Effects of planned bus line cuts considered

A new Metropolitan Transportation Authority report suggests that there may be some hardships if the agency makes cuts to 29 bus lines. This has been a major debate:

Of the 29 bus lines being targeted for partial or total elimination around Los Angeles, 17 are in high-crime areas, 24 are in transit-dependent communities and 20 run close to hospitals, according to a report that will be presented tomorrow to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board. Metro board members ordered the report last month in the wake of public outcry that the cuts -- many of which involve the elimination of night service hours in crime-ridden neighborhoods -- could put patrons at risk. Board members also called for a list of alternatives that would reduce the same number of service hours without cutting service to high-crime and transit-dependent areas. None of those alternatives are included in the report, with Metro officials saying no alternatives could be found. The proposed cuts, which would eliminate some 215,000 annual bus service hours, would mostly take effect in June. The cuts are just the first round in proposed reductions in Metro bus service. About 200,000 more service hours are scheduled for elimination by December. (CNS)

Comments

[Cycling in Hollywood]

How about increasing the MTA budget? With higher gas prices more and more ppl will want to ride it, not less. I can't believe they are talking about REDUCING service as we enter an energy crisis.

[Roger Davis]

Instead of elimating the buses how about running them every hour or two?