SCRTD - 1980s - "Los Angeles Metro Rail is Coming"

From a Southern California TV show series focused on local transit development. Discusses the planning and development of the Southern California Rapid Transit District (RTD) Metro Rail subway system. Features among others Ray Remy, Los Angeles Deputy Mayor & LATC member, and Renee Simon, Deputy Director of Transportation, Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG).
Southern California Rapid Transit District (RTD) - 1964-1993 - was the predecessor of Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or Metro.
This is historical footage from the LACMTA (Metro) Transportation Research Library and Archive film and video collection. It may not be reflective of current Metro policy, projects, programs or services. For more information, contact [e-mail], or see our website: metroprimaryresources.info

[@mrxman581]

It's great to see this. Much of what was promised has come to pass. On the list of stations, 13 of the 18 on there were built or will be once the D line extension opens. Several other stations that were never on the list got built when the Red line went north under Vermont. There will be close to 130 miles by 2028. And within 12 years it will surpass 150 miles promised in this video. Very cool. Thanks.

[@Sacto1654]

I think it *REALLY* helped that RTD was able to take advantage of Southern Pacific and Santa Fe railroad right of way to build out much of the system.

[@albear972]

Very nice! I remember seeing those nice drawings of the Metro Rail in the early 80's as a very young kid. Now in the present day the Red line looks like a rolling bum shelter. Sometimes with up to a dozen passed-out bums in a car. And ah! Henry Waxman killed the expansion of the Purple line west due to the methane fires.

[@mrxman581]

LA Metro has improved noticeably over the last year. I've taken it many times since June 2023 after not using it for 3 years during Covid, and it's been fine. I've had no issues. I've used the A, E, B, and D lines. Yes, you see homeless once in a while, but I've never felt unsafe or bothered. Ridership has continued to increase for the last 17 months that indicates feel better about using it.

[@ViewsFromJames]

A miss opportunity with the Hollywood Bowl Station! Hopefully we will get the K line into Fairfax/ West Hollywood by 2045.

[@heidihobear]

So with video are they talking about what would become the blue line light rail. Or the red line subway?

[@asaadlewis328]

Mostly red but there are a couple current purple line stations like Western/Normadie and Western/Wilshire. If I recall correctly the route through the Fairfax district was halted due to a methane explosion at the Ross Dress for Less on Fairfax

[@mrxman581]

​@asaadlewis328 The Red line. What was renamed the Purple line was actually the remnants of the original Red line they nention in the video. The route that now goes North under Vermont was viewed as a spur of the Red line, so they were both referred to as the Red line for several years, but it was a little confusing to know what Red line to take sometimes because both routes share several stations. They finally decided to call the original Red line the Purple line, and the Red line spur to North Hollywood, the Red line. It would have been better to leave the original section down Wilshire as the Red line and name the spur to NH the Purple line. But it's moot now since they have letter names now.

[@stickynorth]

Too bad only party of the system has been built to date and it's split between train types which makes transfers annoying and slow... However I'd still love to see more subway, LRT and YES even trams make their way back to all parts of Southern California.. Revive all the Yellow and Red lines please for the same reason as before... They might be "loss leaders" but they help revive real estate projects and Transit Oriented Developments that need proper mass transit to make them work... And FFS, add affordable housing! The only type of housing that there NEVER seems to be enough of...

[@arandomyoutubechannel2940]

First like and first comment

[@marcusstone4982]

you did it 🎀