2019-02-27
2019-02-28 ViaVator106
ViaVator106
From your Mole, to all who see this in hopes that you will enjoy your visit to this site.
Bienvenue !
ίBienvenido!
Welcome!
いらっしゃいませ!
The LACMTA political coterie's approach:
Quinto-rate transporto tertia-rate hype.
Su Topo Proposes a new/replacement Flag for the LACMTA♪
Flag Source: royalty free, Creative Commons
Your Mole recognises when he is being "stonewalled" and further that the LACMTA is not an open organisation; so he will wait until a new CEO comes on scene and try again. Until then, the LACMTA CEO's Question Time will rest here.
When politicians involve themselves in technical matters, expect failures.
CEO's Question Time
Based upon the Parliamentary PM's Question Time at which questions may be asked of the Prime Minister.
In light of the LACMTA's unilateral actions to "make transfers easier", eliminating Day Passes, etc., One can see that they exhibit the same human kindness toward their captive ridership as those who originally flew the above flag did towards their captives.
Let's start with elimination of Day Passes: Day passes used to cost $7 for those with a TAP card; the passes remained in effect from the time of purchase until 3 A.M on the following day; the passes could be used for multiple trips. the passes proved to be economical if one rode more than four buses during the period of validity. This meant that a mother could make multiple shopping trips, pay bills, take children to the doctor etc., etc. all for a daily total Metro charge of $7!
No longer, beginning on July 15th, neither transfers nor Day Passes will be made available on buses. One can obtain one from rail station vending machines; however will require paying , at minimum, a single bus fare to ride to a rail station AND time to make the trip.This plan the result of the disobliging LACMTA staff, masked as positive, is actually regressive, punitive, illogical and is almost sure to bring about a drop in ridership. I have asked people, to act on my behalf, to find out the details of this plan regarding transfers and so far there have been no results. They asked for a clear definition of what transfer on second boarding really means; Additionally, request were made of Muni agencies and various TAP sites, to detail the exact amount of money which would be deducted from uses TAP cards based upon their cohort: student; senior and regular passenger. Again, no definitive replies have been received!
Apparently a hearing was held Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at 1PM, please note, a hallmark of the LACMTA: "the convenient" day of the week (Wednesday) and time (13:00) of the meeting. A day and time which ensues that the most frequent users of day passes and transfers would be engaged in other activities, such as, earning a living.
What make this even more disgusting is the attempt by the LACMTA, by providing the sketchiest of details, to pass the blame on to the Muni agencies who actually take the money from users' TAP cards.
Please, let's diverge for a moment and review the LACMTA's revenue sharing with the Muni agencies. Please review this report (extract) LACMTA-REPORT
N.B. the $17,560,833 shared with some Muni agencies and documented in the report; let's determine how many $0.75 transfers the LACMTA could provide to its' passengers with that amount. It turns out to be 23,414,444! Or in daily terms 64,149 each day for a year! N.B. the LACMTA freely shares the tax dollars it collects from the taxpayers with other transit agencies but does NOTHING for its' ridership except make their transportation life more difficult and more costly. And that is nothing of which they can be proud. Under the new transfer plan, this Mole believes that the LACMTA will reduce the Muni operators share of the Measure M revenue stream and tell the Muni operators that they can collect the transfer charges directly.
If the penny-pinching LACMTA were to take some positive action on behalf of its' ridership, it would allow free access to all participating Muni agencies by holders of a Metro TAP card without requiring even 1 penny of payment payment. That would increase ridership! There was a day when the Metro pass allowed on to ride the Commuter Buses and the Dash buses. No longer! This is the reason that La Taupe always says: Every "shakeup" [bi-annual schedule changes] we end up paying more for less!
Everyone associated with the LACMTA should hang their collective heads in shame as a result of this blatant attempt at increasing fare collections and further pick the pockets of the working poor.
Do their bonuses increase by 25% whenever a given accounting period's fare collections increase by 5%?
Especially, now that la Taupe finds, from discussion with someone who assured me that this is true, Day Passes may be purchased at Toonerville Trolley [light rail] stations! Once again it is rail-centric
thinking on the part of the LACMTA.
When politicians involve themselves in technical matters, expect
failures.
failures.
Imagining a white Board in the LACMTA's MEETING ROOM
CEO's Question Time
The Mole's 2019 New Year's Wishes.
Dear LACMTA:
Here are su Topo's 2019 New Year wishes; which I would like you to read and then implement solutions. If the LACMTA will make them come true, If that happens, it will be the triumph of hope over experience!
That the LACMTA would be more open rather than secretive. For example, reporting to us how much they spent to put up and take down the STOP NUMBER signs. And exactly why the signs were removed. Then again, some of the signs seem to be reappearing? Can they make up their minds? Yes, and then again, No.
That the LACMTA would be more considerate of the needs of their ridership.
That LACMTA would provide more and better security aboard trains and buses.
Conversely, my New YEAR WISH is that the RIDERSHIP would would have better manners. The answer to "Please remove your feet from the seats", should be, "yes, I'm Sorry". Not a string of curses and arguments — and this from a "lady"? Is it any wonder that more usual people try public transportation and soon give up? It is a function of SECURITY and good order. But since the LACMTA "management", except for the rare, politically motivated, photo op, how could they even know what their "service" is really like.
And yet they boast and perhaps they actually believe that Olympic visitors will become enamored with the fifth-rate "service" which they supply.
Why should it require years to improve service, just have your staff read this and all back issues of this blog and they will have a work list to start on, like, right away! Oh, you are very welcome Mr. Washington!
I wish that someone could explain why the LACMTA, given the many weaknesses in its poorly conceived and executed transfer system was allowed to go forward given the following:
OCTA - is not a party to the LACMTA'S "Let's eliminate paper transfers" effort. This cuts off a wide swath of transportation options, to the north (think Fullerton), south really the ENTIRE OCTA area. See map below.
OCTA Service Area♪
Few Rented, the "M" is for Money Pit♪
I wish that they'd be brought back into the fold.
Few Rented, the "M" is for Money Pit♪
I wish too, and this is the a leap of faith required by this Mole when the LACMTA AND MONEY are INVOLVED. Simply put, the dysfunctional agency should be required to supply financial reporting regarding its support of or investments in areas, which frankly they lack expertise and can't seem to avoid areas of which they should steer clear. Examples: "last mile" operation. They supported, though perhaps weakly, Bird scooters as another "last mile" operation. And yet another "last mile" operation, Metro's own money pit, the bicycle rental operation. Given the unsafe conditions involved in bicycling in Los Angeles, they not only promote it, they don't even provide the minimum level of safety equipment, viz., helmets! Another 2019 wish is that the LACMTA would develop a better method of evaluating these "Pipe Dreams", um, money making schemes, Another failure from the past was the on-board television.
I wish, in 2019 that they would explain why Mr. Washington give up early on his hyped (on radio station KPCC) Uber like service called "Via", whose drivers are said to be well paid, and supply service in New York City, Chicago, etc. Yet now the LACMTA is rumored to be planning on operating a car rental service like Hertz. Well not exactly like Herst, they think people will want to rent a vehicle from Metro to go to and fro to Metro stations or bus centers. If they think that the Metro ridership will rent car to get to buses and trains then they are traveling with a completely different group than su Topo!
This Mole feels another financial failure in in their future, IF, this is truly their plan!
Your Mole had suggested this in the past and he feels that the suggestion is logical and can be implemented with the skills available to the LACMTA; Simply run neighbourhood shuttles to the local station at peak times. The shuttles could do double duty. Before or after commute times they could shuttle students to the trains. After all, they have drivers and buses; so what is stopping them?
Su Topo feels another financial failure in in their future, IF, this is truly their plan!
I wish that the LACMTA could consider their ridership as people with limited incomes, whose transportation of last resort is the Metro "system". Mostly they can't rent bicycles, scooters and certainly not cars to convey them to train station or bus stops.
I wish that they would provide neighbourhood "circulator buses", which would accept their monthly passes at commute times.
I wish, in 2019 that they would explain why Mr. Washington give up early on his hyped (on radio station KPCC) Uber like service called "Via", whose drivers are said to be well paid, and supply service in New York City, Chicago, etc. Yet now the LACMTA is rumored to be planning on operating a car rental service like Hertz. Well not exactly like Herst, they think people will want to rent a vehicle from Metro to go to and fro to Metro stations or bus centers. If they think that the Metro ridership will rent car to get to buses and trains then they are traveling with a completely different group than su Topo!
This Mole feels another financial failure in in their future, IF, this is truly their plan!
Su Topo feels another financial failure in in their future, IF, this is truly their plan!
I wish that the LACMTA could consider their ridership as people with limited incomes, whose transportation of last resort is the Metro "system". Mostly they can't rent bicycles, scooters and certainly not cars to convey them to train station or bus stops.
I wish that they would provide neighbourhood "circulator buses", which would accept their monthly passes at commute times.
\
An unwelcome sign: (There are lots of them in Los Angeles!♪
Notices like these are frequently seen around or near bus stops. Businesses don't want LACMTA passengers in their facilities, neither does the LACMTA want to provide any creature comforts for their passengers.
The restrooms at the newly constructed LAXCBC*♪
*Sorry, these are for the drivers ONLY, not the passengers! Oh, and by-the-way, Olympic visitors, unless they come from third-world countries will not like it either; neither will they like port-a-potties!
