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Originally Posted by LineDrive
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And we all know the boondoggle the ESFV line is. I’m almost in denial. I keep expecting a last minute change. This thing should be at a MINIMUM grade separated. Stations should be spaced out as opposed to one each block almost. It really should be part of the Sepulveda project but we know that won’t happen. AT least it should be built with the idea of connecting it to the Orange line (after LRT conversion)
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Just a waste of money all around - So much potential not realized with these projects
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I agree completely. In the past I've been a defender of the LA MTA. In particular, I think they've handled the Purple Line extension fairly well. I've wondered about some of their more recent projects, though. I still don't understand how a station to connect the K line to the Airport people mover needs to cost almost a billion dollars. How could they possibly spend so much money on a station that's not even underground?
And the East San Fernando Valley line is an even bigger miss. All that money for what is essentially a 6-mile long streetcar. I guess MTA is billing it as a local-only line since it isn't directly connected to any other light rail line. Even if the Orange Line is converted to light rail one day, though, you would still need to transfer twice to reach DTLA. And the ESFV line won't be any faster than a bus with closely-spaced stations and the need to stop for lights at all the east-west SFV boulevards. If you aren't going to do grade separation, bus rapid transit makes more sense for Van Nuys Blvd. This light rail line really doesn't provide any added speed and convenience for the massively higher cost.
Is the idea that it's the East San Fernando Valley's turn to get rail transit so we will give them this? What about the other parts of the county that have been left out of the rail network so far? How about the Gateway Cities southeast of DTLA? That area is densely populated, low income, transit dependent and part of the LA core. Serving that area should take priority over a Van Nuys Blvd. street car.