5 ms·

> LA had one of the largest public transit systems in the entire world. it still does, it's just mainly used by non-affluent (not just poor) people so nobody h

> LA had one of the largest public transit systems in the entire world. it still does, it's just mainly used by non-affluent (not just poor) people so nobody hears about it. the bus and rail system dwarf that of most major cities. the plan through 2030 is extremely ambitious and is half done already. there will be light rail from downtown to the ocean this year (already running halfway there), and the wilshire subway has already broken ground. i commuted from hollywood to pasadena every day for a year on it, and that was 10 years ago. when the expo/ocean line opens i will take it frequently to go downtown. i've taken the bus many times before, it acts like a train. hop on, hop off on major thoroughfares. http://thesource.metro.net/2013/06/13/new-under-construction-map-for-metro-rail-debuts/ http://thesource.metro.net/2013/06/13/new-under-construction...

ubernostrum 11y ago
I was in Santa Monica recently and saw the rail line. Everyone local commented that it's been built in the stupidest possible way: it runs across major streets, many crossings don't have gates or other safety measures, etc., and they're all saying that it's just a matter of time before the fatal accidents start happening.
- beachstartup 11y ago
  yeah, take all that with a grain of salt. everyone here in SM is basically a rich NIMBY asshole.
  - ubernostrum 11y ago
    Well, my point of comparison is Portland's tram lines. Which already have such problems with clueless people just going right out in front of moving trains that they're having to run public-awareness campaigns about actually looking both ways before you cross the track. So I can certainly believe that putting a rail line in anywhere -- regardless of what you think of the residents -- without installing basic safety stuff like gates and signals at street crossings is kinda bad.
    - beachstartup 11y ago
      i go to portland a lot, and live in santa monica. the one in santa monica doesn't seem as dangerous. the expo line in SM doesn't run through heavily trafficked pedestrian areas like the portland one does. i don't know, i guess we'll see.

ubernostrum 11y ago

I was in Santa Monica recently and saw the rail line. Everyone local commented that it's been built in the stupidest possible way: it runs across major streets, many crossings don't have gates or other safety measures, etc., and they're all saying that it's just a matter of time before the fatal accidents start happening.

beachstartup 11y ago
yeah, take all that with a grain of salt. everyone here in SM is basically a rich NIMBY asshole.
- ubernostrum 11y ago
  Well, my point of comparison is Portland's tram lines. Which already have such problems with clueless people just going right out in front of moving trains that they're having to run public-awareness campaigns about actually looking both ways before you cross the track. So I can certainly believe that putting a rail line in anywhere -- regardless of what you think of the residents -- without installing basic safety stuff like gates and signals at street crossings is kinda bad.
  - beachstartup 11y ago
    i go to portland a lot, and live in santa monica. the one in santa monica doesn't seem as dangerous. the expo line in SM doesn't run through heavily trafficked pedestrian areas like the portland one does. i don't know, i guess we'll see.