No Stop Number Sign here either♪
Sleeping Soundly in Los Angeles, 2019-02-12 around 10:00♪
These guys have a lock on this Santa Monica Bl bus shelter. This Mole was happy to pace around while waiting for the bus —NOT, But perhaps the Olympic Visitors will not enjoy being deprived of a rest either.
Close Enough for LACMTA Work♪
Please translate the view above to a 2019 wish that LACMTA would train their drivers to position their buses at the bus stop "flag", close enough to the curb to be a safe, easy step away. This guy is about a metre away from the curb! This driver thinks that passengers can easily reach the curb —which is obviously too far a way for a safe exit. Either the drivers are not trainable or they just don't care. which do you think it is?
—
Good Enough for LACMTA Work♪
Another 2019 wish is that the LACMTA would supervise their bus stop cleaning contractors so that they actually clean the bus stop, not just do the absolute minimum. Shown above is an often seen condition, the dustbin inside the metal frame is emptied, well eventually. In this case the plastic liner has been removed and positioned adjacent to, above in the photo, the metal frame is adjacent to, below in the photo. But, within the metal frame, at the bottom waste continues to collect without ever being emptied. It accumulates in situ, over weeks or months, perhaps even years. Of course, the LACMTA makes no provision to follow up, supervise contractors or penalise poor work.
The LACMTA seems stymied as to how to deal with this situation. So, su Topo will advise them: (1) Send a letter to the CEO of each organisation which has the responsibility of cleaning bus stops. Say, "Payments will not be made when stops show that cleaning has not been properly performed. The portion held back will represent the total owed divided by the number of stops in the contract —the amount to clean a single stop— multiplied by the stops which have been inspected and found to be inadequately cleaned.;2) inspect the stops, note and photograph the deficiencies. You should see a flurry of activity to remediate the problems. You will also experience a decrease in poorly cleaned stops. There is a term for this activity, it is called MANAGEMENT! There is also a term for the manner in which the LACMTA presently conducts business in this area. It is called "paying good money for fourth-rate work".
In 2019 I wish that the LACMTA would supervise their contractors, like MV Transportation, to set the volume of their on board stop announcements, dispatch radios, etc., below the threshold of pain. [why can't they use the same "telephone" system used by Metro?]at a comfortable listening level.
I wish that for the new year and forward, that the LACMTA would supervise their contractors so that the contractor's drivers would not "entertain"riders by turning off the ASA and then singing out stops. many, if not most riders want a safe, quiet trip so that they can listen to personal audio equipment, sleep, read or just sit quietly.
As I ride. I estimate, conservatively, that I witness a MINIMUM of 2 people per bus that have zero balance TAP cards or say "courtesy ride" or walk on past the driver without saying a word. Given a 19 hour day and 6,000 buses, the total amount LOST would be: $3,
The calculation is shown above: [2 people X $1.75 (full fare) = [ hourly loss] X 6000 Buses X 19 hours. results in close to $400,000.
But let's say that I grossly over estimated the daily loss and that it is only a loss of $10,000 per day. 10,000 X 365 results in an annual loss of $3,650,000.
Better estimates could be made but this is real money and lots of it that isn't being collected! Let's reduce the loss to $500,000 per annum! If that isn't enough to be termed breach of financial responsibility, I don't know what is.
Obviously, Las Vegas understands this and has acted accordingly. The LACMTA is inefficient, disorganised and dysfunctional, but certainly they can crack down on this theft.
An important Mole wish for 2019 is that the LACMTA would disallow boarding of passengers with unpleasant body odors, dragging trash bags stuffed with recyclables, drunk and/or threatening, unruly etc., etc. [see also security above].
That the LACMTA would add the bus drivers number to the scrolling sign inside the bus, so that riders can report those drivers who are rude, crude and have poor driving skills. Presently,both CCMBL and BBB scroll their drivers numbers.
Too, in 2019 it would be well that the LACMTA would insist that their drivers —regular and contractors—secure wheelchair passengers. Rather, they ask the passenger if they wish to be secured; most seem to reply "NO". In the event of an accident, these heavy wheelchairs could bounce around the bus and injure other passengers. But like many items, safety to passengers is extremely low on the LACMTA's priority list —if they even have such a list.
LAWA Flyaway Bus with a METRO tribute!♪
Riding LACMTA services is generally not that pleasant to begin with and is only made more unpleasant by experiencing the above "punishments".
Additional Suggestions for the New Tear (2019)
LAWA Flyaway Bus with a METRO tribute!♪
In 2019 it is wished that the LACMTA foster a culture of openness and transparency! Providing quarterly and annual reports for each significant project, reporting which reflects project status in terms of ahead of or behind plan and a budget metric showing dollars over/under budget would allow the public to evaluate their competency or incompetency!
Riding LACMTA services is generally not that pleasant to begin with and is only made more unpleasant by experiencing the above "punishments".
Can this be true?♪
As I walked the halls of the Taj Mahal this month, as the guest of an employee who was not aware that he was talking to the Mole, la Taupe looked through the open door of a room identified as the Office of Exceptional Ineptitude and took the photo shown above. It must be true because, as I rack my brain, I can add no accomplishment to their list.
LACMTA Limits♪
As I looked more carefully, at the other end of the room I saw another white board, took a photo of it and placed that photo above. You may not be aware that the LACMTA was criticised for spending taxpayers' money on entertaining themselves. It is good to note that the criticism was effective and they now have fixed spending limits on their entertainment.
Additional Suggestions for the New Tear (2019)
LACMTA: here are some things which you can easily improve.
Institute a 740 stop at Imperial BL to connect with the 120 line.
Presently, riders of the southbound 740 must walk a longish one block plus plus and then endure a very dangerous crossing of the two lane on ramp of the 105 freeway!
Allow for request stops so as to better intersect with desired transfer buses. When a bus must stop for a red light at a curb and a metro stop is just steps away from the curb, allow passengers to exit. Example: The situation described just above exists at the intersection of Century BL and Hawthorne BL with the 40/740 northbound lines crossing South-North and the South bound 40/740 lines crossing North-South. If the Eastbound 117 stops for a red light at the SOUTH-West corner of the intersection, riders, like me –frequently, could walk a few steps in safety to catch the bus. Usually riders like me are FORCED by some edict that is supposed to be for “safety” to ride the 117 to the stop at the SOUTH-EAST corner of the intersection than cross BUSY, BUSY Hawthorne BL, after a long wait for a walk light, then doge heavy traffic to get back where they were (on the bus) minutes ago. Often the view they get of the 40/740 is the of tail-lights of the departing bus; missed it!!
Moving the bus stop at 96th Street and Airport BL just a few feet South so that no vehicle could pass a stopped bus. This is so easy, even for the LACMTA, that it is a no brainer. Eventually, someone who debused at the stop, in the midst of crossing 96th Street, will be struck and seriously injured or killed by a vehicle which zoomed around the stopped bus.
Re-route the 232 Line legacy path that is an artifact of one way streets which no longer exist. It wastes fuel, imposes unnecessary wear and tear on buses and travels an unnecessarily elongated route. The present route, and this applies only to the Northbound 232: turns left (EAST) from Sepulveda at Mariposa; follows Mariposa to NASH where it turns right (SOUTH) and proceeds to the bus stop and drops Green line passengers and picks up Long Beach bound passengers backtracks to Grand AV where it turns right; proceeds to Sepulveda where it turns right over-running it's first traverse. This is an artifact of a long-ago changed pattern of one-way streets.
The Mole's suggested reroute (for years): from Sepulveda turn right at Grand AV; proceed EAST to Nash; turn left and drop Green Line MARIPOSA STATION PASSENGERS on the EAST SIDE OF NASH; and pickups LAX bound passengers there as well; Make a left turn onto Mariposa; proceeds to Sepulveda where it make a right turn onto existing route. The existing stop at Sepulveda, just north of Grand, can be served from a new stop at Grand, just east of Sepulveda.
A new stop on the North Side of Mariposa at Continental will be necessary.
The SOUTHBOUND 232 can continue on its' current route without change; EXCEPT that it would be ideal to loop through Plaza El Segundo by turning left off Sepulveda into South Hughes Way; then following the route of the WESTBOUND 125 through Plaza El Segundo; Exiting at Park PLace with a left turn onto Sepulveda.
The LACMTA hates to move bus stops even when it is necessary and they end up with a ridiculous route.
The 115 Westbound bus, near the end of the route, passes the northwest corner of Sepulveda Bl and La Tijera BL located at Sepulveda Bl and La Tijera Bl; which shopping center has a large supermarket, a pharmacy, a bank, and quite a few restaurants. Instituting a request stop there would require no expense and only a brief stop to discharge passengers. In the past there was a bus stop sited there; until it was removed. Perhaps it was too convenient! It would be nice to see the LACMTA do something for its' ridership! How about it?
Then there is the 117 Line stop at Century BL and Aviation Bl near LAX. The stop was relocated to the north EAST corner of Century and Aviation while he Crenshaw Line flyover of Century Bl was being constructed. Now, years later the construction has been completed but the stop remains. Both CCMBL and BBB stop on the northeast corner of the Century Bl and Aviation Bl —in fact those organisation never changed their bus stops. This means that 117 Line passengers must debus at the stop on the northeast corner of Aviation BL, as noted above, cross a very busy intersection and walk almost a full block in total to make that connection. LACMTA!, revert to the former bus stop and save your passengers some hassle and provide a smooth transfer experience.
