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Joe MacDonald: Coming up we'll go Metro from Hollywood to Africa.
Tamra Henry: Africa?
Joe MacDonald: Well Little Ethiopia, but the food's as authentic as it gets. We'll get
a hot meal, see some hot rods, and hit some of LA's hottest spots on the 217 along Fairfax.
Tamra Henry: And we'll Blue Line it down to Long Beach to ring in Cambodian New Year with
all the sights, sounds, and taste of Cambodia Town.
Joe MacDonald: Oh man I'm getting hungry already.
Tamra Henry: You're gonna love it.
Joe MacDonald: These stories plus the latest transit headlines are all right here on Metro
Motion.
[Music playing]
Joe MacDonald: Hey what's up everybody? I'm Joe MacDonald.
Tamra Henry: And I'm Tamra Henry, welcome to Metro Motion, the show that keeps you on
the go and in the know with everything Metro.
Joe MacDonald: You know Tamra, I may be a little bit biased, but I'm just gonna say
it, LA is the entertainment capital of the world.
Tamra Henry: Yeah? Show your work.
Joe MacDonald: Well we've got everything: world class beaches; arts, culture, and history;
Hollywood; there's more excitement; entertainment; and eats than you could ever hope for.
Tamra Henry: And they're all just a Metro ride away.
Joe MacDonald: Exactly, take Fairfax Avenue for instance.
Tamra Henry: Take it where?
Joe MacDonald: Take it from Hollywood to Africa.
Tamra Henry: Africa?
Joe MacDonald: Well Little Ethiopia to be exact. Fairfax is chockfull of fun stuff to
do, and it's all accessible by one of LA's hottest bus lines. So let's grab a Day Pass
and join Ned Rollsma on a ride on the 217.
Ned Rollsma: The Metro local 217 is a star studded ride, and not just because it takes
you down Hollywood Boulevard, past Tinseltown icons like the Chinese Theater and the Walk
of Fame. When this line takes the turn down Fairfax, that's when things get really interesting.
Experience the scene up and down Sunset, or get your shopping fix in the famous boutiques
along Melrose. Catch a taping of your favorite talk show, or spin the wheel on the Price
is Right at CBS Television City. There's the Grove, the Farmer's Market, literally hundreds
of places to go and things to see, and eat.
Now if you wanna fuel up before your adventure, then head over to Canter's authentic Jewish
style delicatessen just north of Beverly, and try their famous corned beef or pastrami
on fresh baked bread. But me? I'm saving my hungries for dinner, 'cause I'm headed down
to Museum Row in the Miracle Mile District to one of my favorites, the Petersen Automotive
Museum. Located at the corner of Wilshire and Fairfax, the Petersen is home to an impressive
collection of more than 400 cars, all beautifully restored and artistically displayed. Ranging
from the earliest automobiles of the 1800s through the classics of yesteryear and all
the way in to the coolest concept cars of tomorrow.
All right well they say that LA is the car capital of the world. Now if that's the case,
then the car capital of LA has got to be right here at the Petersen Automotive Museum where
I'm joined by chief curator Leslie Kendall. Leslie thanks for taking the time.
Leslie Kendall: My pleasure.
Ned Rollsma: All right so when patrons come to the Petersen Automotive Museum, please
take us through, tell us what they're gonna see when they come down.
Leslie Kendall: Well what they're gonna see is the history of the automobile, and its
impact on American life and culture using Los Angeles as a prime example. And if you're
gonna tell the story of the automobile; Los Angeles is exactly the place where you wanna
be.
Ned Rollsma: All right Leslie, so here we are in the Hollywood Gallery. Now in here
we have the cars of the stars. We have some vehicles from the silver screen ranging from
Batmobiles to Bond vehicles. Now do you have a favorite in here?
Leslie Kendall: Oh I've got a lot of favorites. Let's see, today my favorite is probably the
Mercedes that was in The Hangover, right which is parked right next to the Thunderbird that
was in Thelma & Louise. So we've got a couple of road movies; a woman's road movie, and
a guy's road movie.
Ned Rollsma: All right so here we are upstairs in the Discovery Center where kids and families
can actually get hands-on with some of the exhibits. Give us an introduction to the Discovery
Center.
