The Train That Goes From 'Nowhere To Nowhere'

Now 10 years after opening, boardings on Los Angeles' much-maligned Green Line are increasing.

1 minute read

July 12, 2004, 7:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


Long derided as the white elephant of the MTA's light-rail system — "the train that goes from nowhere to nowhere" — the Green Line is showing signs of life as it enters its 10th year of operation."

..."The Green Line remains an oddity, connecting two outlying communities and missing downtown by miles. Some transit experts still question its long-term prospects. But MTA officials express optimism that the line is slowly coming into its own."

"It didn't help that the Green Line sits in the middle of a busy freeway, separated from street commerce and awkward for pedestrians to reach.

" 'The Green Line is not terribly well located if you're trying to attract demand,' said Jim Moore, chairman of the industrial engineering department at USC. "'transit system should be configured around the way we live.' "

Thanks to Chris Steins

Saturday, July 10, 2004 in The Los Angeles Times

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