The Mole's suggested reroute (for years): from Sepulveda turn right at Grand AV; proceed EAST to Nash; turn left and drop Green Line MARIPOSA STATION PASSENGERS on the EAST SIDE OF NASH; and pickups LAX bound passengers there as well; Make a left turn onto Mariposa; proceeds to Sepulveda where it make a right turn onto existing route. The existing stop at Sepulveda, just north of Grand, can be served from a new stop at Grand, just east of Sepulveda.
A new stop on the North Side of Mariposa at Continental will be necessary.
The SOUTHBOUND 232 can continue on its' current route without change; EXCEPT that it would be ideal to loop through Plaza El Segundo by turning left off Sepulveda into South Hughes Way; then following the route of the WESTBOUND 125 through Plaza El Segundo; Exiting at Park PLace with a left turn onto Sepulveda.
The LACMTA hates to move bus stops even when it is necessary and they end up with a ridiculous route.
The 115 Westbound bus, near the end of the route, passes the northwest corner of Sepulveda Bl and La Tijera BL located at Sepulveda Bl and La Tijera Bl; which shopping center has a large supermarket, a pharmacy, a bank, and quite a few restaurants. Instituting a request stop there would require no expense and only a brief stop to discharge passengers. In the past there was a bus stop sited there; until it was removed. Perhaps it was too convenient! It would be nice to see the LACMTA do something for its' ridership! How about it?
Then there is the 117 Line stop at Century BL and Aviation Bl near LAX. The stop was relocated to the north EAST corner of Century and Aviation while he Crenshaw Line flyover of Century Bl was being constructed. Now, years later the construction has been completed but the stop remains. Both CCMBL and BBB stop on the northeast corner of the Century Bl and Aviation Bl —in fact those organisation never changed their bus stops. This means that 117 Line passengers must debus at the stop on the northeast corner of Aviation BL, as noted above, cross a very busy intersection and walk almost a full block in total to make that connection. LACMTA!, revert to the former bus stop and save your passengers some hassle and provide a smooth transfer experience.
Trash cans? We don't need no trash cans!
The photograph below documents the situation at the Maxella AV and Lincoln BL stop on the BBB number 3 Line. It is the sort of “work” one would expect from the LACMTA. They taped or caused to be taped shut the aperture in the plastic pipes associated with power poles. These pipes continue to be used as improvised trash cans. BBB N.B. The stop still needs a trash can!
BBB Maxella Trash Fix???♪
Su Topo will include this comment in every post with the above until BBB corrects the problem. For quite awhile BBB has been charging for inter-line transfers, reversing the long-standing policy of free transfers to other BBB lines. This presents the BB as less friendly to its ridership than in years past.
Too, BBB has spent lots of money to build a big headquarters on Colorado BL just east of 4th Street. Mr. King, just a few dollars for a trash can, you might need a few more to cover other bus stops too, will erase this section. After all, it is Marina Del Rey! :-)
Why a trash container is needed♪
The photo above shows exactly what people will do when a trash container is not provided. They will jury rig something. What they did, in this case, is rip off the tape which covered the plastic pipes at the base of the utility pole and stuffed their trash into the pipe, nice, huh?
Edward F. King, Director of Transit Services
City of Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus
The man pictured above could ensure that trash containers are installed along BBB routes with a simple three-line memorandum.
White Line Incursion Series
Su Topo uses video to highlight the problem of scofflaw drivers endangering Metro bus passengers yet, no authority seems to want to take ownership of the problem. The issue is not unique to the particular site documented by your Mole, but is illustrative of a general problem. Your Mole encourages you to report similar problems to the appropriate agencies in your area(s) and hope that you will have better luck than he. In the youtube.com videos linked below one can see exactly what happens when the policing agencies fail to enforce traffic laws.
Further, when the agency responsible for public transportation is so lacking in every skill necessary for success yet will apply their only tool to the job. when your only tool is a PR flack; then every issue seem soluble by issuing a boastful press release.
Further, when the agency responsible for public transportation is so lacking in every skill necessary for success yet will apply their only tool to the job. when your only tool is a PR flack; then every issue seem soluble by issuing a boastful press release.
The video(s) linked below document the important fact that a never- ending stream of vehicles fail to use the lane as required by law.
Neither are the policing agencies active when it comes to protecting us by bringing these obvious and frequent traffic law violations to an immediate halt. The LACMTA is derelict as well, in that they fail to use the near hourly proof of the violations captured by the on board cameras, mentioned here, and discussed at length in the posting of 2012-05-31.
2018-03-31
In this video you will see Enterprise Rant-A-Car Shuttles cutoff a 111 Line bus. It represents the typical dangerous incursion of other traffic across a solid white line into the bus' lane
In this video you will see Enterprise Rant-A-Car Shuttles cutoff a 111 Line bus. It represents the typical dangerous incursion of other traffic across a solid white line into the bus' lane
These incursions happen multiple times per day so it is only a matter of time before an accident occurs.
Airport auto rental shuttle drivers, FlyAway drivers and others, if shown in the above videos, are all Class-B operators and should know better; but often they don't care and neither does the LACMTA nor any of the policing agencies which have jurisdiction in the area.
Please carefully note that in some videos, pedestrians are pinned to the curb by the vehicles that cut in front of the bus —as a result these pedestrians are illegally denied the right-of-way. Which right-of-way would be unchallengeablely theirs IF, and only IF, Mr. Washington would review su Topo’s simple solution (vide infra) and implement it.
In spite of the potential for these violations to occur several times per HOUR, I have never seen a police presence at this location. One would think that with a bus schedule taped to the dashboard one of the several policing agencies would have made some arrests by now. Unless they have "more important" work to do than protecting bus passengers.
La Taupe feels that it is appropriate to dedicate these video(s) to ALL the agencies that should be protecting us. So, they are dedicated to (1): Airport (LAWA) Police, (2) the L.A.P.D., (3) the L. A. County Sheriff’s Department and (4) Mr. Washington who is the current CEO of the LACMTA.
Mr. Washington, Su Topo has recommended a simple solution to the problem. That is, have the 111 Line buses pull up to pedestrian crosswalk, stop there stop and discharge passengers. Doing so eliminates the space in front of the bus which the always-in-a-hurry scofflaws use to cut in front of the bus. But, with the LACMTA nothing is simple. Although the solution could be implemented with nothing more than a memo to the 111 Line drivers, it is a task for which the LACMTA so far has proved to be inadequate.
Office of Exceptional Ineptitude♪
Rumour Central
The plans are not yet final but there are leaks to the effect that the OOEI has considered out maneuvering Elon Musk, after the good press which obtained after he detailed his high-speed subway transportation system.
In light of the plans plans of private developers to build an aerial tramway to Dodger Stadium; they insist upon calling it a "gondola", which in fact, is only the passenger compartment. The OOEI MAY be developing plans for transporting baseball fans to Dodger Stadium using a less expensive, more efficient aerial method.
Exactly what might these plans entail?
Well, does the thought of a puff of smoke emanating from a cannon barrel give you a hint?
Does Elon Musk's "Dugout Loop" put an end to the exciting prospect of flying through the air and ending up being caught in a net?
Exactly what might these plans entail?
Well, does the thought of a puff of smoke emanating from a cannon barrel give you a hint?
A Filthy Bus Stop, number 07547.♪
When one encounters a situation like this, try to rectify it by calling the number below which usually appears on the bus bench. When the stop is cleaned, the detritus inside the metal framework and under the blue litter can is almost never removed. The word "fifth rate" comes to mind. Also the words unsupervised and/or poorly managed play a large role in the way the LACMTA interfaces, if they do actually interface, with their contractors. This is a simple thing to correct; just supervise the vendors tasked to do the cleanup!
An even Filthier Bus Stop, number 08670.♪
This scene makes a statement about management; really about how management is breaching their fiduciary responsibility. Taxpayer funds are spent on cleaning bus stops; in actuality, taxpayer funds are paid to vendors who are contracted to clean the bus stops, whether the vendors do a good or extremely poor job, as in the situation pictured above.
Bus stop benches often have a contact number affixed to them. I can't say always because as you have seen, the LACMTA seems to lack effective processes —they could never conform to ISO 9000 requirements—.
As for calling maintenance, la Taupe called once, and surprise, no action was taken.
As for calling maintenance, la Taupe called once, and surprise, no action was taken.
Bottle Scavengers took the plastic liner!♪ Stop number ITC♪
As one can see, the plastic liner is missing; taken to hold recycled bottles, most likely.
A contractor cleans up ITC♪
Pictured above, we can see an LACMTA contractor, WMS, putting ITC in order. As I waited for 740 bus, the four man crew was hard at work.
2018-09-15 Another cleaning crew is at work at the ITC on this Saturday Morning. They are using a pressure hose stream to clean up, most of, but not all the blobs of gum which dot the pavement of the Center. It looks quite good when compared to an earlier state; Perhaps they need the hoses employed by BBB to remove all traces of the blobs? However, some users seem unfamiliar with the concept of a rubbish bin.
2018-09-15 Another cleaning crew is at work at the ITC on this Saturday Morning. They are using a pressure hose stream to clean up, most of, but not all the blobs of gum which dot the pavement of the Center. It looks quite good when compared to an earlier state; Perhaps they need the hoses employed by BBB to remove all traces of the blobs? However, some users seem unfamiliar with the concept of a rubbish bin.
