Today, transportation in Los Angeles is definitely driven by the car, however for 90 years (1873-1963), the city boasted the largest railway system in the United States. LARY (Los Angeles Railway) covered 600 miles of tracks, and operated over 1,200 cars at its peak...."The Los Angeles streetcar system was by far the largest streetcar system ever constructed, and was instrumental in shaping the early development pattern of Los Angeles."
So.... what happened? Freeways happened. And that is another story...
The CRA-LA (Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles) has a plan to resurrect the Red Car line in areas of Downtown LA. With all the converted work-live lofts in downtown, the neighborhood would greatly benefit by the revival of this public transportation infrastructure. It would revitalize the community and enrich the urban fabric of downtown. In 2003, San Pedro successfully implemented the Red Car Trolley line at the Port of Los Angeles. Why isn't LA following suit?
It could be that the owners of the converted condos are not actually living downtown. They are investors. As speculated by a urban designer I know at Moule Polyzoides, the real community will be in a few years after the initial turn-over occurs; the second owners will reside in the heart of downtown. Hopefully, they will have one family car, take the subway and ride the street car. They will shop, work and live in downtown.
