New Metrolink stop in SCV, K Line turns one, and more

The past few years have been rough for passenger rail systems across the country, but in Los Angeles, Metrolink is looking to turn a corner.

On Wednesday, October 4, free rides in conjunction with Earth Day brought Metrolink its highest ridership day since 2020, when the pandemic upended transportation habits. The 545-mile regional rail system saw more than 26,000 riders. That figure may be far cry from the more than 40,000 that rode each day pre-pandemic, but it still represents a 33 percent bump relative to the week prior.

Later this month, Metrolink is also scheduled to open the new Metrolink Vista Canyon Multi-Modal Center - the system's fourth stop in the City of Santa Clarita, which is served by the Antelope Valley Line. That follows on the heels of new funding approved by the Metro Board of Directors which will facilitate hourly service on the Antelope Valley corridor, which stretches between Union Station and Lancaster.

Finally, using grant funding through the Caltrans Low Carbon Transit Operations Program, students will soon be able to ride free on Metrolink - at least for a while. The new Student Adventure Pass, launching on October 9, will let any student with a valid school ID to obtain a free pass.

Across the street from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and LADWP Headquarters, the California Community Foundation has completed work on its new headquarters at 717 West Temple Street.

The project, which renovated an existing four-story, 54,000-square-foot building, includes a new ground floor patio for conference uses, with offices located on the upper floors. The project from SRK Architects also added a new outdoor terrace and a new kitchen to serve staff and the conference center.

Here's what we're reading this week:

Caltrans official says she was demoted for objecting to highway expansion "Ward-Waller said in an interview — her first since her termination — that she had objected to two construction projects on Highway 80 because, she said, Caltrans’ state and federal permits improperly understated their environmental impacts." (Politico)

Vernon’s population could quadruple due to new zoning change "It will take more than a roof-top deck for this section of Vernon to start to feel like LA’s bustling Arts District, but people who work in Vernon, like Manny Liquidano, could benefit from housing nearby." (KCRW)

Los Angeles Is Using AI To Predict Who Might Become Unhoused And Help Before They Do "The program tracks data from seven county agencies, including emergency room visits, crisis care for mental health, substance abuse disorder diagnosis, arrests and sign-ups for public benefits like food aid. Then, using machine learning, it comes up with a list of people considered most at-risk for losing their homes. Vanderford says these people aren't part of any other prevention programs." (LAist)

No Cops with Lassos on Trains. Mayor Nixes LAPD Pilot at Metro Board Meeting. "LAPD got approval from the Police Commission to extend their BolaWrap pilot on Metro in August, but hadn't advised Metro of their plans until after the fact." (Streetsblog LA)

SoCal cities desperately need more shade. Is it time to finally ditch palm trees? "West Palm Beach in south Florida announced it was ditching palms to fight the climate crisis because they don’t provide much shade or sequester carbon well. Last year, Miami Beach adopted a plan to reduce the percentage of palms that make up its urban tree canopy from 60% to 25% over the next 30 years. And the city of Los Angeles specifically indicates it will not plant palms as part of its free tree streets program. Neither will Long Beach." (LA Times)

The K Line’s first birthday is coming up next week: Here’s how we’re celebrating! "The time really flies, doesn’t it? It’s hard to believe that it was almost an entire year ago that the K Line officially opened to the public, restoring rail service to the Crenshaw Corridor after more than 60 years. " (The Source)

‘The tenant from hell’: She refused to pay for her luxury Airbnb for 540 days. She says she has a legal right to stay "Hirschhorn declined to speak directly to The Times to give her side of the story. But her attorney, Colin Walshok, said she was not required to pay rent because the city had never approved the unit for occupancy and that its shower was constructed without a permit." (LA Times)

Council Gives Bike Lanes the Green Light "In a win for cycling enthusiasts and environmentalists, the Beverly Hills City Council approved plans to add bike lanes to a 0.3-mile stretch of Beverly Boulevard, despite some safety concerns....The lanes will be added between Santa Monica Boulevard and Doheny Drive, a roadway traveled by approximately 23,000 vehicles and 58 cyclists a day, according to a city report." (BH Courier)

Follow us on social media: 

Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Threads / Instagram