The fare changes that I reported on in this post have been approved by the Metrolink Board. Specifically, the 10-Tripper and Friends and Family 4 Pack have been eliminated. In their place, a 7-Day pass and a $10 Weekend pass have been instituted. Also, college students will now receive discounts on one-way and round-trip tickets, as well as on monthly passes and the new 7-Day pass.
Take photos of the Metrolink validator machines- they're on track to disappear.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Riverside: One of the Worst Cities for Transit?
As reported in Time, Riverside has been named by the Brookings Institution as one of America's top-ten worst cities for public transit to work. On the face of it, you might think this is an intuitive outcome. After all, I'm here on the blog complaining about transit out here a few times a week. However, there's some digging to be done into the methodology behind this report. Of course, top ten lists are always flawed (as noted recently by Human Transit), but this particular report has a particular bias against us here in the IE which I'd like to note.
The report does two things that are methodologically questionable. First, in a laudable attempt to be objective, they rank each city in accordance with three metrics: coverage, measured by the percent of working-age population near a transit stop; median rush-hour frequency; and the percent of jobs reachable in 90 minutes on transit. A quick glance shows that Riverside does poorly on only one of these metrics- the percent of jobs reachable in 90 minutes on transit. I'm assuming this is because the report looks at the jobs that people residing in the area currently hold, and we do have our fair share of truly epic commuters out here. This disadvantages Riverside, however, because it essentially measures the rate of out-of-area commuting. You'll note that the inhabitants of the top 10 positions on this list are all relatively small self-contained centres rather than suburbs. Further, the results are extremely sensitive to this measurement flaw: if we disregard the jobs measure, Riverside compares favourably to Provo-Orem, UT, number 9 on the top 10.
Second, the report measures not cities but "Metropolitan Statistical Areas." The Census bureau divvies up the counties of the U.S. into MSAs, and this works pretty well for most places. Counties in most areas are relatively small, cohesive economic units. The Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA, however, encompasses the entirety of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. That means that everything from Montclair to Needles, from Corona to Blythe is included in the MSA, and therefore the Brookings report.
To put this in perspective, San Bernardino County is 51,934 km², making it the largest county in the lower 48 (exceeded in area only by several Alaskan Boroughs.) It is larger than 9 states, and larger than the smallest 4 states combined. Riverside County is no slouch either, clocking in at 18,667 km² (still larger than RI, DE, and CT). The Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA, then, is 70,601 km², larger than West Virginia. The portion of this region that might count as a "city," however, is at best limited to parts of the RTA, Omnitrans, Sun Transit and VVTA service areas.
While there are other reasons to think that this report isn't capturing what we mean when we think about "good public transit"-- for example, both Merced and Fresno rank higher than New York City or San Francisco-- the ways in which it particularly slights the Inland Empire are worth pointing out.
UPDATE: The inestimable Human Transit has covered the more general weirdness of the Brookings measures.
The report does two things that are methodologically questionable. First, in a laudable attempt to be objective, they rank each city in accordance with three metrics: coverage, measured by the percent of working-age population near a transit stop; median rush-hour frequency; and the percent of jobs reachable in 90 minutes on transit. A quick glance shows that Riverside does poorly on only one of these metrics- the percent of jobs reachable in 90 minutes on transit. I'm assuming this is because the report looks at the jobs that people residing in the area currently hold, and we do have our fair share of truly epic commuters out here. This disadvantages Riverside, however, because it essentially measures the rate of out-of-area commuting. You'll note that the inhabitants of the top 10 positions on this list are all relatively small self-contained centres rather than suburbs. Further, the results are extremely sensitive to this measurement flaw: if we disregard the jobs measure, Riverside compares favourably to Provo-Orem, UT, number 9 on the top 10.
Second, the report measures not cities but "Metropolitan Statistical Areas." The Census bureau divvies up the counties of the U.S. into MSAs, and this works pretty well for most places. Counties in most areas are relatively small, cohesive economic units. The Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA, however, encompasses the entirety of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. That means that everything from Montclair to Needles, from Corona to Blythe is included in the MSA, and therefore the Brookings report.
To put this in perspective, San Bernardino County is 51,934 km², making it the largest county in the lower 48 (exceeded in area only by several Alaskan Boroughs.) It is larger than 9 states, and larger than the smallest 4 states combined. Riverside County is no slouch either, clocking in at 18,667 km² (still larger than RI, DE, and CT). The Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA, then, is 70,601 km², larger than West Virginia. The portion of this region that might count as a "city," however, is at best limited to parts of the RTA, Omnitrans, Sun Transit and VVTA service areas.
While there are other reasons to think that this report isn't capturing what we mean when we think about "good public transit"-- for example, both Merced and Fresno rank higher than New York City or San Francisco-- the ways in which it particularly slights the Inland Empire are worth pointing out.
UPDATE: The inestimable Human Transit has covered the more general weirdness of the Brookings measures.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Another reason not to drive
A woman crashed her car into a utility pole about a block from my apartment. A colleague saw the fire last night. Just another example of the carnage that we accept on a daily basis from our transportation system.
Transit buses are over 170 times safer than cars, with rail over 400 times safer. Cycling is roughly 50% safer than driving on a per-hour basis, and cyclists generally spend fewer hours on their bikes than drivers in their cars.
Transit buses are over 170 times safer than cars, with rail over 400 times safer. Cycling is roughly 50% safer than driving on a per-hour basis, and cyclists generally spend fewer hours on their bikes than drivers in their cars.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Service Changes
Sunday, May 8, 2011
This Week in Transit
Happy Mother's Day! Don't forget to do something sweet and embarrassing to show your mom you care.