Leslie Kendall: Well like you said, you can't have a museum and not let kids touch something
eventually. So our third floor is devoted to all hands-on activities that are not just
for kids, but for adults too.
Ned Rollsma: Neat, so this is definitely an area where the kiddos can come up and blow
off some steam.
Leslie Kendall: The kids can cut loose a little bit up here, you bet.
Ned Rollsma: Nice, nice.
[Music playing]
Ned Rollsma: All right so after a full day of automotive awesomeness I've definitely
worked up an appetite, and I know just the place to go. So let's jump back on the 217
and head down to Little Ethiopia for some authentic African fare. Little Ethiopia is
loaded with cute shops, fresh markets, and a handful of yummy places to grab a bite.
Like Meals by Genet, one of the neighborhoods' most popular and well-reviewed restaurants.
Owner and chef, Ms. Genet is one of the sweetest ladies you'll ever meet, and she puts a lot
of love in every flavorful bite.
Try the house favorite, doro wat; doro means chicken, wat means stew. It kinda reminded
me of a spicier, smokier mole. It's served with an array of savory sides that'll tickle
your taste buds and curb your cravings. An imported Ethiopian stout makes a perfect pair,
if you're thirsty. And don't be shy; dig in because utensils are optional. Authentic Ethiopian
is eaten by hand using this spongy, pancake like bread called injera, and if you're really
in the spirit you can feed each other in gursha, a traditional Ethiopian sign of love, respect,
and hospitality.
Ned Rollsma: That is so good.
Female 1: Thank you.
Ned Rollsma: I'm gonna eat this whole thing.
Female 1: Please, that will make me very happy.
Ned Rollsma: Yeah, it's very delicious.
Female 1: Thank you.
Ned Rollsma: It's spicy, it's flavorful, but it's light and plenty of vegetable choices
to go along with the meats and everything.
Female 1: Yes.
Ned Rollsma: And so it balances itself out perfectly.
Female 1: I think so.
Ned Rollsma: I love it.
Female 1: Yeah.
Ned Rollsma: It's delicious.
Female 1: Thank you.
Ned Rollsma: It's a wonderful place, and a wonderful meal. Thank you so much for having
us.
Female 1: Thank you very much. Thank you for coming.
Ned Rollsma: Everybody, jump on that 217, come on down Fairfax just a little south of
Olympic to Meals by Genet. From Metro Motion, I'm Ned Rollsma.
Tamra Henry: Okay now let's continue on from Hollywood to Africa to Cambodia.
Joe MacDonald: Wow Metro can really get you everywhere.
Tamra Henry: Well you can't exactly take it to Southeast Asia, but how about the next
best thing?
Joe MacDonald: Okay.
Tamra Henry: Hop on the Blue Line down to Long Beach and ring in the Cambodian New Year
with authentic sights, sounds, and tastes in one of the nation's largest Cambodian communities.
Joe MacDonald: Cambodian cuisine has always been one of my faves.
Tamra Henry: Well then you'll love what Dan Forias has for us on his trip to Cambodia
Town.
Dan Forias: If you hop on the Blue Line heading out of Los Angeles, and stay on it until it
reaches its final stop, you will end up in one of the best kept secrets of southern California,
the city of Long Beach. Well known for landmarks and icons such as the Queen Mary, and the
Port of Long Beach, this city has much to explore within its many varying communities.
Much of this variance stems from the fact that Long Beach ranks among the top ten most
diverse cities in America. And with that cultural diversity comes a wide array of tasty treasures
to discover.
Which brings me to my primary point of interest, Cambodia Town, a one mile stretch of Anaheim
Street just a short walk from the Anaheim Street Station northeast of downtown. This
area plays host to a large number of Cambodian owned businesses, everything from jewelry
shops to restaurants. Lots and lots of restaurants, and that's great news for me because I came
to sample the best Cambodian bites outside of Cambodia.
Like many other Asian cultures, Cambodian cuisine is no stranger to the street food
scene, mostly in the form of these little beef skewers, or chicken skewers similar to
Thai sate. Just marinated for days and full of flavor. Mm, oh my God, for the money especially
you really can't get much better than meat on a stick. Ooh look at this, all right you
know you're at an authentic place when you see something like oxtail noodle soup displayed
like that in the window.
