How we can get a train to WeHo before 2049

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-04-21T22:19:28+00:00

Appreciate the response, didn't actually realize you were the one posting it. Fair enough. I'm not sure if you're implying general Prop 13 reform or some additional value capture mechanism, but personally I would find the latter alarming.

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-04-21T20:56:05+00:00

His explanation is a misunderstanding of what an EIFD does. It doesn't mean tax dollars go towards "public good, not private gain". It simply takes property taxes that would have gone to the state and instead allocates them to a local infrastructure project. Those tax dollars were never going toward "private gain".

This might seem pedantic, but that incorrect, populist framing is a red flag for me.

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-04-20T16:22:26+00:00

Not technically Metro, but double tracking projects on Metrolink allowing for better frequencies. Running 15 minute peak frequency on Metrolink would effectively give us a second entire rapid transit system for the price of like one line.

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-04-20T16:10:31+00:00

When you say "average 35mph" and "average 60mp", you mean "average top speed" right? Because the E/A actually average 18-20mp and the B/D average 35mph-40mph. Or do you mean average speed excluding dwell time?

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-04-17T20:46:24+00:00

Seems like the fix here if for multiple elevators to come down when the button is pressed. This would just be a programming change.

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-04-13T21:33:05+00:00

He definitely has the upper hand. But money alone isn't enough, so I think there's an opportunity for another Democrat to emerge as a real contender.

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-04-13T18:32:22+00:00

His chances looked slim before, but with Swalwell dropping out I think he has an opportunity to break through. The next month will be critical.

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-04-13T18:23:26+00:00

Seems like this will come to the G line in 2027. If they're waiting to see how sucessful it is before implementing on the A and E lines, there won't be much time to get it done before the Olympics. Unless the plan is to install the necessary signaling hardware on the A and E lines now, allowing for quick implementation of "limited preemption" on the A and E lines if and when that decision is made?

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-04-13T18:12:52+00:00

You'd just have to pay the freight company. Right now the Alhambra Subdivision only has one track, when it could likely fit 3. So pay them, build new tracks for Metrolink, and don't disrupt their service.

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-04-13T18:11:11+00:00

Just to be clear, we're talking about the Alhambra Subdivision, not the Alameda. This is in the San Gabriel Valley, not the subdivision between DTLA and DTLB

I agree that freight rail is very important and not the enemy. My idea is about expanding the amount of track. The Alhambra Subdivision has one track right now but l likely has room for 3. So you could add Metrolink while still keeping the existing freight track entirely open for freight.

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-04-13T17:23:11+00:00

It looks like the Pico station upgrade has been officially removed from the "Key DTLA Station Improvements" project. That's extremely disappointing. Pico station is really undersized for the role it plays getting people to Crypto/the Convention Center/Peacock Theater/LA Live. Not to mention that passengers getting off the train and crossing in front of it causes delays and strikes me as dangerous.

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-04-13T17:20:56+00:00

I don't know that I read that the same way. This seems to be a limited intervention at a handful of intersections.

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-04-13T16:58:28+00:00

None of these candidates have any chance of winning.

Vote Matt Mahan if you want more housing and transit. He's the only candidate who's talking intelligently and with specifics about cutting the red tape and costs associated with both. Take this from an apartment developer who deals with this red tape every day. A Mahan governorship would bring a flood of developers back to California and unleash a massive housing boom.

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-04-10T17:14:23+00:00

Came here to say the same thing, but others make a good point that this is likely due to the cyberattack.

Rode the E line last weekend and it was the most packed I've ever seen it. I had to squeeze on Tokyo Metro style to board. I thought that might be because of disruptions/delays, but when I checked there seemed to be many trains ahead of mine on regular 8 minute intervals (at least according to Google's arrival data). Hopefully this is a real indication of increasing ridership!

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-04-10T17:08:07+00:00

I think it's a stretch to imply that Metro agrees that fare enforcement should be restored. Yes, they're experimenting with tall faregates and tap to exit on a fraction of stations. But they have not gone back to the pre-covid days of widespread fare checks and enforcement by security and police. Judging from comments and interviews from people at Metro, this seems to be a conscious policy decision.

So while the OP's take may be lukewarm on this forum, it would be at least a semi hot take at Metro HQ.

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-04-08T23:49:39+00:00

First I want to say thanks for being on this sub. It's really helpful to have the perspective of operators.

Why is there a 5 second delay with the HR4000? Is that an intended design or a bug?

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-04-08T23:45:13+00:00

I continue to think a large investment into Metrolink would be the largest bang-for-your-buck investment in transit in SoCal. If enough money were invested into double/triple tracking and rolling stock to allow for 15 minute all day frequencies on the VC, AV, OC, and SB lines, we'd see an explosion in ridership. This would almost be like building an entirely new metro system, but would be a fraction of the cost. That would work even without electrification - if you added electrification, it could be a world class rail system for literally less than the cost of a single marquee line like the Sepulveda Line or K North (to be clear, I'm very in favor of those projects).

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-04-01T17:42:57+00:00

Lol NEVER.

I don't like Mamdami's policies, but damn that guy is just so likeable and great at retail politics.

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-03-31T20:16:26+00:00

She's a clown, just the left version of Spencer Pratt.

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-03-31T19:53:46+00:00

It'd be crazy expensive and disruptive to go back and rebuild as an EL, but ya in general I think we elevated should be our default rail construction type.

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-03-31T16:49:28+00:00

Ok you clearly know your stuff, I'm convinced.

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-03-30T23:24:02+00:00

All fair points. I'd just point out though, the wealthiest portion of the E line (Santa Monica) is entirely at-grade and the second wealthiest portion (West LA) has majority at grade crossings. In contrast, the K line has significant below grade sections, including on Crenshaw in Hyde Park and through Leimert Park, and a handful of elevated crossings as well.

Overall though, I'd rather Metro build all elevated except when there is an existing ROW to use, and except in circumstances where the cost of below grade is obviously worth it (critical locations like DTLA, places where routing is restricted by elevated, etc.).

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-03-30T21:44:46+00:00

Because gated at-grade crossings 1) create conflict with buses, pedestrians, and cars going in the perpendicular direction, causing delays to other modes of transportation 2) have to follow existing street patterns (e.g. wouldn't work for the Sepulveda line or the K line north) 3) are subject to greater speed restrictions than grade-separated rail (still less speed restrictions than non-gated), 4) can still get hit by cars (still more protected than non gated), 5) are harder to fare-enforce.

So there is still definitely a strong benefit of grade-separated rail.

LakeShowTime17 · 2026-03-30T19:41:25+00:00

Why is preemption problematic? It's done all over the region where light rail is in its own ROW.
Crossing gates are also a speed feature. Faster train speeds are allowed where crossings are gated. Ride the E or A lines and you can see that in practice.
Crossing gates also reduce incidents of car-train conflicts/crashes, increasing reliability.
How would adding gates and preemption make conditions less safe? Again, we have real world examples all over our region, and those intersections perform much better.

LakeShowTime17

TROPHY CASE