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February
9,
2006 |
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Los
Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Supervisor Mike Antonovich, Duarte
Councilman John Fasana Encourage Commuters to Try New Express Service On
Metro Gold Line
In an ongoing effort to help reduce traffic congestion and increase transit ridership throughout Los Angeles County, LA City Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich and other local officials today called upon Angelenos to experience the time-savings advantage of new express service on the Metro Gold Line, which makes its debut Monday morning, February 13. Metro
Gold Line Express Service will shorten end-to-end rush-hour travel times
from 34 minutes to just 29 minutes, a 15 percent time savings for
weekday commuters. Mayor
Villaraigosa utilizes public transit whenever possible and encourages
residents to take advantage of the region's extensive public
transportation system as part of his "Go Metro with the Mayor"
campaign. "As
Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, I personally use transit whenever I
can, and I urge my fellow Angelenos to use it, particularly when it
saves them valuable commute time," Villaraigosa said. "Metro Gold
Line Express is just such a service. It will take commuters between
Pasadena and downtown LA in just under half an hour, and every minute
counts when you're commuting in LA." The
new service, the first of its kind on the 73-mile Metro Rail System,
will stop at five of 13 Metro Gold Line stations: Union Station,
Highland Park, Mission, Del Mar and Sierra Madre Villa. Metro selected
station stops based on a number of criteria, including volume of
passenger boardings, availability of parking facilities and presence of
transit-oriented development. Supervisor
Antonovich, whose supervisorial district includes the Cities of Pasadena
and South Pasadena, said the new express service will attract new riders
looking for a quicker commute through the communities of Pasadena, South
Pasadena and Los Angeles. "As
a Metro Board member, I initially recommended that we implement express
service on the Metro Gold Line because I knew it would help invigorate
ridership along this important light rail corridor," Antonovich said.
"As ridership increases, I am hopeful that support will grow for the
extension of the Metro Gold Line to Claremont and the Ontario
Airport." Weekday-only
express service will consist of six trains running every half hour in
both directions during the morning and afternoon rush hour periods.
Express trains will supplement Metro's regular train service running
every 15 minutes during these times. No additional fares to ride the new
service will be required. John
Fasana, Duarte City Councilman and Metro Board Member, has worked on
behalf of San Gabriel Valley cities to obtain Metro Gold Line service
since Metro's inception. "The Metro Gold Line serves as an important
lifeline for all of the residents of the San Gabriel Valley," Fasana
said. "Its success is of paramount importance. Our region needs more
light rail public transit to solve its growing transportation
challenges. I believe Express Service will help ensure that success by
giving riders the opportunity to fast-track their weekday commutes." Heading
Northbound from Union Station to Sierra Madre Villa, trains are
currently scheduled to operate every half hour from 5:35 a.m to 8:05
a.m. and 3:50 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. Southbound trains starting at Sierra
Madre Villa to Union Station will also run every half hour from 6:05
a.m. to 8:35 a.m. and 3:50 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. Express train schedules are
coordinated with the Metro Red Line at Union Station to facilitate
interline connections. Commuters
who miss their express trains will still be able to catch a regularly
scheduled train within a few minutes during the peak-hour periods.
Alternately, passengers who board the wrong train can ride to another
station and catch a regular train back to their station. "Metro
Gold Line Express Service is the most recent example of how Metro is
working to achieve substantial transit time reductions across LA
County," said Roger Snoble, Metro CEO. "Two new freeway Metro
Express Lines, the expanding network of Metro Rapid Lines, and the Metro
Orange Line are all making a difference in the lives of our
customers." Commuters
seeking to utilize the Metro Gold Line Express trains can park at all
five of its station stops. Union Station contains 2,000 paid parking
spaces. Highland Park contains a total of 76 city-owned 10-hour metered
parking spaces in two lots across the street from the station. A new
parking structure at the Mission Meridian Transit Village in South
Pasadena will provide 140 free spaces. Del Mar Station has 600 paid
spaces, and Sierra Madre Villa Station has 850 free and 100 reserved
parking spaces. Metro
has taken a number of actions to help patrons identify express trains
and station stops. Trains themselves will be designated by "Express"
headsigns on both ends of the trains and on the sides. The inside dash
of the train also will contain "Express" placards. On board, express
stop service announcements will be made by train operators. The
train's automated announcement system also will advise patrons of
approaching stops in English, Spanish and Cantonese. At
stations, banners will be installed to inform patrons of the new express
service. As an additional safety precaution, Metro has painted yellow
warning lines on all local station stops. Patrons waiting for local
train service should stand behind these lines to avoid contact with
passing express trains. Approaching express trains will also sound their
horns to alert patrons that they will be bypassing the station. Metro
customer service ambassadors also will be available at all Metro Gold
Line stations for the first week of express train service to help the
public with questions and hand out timetables. To
obtain a timetable for Metro Gold Line Express Service online, visit www.metro.net
or call Metro-020 |