Ghoul R Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> An Observer Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > 3 huh? if they extended the line to Winchester
> the
> > ridership would probably double! BOB2 and I
> were
> > discussing the Coachella Extension and he cites
> > numerous surveys and I'm sure they are what
> they
> > are, I also think that similar surveys were
> taken
> > on the Perris extension. Problem is that they
> seem
> > to miss a common sense conclusion as to why and
> > where people ride ie they listen to answers to
> > questions by potential riders without full
> concern
> > over the validity of the answer. I know this is
> > all public convenience but you would like to
> see
> > it at least cover operating costs.
>
> They could start by running trains from LA to
> Perris on weekends so folks can visit the largest
> railroad museum west of the mississippi river!

It's too bad they never followed up with what was originally planned back in the mid 2000's after so many years of on-off-on again delays, and the cost spent on the rebuilding of the Perris line. It is indeed unfortunate, that Perris is not providing the high quality direct peak and off peak services to Orange and LA County, and weekend services on the Perris line, with a "usable" frequency of weekend service like on the San Bernardino and OC services.

Unfortunately, the cost overruns and delays on the 91 project kept eating up the Riverside County sales taxes which were supposed to fund both projects, and left the RCTC with an inadequate operating budget to provide adequate service level, in the ensuing decade that had passed, since those plans back in 2007...

Some of the biggest rail failures involve this problem, of building expensive rail infrastructure, then running it as a "part time" transportation service, as in the case of Perris... This is at least partially problem of the fact that big contractors, who could always use more "contracts", seem to always attend the fundraisers for politicians, and most commuters who could use more frequent and direct "service" generally don't...

This "imbalance" in setting political "priorities" (money for reelection versus serving public need effectively and efficiently) is the main reason why we have a CAHSRA project that is among the most expensive in the world ever built, but that doesn't seem to be designed to meet very many of our actual observed transportation needs....