Metropolitan FEBRUARY 1993 Transportation Authority METRO SM TRO MOVES Celebrates j s ist Modern Subway ew subway riders who came to try the Metro Red Line an opening day, Jan. 30, found a party at every train station. Celebrations reflecting the city's rich multi-cultural heritage were hosted by many community organiza- tions and downtown merchants near the subway's five stations. A variety of performers —from jugglers, clowns, musicians and dancers to popular charac- ters Bart Simpson, "Latin Elvis" and Raphael the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle — kept crowds entertained as they waited to board the shiny, new stainless Subway secret is out — Commuters have discovered what's deep below down- steel trains. town L.A.'s congested streets. The new Metro Red Line, L.A.'s first modern subway, is attracting more than triple the number of riders predicted. Ridership figures Olvera Street fiesta rose to 25,000 a day during the first week of operations. Across from Union Station, the Olvera Street Merchants Association hosted and drill teams set the patriotic tone for Festival de los Niiios "A Fiesta at Olvera." Folkloric dancers, military and community exhibits, and the A Children's Festival/"Festival de los mariachi musicians and popular radio crowd enjoyed entertainment ranging Nirios," across from the Westlake/Mac- personality Humberto Luna of KTNQ- from a Chinese dragon dance to a barber Arthur Park station, brought the neigh- AM added to the street fair's Latin flavor. shop quartet. borhood together for a talent show Children were treated to pinata-and mask-making workshops. Grand Central Market featuring local youth, art workshops and free health screenings provided by Farther down the line at Pershing The Civic Center area was draped in red, St.Vincent's Hospital and numerous non- Square station, Grand Central Market white and blue for its "Spirit of L.A." profit health care agencies. KLVE/FM opened its food court to offer a variety of theme celebration, hosted by the County radio personality Pepe Barreto acted as ethnic dishes at its "Munch at Grand of Los Angeles. Local marching bands Master of Ceremonies. Community Central" party, hosted by Dodger great participation was recruited by co-sponsor Manny Mota. Performances as varied Comision Femenil de Los Angeles. as Grand Central's cuisine included a South American marimba band, Pacific Islanders dance group and karate demon- Ride the Red Line for 250 strations. Citicorp Plaza, in partnership with Sample the subway experi- K-LITE-FM, sponsored a musical journey ence for just a quarter entitled "Transportation and Rhythm through Feb. 28! Transfers Through the Decades" near the 7th from Metrolink commuter Go Metro — During the Metro Red St./Metro station. The program linked trains are free. Once arrived Line's opening ceremony, Gov. Pete at any of the Red Line's five Wilson presented Mayor Tom Bradley the history of L.A.'s public transportation stations, riders will find with a new California vehicle plate. system to the musical eras from the '50s Many elected officials joined the to the '90s. Visitors strolled through an numerous connecting bus and celebration, including Ed Edelman, L.A. Metro System Information Gallery, shuttle lines that make it easy L.A. County supervisor and MTA which traced the evolution of rail from to reach any destination. After board member (far left) and John the Pacific Electric Red Car to the cur- the trial 25-cent fare period, Ferraro, L.A. City Council president rent subway line, and included a real the fare will be $1.10. M (center). vintage Red Car. d Line. ...'Brand Opöning upurerNG Citibank North Arnerica, Inc. Escudero-Fribourg Citicorp Plaza Architects Construction Control Safety Belt Safe USA he newly created Metropolitan appointed by the League of Cities; and Services Corporation East 60th Street Community Transportation Authority now one non-voting member appointed by O'Brien-Kreitzberg Improvement Club Domes & Moore Jenesee Center, Inc. Bank of America Florence-Firestone oversees all of L.A. County's Gov. Wilson. • Service Center D'Leon Consulting Engineering Company National Bleck Leadership transportation planning, fund- Initiative an Cancer The First Boston Corporation Parents of Watts Working ing and bus and rail line opera- with Youth and Adults Engineering Science, Inc, Watts Neighborhood Center tions. KI% Browning-Ferris Industries The Volunteer Center Jacobs Associates M.A.D.D. AB 152, the reorganization bill authored Cushrnan & Wakefield/ T Angeles Girl Scout Council LACTC RTD Broadway Plaza by Assemblyman Richard Katz, and Jenkins, Gales, & Peace Corps signed by Gov. Pete Wilson last year, Martinez, Inc. L.A. Conservation Corps The leag-ue appointees are Evan LKG-CMC, Inc. Privilege Plus/White Martin & Huang Memorial Center paved the way for the merging of the Anderson Braude, Long Beach city International L.A.P.D. Coopers & Lybrand S.A.N.E. Los Angeles County Transportation councilmember and RTD board mem- The