Extremely Dirty Parada!♪
It appears that the recyclers have attacked this rubbish bin, too. Emptying its contents and then taking the plastic liner and anything that could be recycled.
A theory of personal development to which I subscribe, suggests that one should never point out a problem without proposing a solution.
The Problem - trash bins only partly emptied like the one shown above.
A theory of personal development to which I subscribe, suggests that one should never point out a problem without proposing a solution.
Solving the problem.♪
It would also be best practice to stencil the bus stop number as your Mole did in his photo.
Here is a view with the plastic container removed.♪
It is easy to see, and remove the trash, perhaps, with a rake like implement. Rather than let it accumulate month, after month, after month! Which sloppy work provide food for insects and rodents which in turn, become vectors for diseases.
This Container has been attacked by a recycler!♪
Then too, one must not place too much blame on the cleaners —because the LACMTA makes no attempt to quality control, inspect or oversee the work.
An Even Dirtier Parada!♪
2018-09-23 at the bus stop located at the south-east corner of the intersection of Santa Monica and Sepulveda Blvds, I see one of the dirtiest Bus Stops in Los Angeles. The LACMTA loves to boast about how tourists during the Olympic Games will be surprised that Los Angeles has such an "advanced transportation System". I say that they will be shocked to see how Los Angeles has such a "Third Worldly like transportation System".
A Stairway at a rail Station.♪
As almost everything associated with the LACMTA it is abominably maintained. In this case some riders cannot hold on their rubbish until they can properly dispose of it. Their thoughtlessness endangers their fellow riders, who could slip on the thoughtlessly disposed of plastic or other slippery materials and fall; all compounded by the fact that the LACMTA seems to be in no hurry to cleanup the mess.
The conditions pictured above a clear indication that the LACMTA is incapable of managing its' contractors. Su Topo never hesitates to offer his considered opinion.
There is no question that the LACMTA lack an organisational structure to manage those who supply contract services to the agency. So, here is a solution: Stop all bonus payments to management and any others who are presently paid bonuses. The bonus, for people who adequately preform their job functions should be that they keep their jobs. Generally, LACMTA management are overpaid and supplied with too many perks. The perks, too, should be greatly reduced. Chauffeurs and company supplied cars should be eliminated. There are lots of buses and riding them may help management understand what is wrong with their system, e.g., too many free rider and some, perhaps only a few, rude operators.
Management should focus on the Metro ridership, making things move faster, smoother and more comfortable along with providing the much needed restrooms along the way.
Unfortunately, the management. IMHO, thinks that their job is to sit in the Taj Mahal and dream up ways to spend money.
The conditions pictured above a clear indication that the LACMTA is incapable of managing its' contractors. Su Topo never hesitates to offer his considered opinion.
There is no question that the LACMTA lack an organisational structure to manage those who supply contract services to the agency. So, here is a solution: Stop all bonus payments to management and any others who are presently paid bonuses. The bonus, for people who adequately preform their job functions should be that they keep their jobs. Generally, LACMTA management are overpaid and supplied with too many perks. The perks, too, should be greatly reduced. Chauffeurs and company supplied cars should be eliminated. There are lots of buses and riding them may help management understand what is wrong with their system, e.g., too many free rider and some, perhaps only a few, rude operators.
Management should focus on the Metro ridership, making things move faster, smoother and more comfortable along with providing the much needed restrooms along the way.
Unfortunately, the management. IMHO, thinks that their job is to sit in the Taj Mahal and dream up ways to spend money.
Further evidence of the LACMTA's approach to maintenance.♪
We know that this is the Metro, but really, what are you trying to tell us?
An Accident Waiting to Happen!♪
Confused drivers, pedestrians, tired Train Operators, or any combination or permutation of these, which at grade level, can cause fatalities. Note the downward slope of the tracks which can result in an additional operator workload in controlling trains.
Oops, trip on this OOEI artifact and you'll be under the bus!♪
Extremely sloppy work! A bus stop flag pole was removed here leaving the pole's foundation very near the curb, for children, the aged or anyone at all to trip over and fall into the street. If one was hurrying, one might well end up under the wheels of the bus. All that needed to be done here was to remove the four nuts holding the base in place, remove the base and then with a metal cutting blade saw the protruding bolts level with the concrete. A professional worker could perform the job in minutes. But the LACMTA's failure to supervise its' workers or contractors results in the situation depicted above. Worse yet, is the LACMTA's failure to see what has to be done.
How will the LACMTA solve this problem? Well, the LACMTA will hold a series of meeting over months and then likely forget about the problem.
Your Mole proposes this solution: Whenever a training bus is covering a route, on the first and last trip of route training, the operator being trained and the trainer would both alight at each stop and check it for safety. Both parties would fill out a bus stop safety report. That way new operators would be indoctrinated into a culture of safety and know how to report bus stop safety issues; the experienced trainer would add to his/her knowledge and be able to discuss issues he/she had seen with their trainee.
Brilliant idea Mole! Hardly that, but it is logical thinking.
This is not related to the Office of Incredible Ineptitude, but rather another BBB work product which serves to show how a more honest transportation provider names their supplier's product, i.e., correctly, viz., "nextbus" and they kept the stop numbers and texting in place as a benefit for its ridership.
The nextbus.com site, a valuable tool!♪
The Sign Most Dreaded by LACMTA Riders!♪
One can't find a loo when they are most needed! Does anyone really believe that the LACMTA management really cares? After all, they just tell their chauffeur to pull into the nearest coffee shop so that they can have a "break".
They are going to spend $8,000,000 on a few new restrooms and the rehab of a few more at Union Station! When will those restrooms be ready? La Taupe's estimate: it will be a couple of years and the restrooms in Union Station will likely be out of service for a long while too.
They are going to spend $8,000,000 on a few new restrooms and the rehab of a few more at Union Station! When will those restrooms be ready? La Taupe's estimate: it will be a couple of years and the restrooms in Union Station will likely be out of service for a long while too.
How BBB Gets It Done!♪
This worker, using a high pressure delivery system leaves a clean, really clean bus stop. Not like the messes found at LACMTA Transportation Centers, such as ITC! And at the many filthy bus stop around the city. Well ITC was cleaned up, kind of, but the outlines of the gum blobs were retained. How about a do0over with a higher pressure hose?
BBB has Nextbus!♪
This is not related to the Office of Incredible Ineptitude, but rather another BBB work product which serves to show how a more honest transportation provider names their supplier's product, i.e., correctly, viz., "nextbus" and they kept the stop numbers and texting in place as a benefit for its ridership.
While the LACMTA, sneakily, er, covertly did away with the many, if not most, of the stop numbers without offering a word of explanation.
Nextbus on my iPhone, it's GREAT!♪
I simply opened the nextbus.com site using my browser, it took over asked permission to use my location, which permission I granted and voilà; I was presented with all the bus availability at stops within reasonable walking distance of my position. Shown above is on the first screen of several. importantly, there is no need for an "app", because since Tim Cook stopped updating my iPhone at iOS6 which then froze all my apps, which, although had updates available, they were denied to me. When this iPhone fails, I'm going with Samsung!
The nextbus.com site, a valuable tool!♪
But, where there is the will, there is a way. Su Topo visited the nextbus page at Next Bus: Using the drop down menu; set the bus route number to 130 (Or your desired choice of the route; selected the stop that I have used and will be using at some other time in the future, to Hawthorne Blvd and Artesia and voila, the stop number "00147" was filled in for me.
Now I can note that stop number and its location in my agenda and soon I will have reconstructed the subset of stop numbers which I require.
It would had been much easier if the LACMTA,stupidity, er, I mean, with lack of intelligence, had not rushed to waste money and removed the stop number signs which had cost quite a bit to install in the first place.
Please contemplate Mole's Law Number 1: "When politicians involve themselves in technical matters, expect failures."
Torrance Transit Uses NextBUS Too!♪
This is the way the LACMTA should have done it. Fast, simple and understandable.
Now I can note that stop number and its location in my agenda and soon I will have reconstructed the subset of stop numbers which I require.
It would had been much easier if the LACMTA,
Please contemplate Mole's Law Number 1: "When politicians involve themselves in technical matters, expect failures."
They Should Have just placed the stop number as shown above♪
That way the numbering system would have had relevance far into the future. it could been adapted to emergency services, 911 reporting when an incident occurs away from numbered houses or people have trouble pronouncing local street or intersection names.
Stenciling the numbers on the bus flag is economical and efficient - if you know what your Mole means. But no,the LACMTA seems to act before it thinks.
Stenciling the numbers on the bus flag is economical and efficient - if you know what your Mole means. But no,the LACMTA seems to act before it thinks.
Torrance Transit Uses NextBUS Too!♪
That is how we can tell that the LACMTA have made an error; because everyone else is using Nextbus texting and the LACMTA have removed most of their bus stop numbering signs.
LDOT has nice Stop Numbers!♪
This is the way the LACMTA should have done it. Fast, simple and understandable.
Metro's Flag a revés♪
At sea, a vessel in distress will fly its' flag upside down. It is only right that, given the dysfunctional LACMTA, we should fly Metro's flag in that manner.
In this section it is su Topo's intention to call your attention to situations which he has observed that highlight the "LACMTA Way" of doing things.
An homage for her "contribution" to L.A. transportation.
