that until now had mostly been restricted to ominous words from politicians.
NYC cuts in perspective
I really dislike how people report on MTA subway cuts, because they did the same thing last year when a service was cut. The New York Subway operates different services over different lines. You can think of the services like bus routes, while lines are the roads on which they travel. The MTA is not cutting two *lines*, but two *services*, and services that were mostly rush-hour as is. Not a single subway station will shut its doors because of these cuts. (Seriously... they never shut their doors... even with these cuts, every station in the NYC subway is open 24/7/265.)
The effects of these cuts will not to be to deprive anyone of their mobility. They will cause longer waits, more transfers, and more crowded trains, but people will, by and large, still get where they are going.
I'm not saying that this is a sign of just how badly transit is underfunded and under-prioritized in this country. I'm not saying I don't sympathize with New Yorkers, because thist ruly does suck. However, when the NYC subways get cut, it means you have to change trains more often. When the RTA or OCTA cuts service, especially in outlying service areas (south OC, or the 36 in Calimesa), people get no service at all. New Yorkers will forgive me for keeping my focus here.
NYC cuts = marketing
It sounds a lot more drastic if they say 2 whole lines are being cut, doesn't it? We transit geeks kinda know what it means, but to others not knowledgeable of New York City Transit, they might equate this to "two freeways are being demolished / shut down."
Reminds me of this picture by the OC Register, here:
http://www.transitrideroc.com/2009/11/octa-board-finalizes-bus-cuts-de
That map doesn't look so bad to those not in the know, but it doesn't include all the other routes being affected (i.e. the magnitude of service cuts) or what could've happened if we went with OCTA's Option A (eliminate whole routes).