UK High Speed Rail CO2 Study Flawed

Juan's note: I'm crossposting this from my new blog: www.localclimateaction.com

Because I was unsure of the findings, I spent some time looking at the Booz Allen Hamilton/Department for Transport High Speed Rail Study (Estimated Carbon Impact of a New North-South Line) mentioned in a Freakonomics Blog Post.

First, I went to look at the source documents. This was a bit difficult, because footnote xii is actually a link to the AEA study source document. None of the links on footnote x, which is supposedly the AEA study, lead to any usable data for this study.

Looking at the AEA study for DfT, I'm able to see how they got the AEA figures. 49 for average passenger rail, 109 for all cars, 76 for bus, 180 for plane. However, they leave out the Class 373 EMU(high speed rail train).

I was unsuccessful in searching for the June 2007 DEFRA statistics released in the study, but I did find the updated 2009 statistics. Each year, DEFRA (UK's EPA) publishes statistics that they have businesses use to calculate their scope 3 (indirect) emissions from rail travel. This study shows a figure of 17 g/pkm for Eurostar, specifically the high speed rail route between London and Paris. This figure could be a bit low, because France derives a high proportion of their energy from a non-ghg-emitting source (nuclear).

Taxi, Bus, Rail and Ferry Passenger Transport Conversion Factors				CO2
Method of travel		Vehicle kms travelled (vkm)	x	kg CO2 per vkm	Total kg CO2
Taxi 1	Regular taxi		x	0.2217
	Black cab		x	0.2558
Method of travel		Passenger kms travelled (pkm)	x	kg CO2 per pkm	Total kg CO2
Taxi 1	Regular taxi		x	0.1583
	Black cab		x	0.1705
Bus	Local bus 2		x	0.1104
	London bus 3		x	0.0830
	Average bus		x	0.1035
	Coach 4		x	0.0300
	Average bus and coach		x	0.0682
Rail	National rail 5		x	0.0577
	International rail (Eurostar) 6		x	0.0177
	Light rail and tram 7		x	0.0834
	London Underground 8		x	0.0780
Ferry (Large RoPax) 9	Foot passengers		x	0.0191
	Car passengers		x	0.1322
	Average (all passengers)		x	0.1152
Total					0

Looking at the Center for Neighborhood Technology study's figure for the Danish IC3 Diesel Multiple-Train Unit and converting lb/pmi to g/pkm, I get 72.71, which is the same (73 g/pkm) as the study.However, the IC3 is diesel-powered conventional rail train capable of a top service speed of 112 mph, not a high speed rail train. Better comparables would be the ICE line 6 in Germany or the TGV in France, which have lower g/pkm emissions.

At this point I was left wondering if the report's authors meant to analyze the impact of a mid-speed diesel powered train line instead of a high speed line. Although the report was light on specifics, the authors did mention that they meant to analyze the effects of efficiency gains in "traction electricity," although this may refer to maglev. They could have also assumed much lower load factors for these routes, although they did not state this in their assumptions.

Needless to say, I'm convinced that the study is flawed.

However, assuming it is not flawed, the energy mix still differs from region to region (different power pools have different generation and emissions profiles). I found the UK-wide electricity emissions-factor on DEFRA's site, which is 546.67 kG of CO2 per mWh. Using the EPA's eGRID data for the California region, I converted lbs/kWh to 398.57 kG of CO2 per mWh. So, California's electricity results in about 73% of the emissions in the UK, per unit of delivered electricity.

	raw	convert
UK, From DEFRA	0.54667	546.67
California, from eGRID	878.71	398.5766

So, even if the report was correct, and high speed rail emissions in the UK would emit 88 g/pkm (which I highly doubt), the equivalent technology would only emit 64 g/pkm operating in California.

One step closer to subway: Electeds and high-level officials gather to celebrate soil sample collection in Westwood parking lot

Amended August 21, 2009

Metro's drilling for soil samples in Lot 36 by Wilshire and Veteran.

Could the subway be here as soon as 2019?

That's what I heard today at a press conference called the mayor's office this morning at Lot 36, which is by Wilshire and Veteran. The occasion? The conclusion of drilling for soil samples as part of the draft EIR process for the Westside Subway Extension. Metro has already collected over 70 soil samples from various points along the projected subway route(s).

