Hey, Mr. McCourt what's a transit plaza?

Is it time to consider changing Dodger Blue to eco green? That was apparently the color of the morning during a news conference to unveil the most ambitious renovations to date at the stadium.  Green as in 2,000 new trees, a "green necklace" of parkland and, inside the stadium, new energy-efficient appliances and equipment. But when it comes to bringing mass transit to the stadium, the Dodgers didn't seem quite ready to reveal their true colors.

Frank McCourt said the plans -- which also feature year-around restaurants, a museum and parking garages -- include a "transit plaza" in the northeast section of the stadium, reports the Times' Dylan Hernandez. But what is a transit plaza? A glorified bus stop?  It's not clear, and McCourt didn't  saying anything about starting a shuttle service either. He did say he wants to start a dialog with the city about bringing mass transit, perhaps even a rail line, into the Chavez Ravine.

But rail and bus riders should not get their hopes up. Based on the stadium's new "bike parking facility" or recent experience at running a shuttle service, fans better not give up their cars just yet.   

-- Jesus Sanchez

Photo: Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times

Rendering: Ian Espinoza

Comments

[Jay Draiman, Energy Analyst]

Mass transit expansion for greater Los Angeles - revisited

With the escalating cost of energy – it is time to re-visit expanding the transit system.
Put all politics aside and look at a short term goals and long term goals.

Expanding the mass transit system in the Los Angeles Metro Area is critical to the future vitality of its economy; it will save energy reduce pollution, save lives and increase health by reducing stress.

It is time to forgo ego and consider the good of the public.

A transit system utilizing cable car or light rail over the freeways or any other types of mass transit in the Los Angeles Metro area is a reasonable solution to decrease the congestion on the roads, save energy, reduce pollution, improve air quality, save money, save lives and improve our health.
Cost of energy and vehicles and maintenance has climbed dramatically in the past 10 years, warranting this issue to re-examine the expansion of mass transit in the Greater Los Angeles Area. The longer we wait, the greater the cost and the more imperative this project becomes.

In many areas of the country there are transit stations and parking lots, which provide parking for the transit customers.

The costs should not be astronomical. (Based on current energy costs, and future increases). There is no need to acquire large parcels of property; with some modification such system can be implemented and operational within the next decade.

Jay Draiman, Northridge, CA

[David in Los Angeles]

I totally agree with the comment about simply providing a safer, more pleasant walk from the Chinatown Gold Lilne stop. Ever tried to leave a sporting event right after the game gets over?? Walking is ALWASY faster for the first 30 minutes. Now that parking is $15, I have NO interest in seeing a Dodger Game. Now, if I could walk safely from Chinatown, that'd be another story. Save the money for any sort of rail line to Dodger Stadium for another 100 yards of the Subway to the Sea (aka the Wilshire Subway).

[sox fan]

Nice blog. I agree -- it's ridiculous that you can't get to Dodger Stadium via mass transit. Coming from the Westside, I would never try to go to a night game. It's madness going East on the 10 at rush hour.

[BT]

The paper article did mention a bus lane would be built. A shuttle from Union Station would be great.

A great analog to this project could be Disneyland. They added a whole mess of retail, another park AND made it really easy to get out to the local hotels with and without a car. I wouldn't be supprised if McCourt tried to put a football stadium on the site really.

Besides that, it seems best option would be a spur off the Gold Line, the track is only a half mile away from the stadium. It would make alot of sense given the expansion of the line into East LA.

Also, note the 1/2 percent sales tax increase we might be seeing for transit and the city is looking for private money to share costs with on the purple line.

[Alex]

Amazing -- Private Money building a professional sports facility -- that is really different!!

[TIm]

Oh WONDERFUL!!! Big ugly buidings at Dodger Stadium. McCourt is on his way of ruining Dodger Stadium. Heres to 20 years since the last world series for the Blue wrecking crew.

[jeff]

PLEASE PUT A MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY TO THE STADIUM. I GO TO LESS AND LESS GAMES DUE TO TRAFFIC TO AND FROM THE STADIUM.

[juan basulto]

i can't be more happy with that news.
i live in yucatan,mex last year i went for first time to dodger stadium, all my family in L.A. is busy with their work and stuff so they only could go with me on the weekend, but the reason i went to L.A. among others was to see a dodgers game.
i had to take bus line 204 on vermont and adams later take off on sunset blvd. take bus line 2 and finally get off on elisyan park. then just walk up the hill to the top of the park, it's exhausting.
i'm happy because a bus could get me off in the top of the park, that would make easier to enjoy dodger stadium

[Susannah2k]

Why can't the city/county/Dodgers get something going like at the Hollywood Bowl? Hardly anybody needs to bring their car to the Bowl; you can get on a Foothill Transit bus, Culver City bus, Big Blue bus, etc., depending on your location, from a convenient central point, get to the concert on time, and snooze on your way practically back home.

