Southern California Transit Advocates

So.CA.TA supports package of transportation bills by Assemblymember Feuer
Assemblymember Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) has created a package of six bills that would provide various means of raising money for transportation projects.

At our April 12 meeting, we voted to support all six bills and submitted a statement to Feuer's office.

krichards on 04.13.08 @ 07:48 PM PST [More]

So.CA.TA comments on Metro Long Range Transportation Plan
Southern California Transit Advocates has submitted a statement of support for the projects listed in the Metro Long Range Transportation Plan.

We have made suggestions regarding the rankings of some projects, however.

So.CA.TA urges the public to review the Long Range Transportation Plan, available at the Metro website, and comment:
http://www.metro.net/projects_studies/lrtp.htm

Deadline for comments is April 25.

krichards on 04.13.08 @ 07:45 PM PST [More]

SO.CA.TA opposes Metro rail gating proposal
We have testified at every opportunity about the Metro Rail gating proposal.

Our primary concerns are that the gates will not recover sufficient unpaid fare revenues to pay for their operation, that the removal of fare inspectors will lower security on the rail system, and that the gates will cause difficulties at rush hour at Union Station due to high transfer ridership from the Metrolink commuter rail system. (Click "more" for links to various documents we referred to during our testimony.)

The blog MetroRiderLA analyzes the latest Metro staff report on the gating proposal in its entry Deconstructing Fare Gates
dgabbard on 02.21.08 @ 02:08 PM PST [More]

So.CA.TA comments on Expo Line crossing at Farmdale Ave.
Southern California Transit Advocates has issued a statement to the Expo Line Authority supporting staff recommendations for safety enhancements at the Farmdale Ave. crossing (near Dorsey High School) and rejecting the opponents' call for grade separation of the line.

The text of our statement follows.
krichards on 02.14.08 @ 02:03 PM PST [More]

SO.CA.TA comments on proposed Metro service changes
Southern California Transit Advocates has submitted written comments to all five Metro Service Sectors regarding the proposed June service changes, potentially affecting more than 50 lines.

Our comments have been organized by sector.
krichards on 01.21.08 @ 07:26 PM PST [More]

Dana Gabbard letter to Metro on proposed Code of Conduct--with response
To foster discussion we are presenting the text of Mr. Gabbard's letter to Metro on his initial concerns in re the draft Metro Customer Code of Conduct, along with the response by Metro Chief Ethics Officer Karen Gorman.

+++++

Dec. 14, 2007

Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority
Roger Snoble, Chief Executive Officer

Dear Mr. Snoble:

I have so far only had time to make a cursory examination of the draft Metro Customer Code of Conduct which per board action (agenda item #44, Nov. 29 Metro Board meeting) is to be published for public comment. So I reserve the right to submit subsequent more in-depth comments. But these are a few questions and concerns I have initially:
dgabbard on 01.05.08 @ 12:54 AM PST [More]

Metro seeks public comment on Customer Code of Conduct draft--UPDATED 1-16-08
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (aka Metro) has made available its draft Metro Customer Code of Conduct for public comment. The updated/revised text can be read here.

Public comment will be taken through February 7, 2008. Consideration of adoption by the Metro Board will take place at its March meeting or a later board meeting.

All comments should be submitted to the Metro Ethics Department:

Metro
One Gateway Plaza
MS 99-11-12
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Attention: K. Gorman.

or ethics@metro.net.
dgabbard on 12.14.07 @ 11:29 AM PST [More]

Provide feedback on the Los Angeles Transportation Strategic Plan
Los Angeles Council Transportation Committee chair Councilwoman Wendy Greuel has posted on her website an online form to provide feedback on the Los Angeles Transportation Strategic Plan. Its results will be made available to other Council members, and used to help guide a consultant who will develop the final plan over the course of the next several months. The form is posted here.
dgabbard on 11.29.07 @ 10:23 AM PST [More]

Harold Katz's letter to MTA in re Westside Corridor Study
With his kind permission we are posting Harold Katz's recent letter of comment to MTA in re Westside Corridor Study, believing that it deserves a wider audience to foster discussion.
dgabbard on 11.18.07 @ 09:07 PM PST [More]

SO.CA.TA statement on Foothill Transit fare increase
STATEMENT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRANSIT ADVOCATES
FOOTHILL TRANSIT FARE INCREASE
NOVEMBER 1, 2007

hfung on 11.03.07 @ 03:06 AM PST [More]

members attend 10/16 Westside Extension Transit Study Corridor scoping meeting
The MetroRiderLA blog has pictures of members Dana Gabbard, Bart Reed and Anthony Loui as part of a report on the Oct. 16 Westside Extension Transit Study Corridor scoping meeting held at Wilshire United Methodist Church in Windsor Village.
dgabbard on 10.18.07 @ 11:01 AM PST [More]

3rd Subway to the Sea community meeting
Southern California Transit Advocates on October 29th at the El Rey Theatre in the Miracle Mile district held the third of a series of public meetings regarding the proposal to extend the subway (also known as the Purple Line) west to Westwood and eventually Santa Monica via the Miracle Mile,
Beverly Hills and Century City.

Publicity for the event included a brief aricle [see p.6] and follow up (see pp.1, 26) in the local community newspaper The Beverly Press. In the Nov. 8 issue Dana Gabbard has a letter on the low turnout (see p.7), along with a missive from someone who heard of the event but did not attend and explains why. In the Nov. 22 issue (see p.6) Harald R. Hahn, President of the Burton Way Homeowners Association, gave further comments on outreach for the event.

