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Metro Bus Service Changes to be Implemented

Effective Sunday, December 12, Metro is making bus service changes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Metro system through better use of resources. Four local lines are set to be discontinued and five Metro Rapid lines will be canceled with service reallocated to limited and local service operating along those corridors. In addition some Saturday and Sunday service will be canceled with some of the service being augmented by local service on the weekends.

The bus service changes are being made to reduce unproductive service, reduce duplication of service along key travel corridors and to rightsize the Metro Rapid Corridor service. Metro staff looked at several Metro Rapid corridors where the average passengers trip length on the service were not much longer or faster than the local service currently being provided. For these specific corridors, Metro Rapid service (Lines 711, 714, 715, 753 & 920) will be discontinued and replaced with additional trips on the Local/Limited service (Lines 311, 14, 115, 53 & 720) as warranted to meet demand.
Below is a complete list of the Metro Bus service changes to be implemented on Sunday, December 12.

42/42A–LAX City Bus Center to Downtown LA/Union Station via La Tijera Bl, Stocker St, ML King Bl. Operate as a branch of Line 40 (refer to Line 40 timetable). Line 42A via La Cienega Bl operates evenings/nights only.

68/287– Monterey Park via Cesar E Chavez Av/El Monte-Indiana Gold Line Station via Garvey Ave. Discontinue Line 287 service between The Shops at Montebello & Indiana Gold Line Station. Extend selected trips on Line 68 to replace service between Atlantic Bl & The Shops at Montebello.

71–Los Angeles – Cal State LA via Wabash Av & City Terrace Dr. Discontinue portion of route to Outpatient Clinic behind the hospital. Route will serve hospital on Marengo Ave. only.

121– Imperial/Wilmington Station-Whitwood Mall via Imperial Hwy, Telegraph Rd & Santa Gertrudes Ave. Operate as a branch of Line 120 (refer to Line 120 timetable).

165– West Hills-Burbank Station via Vanowen St. Discontinue route deviation from Empire Av to Thornton Av & Hollywood Wy near Bob Hope Airport. Service will remain on Empire Av.

168– Chatsworth Station- via Lassen St & Paxton St. Discontinue service. Alternate service available on Lines 158, 167 and a portion of Lines 233, 761 and 902.

177– La Canada-Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line Station via 1-210 & California Bl & Walnut St.
Retain AM and PM peak hour service only and reduce the number of trips.

202– Willowbrook-Compton-Wilmington. Reduce service to every 60 minutes between Willowbrook through Compton to Wilmington.

206– Athens-Hollywood via Normandie Ave. Change turnaround loop in Hollywood. Board southbound buses on Vermont Av at Sunset Bl facing north or on westbound Hollywood Bl at New Hampshire Ave.

214– Artesia Transit Center-Broadway/Main St Loop-Harbor Freeway Station.
Discontinue service. Alternate service provided on Lines 45, 52 and Torrance Transit 1.

220– Beverly Center-Culver City via Robertson Bl. Discontinue Saturday service. Alternative service provided on Line 105 and Big Blue Bus 12.

212/312– Hawthorne-Hollywood via La Brea Av Local/Limited. Operate Line 312 limited stop service in peak hours only, northbound in the AM and southbound in the PM (discontinue midday limited stop service).

256– Commerce – Altadena via Eastern Av & Hill Ave. Modify route at Hill Av & Washington Bl. Route travels via Washington Bl & Lake Av to current terminal at Lake Av & Mendocino St. Discontinue segment north of Washington Bl on Hill Av, Holliston Av and Mendocino St.

311– LAX City Bus Center-Norwalk Green Line Station via Florence Ave. New limited stop service replaces discontinued Line 711.

439– Culver City Transit Center/Fox Hills-Downtown LA/Union Station via La Cienega & Santa Monica Fwy. Retain weekday AM and PM peak period service only and operate all trips via Green Valley Circle. Discontinue segment on Sepulveda Bl south of Culver City Transit Center/Fox Hills Mall. Service on Sepulveda Bl provided by Culver City Line 6 and Rapid 6.