Imagine this at Chavez Ravine! Get on the bus and sleep through the traffic nightmare that is Dodger parking! Until the Dodgers think up a way to have a helicopter pick up your car and drop it in your driveway after the game, or until Scotty can beam groups of cars right onto the freeway, a bus service like for the Hollywood Bowl seems like the way to go.

And it probably wouldn't take very long to set up, either. Just look at a roster of season ticket holder addresses, for a start, locate a few key points where fans could park easily and buses could pick them up, and get the thing rolling!

If anybody at the city/county/Dodger front office (that's you, Mr McCourt!) were actually motivated to solve this problem, I bet they could have it up and running long before the season is over.

Meanwhile, it's easier -- and quicker! -- for this baseball fan to drive down to Angels stadium and back (75 miles roundtrip) than it is to go 10 miles down to the Ravine.

[Chris Roades]

Does anyone know who the architects/designers are for this latest round of renovations is? I know HKS is doing the box seat/lounge renovations.

[Joshman]

Eric Garcietti said that the new Dodger renovation would reduce the carbon footprint of the stadium. Unless this is followed up with a viable mass transit component (buses make the most sense), then this is greenwashing and Garcietti got rolled by the developers.

[Steve]

I've been walking to Dodger games from the Chinatown gold line station for about 2 years now. It's no pleasure cruise, but it works. I've noticed slightly more people using the route this year compared to last. If they just built a sidewalk, cleaned up the foot bridge (a.k.a. museum of human feces) over the 110, and installed some more street lamps, walkership could easily start to grow more quickly. Just a fresh coat of Dodger blue paint on the foot bridge would be a good start. It might even advertise the stadium to all the passing cars.

(tried a post like this before with links to what the walk currently looks like, guess the moderators didn't like the photos)

[Phil Apino]

Cars should be banned completely at Dodger Stadium.

You heard of telecommuting? What about television? We have the technology to remove all of those greenhouse gases.

Those are all useless, smoggy trips, with people sitting in line spewing out fumes to get in the stadium and leaving the stadium.

Watch it on TV. Better views, and NO SMOG!

Save the PLANET! Go Dodger GREEN!

[MarkM]

I'm not about to spend $15 only to turn around and buy food and mechandise at any expanded facility. If there were a rail line to the stadium for $2, I'd more inclined to spend $40 more for some drinks before the game.
Until then you'll find me in chinatown for some food and drinks before I walk up the hill.

[Charles]

If the Dodgers want to build a source of year-round money - fine let them do it. I encourage it. But DONT expect me the tax payer to pay for the expansion of the already stretched-too-thin infrastructure that is required to bring in these extra paying consumers. (Sunset Blvd., Stadium Way, the I-110 and I-5 freeways are already congested.)

Let's say the Dodger organization pays for a mass transit station on the premisses, they could **easily** make up their construction expenses from sales and retail-space leases on their property. (They will either own the stores directly or get significant cut of the sales.)

This whole plan is about increasing their revenues. Parking lot fee revenue is ** chump change ** compared to the potential retail revenue they will realize with this project.

I think it is the responsibility of the City of LA to insist the Dodgers & Co. install a mass transit station. What's needed is a branch off of the Gold Line light rail or a subterranean station for an extension of the Red Line subway. I'd ride a mass transit line that drops me off right behind center field..... where I could spend money at these beautiful new shops and restaurants.

[brian ferguson]

well if this is peak oil then the days of drivng your car around are gone. mass transit will be your only choice. why we insist on not seeing the inevitable is beyond me.

[Russ]

I dont see how you can force a company to pay to eliminate a source of their own revenue, as would be the case if the Dodgers were forced to kick in for a rail line and thus reduce their parking fee income. The citizens of the city would like a rail line to the stadium, and the city should provide it, as cities across the country have done. A subway stop at LAX, UCLA and the half dozen Cal State campuses would be nice too. But Im dreaming.

[tyrone]

the dodgers organization can only do so much regarding public transit to and from the stadium. the city and it's leaders should be ashame of themselves that in the year 2008 they are only just talking.