Anyway, I'm vaguely trained in hard news writing, so I attempted to write up some of the statements made by Mayor Villaraigosa, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, and many other elected politicians and high-level officials, such as Metro CEO Art Leahy. They called out for the passage of the LRTP (looong delayed); highlighted benefits (expanded mobility, travel time reductions, and job creation); and declared that with federal matching funds, the Wilshire Subway Extension could make it to Westwood in 10 years - meaning 2019.

L to R: Rita Robinson, General Manager at LADOT; Pam O'Connor, Mayor Pro-Templore of Santa Monica and Metro board member; LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky (speaking); Metro construction worker; LA Councilman Bill Rosendahl (he's tall).

This assumes many things happen, including...

1) It is safe to tunnel along the projected route

2) The delayed Long Range Transportation Plan is passed by Metro.

3) There is traction in the creation of a National Infrastructure Bank

4) Maybe our subway will even get a direct financial allocation in the renewal of SAFETLU, the federal government's transportation bill, scheduled for September.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaragoisa, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, 5^th District Councilman Paul Koretz and other area elected politicians and high-level public officials came together today at UCLA’s parking lot 36, by Wilshire and Veteran, to celebrate a major milestone in the path to building the Westside Subway Extension: the conclusion of drilling for soil testing.

Villaraigosa touted the conclusion of soil sample collection as an important step in bringing the subway to fruition, a project that is Villaraigosa said would generate jobs, cut travel times, and end Los Angeles’s vulnerability as the punch line late night jokes about congestion and rush hour traffic.

The Westwood soil sample collection is one of over 70 samples collected this summer by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority for analysis as part of the subway extension’s draft environmental impact report.

At the press conference, Villaraigosa once again thanked voters for passing Measure R, which he and Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroskavky interpreted as a mandate from voters to build a rapid transit system which would transport Angelenos around the Westside and across the County.

Villaraigosa stated that with federal matching, the subway extension to Westwood could be completed as soon as 2019. Los Angeles will not see a Westwood subway station before 2036 if the city and Metro does nothing. This led Villaraigosa to call for the Metro Board of Directors to approve the Long Range Transportation Plan, whose passage was postponed to September last month, which would then enable Metro and other subway supporters to lobby for federal matching dollars.

Besides generating at least 32,000 construction jobs, the subway extension would expand mobility for the transit dependent, particularly those coming from the central and eastern parts of the County to job rich areas on the Westside, Yaroslavsky said. “The days when the west county’s transit needs get ignored are over,” Yaroslavsky declared.

Students, staff, and the 10 million annual visitors to UCLA would also benefit from the opening of a subway station in Westwood. “UCLA is the 7^th largest employer in Los Angeles,” said UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, “and a subway would eliminate thousands of vehicle commute miles annually.”

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block talked about how UCLA would benefit from the subway

Juan took the pictures.

The Hunt continues: Checked out the Charmont

On Friday, I looked at two units inside The Charmont, Juan's apartment building in Santa Monica to get a sense of what nicer, bigger units looked like.

First, we saw a one-bedroom unit that is on the market for $1,900. It is 725 square feet, includes 3 closets, and is freshly renovated.

Kitchen inside the one bedroom unit


The one bedrooms inside the Charmont are beyond what Juan and I can pay, so we asked about studios in the building. Diane, the manager of the Charmont, showed us a 525 square foot studio on the market for about $1560 a month. This studio has three closets (one coat closet behind the door; one closet in the main room; and a walk-in closet/dressing area, complete with make-up table that could be a work station.

One view from the main room in the studio; our bed could go in the corner pictured in this photo.

Kitchen inside the studio. Older electric stove.

Bathroom: It has the same small sink as Juan's apartment

Desk/make-up table in the dressing area

Now Juan and I need to do some more thinking.

The Hunt: The things we do to live near transit

Located just one block from Wilshire Boulevard (a major east-west street in LA) and two blocks from the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus hub, Juan's apartment on 4th Street has incredible transit accessibility. And this is no accident; Juan deliberately looked for apartments near 720 stops. But this being LA, no Craigslist ad seems to mention this. (Edit: I think this is kind of ironic.)

