Comments on: Metro Explains Why Subway Will Take Forever

By: more trouble with infrastructure | varnelis.net

more trouble with infrastructure | varnelis.net — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:16:19 +0000

[...] in L. A. obsess about light rail and subways again precisely at a point when it isn’t coming anytime soon. How we think about infrastructure needs to be completely rethought. More on that [...]

By: theuglyamerican

theuglyamerican — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:19:30 +0000

This is why I voted NO on Measure R.

I want to see progress on existing projects before dumping more money into the MTA’s black hole.

In the meantime, for your consideration, I suggest a nomination for both the MTA and L.A. County voters for the Capt. Louis Renault award for best actors in a supporting role.

By: queequeg

queequeg — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:39:38 +0000

Re: #1 – I agree that all these things take too long and should have been done yesterday, but this might actually be one of the few things that Metro does not have control over. Local, state, and federal statutes all have varying requirements regarding environmental impact reviews (EIRs) that Metro will have to meet, and based on my limited personal experience helping agencies do their EIRs – it is an enormous pain in the ass. And it takes for-ever. No one is ever satisfied.

Even when these EIRs pass muster, Metro will have to publish its proposed plan; it is required to leave this open for public comment for a certain period of time, usually at least 30 days. After that, it must respond to these public comments, which can take any period of time. It then has to issue another proposed rule modifying its earlier position, or issue a final rule with full explanation of its plans. This process alone can take anywhere from 1-2 years. Shit takes forever, it really does.

Regarding the DC metro, they started the process to plan for the extension and to obtain these federal funds back around 2000. That the construction will be completely done in 2015 is consistent with Metro’s timeline that it will take 7 years to complete once all the red tape is cut.

By: frazgo

frazgo — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:38:57 +0000

Well their #3 tells me a metro rail of use to me won’t happen while I’m alive, maybe, just may grandchildren may see something.

Your #3 I agree with on all levels on a lot of things. I am so tired of the finger pointing and vote gathering on both sides while the point fingers and we are just stuck waiting for important matters to be dealt with.

By: Oren

Oren — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:35:22 +0000

The question I would ask is: "Given that the timetable appears to be driven largely by questions of funding, what specific steps are you taking to secure funding beyond what has already been approved (Measure R, etc.)? What possible sources of funding have you identified? How would receiving money from each of these sources affect the projected timetable?"

By: David

David — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:35:00 +0000

Sorry about the link issues. Must have mis-typed my html.

By: David

David — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:34:19 +0000

It would be nice if Orange County had anything in the works as far as expanding our public transportation. Somehow the Orange County Transportation Authority achieved the "Best Transportation in the Nation" (or something like that) from the American Public Transportation Association. I can' see how that's even remotely possible. We have trains that run from the hours of 5am-9am & 2pm-8pm and buses. Wow. In fact, the only plans I've ever heard of for Orange County were Toll Road expansion to San Diego and the multi-billion dollar tunnel from the IE to that same toll road. And since they both don't include any sort of public transportation, I suppose they don't really count. Even if they did count, they were both shot down. So as back-asswards as the plans for LA may be......at least something is in the works for you. :-/