Nettleship Group Los Angeles Unified School Commission (LACTC) and the Southern O'Melveny &Myers District ber; Jim Cragin, Gardena city coun- Kal Krishnan El Rescate California Rapid Transit District (RTD). Consulting, Inc. Westminster Neighborhood cilmember; John Fasana, Duarte city KLITE-FM Association Although the merger became effective Parsons -Dillingham- Amnesty International councilmember; and Larry Zarian, De Leuw, Inc. Santa Anita Acupuncture Feb.1, the reorganization bill provides KLVE-FM Center Glendale city councilmember. The Better Personnel Artemis Capital Group, Inc. for a two-month transition period, KTNQ-FM Charles A. Bell Securities mayor's appointees are Los Angeles Corp. Andy Gump, Inc. allowing both agency boards to continue Nossamen, Guthner, City councilmembers Richard Alatorre, Los Angeles Nilton & Towers Knox & Elliott operating until April. Olvera Street Merchants Otis School of Art Marvin Braude and Mark Ridley- Association and Design Engineming Management Catellus Development Consultants A Merger Steering Committee, com- Thomas.The govenor's appointee is DKS Associates Grand Central Market Philippe The Original posed of LACTC and RTD board repre- unannounced. Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Doiglas, Inc. Checkers Hotel sentatives, is guiding the reorganization Daniel, Mann, Johnson Applied Management & Over time, the MTA will become famil- & lendenhall Planning Group effort. Comision Femenil Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Inc. iar to all users of buses and Metro de Los Angeles First Interstate Bank The MTA's 13-member board will con- trains as the single agency responsible ICF-Kaiser Engineers Corp. The Ralph M. Parsons Concerned Citizens for Company BetMr Communities Dillingham Construction sist of the five Los Angeles County for Los Angeles County's integrated NA., Inc. supervisors; the mayor of Los Angeles Metro System. (Z) and three appointees; four members Bffl Metro Red Line hiet Segment 1 5 Stations Executf 4.4 Miles Metro Red Line Ifficer Nag Segment 2 8 Stations 6.7 Mnes New York State Transportation HOLLYWOOD BLVD. Metro Red Line SET BLVD. Commissioner Franklin White has Segment 3 7 Stations been named chief executive officer 11.6 Miles of the Los Angeles County Metrolink Operating 3 Lines Metropolitan Transportation San Bernardino, Authority. White has served as a Santa Clarita, and Ventura Co. commissioner for New York since Future extensions through 1995 1985. He has also served as State 114 Miles Secretary of Transportation and Stations 0 „em e,tee eses j. At least two Public Safety in Virginia. It is expect- additional stations are plannerl. ed he will be in position by April 1. WASHINGTON BLVD. Neil Peterson will continue serving Red route—The Metro Red Line's 4.4 mile Segment 1 is the beginning of a as LACTC executive director 23-mile subway that forms the backbone of the Metro System. The line will through March 31. eventually branch in three directions — to East Los Angeles, the Mid-City Pico /San Vicente area and to North Hollywood. dirman ichard Alatorre, Los Angeles the first Latino to serve as chairman of "The chairman's role in the impending City councilman and former the commission, was appointed by merger will be to ensure that the transi- LACTC chairman, is the MTA 's Mayor Tom Bradley to both the LACTC tion is orderly," said Alatorre, "and that new chairman. Elected by his and RTD boards in 1990. During his the groundwork is laid for a successful fellow board members in term, he will oversee the largest on- MTA that provides the most efficient February, the two-term city going public works project in the nation. and effective transportation options for Rcouncilman will preside over the merger Alatorre stressed the need for strong the diverse ethnic and economic commu- of the LACTC and the SCRTD, of which leadership, particularly during the nities that comprise Los Angeles." Alatorre is also a board member. merger, over the next several months, of Under a motion by Mayor Tom Bradley, Ed Edelman, L.A. County supervisor the LACTC and RTD boards into the the chair and vice-chair will serve until and member of both the RTD and new Los Angeles County Metropolitan June 30. LACTC, was named vice-chair. Alatorre, Transportation Authority (MTA). tei* n Shuttle Increasing v, Jobs, s Skills in Watts new shuttle service is develop- transportation service. The Long who are the heart of the shuttle service. ing job skills and entrepreneur- Beach-based private bus company Ten to 12 residents are being hired to fill ial ability among the residents ATE/Ryder signed on. positions as drivers, dispatchers, bus rii of Watts' Nickerson Gardens. aides, a mechanic, route supervisors and Entrepreneurial skills office support. In two years, the service The Nickerson Gardens shuttle, "We wanted to help the people in the hopes its success will call for as many as which begins this month with four to five community have better transportation," 24 jobs and a dozen vans.