Comments on: cra to vote on $5 million for broadway streetcar

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:07:11 +0000

Streetcars are VERY easy to get on and off, at least the modern ones are. They are level with the sidewalk, no stairs to climb, you just walk (or if in a wheelchair, roll) right on from the sidewalk and off you go.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:29:55 +0000

thanks for the clarification. It just seems to be me that street cars are just more difficult to board and get off on. My only experience with cable cars is SF and it is always fun to jump on from all different sides and hop off several blocks later. Very convenient

By: LoftLA

LoftLA — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:25:21 +0000

I would never use the street car on those proposed routes. Paint the dash cars red and extend the hours.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:11:45 +0000

unrefined…I think we should define the terms here a bit. In dense, urban areas, streetcars and cable cars have essentially the same purpose - but operating with two very different technologies. Cable cars were developed for hilly terrain (LA had one going up Bunker Hill a century ago and Angels Flight remains today as a cable car). Street cars or “trolleys” typically get their power from overhead electric wires and work well in relatively flat areas.

Street cars can also serve far-flung suburban areas and connect different urban centers (as LA’s once did) but they’re still basically street cars. Look at at today’s Blue Line: it operates as a “subway” downtown, then emerges as a street car , then as an “interurban” to Long Beach and then as a local street car again.

By: Bartleight

Bartleight — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:03:06 +0000

# 13, the long-term plan for the street car, at least at this point, is to initially fund a system that will service Downtown with plans to raise additional funding to expand service to more areas. I’ve attended three of the street car seminars offered by Councilman Huizar and the momentum at this stage makes the realization of a full & integrated street car system seem promising.

By: undefined

undefined — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:59:47 +0000

I was more making the claim that if downtown becomes what we envision we need several modes of transportation within its limits. A street cable care would be perfect for short scenic distances from maybe the historic core to the staples center. A street car like portland would be perfect for those going from the staples center to maybe koreatown and then to venice.

I dont doubt that we will need both modes but I just envision the cable car more going in circles around the main area of downtown and the streetcar actually going to further destinations. The metrolink/subway would then be used to travel the furthest distances like to the inland empire, sd, sf, etc…..

By: Bruce

Bruce — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:07:13 +0000

As Bert Green (#3) said, the arrival of a streetcar line in downtown brings a factor of permanence and sustained commitment to the area - something residents, businesses and yep – tourists – will respond to. And given our past (LA’s fabric of sprawl was born of streetcars, not motorcars), bringing streetcars back to downtown is not a cute little gimmick but a step in reclaiming our history in a meaningful way.

I don’t believe anyone is claiming you just throw streetcar tracks down a street and POOF, you have an urban resurgence. There is no single catalyst but rather several catalysts bouncing around, feeding off one another. Streetcars are just one of those catalysts.

By: Bartleight

Bartleight — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:49:38 +0000

Ginny, You actually can buy the TAP pass on-line as well. I almost bought one yesterday on-line but did not because it is a use-it-or-lose-it type situation, meaning the money on the card, if not used within the same month (referring to monthly pass dollars) does not “roll” to the next month. I called customer service and they assured me that this was planned for the future, maybe around Jan. 2009. Regards.

By: Steven

Steven — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:44:02 +0000

plus! Duh! Trains look cool in the city..(you know thats the real reason)

By: Ginny

Ginny — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:50:12 +0000

@Vero Queero: you can by the EZ transit pass online.

But, I think you meant the TAP pass. You can’t buy the TAP pass online - but you can refill it online.

http://metro.net/riding_metro/tap/default.htm

I think it’s just a matter of time before the fare system is streamlined in Los Angeles County.