Your Mole would like the former head of LAWA remembered for her "contribution" to Los Angeles area public transportation. She was quicker than her contemporary, the former bus driver and former head of the LACMATA, to implement the lucrative FlyAway service and discouraged all attempts, however feeble, to bring other modes of transportation to LAX.
Too, we should memorialize her attitude vis-à-vis public transportation directly to LAX in following the transportation direct-to-airport access pattern used by many, if not most, world-class airports, to wit, "you go under the airport, it is fraught with problems, ...” [hardly a get it done attitude!].
The Mole readsΩ the papers and other things, obviating the necessity of your doing so.
Where available, links to the cited reporting is provided in “Works Cited”, Vide infra. Please use the links to read the complete articles because your Mole can only include "fair use" portions.
Before commencing the press coverage, your Mole feels that it would be instructive to review the two main California transportation projects. Before that, Let's take a look at what Japan has accomplished since the end of World-War II and say, 1964, when Japan hosted the Olympics. Japan was fire bombed and atomic bombed and her industrial capacity mostly nullified.
Yet, in the nineteen year period (1959~1964) They designed, based upon plans dating from 1939, and constructed their first Bullet Train, the Hikari Bullet Train which operated between Tokyo Station and Shin-Osaka Station.
The Tokyo Monorail, between Haneda Airport (The then International Airport) and Hamamatsucho Rail station, le point d'entrée, to the larger Tokyo rail system)was constructed, using a German model, between 1960~1964 and opened, as did the Hikari, in 1965. Five years to build a Bullet Train and four years to build a mono rail line. Amazing!
Now, let's briefly look at CHSRA (the California High Speed Rail Authority). As we have seen, the Bullet Train model was already more than forty years old before a spade of earth was turned by CHSRA! In fact, Japan was already hard at work on newer models. The leading contender of which was Mag-Lev (Magnetic Levitation). At this time let's stop and consider Mole's Law 1: When politicians involve themselves in technical matters, expect failures.
In the end there were lots of failures at CHSRA's project. I believe the failures started with the original engineering consultants who likely went along with the politicians who, knew about Bullet Trains being fast but probably not much more. They could have called on the Japanese engineers, contractors, etc., but were overwhelmed by the feeling that it was NIH!
Had they done so, we could probably take a ride to SAN Francisco this weekend and importantly, knowledge transfer would have allowed CHSRA to take on additional routes with only moderate supervision. Too, it would undoubtedly have not cost too much more than has already been wasted.
The LACMTA, having already butchered everything that they have touched; except the extant subways and he Green Line, now wants to build a, for God's sake, MONORAIL line. As we have seen this is another decades old technology that will not mix and match with ANYTHING existing.
In the past they could have run a monorail down the center of the 405 (San Diego) Freeway. What an advertisement! People trapped by motionless traffic would become instant converts
The LACMTA, firmly committed to having no interoperatability, want to implement one of each possible mode!
Usually farebox OOS (Out Of Service) conditions are noted in a special section (below). Beginning with this issue, because an out of service fare box can negatively affect ones transportation; One will likely not be able to add funds to one's Tap Card and will therefore not be conditioned for a transfer; because the TOSB flag (as discovered when I reverse engineered the LACMTA's poorly designed and ineptly implemented transfer "system") will not be set in transfer mode.
Ωand sometime listens to various broadcasts and/or TV Broadcasts.
Before commencing the press coverage, your Mole feels that it would be instructive to review the two main California transportation projects. Before that, Let's take a look at what Japan has accomplished since the end of World-War II and say, 1964, when Japan hosted the Olympics. Japan was fire bombed and atomic bombed and her industrial capacity mostly nullified.
Yet, in the nineteen year period (1959~1964) They designed, based upon plans dating from 1939, and constructed their first Bullet Train, the Hikari Bullet Train which operated between Tokyo Station and Shin-Osaka Station.
The Tokyo Monorail, between Haneda Airport (The then International Airport) and Hamamatsucho Rail station, le point d'entrée, to the larger Tokyo rail system)was constructed, using a German model, between 1960~1964 and opened, as did the Hikari, in 1965. Five years to build a Bullet Train and four years to build a mono rail line. Amazing!
Now, let's briefly look at CHSRA (the California High Speed Rail Authority). As we have seen, the Bullet Train model was already more than forty years old before a spade of earth was turned by CHSRA! In fact, Japan was already hard at work on newer models. The leading contender of which was Mag-Lev (Magnetic Levitation). At this time let's stop and consider Mole's Law 1: When politicians involve themselves in technical matters, expect failures.
In the end there were lots of failures at CHSRA's project. I believe the failures started with the original engineering consultants who likely went along with the politicians who, knew about Bullet Trains being fast but probably not much more. They could have called on the Japanese engineers, contractors, etc., but were overwhelmed by the feeling that it was NIH!
Had they done so, we could probably take a ride to SAN Francisco this weekend and importantly, knowledge transfer would have allowed CHSRA to take on additional routes with only moderate supervision. Too, it would undoubtedly have not cost too much more than has already been wasted.
The LACMTA, having already butchered everything that they have touched; except the extant subways and he Green Line, now wants to build a, for God's sake, MONORAIL line. As we have seen this is another decades old technology that will not mix and match with ANYTHING existing.
In the past they could have run a monorail down the center of the 405 (San Diego) Freeway. What an advertisement! People trapped by motionless traffic would become instant converts
The LACMTA, firmly committed to having no interoperatability, want to implement one of each possible mode!
The LACMTA already builds more than enough Toonerville Trolleys, i.e. mass, NOT Rapid transit, going over budget and behind schedule as they build. This is just another indication that politicians cannot design and build proper transportation.
The Los Angeles
Daily News reports (Plachta) on the valley residents’ transportation
expectations. Here, briefly, quoted from Ms Plachta’s work is what the Sherman
Oaks Homeowners Association had to say.
“As we have stated many times, SOHA will strongly oppose any concept
that is not fully underground in Sherman Oaks,” wrote the letter. “We are home
to one of the nation’s most congested intersections – Sepulveda Boulevard at
Ventura Boulevard – and want nothing at grade or aerial that worsens our
congestion.” Seems clear enough to this Mole; will the LACMTA understand it? Perhaps not. The residents pf Beverly Hills were clear enough is what they said to the lACMTA, which Lat Taupe will paraphrase here: "Don't build a subway under Beverly Hills High School!" And what is the LACMTA doing? Building a subway under Beverly Hills High School!
The San Gabriel
Valley Tribune covers (Scauzillo) the possibility of a monorail being built
between LAX and the San Fernando Valley.
He points out the difficulty of switching when you only have a single
rail. This contracted would be awarded to the Chinese; oops, more trade
imbalance.
As noted above, The residents of
the San Fernando Valley seem to favor a subway. Your Mole like subways! This
particular could use the cut and cover mode for even areas that are not under a
street. For example, a hillside area
could be terraced, a trench cut and surrounded by concrete , then covered
over. The cut and cover method for under
street constructionis used in Tokyo with fast, economical results.
amNY informs us (Brown) of a tragic bus
crash.
Here is a quote from Ms Brown’s writing:
“The driver of an empty Dahlia Group charter bus died and two other people were
killed when he slammed into an MTA bus on Sept. 18, 2017. The
driver "was conscious and aware of the hazardous conditions preceding
the crash but was unable to control the vehicle's speed," the NTSB said in
its report.”
Please read the article for all the
details.
Another Out Of Service Fare Box♪
This Mole has seen numerous Fare Box Failures and can only see problems with a fare box which fails to flag TOSB as valid resulting in the creation of an invalid transfer situation which will be totally uncontrollable by the passenger. And will result in that passenger paying full fare on a Muni (non-LACMTA) Bus instead of a transfer fare.Usually farebox OOS (Out Of Service) conditions are noted in a special section (below). Beginning with this issue, because an out of service fare box can negatively affect ones transportation; One will likely not be able to add funds to one's Tap Card and will therefore not be conditioned for a transfer; because the TOSB flag (as discovered when I reverse engineered the LACMTA's poorly designed and ineptly implemented transfer "system") will not be set in transfer mode.
The LACMTA's Own Crumbling Infrastructure♪
Elevator at the Harbour Freeway Busway Station
Note the filthy condition of this elevator. The LACMTA never seems to fix or clean anything.
The Los Angeles Toonerville Trolley experience♪
«On ne se fait pas toujours une langue propre à son coeur.»
Denis Diderot (1713-10-05~1734-07-31)
[One does not always make a language proper to one's heart.]
Merci beaucoup àhttp:evene.lefigaro.fr/ pour la citation et à google.fr pour le matériel biographique.
Ars longa vita breva
Charles de La Fosse (1636-06-15~1716-12-13)
Voici son Young woman kneeling and reaching-forward at the
Some further examples of his work (Expect Nudity) can be seen here.
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Some further examples of his work (Expect Nudity) can be seen here.
¿Musica?
Eécoutons Daniel Auber (1782-01-29~1871-0512) Le Chevel de Bronze Thank your for the upload, Bartje Bartmans!
Eécoutons Daniel Auber (1782-01-29~1871-0512) Le Chevel de Bronze Thank your for the upload, Bartje Bartmans!
Merci beacoup à www.google.fr pour le matériel biographique.
Merci Bien à youtube.com.
Cesar Cui ( 1835-01-18~1918-03-13) Here is his Kaleidoscope for violin and piano, Op. 50 Op. 50
Thank you! to Frank Votja for the upload!
