Criticism
Critics see the Metro Rapid system as not sufficient to meet Los Angeles' growing transit needs. Limited funds, they say, would be better spent on growing the region's rail network. Rapid buses do not have the capacity or efficiency of light or heavy rail technology.
Other critics claim that Metro Rapid is a triumph of marketing over substance. For many years, Metro and its predecessor, the SCRTD, operated limited stop routes, which were similar to Metro Rapid service in the middle of their routes (serving only transfer points and major stops), but made local stops at each end. Rapid buses do not change traffic signals outside of the City of Los Angeles because only the City has tied the transponders to the signal network. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works is working on rectifying the problem for all the other cities where rapid buses pass through, but individual signals have to be reprogrammed to give signal priority to rapid buses. In addition, only red buses have transponders, which causes problems when not enough red buses are available (or conversely, red Rapid painted buses are used on local service).
Another complaint concerns the placement of Local and Rapid stops at separate locations at the same intersection. This was done to eliminate the backing up of buses at stops, but has resulted in a dangerous move called the "Rapid Bus Shuffle", in which a rider waiting at a Local stop runs to a Rapid stop, or vice versa, if the other bus arrives first. In response, some Rapid stops are placed adjacent to local bus stops.
In addition, civil rights organizations like the Bus Riders Union complain about cutbacks in local service required to implement Rapid service. Generally, between 25 and 50% of local service is cut and replaced by Rapid service. Thus, riders not living or working near a Rapid stop must walk a longer distance to an intersection with both local and Rapid stops, or wait longer for a local bus. The Special Master of the consent decree between Metro and the BRU has ordered that no more than 33% of the resources for Rapids come from local service.
It should be noted that the MTA staff has never considered Metro Rapid a substitute for rail service, but is instead a pragmatic interim measure given current budgetary constraints.
Another major complaint is the lack of Saturday, Sunday, and holiday service on several of its high-volume routes like the 705, 710 & 740 where many patrons commute from inner-city suburbs, Downtown LA or the South Bay to major cities for their jobs and local shopping.
Read more about this topic: Metro Rapid (Los Angeles County)
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