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Re: There are other solutions to increase Orangeline ridership, by operating the service better.
Author: BOB2
Date: 04-03-2019 - 06:15
Max, there are ways to run this BRT, to get better ridership...but....
When folks were complaining about relatively poor Orangeline ridership after opening, despite severe overcrowding of buses on some segments, back in 2007, I did a little exercise looking at "branching" the Orange line bus routes allowing for direct no-transfer service, like they do with the busway in Ottawa.
Today, the LACMTA runs this exclusive Orangeline busway as a sort of "poor man's" LRT, forcing transfers between the Orangeline and the intersecting "feeder" arterial bus routes. So simply eliminating the transfer "time" (out of vehicle "wait" time for transfers is 3 times the perceived value of travel time, and significantly reduces bus use) penalty by "branching" could add as many as 8,000 riders, for zero additional capital costs, and allow multi-lining or even short-lining to allow for a higher service level on overcrowded segments.
LACMTA has become a huge political construction "trough" at which the contractors now feed at. We have a huge number of needed and long overdue rail transit projects that are being built. Rail passenger trips continue to increase slowly but steadily, and total passenger miles are increasing. The trains are popular and have attracted significant new ridership, as well.
Meanwhile, total LACMTA bus trips are declining, partially because of perfectly "rational" users switching to better quality rail service (faster, more reliable , more frequent service). But, just as often due to the deteriorating reliability and speed of bus services due to MTA's "too long" (20 miles in some cases) bus routings, on increasingly congested streets with falling trip speeds, with often infrequent and very unreliable scheduling. Bus costs are rising while bus productivity continues to fall. And, unfortunately the LACMTA management and politicians seem to be either unable, or unwilling, to make needed changes to address those issues.
What's really driving Orangeline conversion to LRT??? From my experience, it would appear that Valley politicians who once cynically opposed "evil" rail in the Valley, are now sorry they missed their turn at the rail contractor construction campaign contribution trough....
When folks were complaining about relatively poor Orangeline ridership after opening, despite severe overcrowding of buses on some segments, back in 2007, I did a little exercise looking at "branching" the Orange line bus routes allowing for direct no-transfer service, like they do with the busway in Ottawa.
Today, the LACMTA runs this exclusive Orangeline busway as a sort of "poor man's" LRT, forcing transfers between the Orangeline and the intersecting "feeder" arterial bus routes. So simply eliminating the transfer "time" (out of vehicle "wait" time for transfers is 3 times the perceived value of travel time, and significantly reduces bus use) penalty by "branching" could add as many as 8,000 riders, for zero additional capital costs, and allow multi-lining or even short-lining to allow for a higher service level on overcrowded segments.
LACMTA has become a huge political construction "trough" at which the contractors now feed at. We have a huge number of needed and long overdue rail transit projects that are being built. Rail passenger trips continue to increase slowly but steadily, and total passenger miles are increasing. The trains are popular and have attracted significant new ridership, as well.
Meanwhile, total LACMTA bus trips are declining, partially because of perfectly "rational" users switching to better quality rail service (faster, more reliable , more frequent service). But, just as often due to the deteriorating reliability and speed of bus services due to MTA's "too long" (20 miles in some cases) bus routings, on increasingly congested streets with falling trip speeds, with often infrequent and very unreliable scheduling. Bus costs are rising while bus productivity continues to fall. And, unfortunately the LACMTA management and politicians seem to be either unable, or unwilling, to make needed changes to address those issues.
What's really driving Orangeline conversion to LRT??? From my experience, it would appear that Valley politicians who once cynically opposed "evil" rail in the Valley, are now sorry they missed their turn at the rail contractor construction campaign contribution trough....