607– Inglewood-Windsor Hills-Inglewood. Discontinue counter clockwise service, maintain clockwise service.

608– Crenshaw Connection. Discontinue service.

620– Boyle Heights via Cesar Chavez Av & State St. Reduce service to 60-minute frequency.

625/626– Green Line-World Way West via Imperial Hwy (625), LAX City Bus Center-Green Line (626). Discontinue Line 626 and extend select Line 625 trips to Superior Court.

711– Inglewood TC-Bell Gardens via Florence Ave. Discontinue service and replace with enhancements to Line 111 service and with a new Line 311 limited stop service.

714– Downtown LA-Beverly Hills via Beverly Bl. Discontinue service and replace with enhancements to Line 14 service.

715– LAX City Bus Center-Downey via Manchester Av, Firestone Bl. Discontinue service and replace with enhancements to Line 115 service.

750– Warner Center Transit Hub-Universal City Station via Ventura Bl. Discontinue weekend service and replace with enhancements to Line 150 service.

753– Downtown LA-Imperial/Wilmington Station via Central Ave. Discontinue service and replace with enhancements to Line 53 service.

762– Pasadena-Artesia Blue Line Station via Fair Oaks Av & Atlantic Bl. Discontinue Saturday service and replace with enhancements to Line 260 service.

780–Pasadena-Washington/Fairfax Transit Hub via Colorado Bl & Hollywood Bl & Fairfax Ave.
Discontinue weekend service and replace with enhancements to Line 180 service.

920– Wilshire Rapid Express. Discontinue service and replace with enhancements to Line 720 service.

In addition, minor changes will be made to all other bus schedules with the exception of Lines 125, 128, 265, 442 and 450. Please check for revised timetables on metro.net, or on board buses. For specific bus route information call 323.GO.METRO, (323) 466-3876.

Knabe to Keynote Annual State of Los Angeles County Event

Supervisor Don Knabe will be addressing the state of Los Angeles County and the Fourth District at a luncheon at the Long Beach Convention Center on Wednesday December 8, 2010 at 12:00pm, hosted by the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

In his fourth annual address, Supervisor Knabe will speak about the impact of the current economic situation on the County, and programs and projects he is launching to bring jobs to the region. As Chair of Metro, he will also provide a status update on transport projects underway across Los Angeles.

Constituents can view a live streaming broadcast of the “State of the County” address through Facebook by going to http://www.facebook.com/supervisorknabe and clicking the play button. Utilizing this feature will allow anyone to view the broadcast as well as allow them to chat with other viewers about the topics addressed in the Supervisor’s speech.

County employees interested in viewing the broadcast can watch it by visiting http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ask-don-live1.

Any organization wishing to simulcast Supervisor Knabe’s address can embed the video stream from the link as well.

The County at Work in the Gulf Coast

Back in September, I announced that Los Angeles County Beach’s and Harbors would be sending one of its existing BeachTech 2000 sanitizer units to the Gulf Coast to assist British Petroleum (BP) with its Gulf Coast clean up efforts.

Given the devastating events that have occurred in the Gulf, it is more important than ever to take action and lend our support. This is an incredible opportunity for the County to help with the clean up efforts along the Gulf Coast.

The unit arrived on Petit Bois Island, an uninhabited barrier island off the Mississippi coast and has made an immediate impact on the overall clean up efforts. Visit our Facebook page to see some photos of the BeachTech sanitizer at work helping to restore the Gulf Coast.

County Votes to Ban Medical Marijuana in Unincorporated Areas

Yesterday, the Board of Supervisors approved a ban on Medical Marijuana dispensaries in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.

“While this Board originally tried to be fair and adopt a very strict medical marijuana dispensary ordinance, we have unfortunately seen an increased number of illegal operations,” said Supervisor Don Knabe.  “This is not what voters thought they were voting for, nor the Board’s intentions when we originally modified our zoning in 2006.  There have been too many incidents of dispensaries being unlawfully opened adjacent to schools and libraries and other locations frequented by children. Many communities are rightfully concerned about the abuses of the system and the resulting increases in crime.  While many people have legitimate health concerns, we should be thoughtful and cautious about the way we handle marijuana and it should be dispensed from a pharmacy, rather than from store-front operations.”