With so much to savor it was difficult to save room for my final destination. But a
short hop on a Long Beach transit bus got me there appetite intact. Sophy's Thai and
Cambodian Restaurant, with its welcoming atmosphere, friendly service, and expansive menu full
of southeastern Asian specialties it's easy to see why this place is a Long Beach local
favorite. Owner and executive chef Sophy Khut is the heart and soul of the business, masterfully
creating her dishes with training and tradition, she operates two restaurants. This one in
Long Beach and the other in Phnom Penh, the capital city of her native Cambodia. Folks,
it doesn't get more authentic than that.
Sophy Khut: Most of the ingredient that we cook daily is our most - 99 percents are fresh
because none of them are pre-made. One thing 'cause in Cambodia we don't have a refrigerator,
so everything has to be made for lunch, for dinner. We don't pre-make anything, so we
use a lot of herbs. Like in curries we use lemon grass, cilanaka. There is a lot of curry
paste that we use with a coconut cream, and most of the time it doesn't take long to prepare
because most of the stuff are freshly there, like the vegetable and the dipping. Like we
would have a grill fish with cream mango. You just need to go pick mango, and then just
shred it, and then we have our ________ sauce mix with it, and then ______ become a sauce
that go with the fish. And of course all that herbs is very benefit to your health. Help
cholesterol, help high blood pressure, all kinds of things. So yeah.
Dan Forias: Wow okay that sounds amazing.
Sophy Khut: Yeah.
Dan Forias: I think we probably waited enough. Can we go ahead, and eat, and try it?
Sophy Khut: Yes definitely.
Dan Forias: So the next time you're looking to put on your foodie hat, and have a hankering
for the flavor of authentic Cambodian cuisine, forget the $1,000.00 16 hour plane ride. A
Metro Day Pass is just $5.00. Now how's that price for a round trip ticket? For Metro Motion
I'm Dan Forias.
Tamra Henry: This spring several exciting Metro projects are breaking ground all over
town. In El Monte a ceremony marked the start of construction on a new four lane underpass
and double track railroad bridge along notoriously busy Baldwin Avenue. Twenty-eight thousand
vehicles travel this stretch of Baldwin every day, including significant truck traffic and
the intersection north of Valley Boulevard is routinely blocked by freight train crossings.
The new grade separation will help eliminate delays, congestion, and deadly crossing collisions
while improving air quality and adding more than 1,300 jobs over the 2 year project. Metro
is a funding partner on this much needed project.
In Norwalk along the 5 freeway, Metro CEO Art Lahey joined Board members Don Canaby,
Diane Dubois, and Cal Trans officials to kick off their Rose Crans and Bloomfield Bridges
segment of the $1.6 billion I-5 widening project. This phase is the 3rd of 6 that'll widen the
5 freeway from the 605 to the Orange County line by adding 1 HOV lane, and 1 general purpose
lane in each direction. Metro has programmed 60 percent of the funding for the entire freeway
widening project.
A little further up the 5 in North County a ribbon cutting commemorated the opening
of the much anticipated HOV connector between the 5 and 14 freeways. The long awaited connector
allows motorists to remain in the carpool lanes while traveling between the two freeways.
Metro Board chair and LA County supervisor Michael D. Antonovich said the $175 million
project "Would greatly improve safety, traffic flow, and air quality at this major bottleneck
in our freeway system."
Staying in North County, a ceremony was held to kick start construction on a new Park and
Ride facility adjacent to the McBean Regional Transit Center in Santa Clarita. The 4.9 acre
project includes 282 much needed parking spaces, along with 2 more passenger loading areas,
low impact lighting, and sustainable design elements, and bike lockers. Plus there'll
be 171 new trees, and attractive landscaping to beautify the area. Metro provided 50 percent
of this project's cost.
And finally, down in Long Beach work has officially begun on the new Gerald Desmond Bridge, and
importantly, between the 710 freeway and Terminal Island in the Port of Long Beach. The existing
structure was built in 1968, and has reached the end of its lifespan. The new bridge has
a unique design, marked by twin 50-story high towers, making it one of the nation's tallest
cable stayed bridges and the first of its kind in California. The new span will also
feature bike and pedestrian pathways, and observation decks some 200 feet above the
water. Read more about this cool new bridge at newgdbridge.com.
Joe MacDonald: Wow Metro sure is working on a lot of highway projects right now.
