Wayward east

The Eastside extension of the Gold Line could be just the beginning. The MTA is considering more routes further east, perhaps to El Monte and Whittier, according to the Whittier Daily News:

Rapid transit in the form of light-rail could be coming to El Monte, Rosemead or Whittier - but probably not anytime soon. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is holding a second series of meetings beginning Wednesday in Whittier to get reactions to 17 alternatives for a line that would go east from East Los Angeles. Still, MTA officials concede they have no money to build a line. In addition, this 80-square-mile area that includes 13 cities, is in competition with three other sectors of Los Angeles County for a light-rail project. And a number of the 17 alternatives, especially the ones that would travel on congested arterials like Whittier and Beverly boulevards and Garvey Avenue, already are getting opposition from local officials.

Here are some proposed routes from the MTA.

Comments

[Jim]

But tell me, how long would it take to get downtown from El Monte on the light rail?

How many people want to take a local stopping surface level train to work if it takes 2+ hours.

[Greg]

I personally would love it if I could take a train from downtown L.A. to the new Chinatown of the San Gabriel Valley. I'd love it if I could take a train to every corner of Los Angeles County. But really, isn't a sprawling train service doomed to always be inefficient, as it travels from one area of low population density to another? What Los Angeles really needs to do is define its "supermetro area" and outfit it with a closely spaced network of trains that encourage density, that encourage living close to where one works. The MTA should not waste money on train lines where there will never be the ridership to support them. Nor should train lines should not be planned to service sightseeing destinations. Rail should only travel through places that either already are areas of significant population density (Boyle Heights or Mid Wilshire come to mind) or though those areas which would support population density increases. I cannot conceive of significant amounts of multifamily residential developments being welcomed by Whittier, San Gabriel, or Montebello anytime within the next 100 years.

[JDRCRASH]

I vote for the all-Subway route alternative.

Traffic on Beverly, Olympic, and Washington Blvds are all busy and congested.

[Dan W.]

The political deal to be had is the Purple Line for the Gold Line.

Fine. Make it so.