Blue Line Gets High Marks in Rider Poll : Rapid transit: But critics of survey say it rates rail service only against commuting by bus, not by auto.

Metro Rail Blue Line riders by and large like Los Angeles’ first modern rail rapid transit service, rating it more comfortable and speedy than the buses it replaced. But only one in four have forsaken private cars to ride the train.

Those are the conclusions of a survey of more than 1,000 trolley patrons interviewed in May on trains and in stations for a Rapid Transit District study conducted by Facts Consolidated, a Los Angeles marketing research company.

Survey results were presented Thursday to the RTD board of directors after being released publicly in a ceremony at the Metro Blue Line’s Pico Boulevard station, south of downtown Los Angeles.

“Riders like the Blue Line service,” Facts Consolidated analysts stated. “It is perceived to be far superior (to) the bus. It is thought to be faster, cleaner, more comfortable and more efficient (than buses) in terms of on-time dependability. Well over 90% feel that the Blue Line is better than bus service.”

RTD General Manager Alan F. Pegg said he was pleased by the survey results when he presented them to the district’s board of directors, but critics of the system were skeptical.

Critics note, among other things, that the survey covered only how the train compares to bus service, not how it compares to driving. And it sought the opinions of people who choose to ride the train, not those who either tried it and now avoid it or those who could take it but have never done so.

“With all of these trains,” said Peter Gordon, a USC urban planning professor, “you provide a very pricey service for a very small number of people, most of whom used to ride buses. It’s not surprising they’re happy with it. If someone provided me a faster, fancier way to get around without asking me to pay for it, I’d be happy, too.”

The RTD estimates that it costs 50 cents to carry one passenger one mile on the Blue Line. However, a passenger going from Long Beach to Los Angeles pays $1.10, or 5 cents a mile.

Los Angeles County Transportation Commission officials expect Blue Line patronage to increase, improving the per-passenger-mile operating costs, as people become more familiar with the service, as freeway congestion increases and as other, connecting transit lines come into service starting in 1993.

“The results of this survey confirm public acceptance of rail (transit) in Los Angeles as a viable alternative to the automobile,” said Pegg.

Based on the Blue Line’s weekday ridership, the average number of daily “boardings,” which counts round-trip passengers twice, fluctuates between 25,000 and 30,000. Facts Consolidated estimated that the $877-million Blue Line takes 3,000 to 4,000 cars off the road a day.

Within a decade, the RTD and the transportation commission expect ridership to grow as they build 300 miles of subways, trolleys and commuter trains. At the same time, officials believe the success of those lines, budgeted at $49 billion, hinges in part on public perceptions about the Blue Line.

Those who do ride the Blue Line are loyal to it and rely on its 99% on-time performance. The survey found that more than half the riders take the train at least four days a week, mostly to commute to work.

Nearly two-thirds of riders ranked the train’s speed as its best feature; more than one-third mentioned its comfort. About 20% praised its cleanliness, 14% its dependability and 12% its convenience.

Ranking low on riders’ lists were factors that may lure others out of their cars. Only 5% said the Blue Line saved them money on their commute, the same percentage that praised the line for letting them avoid traffic. Fewer than 1% said they ride the line because of concern for the environment.

Ridership Survey Facts Consolidated, a Los Angeles market research firm, surveyed 1,090 Blue Line riders over an 8-day period in mid-May, 1991 Here is a look at some of the findings: How did you get around before the Blue Line? RTD: 65.6% Other buses: 9.4% Private car: 25.7% Walk: 6.9% Car pool: 2.0% Other: 1.4% Where do you ride the Blue Line?* Weekdays Work: 55.1% Visit friends: 20.4% Recreation: 18.1% Shopping: 14.9% School: 11.6% Other: 12.4% Weekends Work: 20.4%Visit friends: 38.0% Recreation: 41.7% Shopping: 28.8% School: 2.3% Other: 5.5% *Totals more than 100% because some respondents gave multiple answers. Source: Southern California Rapid Transit District

(Southland Edition) Rider Replies Among the responses in the Blue Line survey: What do you like about the Blue Line?* Faster than bus: 66% Comfortable: 34.1% Clean: 21.1% Dependable: 13.8% Convenient: 11.6% Other: 47.4% What do you dislike about the Blue Line?* Nothing: 49.1% Not enough trains: 11.7% Not enough seats: 4.7% Too slow: 4.5% Other: 44.7% * May total more than 100% because some respondents gave multiple answers. SOURCE: Southern California Rapid Transit District