OCTA soliciting Metrolink improvement ideas, including on-site car washes, oil changes

My thoughts on improving Metrolink:

1. Electrify the whole system.
2. Total grade separation.
3. Exclusive right of way - no sharing tracks with freight trains.
4. Hours of operation - 4:00am to 1:00am, every 15 minutes during peak hours, to no less than once an hour off peak. 30 minutes would be preferable. Eventually, 24/7 operation as often as every ten minutes.
5. Eliminate zone fares. Monthly passes should be $100 anywhere in LA or Orange County, $200 for everywhere else. One day and seven day passes should also be offered.
6. Monthly passes should also be valid on ALL connecting transit systems.
7. Pay for improvements with a new .25% sales tax.
8. Look for areas to build new service (Inland Empire, Huntington Beach Line)
9. Merge with Coaster?
10. WiFi on all trains and at all stations.
11. Ad wrappers on trains could raise a significant amount of money.
12. Lease space at stations for retail, food carts, etc.

1. The new CEO does not believe electrification to be worth the benefits on the Metrolink system.

2. This isn't really necessary for every single grade crossing. FRA allows grade crossings up to 110 MPH, if I recall correctly. Grade crossings should be grade separated if the benefits outweigh the costs of building the thing.

3. LOSSAN and the SB Line are definitely candidates for this.

4. I think this could work if Metrolink operated FRA-compliant DMUs that are less costly to operate. I don't think you will ever see 24/7 operation on Metrolink or Metro Rail. Better to operate buses that serve the stations at these hours.

5. Depends on how the economics of this work out. Whatever maintains a 50% farebox recovery, I guess.

6. They mostly are right now. They are even valid on the Surfliner.

7. Another tax so soon after Measure R?

8. Perris Valley extension is in the works. Huntington Beach line would be a nightmare because of all the residences and Red County hatred of trains.

9. What benefits would this have? You take the Surfliner if you want to take such a long trip.

10. Desirable, but not a priority. 3G is becoming so fast that wifi really doesn't matter as much anymore.

11. Haha, the Acela got wrapped and it was a big controversy. Oh well.

12. Good idea for busy stations (Union Station and Fullerton Station maintain some cafes). Not going to happen at stations with sporadic ridership. A business wants a decent flow of customers at all times of day, not just during rush hour.

I'm sort of playing devil's advocate on most of these, but yeah, those are the barriers to increasing service.

1. That seems strange. Electric vehicles cost less to operate, can accelerate quicker, make less noise and pollute less. An all electric system could be upgraded to near light rail frequency.

7. Either that or change Measure M to provide a larger amount for transit. A new ballot measure is all that would take.

Chicago has what they call "city stickers" for vehicles. Any vehicle registered in the city of Chicago must have one. Why can't Orange County do the same? This could raise a considerable amount of money. If it works for Chicago, it could work here as well.... Of course, I would have 100% of the money go towards transit.. Could this be another issue to take to the voters?

8. Perris is still a few years away and extensions beyond Perris probably won't happen for at LEAST a decade.

Huntington Beach has a freight line that could be utilized. I'm pretty certain most if not all of it is outside the residential zone so NIMBY's probably wouldn't care.

That line just happens to go right next to the transit center at Golden West College. I think Metrolink should do a test run and see if they could get enough riders to make it worth doing it permanently.

10. 3G is expensive. Lots of people could benefit from free Wifi. AT&T charges at least $10 per gigabyte and Verizon charges $256 per gigabyte (after the first five gigabytes) for their mobile broadband. They should offer Wifi until the time comes that we have unlimited 3G or 4G at a reasonable price.

The RTA Commuter Link buses offer it, so what's stopping Metrolink?

11. If it helps keep fares low, who cares?

12. Use mobile carts similar to hot dog carts and only during peak hours.