The Next L.A. / Reinventing Our Future : Transportation : IDEA FILE: Expand the Rail Network

How It Works

Rail transportation includes everything from subways and trolleys to elevated monorails and bullet trains. Los Angeles County transit officials are in the early stages of building a rail system of more than 450 miles of tracks during the next 30 years. The web of lines would include hundreds of stations connecting with park-and-ride lots, bike paths, buses and taxis. Some stations are planned with child care facilities. The Metrolink commuter train has operated for more than a year, with lines running to Moorpark, Santa Clarita, Lancaster, Riverside and San Bernardino. The Blue Line trolley runs between Downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach. The Red Line subway runs between MacArthur Park and Union Station.

Benefits

Rail lines remove motorists from congested freeways and surface streets.

Short-Term or Long-Term Impact?

Not much benefit in the short term.

Supporters

Local, state and federal transit officials endorse construction of rail lines because they provide an appealing transportation alternative for solo motorists. A recent survey found that about 30% of commuters in Southern California would consider using commuter rail instead of driving. Rail travel allows passengers to get to work without the stress of driving. Unlike bus or car-pool users, rail passengers are unaffected by traffic conditions.

Opponents

Some urban planners and advocates for lower-income bus riders say that the cost of building and operating rail lines is exorbitantly high compared to the relatively small numbers it serves. The subway, for instance, cost more than $230 million per mile to install. Critics point out that many more commuters can be served for less by improving bus service. Other critics argue fixed rail lines are inflexible and cannot respond to changes in commuting patterns and employment trends. They also argue that rail lines are impractical in serving a sprawling, low-density region like Los Angeles. Some community advocates say that lines are designed primarily to serve the upper-income suburbanites while low-income workers use overcrowded, crime-plagued buses. Passengers complain that they are restricted by rail schedule hours.

Also, critics note the danger of rail. Pedestrians and motorists have been killed and injured as they cross in front of trains. Underground and elevated rail lines raise concerns about safety during an earthquake.

The Costs

The rail system proposed by Los Angeles county transportation officials would cost $163 billion, funded largely by bond measures and government subsidies. Most of the subsidies would come from two half-cent sales tax increases approved by voters to pay for improved transportation projects. Because of budget shortfalls, transit officials are now considering drastically reducing their plans for a regional rail system.

Taxpayer subsidies per average passenger trip are $21 for Metrolink, $2.92 for the Red Line subway, $11.34 for the Blue Line light rail and $1.17 for buses.

REALITY CHECK

Rail transportation is an expensive alternative, but the voter-approved sales-tax increases sent the message to politicians that commuters want it. Rail lines are not expected to eliminate the need for cars but can serve commuters on a fixed route and schedule. Maybe.