August 26: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History

1960:  The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority releases its comparative analysis of its proposed rapid transit system and routes.

It’s the first reference to a “Metro System” for Los Angeles, describing it as “one of the first truly rapid transit systems in the world.

The report recommends a mix of overhead monorail and rubber tires trains on rights of way to serve four corridors:

  • Downtown Los Angeles to Covina
  • Downtown Los Angeles to Long Beach
  • Downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica via Wilshire Boulevard
  • Downtown Los Angeles to Reseda

A second phase would serve San Fernando, Pasadena, Santa Ana and Inglewood.

The Urban Mass Transit Administration (predecessor to the Federal Transit Administration) did not yet exist, nor did any dedicated state or local revenues for the capital costs.

A new mass transit system would have to wait.

More information can be found in the August 26, 1960 Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority Report Relating to the Rapid Transit Program full-text report.
 
 
2004:  The Special Master overseeing the federal Consent Decree denies a motion by the Bus riders Union to extend the current 10-year decree for another six years.

More information can be found in the August 27, 2004 issue of the MyMetro employee news digest.