Metro's decision yesterday on the C line extension is emblematic of the problems that plague Metrolink and LOSSAN. Part-time boards of local electeds are structurally disincentivized to deliver system-wide improvements, whether that's a light rail network or mainline electrification.
So much for the new Board of Public Works appeals process speeding up #MeasureHLA safe/multimodal street improvements 🧵. It's been ~40 days since BPW appeals opened - on August 18. A least a half-dozen people submitted appeals on 1st day & have basically not heard a peep back from BPW.
Today L.A. County Supervisors approved a motion that tees up a bikeway implementation law similar to the city Measure HLA. Still a few steps to go - but good news for safer streets. Here's a press release from Supervisor Horvath mailchi.mp/a4d365c7dfe9...
The Authority strongly disagrees with the FRA’s conclusions, which are misguided & do not reflect the substantial progress made.
We remain committed to completing the nation’s first true HSR system & will fully address + correct the record in our response to the FRA’s notice.
For the love of democracy, please stick to housing and transportation issues… please
-The San Juaqunis (future Gold Runner) could finally be merged with the Surfliner and that trip could be renamed the “Gold Runner” San Diego-Sacramento
-The Capitol Corridor could become a true regional rail route
-Metrolink service Expansion on the RVL and the PVL
-More South County CalTrain
An amended staggers act will
-Build the Indo/Coachella-Palm Desert-Palm Springs Amtrak or Metrolink line without a crazy triple track project that costs $3 billion+
-Those funds could be reallocated to a Brightline extension to Phoenix
-LOSSAN could run the to Oakland/SF
“…The Surface Transportation Board shall enforce these provisions in cases of delay, interference, or unreasonable withholding of access.”
…under the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970 and its successors. Freight railroads shall provide reasonable access to tracks and facilities and shall grant preference to passenger trains in dispatching decisions, consistent with 49 U.S.C. § 24308(c)…”
Amending the Staggers Act of 1980 could provide the biggest fix to passenger rail the US has ever seen.
Just add this paragraph via amendment with some more context:
“Nothing in this Act shall be construed to override or diminish the rights granted to Amtrak and other passenger rail providers…”
My friends at @thenation.com published an excerpt of my new book, Bad Law: 10 Popular Laws That Are Ruining America.
This chapter is my piece on why flying sucks. It's my full frontal attack on "neoliberalism." And a good example of something we can change.
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
This is the first of what I think are going to be A LOT of primary challenges along these lines.
Some previously unreleased renderings of the various options under consideration for LA Metro’s Sepulveda Transit Corridor line (monorail and heavy rail options). Draft EIR release and more community meetings are expected soon.
Metrolink in 2028
4 panel comic Panel 1: Pink Guy on a cinema screen says: I am the protagonist Panel 2: Blue Guy sitting in the audience, pumping fist, yells: YES Panel 3: Pink Guy: But I’m not necessarily “The Good Guy” Panel 4: Blue Guy choking on popcorn: WHUUUUUU
Media Literacy In 2025
goddamn emeryville, just casually closing streets to cars and building sidewalk-level bike lanes as if it’s nothing
Tuned into a Cities Skylines stream and the guy was giving an impassioned defense of civil servants.
Federal government agencies have flagged hundreds of words to limit or avoid, including clean energy, climate crisis, climate science, environmental quality, and pollution.
These words literally refer to the quality of our life support system on Earth.
LA Metro plans to hold hearing in June 2025 on service changes for D Line extensions:
D Line: 5 min peak, 10 min off peak/weekends, 20 min evening
B Line: 10 min daytime, 20 min evening
Buses: New Line 610 between B and D, may adjust Lines 720 and 210.
media.metro.net/board/Agenda...
It would be helpful if more people understood renewable energy is actually an extremely disruptive technology and the reason monied interests are trying to make folks hate it is that they are the ones which will be disrupted.
Proof of the 38 minute travel time today via transit app, 10 minutes waiting (missed the last bus) and 38 minutes in motion. This rocks!
Hopefully with all the improvements and speed limit increases at intersections that number can drop down 25 minutes, the magic number to achieve a 1 hour travel time between Warner Center and DTLA!
38 minutes currently between Canoga and North Hollywood on the G line with the Oxnard detour. The only red lights on the trip currently are Tampa, Lindley, and Whissett! The current schedule has it at 45 minutes which used to be 50 when the signals were bad. Things are looking up for the G line!
The approval was done under NEM 2.0 prior to December 2024, the install was delayed because Tesla is good at delaying things. Under the contract they do not own the system until it is paid off, a necessary financing agreement. A lot of these SFH owners do not pay for these systems up front.
The system was newly installed in December under NEM 2.0 with billing starting last month (January).
SCE and the CPUC require homeowners who install rooftop solar to pay a $100 /month infrastructure charge. Homeowners cannot keep resale credit for themselves and resale credits can only be used to pay off the installer.
Hi. I have family that installed rooftop solar on their single family home in SCE territory and this is not true. Resale credits cannot be applied to the monthly grid infrastructure charge of $100 /month. Resale credits in NEM 2.0 only go to the project installer and are taxed as income for the home
California is building the first version of this in the US. We need to get CA High Speed Rail to the finish line; the state must commit the funds to finish the job!
