Foothill Transit Ridership Rising…Really?
Well, it seems like rising gas prices aren’t just driving people onto the Gold Line, but also on to the beloved buses of Foothill Transit. According to this PSN article, Commuters Shift Gears: Foothill Transit sees ridership rates rising:
High fuel prices have prompted more people to ditch their cars and take the bus this summer.
And to avoid passenger buildup, Foothill Transit has added additional service to its Montclair-to-Pasadena line.
“Our Line 690, a semi-express service from Montclair to Pasadena, has significantly increased its ridership, with the most dramatic shift taking place in the past few months,” said Felicia Friesema, Foothill’s marketing and communications manager.
According to Friesema, Line 690 ridership is up by 20 percent. Each bus can seat about 40 to 43 people.
And because of the substantial increase in riders, Foothill added two new morning routes to its schedule.
The headline, though, is a little deceptive. The article is only talking about Line 690 (as far as I can tell), not about the Foothill Transit’s overall ridership. I’m curious to see how the agency as a whole is doing in terms of ridership (which I would assume is also on the rise generally). We’ll have more on that tomorrow hopefully.
By Centinel. July 24, 2008, 1:40 pm | Tags: Main Page, Transportation, Pasadena | 1 Comment »
Sales Tax Measure Gets the Nod
The vote ended up running 9-2, even though 5 members had voted for the amendments. The only two to oppose were the San Gabriel Valley-area members, John Fasana and Michael Antonovich.
Additionally, the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments is recommending that its board oppose it, and the SGV-based Gold Line Foothill Extension Authority has voted to oppose it.
Ah yes, the SGVCOG. Longtime readers may be surprised to know that it was actually the SGVCOG that prompted the beginning of this blog. We’ll have more on that subject soon…
Kudos to Dan for his coverage of the MTA meeting.
By Centinel. July 24, 2008, 1:37 pm | Tags: Main Page, Transportation | No Comments »
Monrovia Art Walk Saturday 7/26 6:30 - 9:30PM
A partnership of the Monrovia Association of Fine Arts and the Monrovia Old Town Merchants brings this weekends first Chalk Festival in conjunction with the Annual Summer Art Walks. Full Press Release after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »
By Frazgo. July 24, 2008, 12:00 pm | Tags: Main Page, That's Entertainment, Monrovia | No Comments »
Dan Live Blogging Metro Meeting
Dan continues to impress as reporter/blogger with live coverage of today’s Metro powwow.
The powers that be decided to give me a laptop and a wireless card to take to today’s Metro meeting, so I will be posting updates on all the action today.
And all that action will essentially boil down to a regional fight over the half cent sales tax measure. Mayor Villaraigosa, and three supporters on the MTA board: Richard Katz, David Fleming, and Bernard Parks called a press conference this morning to express their support for the measure.
Keep an eye on the Dome for updates.
By Centinel. July 24, 2008, 10:27 am | Tags: Main Page, Transportation | No Comments »
Toll Lanes Pass Another Hurdle
The California Transportation Commission is go for toll lanes. Lexus lane haters unite…
By Centinel. July 24, 2008, 9:22 am | Tags: Main Page, Transportation | 2 Comments »
Morning Linkfest: 9 Reasons to Drink Tequila
Apparently, today is National Tequila Day. If you’re in 1881, expect to see someone worm hunting. If you prefer your mezcal alone, then follow the jump for 9 links to cast your eye over while savoring the agave.
By Centinel. July 24, 2008, 9:21 am | Tags: Main Page | 6 Comments »
The best 15 minutes 47 seconds of your week
[Alien Glendalien Hillscape, Originally uploaded by charles.song]
Megan McArdle on debt in America
There’s been alot of finger pointing on this blog lately about the colapse of IndyMac, Countrywide, Bear Sterns and the economy in general. For a more total view of the situation, I encourage you to click the above link and watch a video from The Economist, an interview with Atlantic Monthly blogger Megan McArdle. I must warn you: unless you watch the whole thing you will not understand her final point, which I will not attempt to summarize.
By TheRealZajac. July 24, 2008, 8:17 am | Tags: Main Page, POTD, Affordable Housing Bunny, (Re)Development, Glendora | No Comments »
To Live And Nearly Die In District 4
For the 3 of us smokers still left in the Crown City, I found a place where you can not only get cheap cancer sticks - but not have to wait in a long line of cars to get gasoline during rush hour, either.
It’s the ARCO at Kinneloa and Colorado, across from the “big” Target - near UnTown. You can get major brands for under $4.00 and they even have a cheap brand caled “Gold Coast” which will run you about $2.75. Plus, nobody ever seems to get their gas there - you can be in and out and back on your way in no time.
Speaking of things that can kill you - I’d like to point out to any City officials reading (and I’m sure you are!) that the crosswalk at Vista and E. Foothill Blvd is QUITE dangerous!
Nobody follows the crosswalk rule about stopping for pedestrians - except for MTA buses - and even then, cars just pass up the bus. It sometimes takes 3 minutes just to cross this street. I’ve also been nearly hit by a car twice in the past few months. Just a friendly reminder that it’s a little safer to walk up a half block and cross at the light on Sierra Madre Blvd and Foothill - but even then, you’ve got some crazy people making illegal left turns from N Sierra Madre onto Foothill.
