METRO NEWS PRESSROOM
January 19, 2006
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Dave Sotero/Marc Littman
Metro MEDIA RELATIONS
(213) 922-3007/922-2700
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Metro to Introduce New Limited Stop Service on Metro Gold Line Beginning Feb. 13
Metro Rail’s first limited stop service to shave five minutes off Metro Gold Line commute, a 15 percent savings
Beginning Monday, February 13, Metro will launch limited stop service on the Los Angeles to Pasadena Metro Gold Line that will shorten end-to-end rush-hour travel times from 34 minutes to just 29 minutes, a 15 percent time savings for weekday commuters.
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. Station stops were chosen based on a number of factors including passenger boardings, parking availability and business development.
Weekday-only limited stop service will consist of six trains running every half hour in both directions during the morning and afternoon rush hour periods. Limited stop trains will supplement Metro’s existing non peak-hour train service running every 15 minutes during these times. No additional fares will be required to utilize limited stop service.
“The new trend at Metro is faster service,” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is also Chairman of the Metro Board. “With the addition of limited stop service providing increased time savings, the Metro Gold Line gives LA commuters another good reason to use public transit.”
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. Limited stop train schedules are coordinated with the Metro Red Line at Union Station to facilitate interline connections.
Commuters who miss their limited stop trains will still be able to catch a regularly scheduled train within a few minutes during the peak-hour periods of 6 a.m to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Alternately, passengers who board the wrong train can ride to another station and catch a regular train back to their station.
“I anticipate ridership on the Metro Gold Line will be even stronger when commuters discover they can now get between Pasadena and Downtown LA in under half an hour,” said Roger Snoble, Metro CEO. “At Metro, we are pulling out the stops to provide faster commutes for our transit patrons, and limited stop service on the Metro Gold Line is just the most recent example. Metro Express Lines, Metro Rapids and the Metro Orange Line are all achieving substantial transit time reductions across the county.”
Last year, Metro introduced Metro Express Lines 577X and 550X, which utilize freeway high-occupancy vehicle lanes to slash commute times in the South Bay, San Gabriel Valley and Long Beach areas. Five-minute peak-hour service on the Metro Orange Line in the San Fernando Valley now takes commuters between Woodland Hills and North Hollywood in about 41 minutes, a substantial time savings that compares favorably with driving on the 101 freeway during rush hour. Metro Rapids – 25 percent faster than Local Buses – now travel on 15 high-traffic corridors in L.A. County, with four additional lines planned by this summer.
Commuters seeking to utilize the Metro Gold Line Limited trains can park at four of its station stops. Union Station contains 2,000 paid parking spaces. 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.
Those seeking to connect by bus to the stations can utilize the following bus lines:
Union Station: Metro Bus Line 33, 333, 40,740, 42, 439, 444, 445, 446, 745, Commuter Express: Metrolink Shuttle, 430, 534, Dash "D", Foothill Transit 699, Santa Monica Municipal 10, Santa Clarita 794, Antelope Valley 785, Orange County Transit 701. Nearby connecting lines are: Metro Bus Line 70, 71, 78, 370, 79, 378, 68, 368, 304, 484, 485, 487, 490, 489, Foothill Transit lines 480, 481,482, 486, 488, 492, 494, 498, 499, 493, 497, Dash route Lincoln Heights China Town.
Highland Park: Metro Bus Line 81, 83, 176, 256, DASH Highland Park/Eagle Rock.
Mission: Metro Bus Line 177, 256, 686, 687, ARTS 20, 51/52.
Del Mar: Metro Bus Line 256, 267, 260/361, ARTS 20, 40, 51/52, Foothill Transit 187. Nearby connecting lines are Metro 180/181, 687, 780, ARTS 10, LADOT 549, Foothill Transit 690.
Sierra Madre Villa: Metro Bus Line 177, 181, 266, ARTS 31/32, 40, 60, Foothill Transit 187, Montebello Transit 20, Sierra Madre Commuter Loop. Nearby connecting lines are Metro 264, 267, 268.
Metro will initiate a number of steps to help patrons identify limited stop trains and station stops. Trains themselves will be designated by “Limited Stop” headsigns on both ends of the trains and on the sides. The inside dash of the train also will contain limited stop placards. On board, limited stop service announcements will be made by train operators. The train’s automated announcement system will also advise patrons of approaching stops.
At stations, banners will be installed to inform patrons of the new limited stop service. As an additional safety precaution, Metro will paint yellow lines on platforms to remind patrons at the by-passed stations to keep away from the platform edge when limited stop trains pass through.
Agency ambassadors also will be stationed at all Metro Gold Line stations for the first week of limited stop service to help the public with questions and hand out pamphlets about the new service.
Metro’s Community Relations Department has developed a comprehensive outreach program for raising awareness for the new limited stop service in communities along the Metro Gold Line alignment. Efforts include briefings with local officials and presentations at Chinatown, South Pasadena and Pasadena City Council meetings and Chambers of Commerce. Informational brochures will be made available in three languages and in Braille, and will be distributed on train seats and at local school districts and community centers.