Transportation In The News

Some recent transportation articles of note:

• Congestion in D.C. : Our nations capital is filling with LA style traffic congestion.
  

• Auctioning Peak Takeoff Slots in NY Airports: Economic principles at work.
  

• Evidence Supporting Congestion Pricing: The opposite of regressive taxation.

Will keep you posted as more news arrives.

Proposition 1: High-Speed Passenger Rail

The idea of a high-speed train, like those used in Europe and Japan, traveling through California is intriguing. This November California voters will get to chose. Proposition 1 asks voters to authorize a $9.95 billion general obligation bond. The $9.95 billion is approximately one quarter the overall projected project costs ($40 billion) and the difference ($30 billion) would be funded by a combination of private enterprise and federal money. Proposition 1 would build an initial high-speed rail core route from San Francisco to Los Angeles, with the possibility to expand north of San Francisco and south of Los Angeles at a later time.

While my initial reaction is to support high-speed rail, deeper consideration leaves me concerned about the following:

• Will the project only cost $40 billion?
• Are ridership estimates accurate?
• Will trains reach projected speeds and provide considerable time savings over air travel?
• Will prices be competitive with air travel for this route?

In answering the four questions posed above the Reason Foundation has provided sound analysis in a recently released report. Their analysis as well as estimates from previous rail projects here in Los Angeles County indicate:

• Project costs will likely far exceed the initially projected estimate of $40 billion.
• Ridership estimates are likely inflated.
• High speed rail trains will not reach expected speeds. Nor are they likely provide time savings over an equivalent trip via air travel.
• Final price of ticket is unclear. However, if tickets are priced in order to meet projected operations costs they will likely be at least as expensive as air travel.

I grew up along east coast and watched Amtrack and other rail providers struggle to achieve ridership projections. In fact, Amtrack’s high speed Acela train, between Washington D.C. and Boston (traveling through New York City), has much higher population densities than the San Francisco to Los Angeles route. Yet Acela still struggles to achieve needed ridership levels to make the line profitable. If high speed rail transit is not profitable, and does not garner needed ridership in the northeast, our country's historic core for rail transit, then why would it work between San Francisco and Los Angeles?

These concerns, as well as the risks outlined in bullets above, lead me to doubt that a California High-Speed Rail line between Los Angeles and San Francisco is a feasible project. My vote will reflect that.

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Unlike San Francisco to Los Angeles, a high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and San Diego is a better idea. That line would almost certainly garner the needed ridership and provide travel time savings over comparable trip by air (or car). Unfortunately, local opposition stopped that project segment in its tracks years ago.

RAND Report Released: Moving Los Angeles

Earlier this week the RAND Corporation released a report providing short-term policy options for improving transportation in Los Angeles. Full or summary version is available for free download here. Focus of the report is on short-term policy reform, within the next 5 years, that can improve the current traffic congestion in Los Angeles.

Thirteen policy options are presented. Crucial to the success of any is the need for regional recognition that absent any demand management strategies, like variable pricing of lanes (HOT lanes, like those on the SR-91) and variable pricing for parking, no major improvements can be achieved.

Los Angeles needs a daring leader who is willing to risk losing some public support in order to explain to the County that we need to begin progressively paying for the transportation services we consume. Congestion pricing on the freeways and variable pricing of parking are key elements to resolving traffic congestion faced by Angelenos.

Coming from one of the top analytic policy think-tanks in the nation these transportation policy options should be heeded by both the Los Angeles City Council and the office of transportation chair Wendy Greuel. Wendy Greuel has been ahead of curve with many of the policy recommendations found within the report; these findings lend support for her office to continue paving the way. Perhaps Ms. Greuel or California State Assembly Member Mike Feuer have the gusto to be this daring leader.

It is time for all Angelenos to begin discussing the need for significant transportation policy reform; the RAND report provides 13 good places to start this discussion.

Friday, September 22nd, 2006

Method: Metro

Line: Ride Line to Blue Line to Green Line

Route: Western/Wilshire to 7th street/Metro Center - transfer - Imperial/Wilmington - transfer - Mariposa

Details: First ride to work (El Segundo) using Metro. Total time 1 hour 15 min. Drive time usually 45 min. A pleasant and smooth ride. Metro an extremely easy form of transport. Security officers at Imperial & Wilmington. Another rider exiting with me at Mariposa had a fold up bike. So rad. Only complaint: chronic cell phone offenders speaking at high volume.

Wednesday, September 20th, 2006

Method: Metro Rapid

Line: 720 to 754

Route: Western/Wilshire to Vermont/Wilshire - transfer - Vermont/Wilshire to Vermont/Exposition

Details: Upon entry to 720 Rapid greeted by the nicest bus driver ever. Discuss merits of the drivers' union, Metro vs. Muni, and the simplicity of the $3 a day unlimited day pass. Driver relates Metro dropped Muni (Torrance, Culver City and other lines) as a means to decrease power of the drivers' union. Currently, Metro and Muni are operated as separate systems and it costs $.25 cents to transfer from one to the other. During conversation another rider inquired "You working on my lady?" "Lady" stated in reference to aforementioned nicest bus driver ever. Never know what's coming next when you ride the bus in LA!

Monday, September 18th, 2006

Method: Metro Rapid

Line: 720 to 754

Route: Western/Wilshire to Vermont/Wilshire - transfer - Vermont/Wilshire to Vermont/Exposition

Details: Usual ride from K-Town to USC. Wilshire / Vermont NW corner is desperate(!) for a upgrade. Not only is it overcrowded but also unsafe as there is fast moving traffic coupled with huge piles of riders waiting to board the bus. I was a sweaty mess on the ride home which kept others at a safe distance.