Who Does the Los Angeles Metro Rail Serve? A Needs-Based Transportation Analysis

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Source: metro.net website

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Pacific Electric Red Car System

Los Angeles 1925 Source: metro.net website

Pasadena

Hollywood

Culver City

Downtown

East L.A.

Los Angeles County Norwalk Redondo Beach

Los Angeles Metro Rail Gold Line

Long Beach

0

4

8 Miles

Purple Line Green Line Blue Line Red Line Expo Line

Pasadena

Hollywood

Culver City

Downtown

East L.A.

Los Angeles County Norwalk Redondo Beach

Los Angeles Metro Rail Long Beach

Expo Line Extension Crenshaw Corridor Gold Line Purple Line

0

4

8 Miles

Green Line Blue Line Red Line Expo Line

Research Question: Does the Los Angeles Metro Rail serve the residents most in need of public transportation?

Time Period: 2012 - 2016: Research on existing and proposed light rail stations and surrounding neighborhoods.

Limitations: -Excluded all bus systems and commuter rail :WH[PHS ULLK PUKL_ KLĂ„ULK I` YLZLHYJOLY ZLSLJ[LK variables.

Scope of Research

Dataset: 2010 American Community Survey 5 year estimates)

Public Transportation Needs Index:

Statistical data obtained from the American Community Survey was used to create a spatial need index for all of L.A. County. The spatial need index assigns a score (1-5) to every census tract based on the amount of need for public transportation.

Variables

No Access to a Personal Vehicle

Assigned Weight*

Spatial Need Index Scores

5 40% Calculations

Methodology *Weights selected by researchers based on level of importance.

Use Public Transportation to Work

30%

Population Density

20%

Median Household Income

10%

= 1

Public Transportation Need Index

Public Transportation Need Index Minimal Need Low Need Moderate Need

0

N

0

7

7

14 Miles

14 Miles

Maximum Need

Public Transportation Need Index (Detail)

Public Transportation Need Index Minimal Need Low Need Moderate Need Maximum Need

0

7

10 Miles

Metro Rail Lines

Pasadena Hollywood

Culver City

East L.A.

Norwalk

Redondo Beach

Census Tracts Greater than Census Tracts 3.5 in Maximum Need of Public Source: 2010 American Community Transportation

L.A. Metro Rail Lines L.A. Metro Rail Lines Census Tracts in Maximum Need

0

3

6 Miles

Qtr. Mile Buffer Around Proposed Stations Qtr. Mile Buffer Around Existing Stations Proposed Crenshaw Corridor Proposed Expo Line Extension

Santa Monica

L.A.X.

8\HY[LY 4PSL )\MMLYZ (YV\UK South L.A. :[H[PVUZ Study Area Source: 2010 American Community

:V\YJL! 3 ( 4L[YV

L.A. Metro Rail Lines L.A. Metro Rail Lines Census Tracts in Maximum Need

0

4

8 Miles

Santa Monica

L.A.X.

8\HY[LY 4PSL )\MMLYZ Proposed (YV\UK Metro Rail :[H[PVUZ Extensions Source: 2010 American Community :V\YJL! 3 ( 4L[YV

Proposed Stations Expo Line Extension Crenshaw Corridor L.A. Metro Rail Lines Tracts in Maximum Need

0

4

8 Miles

8\HY[LY 4PSL )\MMLYZ Quarter (YV\UK Mile Buffers :[H[PVUZ Around Metro Source: 2010 American Community Stations :V\YJL! 3 ( 4L[YV

Expo Line Extension Crenshaw Corridor L.A. Metro Rail Lines Crenshaw Buffers Expo Line Buffers Buffers on Existing Stations Tracts in Maximum Need

0

4

8 Miles

Expo Line Extension

Crenshaw Corridor

3 Study Areas

South L.A. Study Area 0

1

2 Miles

0

1

2 Miles

Study Areas South L.A. Study Area Population: Average Need Index Score: Median Household Income:

Largest Population 125,436 3.56 $28,581

Crenshaw Corridor Study Area Population: Average Need Index Score: Median Household Income:

Expo Line Study Area

Demographics Source: 2010 American Community Survey, 5 year estimates

Population: Average Need Index Score: Median Household Income:

83,612 2.98 $44,885

57,336 2.79 $67,601

72% Latino

50% Mixed/Bi-racial

53% White

Public Transportation Need Index Scores Source: 2010 American Community Survey, 5 year estimates

Public Transportation Need Index Minimal Need Low Need Moderate Need Maximum Need

0

1

2 Miles

Households Without Access to a =LOPJSL Source: 2010 American Community Survey, 5 year estimates

No Access to a Personal Vehicle Less than 5% 5% - 10% 10% - 16% 16% - 31%

0

1

2 Miles

Public Transit Ridership (to work)

Take Public Transportation to Work Less than 3% 4% - 6% 7% - 9%

Source: 2010 American Community Survey, 5 year estimates

10% - 14%

0

1

2 Miles

Population Density *Population Density per Square Mile

Population Density per square mile 3,000 - 13,500 people 13,501 - 20,000 people 20,001 - 24,000 people 24,001 - 38,300 people

0

1

2 Miles

Percentage of Household Income Compared to County

Median Household Income * 100% = $55,00 L.A. County Median Household Income

Median Household Income Compared to County Average Above County Average 75% - 100% of County Avg. 41% Avg. 0 - 75%1of County 2 Miles 31% - 41% of County Avg.

0

1

2 Miles

Questions of Equity Proposed light rail stations do not give access to residents most in need of public transportation.

The Expo Line extension will serve residents in low and moderate need of public transportation.

The South L.A. Study Area is the densest and lowest earning of all 3 study areas and continues to be underserved by light rail.

Conclusions

Source: metro.net website