Getting the Max Out of Metro Rail : Tourism: Moving a stop to Universal City would make the system more user-friendly for visitors and residents.

The rapidly developing Metro Rail system will pass close to the Coliseum, the Sports Arena, the expanded Convention Center in Downtown Los Angeles, the expanded Downtown Central Library, the Music Center and Los Angeles International Airport, but will not have stops at any of these major centers of regional activity. As they say, close but no cigar.

Now, there is an opportunity to prevent another near-miss by Metro Rail, and the destination is Universal City. Metro Rail’s builder, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, is considering a proposal to move a planned station site to the heart of Universal City, on MCA property. In considering this possible relocation, the MTA is looking at the costs and potential savings associated with the proposal as well as the impact on the construction schedule. But the MTA should also consider the regional economic benefits.

As the largest public works project in the United States, Metro Rail construction is providing many direct and indirect benefits to the troubled Southern California economy. It makes sense to maximize the benefits that Metro Rail can provide, both short- and long-term. One benefit of a relocated station at Universal City would be an improved transportation linkage for our key tourism industry. This would impact both jobs and sales tax collections.

The MCA Universal City property, with its movie theaters, City Walk, Universal Amphitheater, Universal Studios Hollywood and hotels and restaurants is the most important tourism and entertainment center in the city of Los Angeles, and a place that residents and visitors can enjoy 365 days a year. A Metro Rail stop at this site will strengthen the competitive stance of tourism in Los Angeles while reducing automobile traffic.

Millions of local residents and tourists visit Universal City each year, but as currently planned there will be no convenient way for them to get from the station to either the hotels or entertainment attractions. It would certainly help the Convention and Visitors Bureau in promoting the expanded Convention Center to be able to say: “It is a short, convenient ride on Metro Rail from any hotel downtown to Universal City.” Moreover, surveys done by the Economic Development Corp. indicate that Los Angeles is not considered “user-friendly” to tourists, especially as concerns transportation. A Metro Rail stop at Universal City would help to dispel that image.

Since its inception, the goal of Metro Rail has been to lessen the region’s dependence on automobiles, mainly for residents. Visitors to the area should also be considered as riders. Moving the Universal City station would maximize Metro Rail’s benefits of reducing congestion, improving mobility and improving air quality, as well as improve our competitive stance in tourism. Let’s not miss this opportunity.