- AP
By Aaron Proctor. July 24, 2008, 7:28 am | Tags: Main Page, That's Entertainment, The Proctor Is In, Pasadena | No Comments »
Feed Portantino’s Election Reelection Campaign
Love this smiling face? Then, you can join Claire Bogaard and cough up $50 to support it’s smile.
1890 Colonial Revival Home of Bill Baker
Date: Friday July 25, 2008
Time: 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Home of Bill Baker, 200 North Avenue 66
Just north of York Blvd. in Garvanza
(overlooking the Arroyo and South Pasadena)
Co-hosted by (partial list): Claire Bogaard, Tim Brick, Tomoko Copon, Carmela Gomes, Tina Gulotta and Charles Miller, Mark Kenyon and Clare Marter Kenyon, Frank Parrello and Heather Hoggan, Nicole Possert, Jesse Rosas, Nancy Steele, Ann Walnum, Dan WrightMinimum $50 donation requested
Make checks payable to: Friends of Anthony Portantino 2008
ID No. 1292690 (General, 2008), PO Box 93935,Pasadena, CA 91109-3935Questions/RSVP, Tim Wendler, info@portantinoforassembly.com, (626) 405-8130
By Centinel. July 23, 2008, 1:25 pm | Tags: Main Page, Government, Pasadena | 5 Comments »
Alvarez Waterboarded!
Are you seated when waterboarded or lying down? The Daily Bulletin makes me think it’s the former: Alvarez sentenced to probation, keeps seat on water board.
In other news, Alvarez is still around and still not resigning. He is, though, apologizing to the entire nation.
Before he was sentenced, Alvarez told Judge R. Gary Klausner that he was “very remorseful” for his false claims of military valor.
“I’d like to apologize to everyone in this whole nation,” said Alvarez, who represents south Pomona on the Three Valleys Municipal Water District board.
Though hilarious at times, I’m beginning to feel like I’m being waterboarded every time I read about Norma Torres’ favorite endorsement.
By Centinel. July 23, 2008, 1:07 pm | Tags: Main Page, Government, Pomona | No Comments »
Morning Linkfest: 7 Reasons to Hate Corporations
Linkfest!
Chris Hedges on The Loss of Civic Responsibility: Chris Hedges hates corporations, the average reader, and just about everything else that may have caused the downfall of newspapers. Funny, he doesn’t seem to ascribe any blame to the papers themselves for, you know, not changing. Creative destruction is a b****. (LA Observed)
After the jump, 6 more reasons to hate corporations besides the fact that they raped journalism, according to Chris Hedges. Read the rest of this entry »
By Centinel. July 23, 2008, 11:19 am | Tags: That's Entertainment, Government, Main Page, Pasadena, Food and Drink, Claremont, Monrovia, Pomona, Sierra Madre | 3 Comments »
Even the Cost of Underwear Is Increasing
By Centinel. July 23, 2008, 9:58 am | Tags: Main Page, Cops and Robbers, Arcadia | 3 Comments »
Pasadena Has a New City Clerk
Old news to some, but it’s true:
The Pasadena City Council has appointed Mark Jomsky to take the position of city clerk effective July 26. He will replace Jane Rodriguez, who is retiring after 35 years of public service.
Jomsky will oversee a $2.1 million budget and 16 employees, serve as clerk to the city council, prepare and maintain official city documents and legislative records, administer municipal and school district elections and provide policy guidance to city departments.
$2.1 million? The power of the city clerk…
By Centinel. July 23, 2008, 9:14 am | Tags: Main Page, City Council, Pasadena | 4 Comments »
Local Journalism Flourishing? Ad Revenue Still Plummeting?
ReadWriteWeb suggests that papers across the country are embracing hyperlocalism:
A Pew study of US newspapers released today finds that national and international news coverage is declining as ad revenue plummets and emphasis shifts toward local stories. While those survey results may not seem so bad, newspaper editors also report that the biggest customer protests are being seen in response to cuts to crossword puzzles and TV listings - not decreasing news quantity or quality.
Interesting post and worth a read. The crossword outrage may be due to, hmmm, the median age of newspaper readers? Not an insult, just suggesting it’s a different generation who depend on the paper for um…okay, I’m beat. Outrage over the crossword puzzle?
By Centinel. July 23, 2008, 9:11 am | Tags: Main Page, Media | 2 Comments »
Sid Tyler Questions Need for Bridge; Builds It With Mind
Dan with another great post:
The City Council approved a $1.1 million project to build a re-build a bridge over the Arroyo Seco creek in the park area behind JPL last night, but not before Councilman Sid Tyler grilled the city staff hard on the project.
Only to be expected of the infamous Sid Tyler. Unconfirmed are reports that he built the bridge himself five minutes later using telekinesis.
By Centinel. July 23, 2008, 9:08 am | Tags: Main Page, City Council, Pasadena | 3 Comments »
