The Importance of the Blue Line : Report card after first year of Metro Rail operation: It shows promise

The Metro Rail Blue Line celebrated its first anniversary the other day and the appropriate inspirational thought on such an occasion is that Los Angeles is breathing easier because of it.

That may even be factually the case.

It is certainly true figuratively speaking. People were holding their breath and fighting a severe case of nerves during the initial rollout of this 22-mile trolley line. Would it work well? ( It does. ) Would crime be a serious problem? ( It hasn’t been so far. ) Could the trains and stations be kept clean and attractive? ( They have been. ) Would people use it once the promotional free-fare period was over? ( They would indeed. )

After only the first year of operation, the Blue Line is averaging about 30,000 riders a day. This is somewhat below the probably overly optimistic initial estimate of 35,000--but not cataclysmically below that. So it has been a very good start, indeed. In the absence of the Blue Line, at least some of these riders, perhaps many, would have used automobiles to get where they wanted to go. This is why Los Angeles is perhaps breathing a little easier.

Mass transit is a key to Los Angeles’ future. It will improve our ability to get around, as well as to breathe. But after decades of relying on the automobile, Los Angeles will not necessarily take to mass transit as readily as fish to water.

Consumer resistance to change in transit behavior will have to be overcome; expect nothing miraculous to happen overnight. A long-range game plan will be needed. So will patience on all sides--and the willingness of officials to listen carefully to the marketplace.

The stakes are especially high with the Blue Line. By decade’s end the trolley line will connect with the planned Red Line from downtown to Hollywood and with the planned Green Line from Norwalk to El Segundo. Daily ridership could exceed 50,000. More of the Metro Rail subway should be running by then. By the year 2000, Los Angeles looks to be a different picture--a cleaner, clearer, more pleasant one.