Maps of commuting patterns in Los Angeles County

UPDATE, 12:25 p.m.: Hi folks. As requested, all the maps should be in high-resolution now and you should be able to view them better by clicking on them. Please leave a comment on the comment board if problems persist. Thanks, Steve

A gaggle of public officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, held a news conference last Monday to urge the Legislature to pass the bill needed to put the half-cent sales tax increase proposal on the November ballot.

As part of that news conference, Metro handed out these images, which were compiled as part of the agency's long-range planning efforts. I'm posting them so you can see Metro's arguments for the sales tax. This is not an endorsement of the sales tax hike; they're interesting visuals that you may or may not agree with.

It's obvious that Metro is arguing that transportation is a regional problem -- and that projects on one side of the county may benefit those living on the other. I've posted in the past about employment density and the first map elaborates. Click on the maps to make them larger and leave your thoughts on the comment board.

--Steve Hymon

Maps: Metro

Comments

[Dan W.]

"Let's remember that the MTA based all these 2030 maps on what real estate developers dream of building over the next 20 years. Restrictions on development like Santa Monica's RIFT ballot measure can greatly alter what really happens."

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SCAG predicts three million more people in Los Angeles County over the next three decades. They've got to live somewhere.

The Westside is still going to grow tremendously as a job destination, even if the anti-commercial development ordinance wins (which I am voting against).

[Ray]

All well and good. The problem is LIGHT RAIL solutions for a city and county that fill hundreds of square miles. It's time to get out the heavy rail guns and start building transit that can move - fast!

[alex]

Let's remember that the MTA based all these 2030 maps on what real estate developers dream of building over the next 20 years. Restrictions on development like Santa Monica's RIFT ballot measure can greatly alter what really happens.

[Jessica]

yah - larger versions would be great. I can read the legend on many of them...or a link to where they are on the metro website. love these types of maps.

[Marcotico]

Ism,

A lot of the support for the Goldline extension is because it is farther along the planning process than the subway to the sea. Planning and environmental clearance are sadly the longest phases. Building things actually happens pretty quickly. The Goldline supporters cite the fact that they already have an approved EIR, have the right of way reserved, and have the full participation of all the cities. In addition they do not need state money in their business plan, just local and federal. In their mind they're thinking why wait in line 20 years for the purple line to get all these things lined up.

Its a question of transportation needs versus political and procedural readiness.

[johnny]

Ism, there has been nominal support for a LRT line east from union station to Alhambra. I hope it gets built someday.

http://web.archive.org/web/20051029033600/www.metrosilverline.com/home.htm

[lsm]

Absent other information, merely superimposing the proposed Foothill Extension on these maps fails to justify the passionate support this project has drawn from many SGV politicos. Rather, the maps suggest a transit line extending east from downtown and roughly paralleling the San Bernardino Fwy (perhaps a Purple Line extension?) would appear to provide a much bigger bang for our buck. Why the strong local support for a Foothill Extension rather than an I-10 corridor project in the SGV?

On the printed page, this question may appear a snide potshot at the Foothill Extension; it honestly is not. I have no transit planning background and neither live nor work in the SGV. Local commuters can prioritize transit needs there better than I; I would appreciate sincere responses helping me understand the obvious local support for this project over a project through areas in the SGV with apparently greater need. Is support for the Foothill Extension a case of "Let's Build Rail On Easily Acquired Right-Of-Way Rather Than Where Most Riders Are," or a hope of "This Will Promote A Transit-Friendly Building Boom Once We Build It" or an example of "Let's Swap Horses Behind Closed Doors For The Greater Good" or something else? Admittedly we are woefully behind in meeting mass transit needs throughout LA County; the Foothill Corridor is no exception. To a superficial analysis, however, this does not look like it should be the highest priority project in the SGV.

[Andy]

I don’t see how anyone can look at these maps and think the foothill extension makes ANY sense. And really, if Antonovich is going to oppose the measure DESPITE its inclusion wouldn’t they be better off getting rid of it and using the money for something useful?

