L.A. Needs To Discover Transit-oriented Development

Transit-oriented development is finding strong support across the U.S. It's time Los Angeles took notice.

1 minute read

August 9, 2002, 2:00 PM PDT

"It has taken too long for transit-oriented development to happen in Los Angeles, but there were reasons for the lag. Rail lines here opened in the '90s, not exactly a boom time for the real estate industry in Southern California. The Blue Line to Long Beach was built along an existing right of way, making it a quick and easy way to inaugurate L.A.'s rail system. But the line runs through mostly industrial neighborhoods where few people live or work and that aren't attractive to investors. The Green Line runs down the middle of the Century Freeway, making transit-oriented development along its route almost impossible. And the first stations to open along the Red Line (the subway) were in already heavily built-up downtown Los Angeles, and then in less affluent neighborhoods like MacArthur Park and along Vermont that were unattractive to investors."

Thanks to Chris Steins

FULL STORY: It's Time for L.A. to Grow Up

Sunday, August 4, 2002 in The Los Angeles Times

Transportation California

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