The ban was passed with a 4-1 vote and is scheduled to be formally adopted on December 7th.  If adopted, the ordinance would go into effect 30 days later.

Increase in Rabid Bats Found in Los Angeles County Prompts Concern

With an unusually high number of rabid bats recorded in Los Angeles County so far this year, the Department of Public Health is reminding all residents to avoid touching any wild animals, especially bats. So far in 2010, 21 rabid bats have been detected countywide, compared to an average of 10 per year.

Dogs and cats with current vaccines that have come into contact with rabid animals may be re-vaccinated and kept in quarantine for 30 days to ensure they have not been infected by rabies. Bats are protected by federal law and are an important part of our ecosystem. In nature, about 1 in 1000 to 1 in 10,000 bats is infected with rabies. However when a sick bat is found, the risk of that bat having rabies is much higher; approximately 10 percent.

Individuals should take the following steps to reduce their rabies risk:

  • Make sure pets are up-to-date on rabies vaccinations.
  • If you are bitten by a wild animal, contact your doctor immediately to determine if you need rabies post-exposure treatment.
  • Do not try to touch any wild animal, especially bats.
  • If a bat is found on the ground around your home or in a public place, place a box or container over it and call your local animal control agency.
  • If a bat is found in your home and may have had access to pets or areas where people were sleeping, do not release if outside. If possible, put a box or container over it and call your local animal control agency.
  • If your pet has been found with a bat or other wild animals, report the exposure to the Department of public Health Veterinary Public Health and Rabies Control Program by calling 213-989-7060.

For more information, visit Public Health’s Website.

Los Angeles County Votes to Ban Plastic Bags

Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a ban on single-use carryout bags at all grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies and drug stores located in the County’s unincorporated areas.  As part of its approval, the Board supported an amendment by Supervisor Knabe which revised the definition of “reusable bag” to include language that a reusable bag can be cleaned or disinfected, not just machine washable.

“While I support the elimination of single-use bags, if there is going to be a ban, I believe it should be done at a statewide level, as the Board previously supported in AB 1998,” said Supervisor Don Knabe.  “Rather than being punitive, we should provide incentives to encourage businesses to develop creative, green solutions, and therefore jobs, to our environmental challenges.  That is why I asked for a change in language to today’s motion to ensure that we did not exclude many locally-owned manufacturing plants from producing reusable carryout bags.  There are many types of materials that can be used to manufacture reusable bags, and we should not limit their use because they are not machine washable.”

Knabe Statement on the “Home For Good Plan”

I want to congratulate the Business Leaders Task Force on Homelessness for the “Home for Good Plan,” an effort by local business and community leaders to find solutions to the issue of homelessness in Los Angeles County.  I generally support the recommendations outlined in the Plan, and I agree that a more direct, streamlined approach to housing the chronically homeless is needed.

We have already made great strides towards aligning with this approach in LA County.  Last year, I called for a restructuring of our General Relief (GR) program to focus first on housing.  The GR program provides cash assistance to over 89,000 County residents each month, assisting with food, housing and employment.  While the cost of the program nears $200 million, experts estimate that the County spends almost four times this on other services to those on General Relief, 53,000 of whom are homeless.  These additional costs are mostly related to repeated incarcerations in County Jail and recurring visits to County emergency rooms and clinics, pushing the price tag closer to $1 billion per year.  A shift in focus to housing will not only help many of these individuals overcome serious challenges and transition to a better life, but will also save taxpayers money.

I look forward to working with the Task Force on this strategy, and joining with them to advocate in Washington DC for the changes in federal policy needed to advance our mission to end homelessness in Los Angeles County.

Applications Open For Nonprofit Arts Organization Grants

Funding for non-profit arts organizations to hire college undergraduate interns in summer 2011 is available from the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. The guidelines, application and application instructions for the Arts Internship Program are now available on the Arts Commission’s Web site.