Tamra Henry: I know, and there are others I didn't mention, plus more coming in the
next few years.
Joe MacDonald: That's cool, I mean buses, trains, yeah we know they're on top of that.
But who knew that Metro was working on our freeway system too?
Tamra Henry: Yep, they're riding shotgun with Caltrans, and they've got the pedal to the
metal on fixing some of the region's gnarliest traffic problems.
Joe MacDonald: LA County is famous for a lot of things: the sun; the surf; the stars. And
we've become infamous for at least one: traffic congestion. For locals, sitting in traffic
is a So Cal staple, while for tourists it's as synonymous with the LA experience as photos
of the Hollywood sign, or walking the Santa Monica pier. Hey the numbers don't lie; about
10 million people live in the county, or 1 out of every 4 Californians. There are 7.3
million registered cars and trucks, and more than 80 percent of our work force drive to
their jobs.
So long story short, you can't talk transportation in LA without mentioning automobiles and highways.
And that's where the Metropolitan Transportation Authority comes in. That's right, Metro, who
oversees one of the nation's largest bus and rail networks also has a highway program.
And they're riding shotgun with Caltrans with the pedal to the metal working on solving
some of the regions' thorniest traffic problems.
Failing: Metro really has had a highway program since the late 1990s. We're here, we're on
the ground, we deal with what's sitting here locally. So the idea of dealing with congestion
needs to be addressed here locally. So it's not just about transit, but it's about all
the things that are available to relieve congestion, and the legislature picked agencies like Metro
to be the one to lead the way in selecting the projects that fit best within our region.
Everyone thinks of us as the buses, and the trains, and those are very important things.
Those are very important pieces of what we do, but all of those systems work because
we have an integrated system that's highways working with our buses, working with our transit
rail system. All these pieces have to work together or nothing works overall.
Joe MacDonald: Originally from rural Michigan, Failing says his small town roots provided
lasting lessons in the value of having viable options when it comes to getting from A to
B.
Failing: Some days I take the bus. Some days I take the train. Some days I car pool. There's
all these choices that we have available here in Los Angeles, and it all goes back to what
I remember in those days growing up next to this beautiful trout stream a half a mile
from the closest paved road is "How am I gonna get places today? What are my choices? Am
I gonna have to count on Mom for a ride? Am I gonna be able to take a bicycle?" When we
give people choices, things can happen, and I'm always gonna be out there trying to make
sure that we have as healthy a system, as broad a system giving our people here in Los
Angeles the choices that we deserve.
Joe MacDonald: See it's all about options. No one weighs necessarily better than another,
but it's essential they all work in concert to keep people moving where they need to go
quickly and safely.
Failing: Metro's an interesting agency, and everyone knows us as the Transit Agency, and
that's an important part of what we do. But we can never forget that today 87 percent
of the trips are being made on the highway system. It's an important piece of the fabric
that exists here in Los Angeles. It's going to continue to be the major mover of people,
and goods, in our urban area like Los Angeles certainly well past our lifetimes, and past
our children's and grandchildren's lifetimes.
Joe MacDonald: Metro's highway program got a big boost back in 2008 when voters approved
Measure R, the half-cent sales tax increase that'll fund a long list of transportation
improvements intended to keep cars, and cargo, moving more efficiently.
Failing: We will always be in a point where we have to continue to move things on our
roadways, and we have a huge investment. We put a lot of money in to the road system that
exists here in Los Angeles, the highway and freeway system. We will always continue to
need to make those investments. We have to keep our freeway pavements up. We have to
continue to make those systems operate far more efficiently. Cars have sure gotten a
lot smarter; it's important that our roads get smarter too.
Joe MacDonald: Well on the heels of a successful launch of the 110 Harbor Freeway ExpressLanes
this fall, Metro has opened another 14 miles of the popular hot lanes on the 10 freeway,
from downtown LA to the 605 freeway. Nearly 100,000 LA commuters have already hit the
road with their FasTrak transponders, and they're enjoying a speedier ride through one
of the region's most congested traffic corridors. ExpressLanes is a one year demonstration project
that'll cut traffic congestion by converting 25 miles of existing carpool lanes on the
10 and 110 freeways in to High Occupancy Toll lanes. Visit metroexpresslanes.net to get
the ins and outs on this innovative program, including how and where you can open a FasTrak
account and get your own switchable transponder. And don't forget your discounts, save big
when you sign up at participating Albertson's and Costco stores, or at your nearest Triple
A branch office.
