Spring/Summer 2003 QUARTERLY Discover Gold. Metro Rail’s Gold Line Opens July 26. BoardofDirectors Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chief Executive Officer Roger Snoble Hal Bernson Board Chairman, City Council Member Los Angeles There’s a rich history of electric passenger train service between LA and Pasadena that began more than a century ago. This year Zev Yaroslavsky 1st Vice Chair, we’re going full circle as MTA gets ready to open the new Third Supervisorial District LA to Pasadena Metro Gold Line. Frank C. Roberts 2nd Vice Chair, Commuters used to crawling along the clogged 210 and 110 Mayor, freeways will soon be able to park their cars and hop on the train. City of Lancaster They don’t have to stop when they get to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. They can take Metro Rail connections Gloria Molina First Supervisorial District to Long Beach, Hollywood, Universal City and North Hollywood, Norwalk and Redondo Beach. This year we also hope to break Yvonne Brathwaite Burke Second Supervisorial ground on a Metro Gold Line extension to the Eastside, an area District heavily dependent on public transportation. Don Knabe Fourth Supervisorial District This issue of Metro Quarterly explores the new Metro Gold Line and chronicles MTA’s progress on multiple transportation fronts Michael D. Antonovich Fifth Supervisorial District from expanding Metro Rail and Metro Bus options to bicycling, and we’ll also look at how MTA’s efforts are improving air quality. James K. Hahn Mayor of Los Angeles Inspired by the past when it was relatively easy and even fun to Paul Hudson Banker maneuver around Los Angeles County, MTA is charging into the future with new transportation tools as well as the knowledge Allison Yoh Urban Planner gleaned from years of experience to ensure that all Angelenos today and tomorrow can get where they want to go when they John Fasana City Council Member, want to get there. Duarte Beatrice Proo City Council Member, Pico Rivera Sincerely, Pam O’Connor City Council Member, Santa Monica Roger Snoble Doug Failing Ex-officio, Caltrans Contents Spring/Summer 2003 4 The Natural General Manager Jack Gabig is the logical choice to captain Metro San Gabriel Valley. 5 Proceeding A successful fundraising effort in Sacramento results in award of 4 major construction contract for San Fernando Valley Metro Rapidway and purchase of MTA’s longest, most spacious buses that will be deployed to the line. 7 Q&A Faced with a sudden transportation-funding shortfall, MTA CEO 5 Roger Snoble, in this exclusive Q&A, provides an update on the agency’s lobbying efforts in Sacramento and Washington. 9-21 LOS ANGELES–PASADENA METRO GOLD LINE SPECIAL SECTION An inside look at the new 13.7-mile light rail line. 23 Cloning Bikestation Long Beach has been so successful that others nearly identical are being studied for five other Metro Rail locations. 9-21 24 Nation’s Cleanest Fleet MTA’s nearly 2,000-strong fleet of clean air buses, trains and funding of other clean-air programs and projects has contributed to improved air quality. 25 Faces Inspector General keeping watchful eye on tax dollars Best employees recognized She’s chief of staff and Woman of the Year 24 2313 26 Happenings Six new transit passes approved Expanded rideshare program is scrumptious Metro Art tours offered without reservations 27 Briefs Sheriff’s deputies patrolling entire system Metro Blue Line rail crossings upgraded 2626 Bike-transit commuting encouraged Editor Photographers MTA Research Gary Wosk John Weiskopf, Greg Mancuso, Matthew Barrett, Jim Walker, Dennis Finn, Chris Lovdahl, David Zaitz Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Library Writers Juan Ocampo, Gayle Anderson, Danielle Grossman, Dave Sotero, Laura Woodward, Richard Cornubert Deputy Executive Officer, Public Relations Douglas Kim Marc Littman Account Executive Design Yvonne Price Chief Communications Officer MTA Design Studio Matt Raymond Michael Lejeune, Creative Director Circulation Theresa Renn, Designer Karen Kern, Bob Saunders, Special thanks to Bruce Shelburne, MTA Operations Georgina Saez, Designer Dan Colonello Published by MTA Communications Unit All comments about MQ or requests to be added to the mailing list, free-of-charge, should be directed to: MQ, MTA Media Relations, Mailstop 99-2-3, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012-2952, or by e-mail to [email protected] TheNatural GENERAL MANAGER TAILOR-MADE FOR SERVICE SECTOR ASSIGNMENT His background as A new Gabig ally is the start-up of general manager of community and Governance Council Montebello Bus Lines meetings where the public can participate and efforts over 13 years in the decision-making process. to improve customer service including “The anticipated result will be working closely with improved on-time performance for our the San Gabriel Valley passengers and increased field support Council of Governments and monitoring of operator