I say send the Crenshaw line up Fairfax to 3rd and then westward on 3rd to La Cienega Blvd or San Vicente Blvd. From there, it can head up to Santa Monica Blvd. That way, the Grove & Farmers Market, Beverly Center, and Cedars Sinai are all connected on one line.

i remember that! who would have imagined that it would come true (well almost, no subway) at that time!

According to Railway Gazette, LACMTA is seeking tenders for the new light rail vehicles that will make their debut around 2013.

http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/new...-lrv-bids.html

I hope the new ones have more room for bikes!

More about those fake Aqua line signs from 2000... http://heavytrash.blogspot.com/2005/04/aqua-line.html

After watching this video clip, how can you not be supportive of bus only lanes in Condo Canyon?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wge79ln6peE

I find it annoying that Metro is being all inconsistent with their naming of the lines.

I figure Metro doesn't really care what they name Expo Line with since once the Regional Connector is finished, it will most likely be named the Gold Line.

I wish they would get rid of the Blue Line trains which are so freakin' old and disgusting! I also don't like the original Gold Line trains, but I do like the "art deco" looking silver trains.

You mean the heavier ones?

He means these ones.

http://www.railpictures.net/images/d...1258351606.jpg
http://www.railpictures.net/images/d...1258351606.jpg

And I agree with Brigham. Retire all the old Blue Line cars, give the white and yellow Gold Line cars to the Blue Line, and all the silver cars for the Gold/Expo Line. And give them a bit of color. All silver is clean but boring. Paint the stripes something.

The purchase is undoubtably picking up where AnsaldoBreda coudn't deliver, plus, provide cars necessary for all the projects in the pipeline. Crenshaw, Foothill, Expo I & II, Regional Connector and probably 2 or 3 others that I forgot.

But aren't those the heavier cars?

As I recall, AnsaldoBreda had a contract to provide cars to MTA. There was also an option to provide more. That option was not acted upon because AnsaldoBreda was not fulfilling the agreement for the initial purchase. That was about a year ago and is probably documented in this thread on an earlier page??? Or, in the LA Times. Anyway, MTA still needs car, right?

The Government Accountability Office published a report earlier this year about procurement of passenger rail cars, "Potential Rail Car Cost-Saving Strategies Exist." It has been several months since I read the report but the report notes that firms that produce passenger rail cars often have to customize the cars for specific transit agencies because of local track issues, tunnel height/width, current fleet interoperability, etc... The report notes that there is potential for cost savings by joint procurement-- purchasing vehicles with other agencies so they have larger orders and more standardization, potentially giving the transit agencies leverage for cost concessions.

Here's the link: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10730.pdf

Yes. Yes they are! And the seats are narrower as well.

Yes they declined the option and they still need more cars. They have an rfp for more cars going out for new cars (P3010).

The blue line cars will be getting an overhaul so they will not be retired. The blue line will also get some of the new gold line cars. The old gold line cars are going to the new Expo line.

As of 2 years ago anyway. Some of that may have changed except that the blue line cars will definitely not be retired anytime soon.

We need more bike-carrying capacity on our trains!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._6239396_n.jpg

Definitely need more bike capacity. Biking is growing very quickly in LA and we need to keep ahead of the curve. Bike rentals or storage facilities at stations sounds like a way to go as well. Bike lanes will keep the bikers safer and keep them off sidewalks to some extent.

^Agreed. I'd love to be able to more easily Bike around to and from stations/trains. Although I have some friends that do this it isn't because it's practical.