Thank you youtube.com for allowing us to hear these beautiful performances.
And thanks too, to google.ru, for the bibliographic material!
Thank you youtube.com for allowing us to hear these beautiful performances.
And thanks too, to google.ru, for the bibliographic material!
Here is something from a musical genre which I hope you'll like.
Serenata de Trios - KXLU . Musique en Eapañol Sunday evenings Pacific Time
(Monday 02:00 UTC).
One can also listen on kxlu.com Then select the Broadcast quality which you desire [Under Quality] at Pacific Time or at the UTC day/time noted above, Record the broadcast if you can. Su topo uses VLC) to Record Internet broadcasts for a more convenient listening time. Here is is an example of the musical genre heard on Seranata de Trios. Aqui es Los Panchos con Sin un amour.
¡Muchas Gracias a Raul Azuara! for the upload, and thank you to youtube.com for allowing us to present this music!
¡Muchas Gracias a Raul Azuara! for the upload, and thank you to youtube.com for allowing us to present this music!
Serenata de Trios on KXLU, (88.9 FM Los Angeles) features authentic acoustic musica, which your Mole really likes! :-)
Again, Thank you youtube.com for allowing us to listen to all this beautiful music!
Again, Thank you youtube.com for allowing us to listen to all this beautiful music!
Metro Area – Lower your expectations!♪
Inured? You'd better be inured if your only transportation is Metro! Look at the rear of this bus and see that the prescient graffiti artists have warned you about the future of Los Angeles transportation.♪
The Mole rides again so that you don't have to thread your way past people who jam themselves into the narrow corridor at the front of the bus . Or, thoughtlessly block the rear aisles with their "luggage".
This USOPS delivery van blocks a bus stop♪
2019-02-05: As la Taupe waits for a bus he knows that it won't be able to stop at the designated point, viz., the flag. In spite of the fact that a Los Angeles Sheriff's Office, which could easily keep the stop clear, is only a short distance away.
Waiting Passenger 1♪
2019-01-27: The first of the two passengers who rode with me. This one had the most luggage.
Waiting Passenger 2♪
2019-01-27: The second of the two passengers who rode with me.
The first passenger boards the 704 bus and asks for a courtesy ride. The driver refuses the man won't leave and finally., the driver gives up and allows him and his none-too-sanitary "bales".
The second passengers boards and probably piggy-backs on Baleman's free ride.
The LACMTA loses money and we passengers lose time.
2019-02-09: The driver on this Line 4 bus has his personal personal radio turned on, it is not that loud; but I am concerned that it shiftshis focus off driving because it it talk-radio.
He likes to stretch his legs!♪
2019-02-18:
Here is a photo (above)that shows another "fun" thing you can experience when riding in a LACMTA bus. Passengers with definite territorial designs on the aisle.
2019-02-23 Aboard as 212 Bus: A few stops after your Mole boards, a heavy set woman, close to 300 pounds, boards and stations herself just behind the yellow line and blocks 97% of the aisle at the front of the bus; she begins an interminable conversation with the driver; then she begins to demand that people who board say "excuse me" to her because they must force them selves past her to board. What nerve!
This is the kind of atmosphere that the Hallowed "Olympic Visitors" will experience, made even more difficult exacerbated by the lack of anything even resembling security!
2019-02-22: I ride a 710 Line bus from Wilshire BL and Crenshaw to
Crenshaw and Century BL (the map is shown below).
This was a long ride! It was made even longer by the ongoing construction and the very heavy traffic. There are few reasons why a tourist would even want to travel through the area and some good reasons for them not too.
On my bus a young man was asked several times by the driver, not to seat himself on the right front, wheel enclosure; seating was available and riding in this position the possibility that one would be treated to an airborne ride to and even though the windscreen. The man completely ignored the driver's requests. This is the type of fellow passenger which one encounters along the line.
The light rail line, when finished, will be at grade and NOT RAPID TRANSIT,
A ride along the under construction "Crenshaw Rail Route.♪
Thank you Google Maps for allowing this small section!
Here is a partial satellite view of the trip:
Chenshaw Line Satellite view.♪
This south-bound ride through the construction area was boring and will not be much different on the completed Creshaw (rail) line.
It may be more exciting for tourists though. As it was for some Rose Bowl visitors in January, La Taupe watched as an aggressive young man wedged himself into a seat and shared it with a man and his wife; then and tried to engage them in conversation, sell them likely (ersatz) marijuana, without success,
Thank you Google Maps for allowing this small Satellite section!
If they don't block the front, they block the Aisles!♪
2019-02-27 On Board a 4 Line bus. The thoughtlessness of passengers knows no bounds! Although this bag could easily be stowed under the sear; it was left to block the aisle. Making an already unpleasant trip even more so.
Bus Shelter by Frank Gehry?♪
Perhaps, It's ugly, expensive and lacks functionality!
2019-02-28 As la Taupe waits in the rain for a bus, He is not afforded much shelter by this structure. On a sunny day no shade provided by the unseen clear glass "roof". There are no sides providing shelter from neither wind nor rain! Click to enlarge the photo and you will see that the seating area is wet.
Another, More Complete View of a Like Structure.♪
Although this Photo was made at another location on a rainy day, it give one a better understanding that function (protection from the elements) did not drive the form. It also depicts the fact that litter is pervasive!
If one clicks twice on the above photo and obtains maximum enlargement, you will see a bridge in the background, which is the support for the tracks of the under-construction Crenshaw Line. It is headed (sort of) to the LAX Airport.
My ride noted above
But, it Still Retains the poor Sheltering Function!
The seat is unprotected, therefore, still wet.
In truth, Frank is not guilty in this case. It is just another "As seen by the LACMTA"! Here we have a bus shelter as seen by the LACMTA.
No FARE = NO RIDE
This is how the Las Vegas RTC (Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada) handles "Free Riders) as opposed to the LACMTA's giving away the store policy!
Bus Flags without Stop Number♪
This is just another example of quite a number of bus flags which don't have stop numbers indicated. The intention was to be able to text the Next Bus, oops, I mean the Next Trip system. This Mole will never understand the reason was it was renamed from the original developers and owners designation, Next Bus, to Next Trip.
Stop Number as a Texting Artifact!♪
These signs are rarely seen these days. But they can be found by the careful observer.
Stop Number as a Texting Artifact!♪
Texting for the bus arrival times has been a highly hyped feature and now stop numbers seem to be disappearing from the flags?
Is this yet another case of the LACMTA becoming enamoured with something that is too costly, or requires too much maintenance to continue? Think TransiTV!
Your mole has theories: Either (1) they put signs up in the wrong order; (2) the texting load was to great for the LACMTA's IT infrastructure; (3) they found a way to charge for the service using an "app";
Your mole has theories: Either (1) they put signs up in the wrong order; (2) the texting load was to great for the LACMTA's IT infrastructure; (3) they found a way to charge for the service using an "app";
These signs keep reappearing, as if by magic?♪
Crenshaw Line - Rapid Transit♪
This portion of the Crenshaw Line is rapid transit, i.e., grade separated (Manchester at La Brea).
Crenshaw Line - Mess Transit (In Process)♪
This portion of the Crenshaw Line is at grade (Arbor Vitae north of
Aviation) and therefore mass transit. It is a streetcar that will bring traffic on this busy street to a halt and possibly halt itself and definitely proceed at a reduced sped, after the barriers are lowered and then creep across the street.
At one time the LACMTA knew how to build rapid transit, example: the Green Line. They stopped building rapid transit when they felt that saving money was more important. A likely decision when you consider that LACMTA management almost never ride their system. It management rode the lines, all stations and bus centers would have restrooms!
At one time the LACMTA knew how to build rapid transit, example: the Green Line. They stopped building rapid transit when they felt that saving money was more important. A likely decision when you consider that LACMTA management almost never ride their system. It management rode the lines, all stations and bus centers would have restrooms!
The LACMTA Toonerville Trollies
Crenshaw Line, Expo Line (and other lines) as Mess Transit!
Combine rapid and mass Transit in one line and you have created Mess Transit.
Bringing better service to others, by bypassing you♪
So, equal taxation but unequal provision of service that is the LACMTA way. But it is time to bring an end to that approach. This Mole has commented on the Rapid service in the past. Pointing out that Rapid lines don't always stop when the cross other LACMTA lines, nor do they stop at county facilities, e.g., the excellent Los Angeles County Libraries. Why not? Well one could ask the Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Association.
So what if the line took six minutes longer but, some students could get to a library sooner. And while they're at it, stops should be added for Los Angeles City Libraries too!
This Is Not Rapid Transit♪
The photo above concretises the idea that the EXPO line will not deliver deterministic travel because, look at the signals and the traffic folks, it isn’t RAPID TRANSIT.
At one time the LACMTA knew how to build RAPID Mass Transit, viz. the Green Line. Take the Green Line ratio of aerial portions of the line to total length of the line, let's call this the Mole's Index of Rapidity [MIR in acronimic form].
For the Green Line the ratio is 100/100! Not so with other recently built lines; the Expo and Crenshaw Lines which both have lower indices of Rapidity. Any value less than 1 shows that determinate travel times are impossible. The overall MIR for the LACMTA's built portion in miles is 20/105 which is equal to 0.1904 ... much less than 1! The result is a fifth class transportation system; one befitting a third-world country.