[Carlos Tower]

I'm glad you put these up. I always thought it was a bad argument to say that the number of jobs in the westside and downtown are four times greater than its inhabitants... that just makes me think three times the number of people who work there need to commute there and if all the transit being built is within these areas then those million commuters from the sgv and outskirt cities still won't have transit or use it. I am glad the bill went through the wringer. It does have a better semblance of equity. I just hope that projects get built when they are ready as opposed to waiting around for the subway to the sea to be built first and then realizing no one will use it because all the people that commute into the city will have their cars with them.

I am wondering if you can answer a question for me. Why doesn't metro take over the so cal services of metrolink? I alway compare metrolink to the rer in paris. It really does need more stations and trains to increase frequency. Making it a little more ecofriendly would be nice as well.

[Spokker]

"If so, that's disappointing. Kind of like the Green line that goes from nowhere to nowhere"

The purple line terminating in Westwood is still pretty good. While I would like to see it go to Santa Monica, that's not a "nowhere to nowhere" situation like the green line is.

[C S]

its interesting that they vision the 10 freeway in the western san gabriel valley to get better in 20 years with no sales tax...

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I guessing because of the new carpools that the 10 and 60 will be getting in a couple of years.

[Dan W.]

"Looking at these maps, the purple line stops somewhere near UCLA/Veterans Hospital. Have they cancelled plans to drag it all the way to the ocean in favor of Expo Phase 2? If so, that's disappointing. Kind of like the Green line that goes from nowhere to nowhere (although it looks like they're including the LAX connector in these)."

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No, this doesn't mean plans have been cancelled to go all the way to Santa Monica.

In the legend for the map, the blue lines are based on what construction will be funded by the sales tax.

The Purple Line extension was always likely to be built in segments instead of one big heave. If other funding comes in, say from the Federal government, I imagine that both the Gold Line and the Purple Line will be extended further than what is shown in the map.

The sad reality is that our mass transit need is so great and has been neglected so long due to misplaced faith in an eternal car culture, therefore even the sales tax won't pay for everything we need. It's is a darn right good start.

So lets pass it and build it.

[Lisa]

Cool maps -- thanks Steve!

I gotta admit, it's pretty appealing to see all those blue lines all over the place -- with a few more light rail lines, you could actually get somewhere on them!

Yes, our darn LA County Board of Supes are so short-sighted -- transit is regional, and parts of the country that haven't figured that out are the ones that have been f***ed.

I plan on voting for the sales tax, but then ... I'm one of the few people who wishes I paid MORE in state and local taxes -- inheriting my parents' house, I also inherited their property tax basis, and am exempt from re-assessment. Not fair, I know, but it makes my life as a schoolteacher possible.

[KinOfCain]

Looking at these maps, the purple line stops somewhere near UCLA/Veterans Hospital. Have they cancelled plans to drag it all the way to the ocean in favor of Expo Phase 2?

If so, that's disappointing. Kind of like the Green line that goes from nowhere to nowhere (although it looks like they're including the LAX connector in these).

[Cyling in Hollywood]

doesnt that map for 2025 also assume no further increase in gas prices?

[jeremy]

its interesting that they vision the 10 freeway in the western san gabriel valley to get better in 20 years with no sales tax...

[Dan W.]

These maps are helpful.

If we are going to look at "equity", we need to look at not just where people live, but where they are going.

A project like the Purple Line will benefit the WHOLE region, not just the westside.

Speaking of which, the density seen in Hollywood and West Hollywood makes me really hope that Metro chooses the combined alternative with both a Wilshire and SantaMonica/LaCienega alignment.

[KinOfCain]

Can you post larger versions of those? The click-through versions are only slightly larger than the thumbnails and are too small to read the text.

[Michael Ballard]

The maps do not get larger when you click on them, they only open in a separate window.