Tamra Henry: Okay Joe, tell me how you feel about this, free parking? Has a nice ring
to it, doesn't it?
Joe MacDonald: In LA? In this economy? Sounds too good to be true.
Tamra Henry: Now I thought you might say that, and actually you might be on to something.
One UCLA professor who spent his entire career studying the economics of parking believes
it's never free. In fact, quite the opposite. Let's join Greg Goldner on campus in Westwood
to learn more about the high cost of free parking first hand from author and Professor
Donald Shoup.
Greg Goldner: Nothing's more frustrating than sitting in LA bumper to bumper traffic. Yet
nothing's more rewarding than at the end of your drive pulling in to your free parking
spot. But here's a question: is it really free?
Donald Shoup: Well we're standing on top of a parking garage; somebody's gotta pay for
that parking garage. If the driver doesn't pay for it, somebody else pays for it. And
that somebody is everybody.
Greg Goldner: Professor Shoup told us no matter what, the cost doesn't go away, and you wouldn't
believe what the cost is for the life of a single parking spot in any given garage.
Donald Shoup: I think the cost of this garage that we're standing on at UCLA would probably
be about $30,000.00 a space. And when I look around at the cars here, I don't think I see
a single car that would be - could sell for $30,000.00 if the owner tried to auction it
off. Ninety-five percent of everybody who drives to work in southern California parks
free when they get to work. So I think the more that employers offer park in cash ________
say "I'm not gonna confine the subsidy to parking; I'm gonna give it to every employee,
including transit riders." More people will say "I see what you mean; well I think I'd
rather ride the bus."
Greg Goldner: One very well-known organization hears Professor Shoup loud and clear, and
is doing everything they can to help out their employees when it comes to parking and transit.
Female 2: Well Mocha doesn't have its own parking garage, so being that we're on Bunker
Hill, the heart of downtown LA, parking is really scarce for business owners. So the
majority of business owners in downtown have to rely on parking garages. So monthly passes
are really expensive, and being a non-profit, we're always looking to save money.
Greg Goldner: Not too long ago Mocha joined up with Metro's B Tap program which allows
them to buy annual passes for employees at a discounted rate. And needless to say, it's
been a win-win for both the employees and Mocha.
Female 2: Annually we save right around $18,000.00 a year, which is definitely appreciated. But
staff, they love it. They love actually just coming to work without having to rely on having
to park somewhere, or being stuck in traffic. It is important to be part of the Metro program,
and I think that's definitely something that most employers and businesses should look
in to.
Donald Shoup: It's a lot cheaper to pay somebody's transit fare to work than providing them a
parking space at work. And I think that the more the employers say "I see what you mean
that I should offer parking cash out, meaning I'll give the same amount of money to a transit
rider as to a driver," that more people will begin riding transit. And it won't cost the
employer anything more. If you decide to give up a parking space and take a transit pass,
it doesn't cost the employer anything more.
Greg Goldner: So when you get a chance, Google "California parking cash out law". You'll
find Professor Shoup's name front and center, and it might put a lot of extra money back
in your pocket. And if nothing else, who knows who you might meet on the next bus or train.
Donald Shoup: It's been a long time since I've been on a date, let's put it that way.
But I think the first day I met my wife, or the woman who became my wife, we took the
public transit in London.
Joe MacDonald: Construction is moving forward at an impressive pace at a couple of key Metro
sites. Phase two of the Expo Line from Culver City to Santa Monica is taking shape, and
is scheduled for completion in 2015. The bridges that'll carry Expo over National, Cloverfield,
and Olympic are really coming together. Head over to the source at metro.net to see photos
and submit your own, and don't forget there's a series of major street closures along Colorado
Boulevard between 4th and 5th in downtown Santa Monica. So plan accordingly. Go to buildexpo.org
for everything Expo, and follow the project on Twitter at ExpoinSM for timely alerts and
updates.
And crews are busy laying the groundwork for the new state of the art Division 13 bus maintenance
facility adjacent to Union Station. The $95 million project is the future home of 200
Metro CNG buses, and it will include a full Parts and Service Department complete with
bus fueling, washing, and maintenance areas. And its energy efficient design will be built
to lead gold standards with sustainable landscaping, solar panels, and get this; the high tech
bus washing system utilizes recycled rain water, saving millions of gallons a year.
