Dana Gabbard
Recent Posts
Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes Move the Environmental Review Stage
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It won’t be separated as this BRT in the PRC, but it will be nice. Photo:我爱铰接巴士/Flickr Sometimes I enjoy having dinner at the Wilshire/Western Denny’s for the opportunity it affords to watch the amazing dynamic transit action occurring at that intersection. This includes frequent and very busy bus lines (local and Rapid) along both streets plus hoards of […]
More Service Cuts Coming Before the End of the Year
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If I lived on Beverly, cancelling the 714 would make me bitter. Photo: biofriendly/flickr Amidst the discussion of Metro’s impending fare increase previous Streetsblog posting have noted even with additional funds from the state along with the addition fare revenues Metro still has a deficit and plans to close it (in part) with service reductions. […]
Measure R Independent Taxpayers Oversight Committee of Metro Meets Thursday
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Image: Metro.net You’ll remember in April, while discussing the obscure Independent Citizens’ Advisory and Oversight Committee (ICAOC), I mentioned the start-up of the Measure R Independent Taxpayers Oversight Committee was impending. The hold up was the appointment of the three Committee members. Measure R dictates the panel shall be made up of retired judges, with […]
Musing on Trends and Challenges of Increased Transit Use
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Metro Rapid map. Photo: RJM Connel/Flickr David Lazarus, in one of his recent L.A. Times columns on public transit, off-handly laments neglect of the "long-term promotion of public transportation as a practical alternative to traveling by car". Is that what transit in Southern California in the modern age has had as its goal? My long held suspicion is that […]
SANBAG Presents the Big Picture
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Slide 10 At its May 12, 210 meeting the Board of the San Bernardino Associated Governments (a Council of Gvernments/planning entity) viewed a remarkable power point presentation its staff had prepared. In just 34 pages it gives policymakers a peek at the yawning challenges facing our region. It doesn’t offer any solutions but at least gives […]
Welcome to the Blogroll: More Than Red Cars
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The new year heralded a new blog devoted to "The Obscure, Offbeat and Half-Forgotten Transportation History of Southern California", Charles Hobbs’s More Than Red Cars. I’ve known Hobbs since 1994, when I first became involved with Southern California Transit Advocates. At the time he was Vice President and also editor of the monthly newsletter The […]
Omnitrans Sets Up Fund for Family of Slain Bus Driver
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Lawrence Kester Photo: Omnitrans About 15 years ago I remember the Riverside Press-Enterprise ran an article on how being a bus driver is one of the most hazardous occupations in Los Angeles. This came to mind when I heard that Omnitrans Coach Operator Lawrence Kester had died from stab wounds sustained while on duty on […]
Saturday Is a Two for One Day for Transit Advocates
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This Saturday, May 15th, the Bus Riders Union will hold its monthly meeting at Immanuel Presbyterian Church (3300 Wilshire Blvd. #1200 — two blocks west of Vermont) starting at 10 A.M. While the BRU has their meeting on the 3rd Saturday of the month, Southern California Transit Advocates normally holds its meeting on the 2nd […]
Union Station a Hub of Activity Tomorrow…
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Saturday May 8th Union Station and environs will be a whirl of transportation activism and fun activities. At 10 a.m. the Metro Special Board meeting in the Metro Board Room on the upcoming fare change will be held. It should be an interesting spectacle if nothing else as I noted in my previous commentary. Then […]
The History Thats Led Us to This Weekend’s Special Metro Board Meeting
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Photo: biofriendly/Flickr (Everyone knows that Dana is one of the Board members for the Southern California Transit Advocates, right? Good. – DN) May 24, 2007 the Metro Board held a public hearing to consider what the agency termed euphemistically "fare restructuring". Tumultuous is word that best captures what the six hours of public hearing held in the Metro […]
High Speed Rail Project Has Mojo, But Expect a Bumpy Trip
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Image: Metro.net In perhaps the strongest sign yet of just how politically potent the statewide high speed rail project has become, a bid by a Republican Assemblywoman to squelch the project has fallen flat (Assembly Bill 2121) and as a face-saving move the bill has been amended to merely mandate the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) submit funding […]
Tomorrow’s SO.CA.TA. Meeting: Ask Denny Zane Your 30 in 10 Questions
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Zane at the Time to Move L.A. Conference in January 2008 There seems real buzz for the 30 in 10 concept, even in policy circles back in D.C. Saturday the architect of Measure R and the mind behind "30 in 10", Move LA Executive Director Denny Zane, will be the featured speaker at the monthly meeting of Southern California Transit […]