Instead, the Craigslist ads focus on proximity to the beach (four short blocks) and the 3rd Street Promenade (1 block). Those factors contribute to the premium that Juan pays for his apartment. Furthemore, we just learned that to upgrade from his apartment -- a kitchen-less bachelor apartment for under $1,100/month -- to a studio with a kitchen would cost $400 more a month.

This dilemma is particularly salient for me because I am contemplating a move to this neighborhood too, since I don't own a car and I'd like to be near my boyfriend. But I am not rolling in money: my budget is $900 a month including utilities. (Note: 1) Obviously I recognize that there are thousands of families in LA whose housing budgets are much, much less than mine. 2) I actually paid more to live in Weyburn, but I attempted to justify this due to proximity to campus, lack of car ownership, and the generous fellowship support I received from UCLA).

People (with cars) may not understand how moving just one or two blocks away from transit access makes a significant difference in quality of life. Quality of life for me, someone who is a transit-dependent, is highly contingent on access to, you know, transit. And it definitely matters if that transit runs often.

Presently Juan lives within sprinting distance to the bus, which is key for those days you are running late. And when you're transit dependent, you almost always have to count on the fact that it will take you longer to get anywhere than those of us with cars (or bikes; those cyclists can almost always count on the fact that they will arrive somewhere faster than cars.)

By fiddling around with keywords on Craigslist, even I can detect a substantial price difference for locating just three more blocks north of Wilshire or two more blocks east or west of 4th. I'm convinced part of this is beach and Promenade accessibility - not transit accessibility.

I kind of dread the premium this location will command when Expo opens because most of the housing in downtown Santa Monica is owned by the Santa Monica collection and it costs an arm and a leg.

It turns out that a studio in Juan's building is $1560 and a one bedroom is at least $1900. The building is on the historic register but lacks other amenities common in other buildings, like garbage disposals and dishwashers. The studio actually pushes my and Juan's limits on affordability, particularly after including the cost of parking ($86; it is unbundled, which would make Shoup happy).

But for the time being, Juan and I will return to strategizing: how to make living together in a 390 square foot bachelor apartment, sans kitchen, feasible for two.

Bus duel

Yesterday, I took transit from my family's home in Valley Glen to Juan's apartment in Santa Monica. I missed the 761 bus over the hill by mere minutes, which was annoying since the 761 has 30 minutes headways on Sundays. But I did get to see this bus duel (n: two buses bunch up/travel together due to congestion or bus drivers racing to finish a route first).

Bus bunching is actually pretty common, particularly on routes that run frequently, and can very challenging to fix from what I have read.

And yes, if three or more buses bunch up together, Juan and I do have a name for that: We call it a derby!

It actually happened - LA (Metro) is now on Google Transit!

Earlier this month, Metro officially went live on Google Transit. Users can now get driving, walking, and transit directions for trips in the LA area via Google Transit, which is accessible through the Get Directions feature of Google Maps.

Maya Emsden, Metro's Deputy Executive Officer of Creative Services, said that Metro's launch on Google Transit means that users can now access a versatile, multilingual trip planner that integrates the features of Google Maps at a web-based media briefing held yesterday morning

Some of those features include the ability to do searches by business names, to provide street views of bus stops and train stations, and to generate itineraries that are accessible to the visually impaired. (Yes, these are things that the Metro trip planner cannot currently do.)

Ms. Emsden also spoke of how Metro saw its launch on Google Transit as a means to

   1. increase transit awareness
   2. convert potential riders into active riders and
   3. increase off-peak ridership.

Metro, like everyone else it seems, is under pressure to increase its operating revenues. Getting people to ride transit during off-peak hours seems like a no-brainer.

There are still barriers to overcome in increasing ridership, particularly during off-peak hours. With some exceptions (i.e. Wilshire), off-peak buses don’t run very often. I'd be hard-pressed to decide what is worse: getting to the bus stop just to see the bus you needed has pulled away, or not knowing when the next bus is coming.

But what if you could see where the next bus is on a Google Map? Might that change your feelings a tad about riding a bus?

