Well, this comes as little surpise. ABC7 is reporting that since its inception in 1990, the MTA’s Metro Blue Line has had 101 fatalities and 875 collisions–far more than any other line. Not cooincidentally, the Blue Line is largely at street grade–meaning it occupies the same space as traffic, pedestrians, stray animals, trash, or whatever else can find its way onto the tracks.
After four people were injured in a blue line accident in Downtown LA last month, I went on a rant against street-grade light rail, which the city is in the midst of building for its new Expo Line. I argued that street-grade rail made no sense because trains that occupy the same roads as cars lack the same manuverability. They can’t stop on a dime, they can’t swerve out of the way. Yet, they’re still subject to the same traffic lights and jams and bad drivers as the bus system. Underground subways makes sense, and so does elevated light rail, because they’re segregated from traffic. But street-grade is dangerous and rapid bus systems like the Orange Line and like Colombia’s Transmilenio system make far more sense and seem far safer and cheaper.
I actually took a little heat for the post. A commenter named Alan Fishel weighed in on my ideas:
Where is Chuck Morris coming from? Obviously he has no experience using or riding LRT service. A freeway alignment is the absolute worst environment for a transit line. The stations are very noise and unfriendly as well as normally a difficult walk to a area where retail or parking is available. LRT is very flexible and can run in almost any environment from in the streets to above or below ground. The current Expo route is ideal. It is straight and serves many important places along its route. If light rail were to be completely grade separated it would not be light rail but heavy rail or a full Metro. This would cost 3 times or more of what at grade light rail cost to build. Light rail on the surface is far safer than auto travel even when it runs in the street. Should we separate all trucks and busses from cars or pedestrians from cars? Where would all of the 80,000 daily riders of the Metro Blue Line be if there were no Blue Line?
Aside from getting my name wrong–who’s Chuck Morris?–Mr. Fishel suggests that the additional price of grade separating rail lines isn’t worth the cost. Well, there are about 101 people and their families who might disagree with him there. If you’re investing in a long-term infrastructure project like rail, take the time, spend the money, and do it right. It will save time, money and lives over the long term. The Red Line runs underground. When is the last time you heard about a fatality due to an accident along that line? You don’t. Nor do you hear about delays due to trains crashing into cars. Nor do you hear about delays due to traffic.
LA needs a functional transportation system. Not a half-assed, feel-good set of lines for tourists.
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