performance,” (COG) made him the says Gabig. best choice. The first round of improvements Since last July, was implemented last December with Gabig and his Metro many more expected. In June 2003, a San Gabriel Valley major service-restructuring plan was staff have focused implemented in the San Gabriel Valley. on improving safety, He estimates that 90% of the service Metro San Gabriel Valley General Manager Jack Gabig (left) service quality and changes will support the new Los discusses ways to improve bus lines with service development managers Angeles-Pasadena Metro Gold Line Callier Beard and Jon Hillmer during strategy session. customer satisfaction. rail service. etro San Gabriel Valley To make sure service improvements “When the Gold Line opens this General Manager Jack are carried out successfully, equal summer, we will provide critically needed Gabig wanted to play a big importance is placed on assuring there bus connections for our passengers at all role in the restructuring of are sufficient staffing levels at the two 13 rail stations,” says Gabig. M MTA operating divisions under his control. MTA when he applied for the position. MTA SERVICE SECTORS CONTINUE PROGRESS TA service sectors continue The latest improvements, scheduled Service sectors now work closely to improve Metro Bus to take effect in June 2003, will provide with members of the community to plan service throughout LA better connectivity between bus and train service changes that meet their needs. County, helping customers service and introduce new bus service M In addition, service sectors have get where they need to go and providing where it is needed most. an alternative to driving. set up governance councils to improve “Our goal has been to provide customer service. Made up of elected Collectively, five community-based greater service to our customers while officials and public transit consumers, service sectors made more than 100 bus getting the most efficiency out of our councils oversee the planning and routes and schedule changes over the bus schedules,” says MTA Deputy CEO implementation of bus service and last year. John Catoe. “The service sectors have conduct public hearings to collect really ramped up to localize control of feedback as part of the decision-making our bus lines. The results are now process. becoming evident.” 4 FullSpeedAhead BRUNT OF VALLEY RAPIDWAY CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY reliminary demolition work on The Rapid- the future 14-mile San Fernando way will feature Valley Metro Rapidway, which new 60-foot Pwill save Metro passengers up to articulated buses 20 minutes on their commute, has given with 15 more way to full-scale construction following seats than regular MTA’s award of a $148.9 million contract Metro Buses that to the joint venture of Shimmik command traffic Construction Co., Inc./Obayashi Corp. signals to remain green long Expected to open in August 2005, enough for nearly the Rapidway will extend between the unimpeded travel, North Hollywood Metro Rail Station and and low floors for Warner Center in the West Valley along a quicker former Southern Pacific Railroad right-of- boardings. Artist’s rendition of completed LA River bus bridge in West San Fernando way, serving such communities as North Valley that will accommodate 60-foot articulated buses. Hollywood, Valley Glen, Van Nuys, Paralleled by Sherman Oaks, Encino, Tarzana and a bikeway and Woodland Hills. pedestrian paths, the Rapidway will be including 7,000 trees and l million enhanced by 80 acres of landscaping drought-tolerant shrubs. MTA PLACES NEW ORDER FOR HIGHER CAPACITY BUSES TA has ordered 200 60-foot begin arriving in the summer of 2005. An additional 70 45-foot buses buses to be deployed on This is another major step in modernizing should arrive in late 2004 and will Metro Rapid and high- the Metro Bus fleet and improving the be deployed throughout the Metro M capacity lines when they quality of service. Bus system. Propelled by clean-air, compressed Lighter in weight than steel natural gas (CNG), the advanced counterparts, l-ton lighter to be exact, aerodynamically designed and also powered by CNG, the 45-foot coaches, which are 50% quieter Compo-Buses can seat 46 passengers, than other buses in service, the equivalent of up to six extra seats. feature larger passenger windows, three large doors and seating for 60 passengers, 15 more seats than standard 40-foot buses. Measuring 60 feet in length, articulated buses bend in the middle and seat 5 many more passengers than a standard 40-foot bus. TheBigPicture MTA CEO ROGER SNOBLE LOOKS AT FUNDING CRISIS hen former Dallas Area Rapid Transit chief Roger Snoble became the A The Eastside alignment is a high MTA CEO two years ago, no one ever said creating a transportation priority because we are in the midst of system that he hoped someday would be considered one of the best in the negotiating a full-funding grant agreement nation was going to be easy.