Your Mole feels that by showing you month-by-month examples of the LACMTA's failures, you will come to see that throwing more money at this dysfunctional organisation is not the path to solution. It is a direct path to more money wasting by the LACMTA.
he LACMTA seems exceedingly proud of their accomplishments: no doubt it is due to the fact that the never leave their Taj Mahal offices, visit their facilities and see their handiwork as we passengers do! Shown below are three scenes, all photographed during a 10~15 minute period from a Toonerville Trolley
platform.
he LACMTA seems exceedingly proud of their accomplishments: no doubt it is due to the fact that the never leave their Taj Mahal offices, visit their facilities and see their handiwork as we passengers do! Shown below are three scenes, all photographed during a 10~15 minute period from a Toonerville Trolley
platform.
View from the bus stop♪
There are two reasons why bus stops in Los Angeles are so filthy; 1. most passengers cannot extend their arms more than 10 Cm to reach a rubbish bin if their lives depended upon it; and 2. the LACMTA is incapable of supervising those who are paid to clean the bus stops and, as a result, do a fifth-rate job of it.
Incidentally, the man who is partially seen on the right of the photo above, spent the time we waited for a bus placing each shoe in turn, on the the bus bench seat while he polished his shoes.
Second opinion: Many passengers lack a sense of obligation to their fellow riders. this fellow didn't care if granny soiled her dress because of his thoughtlessness!
Views from the platform♪
Here is litter which passengers freely toss into the rail bed.♪
The same rail bed, different rubbish.♪
You can speculate as to, exactly, what this bit might be?♪
Expo Line Bus Stop with NO Rubbish Bin.♪
One needn't wonder why rubbish is ankle deep everywhere.
The push is on to complete projects before the Olympics come to Los Angeles, so that the traveling public an be amazed and delighted by Los Angeles fifth-rate transportation.
The LACMTA would much rather patch it up than build it correctly in the first place.
As an example. in the case of the Orange Line (It's a bus folks!) The plan to begin a seven year program to place crossing-gates at thirty-five intersections where streets cross the bus route.
Presently, the main safety feature is the bus driver. The effect will be to add additional an additional measure of safety while slowing the line.
What they should have done in the first place is build the route as aerial (elevated) rapid transit in the first place.
But these technical matters are decided by the politicians who make up the LACMTA board; they would rather make every possible mistake and then patch it up. This process inevitably yields a fifth-rate "system".
Eye (and Ear) to the Rail
As I listened to a radio broadcast (KNX1070NewsRadio, A Metro PR flack boasted about what a wonderful organization the LACMTA was. She should try being a passenger, I thought. Included in her pitch was "We do everything for you!" or "Everything we do is for you!", or words to that effect. It should have been "We do everything to you!".
That would make sense as, one of the things they have done for us is eliminate the sale of day passes. Which passes allowed a pass, which could be purchased on any bus for $7 to be used from the time of purchase until 03:00 the following morning. Now working passengers must scramble to find a bus pass vending location which will never be as convenient as the first bus which you board! Your contribution? Making a difficult day intolerable!
Providing bus drivers that cannot place their bus parallel to the curb and an easy step away. Your contribution? Placing seniors in danger with a long step down and a hard jolt at the end.
Then there is the LACMTA's assertion that We are making transfers smoother. If you don't count that an out-of-service fare box will prevent you from adding funds to your TAP Card; should you hav funds on your Tap Card, an out-of-service fare box will prevent you from making the transfer and the Muni (Not LACMTA) bus to which you transfer will take their full fare from you card; they will do this silently. If you don't have an amount that will cover their full fare, I'm quite sure that they will invite you to try the pavement.
They offer you neither a Tap Card statement nor an audit report. Monetary losses? Too bad.
This system has all the indications of being designed and programmed by very junior staff, without sufficient experience to cover system failures!
Before broadcasting the hype the PR department should consider the reality of the LACMTA'S ridership. The LACMTA the intellectual capacity to proper analyze transportation and formulate a proper response. The proper response is not the we ar great and we operate the best transportation in the galaxy. This is their version of the "Big Lie" propaganda technique!
This Mole has lived and worked in NYC, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Canada, Chicago etc., etc. He has seen lots of best of transportation alternatives but never in Los Angeles. The transportation in Los Angeles is made by politicians and others who wouldn't recognise a transportation professional if one deliver a judo throw to them. Worse than that they run a organization who feels it an honor to be called a cheap #$%^& *( @#))&! Whilst they run an understaffed intellectually deficient organisation focused on maximising bonuses.
As I listened to a radio broadcast (KNX1070NewsRadio, A Metro PR flack boasted about what a wonderful organization the LACMTA was. She should try being a passenger, I thought. Included in her pitch was "We do everything for you!" or "Everything we do is for you!", or words to that effect. It should have been "We do everything to you!".
That would make sense as, one of the things they have done for us is eliminate the sale of day passes. Which passes allowed a pass, which could be purchased on any bus for $7 to be used from the time of purchase until 03:00 the following morning. Now working passengers must scramble to find a bus pass vending location which will never be as convenient as the first bus which you board! Your contribution? Making a difficult day intolerable!
Providing bus drivers that cannot place their bus parallel to the curb and an easy step away. Your contribution? Placing seniors in danger with a long step down and a hard jolt at the end.
Then there is the LACMTA's assertion that We are making transfers smoother. If you don't count that an out-of-service fare box will prevent you from adding funds to your TAP Card; should you hav funds on your Tap Card, an out-of-service fare box will prevent you from making the transfer and the Muni (Not LACMTA) bus to which you transfer will take their full fare from you card; they will do this silently. If you don't have an amount that will cover their full fare, I'm quite sure that they will invite you to try the pavement.
They offer you neither a Tap Card statement nor an audit report. Monetary losses? Too bad.
This system has all the indications of being designed and programmed by very junior staff, without sufficient experience to cover system failures!
Before broadcasting the hype the PR department should consider the reality of the LACMTA'S ridership. The LACMTA the intellectual capacity to proper analyze transportation and formulate a proper response. The proper response is not the we ar great and we operate the best transportation in the galaxy. This is their version of the "Big Lie" propaganda technique!
This Mole has lived and worked in NYC, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Canada, Chicago etc., etc. He has seen lots of best of transportation alternatives but never in Los Angeles. The transportation in Los Angeles is made by politicians and others who wouldn't recognise a transportation professional if one deliver a judo throw to them. Worse than that they run a organization who feels it an honor to be called a cheap #$%^& *( @#))&! Whilst they run an understaffed intellectually deficient organisation focused on maximising bonuses.
Transit as unseen and unimagined by the LACMTA
The LACMTA (Subordinate to LAWA)
Presents
Every Which Way But Right!
OR
Four (OR Five) Seats to LAX!
OR
The LACMTA Tries Again; Asymptotically to LAX!
OR
Metro is the worst way from the City Center to the Airport, LAX, that is!
The purpose of this section is to make people aware that the LACMTA is not home to many problem solvers. I hope to accomplish this end by presenting the solutions adopted by other cities, some in foreign countries, in solving the city to airport rapid transportation challenge.
Cautionary Note: Those employed by the LACMTA, LAWA or CHSRA should NOT view the following video(s). The speed of the train(s), the fact that they neither share the right of way nor stop at stop lights, because they are truly rapid transit, will likely make you dizzy, nauseous, confuse and frighten you.
FINAL WARNING: N.B. LACMTA, LAWA OR CHSRA staff and management, avoid cognitive dissonance, DO NOT CLICK on THE LINK BELOW!
While the LACMTA attempts to hype its Toonerville Trolley system and CHSRA ponders the necessity of safety features, forward thinking planners in 2007 have already bullet trains at speeds in excess of those planned for California.
This section has been devoted to pointing that the LACMTA is far behind the rest of the world in rapid transit. La Taupe has pointed out that fact on innumerable occasions. Their approach, rather than providing Los Angeles with a transportation legacy of which to be proud, prides themselves on building cheap, loo-less infrastructure.
CHSRA struggles with its' "Bullet Train" technology of the past, while the rest of the world is building high-speed comfortable Mag-Lev trains or other fast variations.
Cosmology
Gravitational waves will settle cosmic conundrum (Simons) Please read the article HERE
Here is a single page description of the the star to Neutron Star Or Black Hole sequence.
Spotlight
Georges Lemaître (1894-07-17~1866-06-20)
Developer of the Métrique de Lemaître, a metric of General Relativity. He was a contemporary of Hubble. Here is the information about renaming the Hubble Law.
Fare Box OOS and related Lists of Shame
I.D. Numbers of buses with Out of Service Fare Boxes:
Note: No or few entries above do not necessarily mean all fare boxes are in operation.
I.D.Numbers of Distracted Drivers: xxxxx (i);
None included here, but observations of a minor nature may be included in the main posting;
Codes: (i) Extended conversation(s) with passenger(s) or (ii) cell phone call(s). Frequently, details can be found in the text above, (ii*) cell phone call(s) which are aggravated by some other action, (iii) Self-distracted. Codes (ii*) and (iii) will ALWAYS be explained in the posting.
I.D. Numbers of Buses Defaced by WhoIs stickers: xxxx;
~UR or +UR = (+URsticker and the ugly residue left after passengers partly remove the sticker. (~UR) = Only the ugly residue left after passengers almost completely remove the sticker. +L = an old (legacy) sticker black letters on a plain white background –these are the original form of the defacement.
* Another reason for displaying the operator's ID on the internal display and the headsign.