Tamra Henry: Metro is going green in a great many ways, like putting electric vehicle charging
stations at a handful of Park and Ride locations. Drivers can now connect their EVs and charge
their batteries for a nominal fee while using Metro to run errands, go to events, or while
commuting onward to work and back. Each of the 5 locations: Union Station, Sierra Madre
Villa, Willow, El Segundo, and Universal City can handle up to 4 cars at a time. EV drivers
will receive a text message alert when their battery is fully charged. How cool is that?
Go to metro.net/ev to open an account with a valid credit card or PayPal.
Joe MacDonald: LA is famous for some great rides: Mulholland, Sunset, and PCH to name
a few. But I'm not just talking about cruising by car; LA's also got some pretty amazing
rides for those on two wheels, like the LA River bike path from Long Beach up to Burnham,
and Glendale down to the 5 freeway. Whether beginner or expert, this clean, bright, well-kept
bike path has something for everyone. Each summer the LA County Bicycle Coalition hosts
LA River Ride, a daylong event that features 8 unique rides: from a 15 mile kids and family
run; to the 100 mile century ride. Let's gear up for the big day as we tag along with Mike
Ryan on a test ride along the beautiful LA River Bike Path.
Mike Ryan: It's another beautiful day here in LA, and I'm in Griffith Park, and I'm talking
to LA River Ride which happens June 9th. But I'm here a little early to get a lay of the
land. If and when you do decide to gear up for the LA River Ride, it might be a good
idea to think Metro local line 96 to the LA Zoo. There's some massive construction happening,
so plan ahead because parking is limited. For more information go to LA-bike.org/riverride.
Now this is a dry run for the upcoming River Ride, but remember this is a ride that you
can enjoy any time, and Metro is here to make your riding experience easier. So the start
point is the _________ Center across from the LA Zoo, and a quick ride down Zoo Drive
over the 5 will bring you to the Bike Path, which is the gateway to the LA River Ride.
Now there are many great features on this particular section of the Bike Way. But don't
take it from me; take it from seasoned River Ride experts, Colin Hoga.
Colin Hoga: The LA County Bicycle Coalition has been doing the LA River Ride since 2001,
and we first started doing the event not only as a fundraiser for our organization. But
also as a way to introduce the River Path to LA, and the riding community and to encourage
people to get out to ride.
Mike Ryan: And getting people to ride is what it's all about, and you're gonna see a huge
contrast in scenery at the start of the ride. On the right side you're gonna see 8 lanes
of pure concrete and steel, better known as interstate 5. On the left side you're gonna
see quite the opposite, pure tranquility. And right in the middle is the bike lane going
for miles and miles. It's a beautiful sight. Further down, the Path and the highway begin
to part ways, and this bikeway takes on a more serene setting.
Colin Hoga: It really is the most beautiful part of the Path I have to say. It's got the
soft bottom with lots of trees, there's lots of wildlife, and it's also very quiet because
it's adjacent to a residential neighborhood. So we just love this section of the LA River
Path. As you continue further south you'll notice there's a number of pocket parks along
this section of Path, so there's a number of parks all along the LA River Path that
you could stop at, and relax, and enjoy.
Mike Ryan: Everything you see around me is what you'll experience if you choose to do
the LA River Ride. And depending on which ride you do, well this section is just the
tip of the iceberg.
Colin Hoga: The shortest ride's 15 miles; the longest ride's 100 miles. Kids 12 and
under can do the ride for free. We also even have a little kids ride just in Griffith Park
for the really, really little kids.
Mike Ryan: Well there you have it, a little info on one of LA's great bike rides, the
LA River Ride coming to you on June 9th. And remember to park elsewhere and go Metro, and
save your energy for the River Ride.
Joe MacDonald: Well Tamra, it looks like once again we've reached the end of the line.
Tamra Henry: But before we go we'd like to wish a very happy 20th anniversary to Metro
and also the subway. Way back in 1993 the first segment of the brand new Red Line opened
from Union Station to West Lake MacArthur Park to rave reviews.
Joe MacDonald: Today the subway to the stars has become one -
[End of Audio]