Local events in red, HSRA events in orange.
If you find this feature useful, please don't hesitate to subscribe to either of these calendars.
Local events in red, HSRA events in orange.
If you find this feature useful, please don't hesitate to subscribe to either of these calendars.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
California High-Speed Rail Outreach
The California High-Speed Rail Authority is holding outreach meetings out in our neck of the woods in two weeks' time. They'll be touring around eastern LA County and the IE in order to solicit feedback on the Los Angeles-San Diego section of the Cal HSR system. I encourage all train- and transit-loving citizens to come out and make your opinions heard, because I guarantee the other side will be there. You do NOT want only their voices to be heard in this debate.
The meetings will be held at the following dates, times and locations:
Murrieta Public Library, Monday, 16 May
4:00p to 7:00p in the Community Room
8 Town Square, Murrieta, CA
RTA #23
Montclair Senior Centre, Tuesday, 17 May
4:00p to 7:00p
5111 Benito St., Montclair, CA
Omnitrans #65 (Walk W. on Benito from Central/Benito)
Ganesha Park, Pomona, Wednesday, 18 May
4:00p to 7:00p
1575 N. White Ave., Pomona, CA
Foothill #197
Orange Terrace Community Centre, Riverside, Thursday, 19 May
4:00p to 7:00p
20010 Orange Terrace Pkwy., Riverside, CA
RTA #27, walk from #22 (0.7mi E. on Orange Terrace Pkwy. from Orange Terrace/Trautwein)
(I'll be attending this one.)
Ontario Airport, Monday, 23 May
4:00p to 7:00p in the Administration Conference Room
1923 E. Avion Dr., Ontario, CA
Walk from Omni #82 (N. on Vineyard, then E. on Avion from Haven/Vineyard) or bike from East Ontario Metrolink (W. on Mission, N. on Vineyard then E. on Avion).
Norman Feidheym Library, San Bernardino,, Tuesday, 24 May
4:00p to 7:00p in the Kellogg Room
555 W. 6th St., San Bernardino, CA
Omni #2, #3, #10, #11, walk from SB Transit Mall, MARTA OTM, Greyhound
(From Transit Mall, walk 4th to E St., then N. on E to 6th.)
Bike from San Bernardino Metrolink
Corona City Hall, Tuesday, 21 June
4:00p to 7:00p in the Multipurpose Room
400 S. Vicentia Ave., Corona, CA
RTA #1, Corona Cruiser Red, Blue
Bike from North Main-Corona Metrolink
Josephine Knopf Senior Centre, Fontana, Wednesday, 22 June
4:00p to 7:00p
8384 Cypress Ave., Fontana, CA
Walk from Omni #10 (N. on Cypress from Arrow/Cypress), Walk from Omni #66 (E. on Arrow to Cypress, then N. on Cypress from Arrow/Juniper)
Meetings are also on the LA-IE-SD calendar from the CHSRA, which is the orange bit in the regular "This Week in Transit" posts.
The meetings will be held at the following dates, times and locations:
Murrieta Public Library, Monday, 16 May
4:00p to 7:00p in the Community Room
8 Town Square, Murrieta, CA
RTA #23
Montclair Senior Centre, Tuesday, 17 May
4:00p to 7:00p
5111 Benito St., Montclair, CA
Omnitrans #65 (Walk W. on Benito from Central/Benito)
Ganesha Park, Pomona, Wednesday, 18 May
4:00p to 7:00p
1575 N. White Ave., Pomona, CA
Foothill #197
Orange Terrace Community Centre, Riverside, Thursday, 19 May
4:00p to 7:00p
20010 Orange Terrace Pkwy., Riverside, CA
RTA #27, walk from #22 (0.7mi E. on Orange Terrace Pkwy. from Orange Terrace/Trautwein)
(I'll be attending this one.)
Ontario Airport, Monday, 23 May
4:00p to 7:00p in the Administration Conference Room
1923 E. Avion Dr., Ontario, CA
Walk from Omni #82 (N. on Vineyard, then E. on Avion from Haven/Vineyard) or bike from East Ontario Metrolink (W. on Mission, N. on Vineyard then E. on Avion).
Norman Feidheym Library, San Bernardino,, Tuesday, 24 May
4:00p to 7:00p in the Kellogg Room
555 W. 6th St., San Bernardino, CA
Omni #2, #3, #10, #11, walk from SB Transit Mall, MARTA OTM, Greyhound
(From Transit Mall, walk 4th to E St., then N. on E to 6th.)
Bike from San Bernardino Metrolink
Corona City Hall, Tuesday, 21 June
4:00p to 7:00p in the Multipurpose Room
400 S. Vicentia Ave., Corona, CA
RTA #1, Corona Cruiser Red, Blue
Bike from North Main-Corona Metrolink
Josephine Knopf Senior Centre, Fontana, Wednesday, 22 June
4:00p to 7:00p
8384 Cypress Ave., Fontana, CA
Walk from Omni #10 (N. on Cypress from Arrow/Cypress), Walk from Omni #66 (E. on Arrow to Cypress, then N. on Cypress from Arrow/Juniper)
Meetings are also on the LA-IE-SD calendar from the CHSRA, which is the orange bit in the regular "This Week in Transit" posts.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
This Week in Transit
I just realized I haven't posted one of these since February. If anyone knows of a good way to do recurring posts in Blogger, let me know.
As usual, local events in red, HSRA events in orange.
If you find this feature useful, please don't hesitate to subscribe to either of these calendars.
As usual, local events in red, HSRA events in orange.
If you find this feature useful, please don't hesitate to subscribe to either of these calendars.
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