March 13: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History

2000:  After more than a year-and-a-half of intense labor, LACMTA completes the conversion of its 333 alcohol-fueled buses to clean-air diesel power — on budget and ahead of schedule.

Prior to conversion, the alcohol-fueled engines were failing about every 20,000 miles, requiring up to two engine rebuilds per bus each year. Alcohol fuels were two to three times more expensive to operate than diesel and it was operationally difficult to schedule the unreliable buses.

More information can be found in the March 13, 2000 issue of MyMetro employee news publication.

 

 

2015:  Metrolink’s Board of Directors announces unanimous approval for the hiring of new Chief Executive Officer Art Leahy.

Leahy had previously served as CEO for Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

More information can be found in the March 13, 2015 post on Metro’s The Source.