ID numbers of Buses whose Head and Tailsigns disagree: Not noted xxxx/xxxx;
Format is Bus number followed by Headsign number/Tailsign number.
ID numbers of Buses without Braille signs: xxxx;
METRO drivers Lack of Basic Technical Skills
The format is Driver number F[{Y/-n/+n}] C[{Y/N+/-}]. Meaning of F if Y the driver stopped with the Bus stop “flag pole” somewhere between the bus front door frames. A negative number, e.g., -3 is the approximate distance in metres (think yards dear readers) between the nearest bus door vertical frame member and the flag pole signifying that the bus stopped short of the flag. A positive number, e.g., +3 (metres) is the approximate distance between the nearest bus door vertical frame member and the flag pole signifying that the bus stopped past the flag. The value for C[{Y/N}], “Y” tells us that the driver stopped within an easy step from the curb to the bus, “N” means it was NOT an easy step from the curb to the bus. It is this Mole's belief that an average experienced good driver should be able to control his bus so as to position in near the curb and with the flag pole slightly to the front of the bus.
I.D. numbers of drivers who are unable or unwilling to position their buses parallel to the curb, a short step from the curb and/or equidistant from the vehicles exits. At the present time (2016-05-31) there are too many drivers to name, whose skill at parallel parking is deficient .
XXXXX F[+0] C[Y]; F[+7], C[Y]; xxxxx F[Y], C[Y]; xxxxxF[Y], C[Y]; N.B. distances are in metres, think yards.
13 metres is this is MORE than a 40 foot bus length. nnnnn* = Contract Driver
I.D. numbers of drivers who are almost guaranteed to give you a Rough and Jerky (R& J) ride: xxxxx;
I.D. numbers of drivers who will give you a potentially life-threatening ride:
LINE/OP ID XXXXX(L/T) date; XXXX-XX-XX(code);
LINE/OP ID XXXXX(L/T) date; XXXX-XX-XX(code);
Codes: S = not wearing seat belts; J = bad judgment (unsafe driving practices).
111/84559(L/T) 2017-09-08(J)
La Taupe's Abréviations
ADADO = Automatic Destination Announcement (on) Door Opening. This feature is installed on many buses and operates on extremely few. Another “money down the toilet” LACMTA investment. La Taupe that this is intended for the visually impaired because people who can see can read the “head signs”.
ASAS = Automatic Stop Announcement System the GPS (Global Positioning System) driven mechanism for generating audio for the upcoming stops. N.B. Because of the low power (read weak) processors used in the on-board stops may be too close to identify stops separately. This is known as a granularity problem. Then too, if the driver operates the bus at speed above the speed limit you will find the system “back announcing” stops which you have already passed. I find that this will NOT keep some drivers from complaining “that you didn’t signal (ring) in time”. They don’t understand their relationship to the system and how, by driving faster than the GPS computer, they can bias it.
BART = Bay Area Rapid Transit – Please note the use of the word “Rapid” because it is a word we almost never hear in Los Angeles.
BBB = Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus
CHSRA = California High-Speed Rail Authority, which is the equivalent, in more
ways than one, of the LACMTA.
CC or CCMBL = Culver City (Municipal) Bus (Lines)
CCTC = Culver City Transportation Center this is the place formerly known as FHMTC = the Fox Hills Mall Transportation Center (Sepulveda& Slauson)
DTLA = DownTown Los Angeles
DTLA = DownTown Los Angeles
FFE = Full Fare Equivalent (presently $1.75)
GTrans (Gardena transit?) formerly GMBL = Gardena Municipal Bus lines
ITC = Inglewood Transit Center
LAWA = Los Angeles World Airports.
LAXCBC = the LAX City Bus Center.
LDOT = Los Angeles Department of Transportation
LDOT = Los Angeles Department of Transportation
OCTA = Orange County Transportation Authority.
OOS = Out Of Service.
Rapid Transit = does not compete for right of way, that is, it will not run at grade unless it has EXCLUSIVE DEDICATED USE of the right of way).
R&J = Rough and Jerky [ride].
TT= Torrance Transit.
T1= the normal type of driver/staff.
T2= is the non-stop talker type of driver/staff, on the phone or to passengers,
T3= the uncommunicative type of driver/staff, sometimes surly.
WLATC = the West Los Angeles Transportation Center (Fairfax & Apple)
Su Topo’s Disclaimer and apologia
Your Mole always attempts to write an easy-on-the-eyes page using text input. Blogger.com however, has other ideas and will often not stay with a single font type or point size, produces extraneous spacing and etc. I wish I had time to debug the HTML which they produce, it is NOT the straight text which I pasted into the form, but I don’t. Therefore, I apologize on behalf of Blogger.com for the changes which they make, of which I do not approve. Sometimes, what I see, thankfully you don’t, is 24 point type –it is giant and other times they swallow my text, although it still seems to be there. In fairness to them, things seem better, although this is partly because I do understand which of their “features” do the most damage to me and consequently do not use them. Communicating these problems to them, for me, is something like having teeth extracted without the benefit of anesthetic, actually it is less fun than that. By their design, there is no simple e-mailing them with "Please look at my say, posting of 2009-06-28, it is weird!” I have been submitting feedback and experiences slow but positive progress. Until all issues are resolved, lo siento. [Addenda 2014-07-31]: Things have been much better lately. There is a more responsive feedback system now. [Addenda 2015-08-22]: Recently, even the "Feedback" mechanism has failed to submit problems. [2015-12-31] The feedback section disallows screen shots which show problems with the "final posting", such as, orange sections which cover blocks of text and change the font size. All it would take is allowing and attachment. But, ... [Addenda 2016-03-31] Since Blogger.com forced me to learn HTML 5, I can fix "many" of the problems which apparently were caused by using Word notation in "imported" files. The mystery failure to save problem still occurs but have diminished. [insert crossed fingers icon here :-) ].
I like blogger.com very much, and IF things ever normalise, I will consider deleting this "Disclaimer and apologia" section.
Your Mole’s Copyright Statement
All original photographs and original written materials are copyrighted © 2007~2016 by LAmetroMole. As of 2016-06-01 copyrighted photographs will include copyright text. ♪Clicking a photo will often* present you with an enlargement (sometimes successive clicks will further enlarge the photo). *This feature is dependent upon the Internet browser which you use and possibly other factors. Single use publication rights are granted provided the following statement is prominently displayed below the photograph: "copyrighted © 2007~2016 by LAmetroMole (http://lametromole.blogspot.com)"
FAIR USE NOTICE
This site contains or provides links to copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, sustainable development, environmental, community and worker health, public disclosure, corporate accountability, and etc. We have often included relatively brief quotes from articles and etc., sometimes in addition to a simple link, because we have found that links frequently go "bad" or change over time. We believe this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without fee or payment of any kind to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes and to those who access the site via any and all other channels. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Music or other recorded material on this site, or referred to by this site are copyrighted by their respective artists and are made available here for evaluation purposes only. Please support the artists you like by buying their commercial CDs, MP3s and downloads.
Your Mole’s Conflict of Interest Statement
This is to certify that I, the blogger who is known as the LAmetroMole, with respect to this blog, except as described below, am not now nor at any time during the past year have been, nor is it my current intention to ever be:
1) A participant, directly or indirectly, in any arrangement, agreement, investment, or other activity with any vendor, supplier, or other party doing business with any of the entities about which I have written, which has resulted or could result in personal benefit to me.
2) A recipient, directly or indirectly, of any salary payments or loans or gifts of any kind or any free service or discounts or other fees from or on behalf of any person or organisation engaged in any transaction with any of the entities about which I have written.
Any exceptions to 1 or 2 above are stated below with a full description of the transactions and of the interest, whether direct or indirect, which I have (or have had during the past year) in the persons or organisations having transactions with any of the entities about which I have written.
There are no exceptions.
Date: 2009-06-24 s/LametroMole
Works Cited
Please use the links found in “Works Cited” and read all the cited articles.
Brown, Nicole.
“Thermos may have caused deadly 2017 Flushing bus crash, investigators
say”. Amny.com. Feb 22, 2919. Web.
https://www.amny.com/transit/queens-bus-crash-1.27623937
Scauzillo, Steve. “From Disneyland to China, the monorail is riding a new high. But would it work in LA?“.San Gabriel Valley Tribune,
Feb. 18, 2019.
Web.
https://www.dailynews.com/2019/02/18/from-disneyland-to-china-the-monorail-is-riding-a-new-high-but-would-it-work-in-la/
Simons Foundation. "Gravitational waves will settle cosmic conundrum." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 14 February 2019. Web. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190214115549.htm
An artifact of the streets of Los Angeles, created by a brother Mole!
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The above is ### 30 ### in Braille
Footnotes
Furtum a taxpayers, puniendo viatorum.
A personal nte to men who shave with a blade razor: I have been a long-time Gillette six blade razor user; it was satisfactory. Recently I tried the 7 blade Barbasol offering in a three pack of these disposable razors.
I have found that each Disposable razor lasts as long as a single Gillette cartridge and costs less!
I have found that each Disposable razor lasts as long as a single Gillette cartridge and costs less!
I believe it gives a superior shave! It may not be available in your area and you may have something better :-)
This Mole does not receive Money, razor, blades, gifts etc,. no does he want any of those things. You an read his disclaimer (vide supra) "Your Mole’s Conflict of Interest Statement"