The program is for Los Angeles County-based nonprofit performing, presenting (including film and media organizations with a presenting program), arts service and literary arts organizations that are interested in mentoring an undergraduate college student for ten weeks during summer 2011. Grants of $2,500 to $3,500, depending on organizational budget size, to be used to pay interns are awarded to successful applicant organizations. To support the internships, Los Angeles County, through its Arts Commission, will give grants totaling $250,000 to approximately 75 arts organizations throughout the County. The deadline to submit an application is Wednesday, December 15, 2010

A free application workshop will be held on Thursday, November 18 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Arts Commission offices, 1055 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800, in downtown Los Angeles. To sign up for the workshop please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2011internapp or go to www.lacountyarts.org, then click on “Internships.”

Organizations interested in this program should review the guidelines before beginning an application and be aware of the following:

Only nonprofit arts organizations that possess 501(c)(3) status and are not part of a college or university are eligible for the program, including municipal arts agencies and municipal performing arts organizations.

Each organization may request only one full-time intern.

Organizations with budgets over $1.5 million are required to provide a cash match of $500.

Organizations with budgets greater than $4 million are required to provide a cash match of $1,000.

The purpose of the County’s program is to provide undergraduate students with meaningful on-the-job training and experience in working in nonprofit arts organizations, while assisting arts organizations to develop future arts leaders.

For more information, please visit LA County Arts

A Good Plan to End Homlessness

I want to congratulate the Business Leaders Task Force on Homelessness for the “Home for Good Plan,” an effort by local business and community leaders to find solutions to the issue of homelessness in Los Angeles County. I generally support the recommendations outlined in the Plan, and I agree that a more direct, streamlined approach to housing the chronically homeless is needed.

We have already made great strides towards aligning with this approach in Los Angeles County. Last year, I called for a restructuring of our General Relief (GR) program to focus first on housing. The GR program provides cash assistance to over 89,000 County residents each month, assisting with food, housing and employment. While the cost of the program nears $200 million, experts estimate that the County spends almost four times this on other services to those on General Relief, 53,000 of whom are homeless. These additional costs are mostly related to repeated incarcerations in County Jail and recurring visits to County emergency rooms and clinics, pushing the price tag closer to $1 billion per year. A shift in focus to housing will not only help many of these individuals overcome serious challenges and transition to a better life, but will also save taxpayers money.

I look forward to working with the Task Force on this strategy, and joining with them to advocate in Washington DC for the changes in federal policy needed to advance our mission to end homelessness in Los Angeles County.

Metro Implements New Transit Information Number

The well-known telephone number 1.800.COMMUTE, funded by Caltrans for transportation information in Los Angeles County is being discontinued.

Metro will now provide bus and rail information through a new easy-to-remember number 323.GO.METRO.

While the phone number is changing, the service remains the same. Metro’s Customer Information agents will continue to handle approximately 50,000 calls a week from riders seeking assistance with bus and rail trip planning.

Other travel, traffic and commuter/rideshare information, which was also provided through 1.800.COMUTE, can now be accessed by calling 511.

Metro customers will see a direct benefit when dialing the new 323.GO.METRO number as calls will go directly to Metro’s Telephone Information Center, where an agent will assist the public with fares, routes, schedules and trip planning requests. Metro customers will not have to navigate a  “phone tree” to reach a live telephone information agent.

Due to state budget constraints and the recent emergence of the 511 phone number, which provides similar access, Caltrans opted to discontinue the 1.800.COMMUTE number. The cost of operating 1.800.COMMUTE is approximately $800,000 annually. Metro’s cost for maintaining the 323.GO.METRO number is estimated at $12,000 annually.

In mid-November, Caltrans will place a message on 1.800. COMMUTE announcing to callers that the number will be discontinued. The message will instruct them to start using 323.GO.METRO  (323.466-3876). In addition, Metro is mounting an extensive outreach campaign to inform customers of the change.

While 323.GO.METRO is not a toll-free number, calling the number from most areas of Los Angeles County will not result in a toll charge to the caller. In addition, Customer Relations finds that most callers now use cell phones, which generally do not incur toll charges.