One attendee posted on his blog impressions.

SO.CA.TA member Joseph Dunn took some photos of the event that he posted on flickr
dgabbard on 10.10.07 @ 09:38 AM PST [More]

photos of Buena Park Metrolink station dedication
Saturday Oct. 6 SO.CA.TA had a booth at the official dedication of the Buena Park Metrolink station. Photos of the event have been posted on the trainweb website including a photo of our representative attending the event Ken Ruben (no photo of the booth, staffed by Dana Gabbard and Kymberleigh Richards). A good time was had by all!
dgabbard on 10.08.07 @ 11:48 AM PST [More]

letter of comment to SANDAG in re recent SDMTS fare increase
Sept. 26, 2007

SANDAG Transportation Committee
The Honorable Jim Madaffer, Chair
Fare Public Hearing
401 B Street
Suite 800
San Diego, CA 92101

Dear Mr. Madaffer:

We are the Southern California Transit Advocates, a non-profit organization working to improve public transportation in the Southern California region. We are disappointed that the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (SDMTS) adopted the fare increases in its August budget deliberations without soliciting any public input, thus making your role in the fare increases essentially ministerial.

[click "link" to read more]
dgabbard on 09.26.07 @ 10:58 AM PST [More]

William Vallow's unedited letter on transportation funding diversion
Mr. Vallow's letter that appeared in the August 24 L.A. Times was heavily edited:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-friday24aug24,0,1307568.story?page=3&coll=la-news-comment-letters
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-friday24aug24,0,1307568.story?page=4&coll=la-news-comment-letters
dgabbard on 08.24.07 @ 12:06 PM PST [More]

SO.CA.TA Statements on Proposed Metro Service Changes (December 2007)
Southern California Transit Advocates has taken positions on the proposed December 16 service changes for the Metro Westside/Central, Gateway Cities, and San Gabriel Valley service sectors. These will be read into the record at the public hearings held this month.
krichards on 07.31.07 @ 10:53 PM PST [More]

Formula Allocation Procedure information UPDATED 11-30-07
Resources on the debate on revising regional transit funding allocation procedures in Los Angeles County.
hfung on 06.01.07 @ 07:58 PM PST [More]

historical materials on Southern California transportation
To encourage various perspectives we present links to historic articles and other materials on Southern California transportation while noting Southern California Transit Advocates presents them merely to foster discussion and does not necessarily endorse the views expressed therein.
dgabbard on 04.18.07 @ 02:18 PM PST [More]

Welcome to the new SO.CA.TA website!
To expand any of the of the articles shown, please click on the "more" link to the right of the datestamp. If you wish to contact the author, please click on the underlined author name.

Unless otherwise stated, resources and articles are provided for information only and do not represent the official view of SO.CA.TA. Thank you.
hfung on 02.19.07 @ 04:39 AM PST [More]

Toll Roads as Public/Private Partnerships UPDATED 5-10-07
Analysis of viability of public/private partnership options for toll roads.
krichards on 02.18.07 @ 02:02 PM PST [More]

Possible Source of Transportation Funding? UPDATED 2/26/08
Legislation allows vote in L.A. County for additional sales tax to fund transportation projects
krichards on 02.18.07 @ 01:59 PM PST [More]

Goods Movement
resources on this key transportation/economic issue.
krichards on 02.18.07 @ 01:57 PM PST [More]

Project and Study Websites
Links to official websites and media coverage of significant transportation projects and studies currently underway in our region (and in a few cases statewide).
krichards on 02.18.07 @ 01:49 PM PST [More]

High Cost of Pavement Maintenance
resources on the vexing problem of escalating pavement maintenance costs.
krichards on 02.18.07 @ 01:42 PM PST [More]

Transportation Related Tours in Southern California
Information on transit- and transportation-related tours in the region.
krichards on 02.18.07 @ 01:40 PM PST [More]

Legislative Update
State and federal legislative information, updated 4/28/08 by So.CA.TA's Public and Legislative Affairs Committee.
krichards on 02.18.07 @ 01:31 PM PST [More]

Security on Metro
Contact information for the Transit Service Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
krichards on 02.18.07 @ 01:22 PM PST [More]

LADOT Bans Photography on Buses
So.CA.TA is concerned that LADOT's Code of Conduct for passengers restricts the use of photographic equipment.
krichards on 02.18.07 @ 01:20 PM PST [More]

Street Closure, Vehicle Location and Bus Detour Resources
Links to resources to determine street closures for special events, detours due to street closures, and real-time bus locations.
krichards on 02.18.07 @ 01:17 PM PST [More]

Bus Shelters in the City of Los Angeles
Metro staff report on how bus shelters are installed and maintained within Los Angeles.
krichards on 02.18.07 @ 01:09 PM PST [More]

Cellphone Use by Bus Operators
Use of a wireless phone by bus operators while driving is illegal in California.
krichards on 02.18.07 @ 11:33 AM PST [More]

California High Speed Rail bond to be on Nov. 2008 ballot UPDATED 3-17-08
Latest information on the State's proposed high speed rail service.
krichards on 02.18.07 @ 11:29 AM PST [More]

Outlook for Federal Transportation Funding
Text of memorandum by the L.A. City Council Chief Legislative Analyst's office on the outlook for federal transportation trust funds.
krichards on 02.18.07 @ 11:18 AM PST [More]

Transit Agency Agenda List
Links to agendas for transit funding and operating governing boards, oversight committees, and technical review bodies.
krichards on 02.18.07 @ 11:07 AM PST [More]