UCSD and the University of Michigan draw on Global Positioning System (GPS) data from their shuttle buses to create what are called mash-ups on a Google Map. For fun, I click on these mash-ups and watch these bus icons move along a Google Map every couple of seconds. Via computer or smart phone, people can find out what time the next bus is coming … or pull up this map, which shows them where the next bus is. And when it’s late at night, you can look at the site to see where the next bus is, and figure out whether you should wait inside a little longer before heading outside to the bus stop.

University of Michigan Mash Up

UCSD mash-up

By providing this information, transit systems can make it feasible for more people to ride, particularly when buses run infrequently.

How far off are we from having these kinds of mash-ups available for Metro buses? And for buses operated by traditional municipal operators? Will there be a time when these agencies will open up NextBus/GPS data in a way that the public can also see the whereabouts of a bus from a computer or a smartphone?

I do think that Metro’s collaboration with Google Maps marks the beginning of something incredibly promising. The discussions with Google led Metro to open its timetable data to everyone at www.developer.metro.net. Perhaps this will lead to innovations such as the iBart application for iPhones.

Furthermore, Metro’s launch on Google Transit also expands the versatility of using Google Transit to plan itineraries that span across agencies and county lines. Locally, these agencies are on Google Transit: Burbank, Irvine, Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino County, Foothill Transit, Metrolink and Thousand Oaks.

And finally…

Juan and I would like to thank all of the people who took the time to join the Los Angeles Wants Google Transit Facebook group. They include our friends, our mothers, our colleagues in the transportation field here in LA, and people we don't even know who found the group through Stalker Feed. We hope we didn't pester you too much. But because you joined the group on Facebook, key supporters of Google Transit, such as City Council President Eric Garcetti and Metro board member Richard Katz, were able to demonstrate that there was public support for this kind of public/private collaboration.

Transit Oriented Food Adventure: Mama's Hot Tamales, Lost Soul Cafe, Philippe's, and Scoop's

Earlier this month, Juan and I rounded up our good friends to visit Transit-Oriented Food Adventure. They included were joined by our friends Ryan and Hoi Ning from UCLA and my friend Ian from Wonderland, our elementary school in Laurel Canyon, and his wife Justine.

We started at Mama's Hot Tamales in MacArthur Park. It is not just a tamale restaurant, although we did order nearly all of the tamales on the menu (one each) to try. (My personal favorite was the tamale with spinach and mushrooms.) Mama's Hot Tamales is also an innovative example of community and economic development: the cafe is also a business and job-training restaurant which teaches people how to build on their skills from the informal economy of street food vending into more stable careers in the formal food service industry.

Mama's Hot Tamales is also a fine example of how a community economic development initiative can also act as a catalyst of local cultural tourism, as demonstrated by its ability to attract Angelenos from around the city, like us, to sojourn by transit no less.

We were served by none other than Mama herself, Sandi Romero. She was so sweet, knowledgeable, and nice. The food was delicious. My tamarindo drink was made from scratch, which I never had before. The decor was colorful and welcoming. I look forward to coming back.

Lost Soul Cafe
We took the Red Line to the Civic Center station, which was a few blocks from Lost Soul Cafe, a coffee and sandwich shop located off an obscure alley in the Old Bank District. The aesthetic of Lost Soul Cafe: Dark, unfinished ceilings, open mike space, very hipster-ish. Juan and I shared an Island Fresh smoothie, which was delicious. Ian and his wife got first an oreo shake, which turned out to be an accident. They also got their Ube shake, which was good, except for the fact that they'd had the Oreo shake first and well, there is sometimes too much of a good thing.

Philippe's
After visiting Lost Soul Cafe, we actually walked all of the way to Philippe's for French Dipped Sandwiches, which is several blocks north of Union Station and just below the hill from my family's regular Chinese restaurant, CBS Seafood Restaurant. (It is worth noting the proximity between Philippe's and CBS... I find it fascinating to see how swiftly neighborhoods change, from Chinatown to ... well, not Chinatown.) Anyway, Philippe's has been around since 1908 and moved to its current location in 1951 following the construction of the 101 freeway.

Philippe's "Frenched Dipped Sandwich" is the specialty of the house and consists of either roast beef, roast pork, leg of lamb, turkey or ham served on a lightly textured, freshly baked French roll which has been dipped in the gravy of the roasts. This was a hit with the group.

Finally, we went back on the train at Union Station - which is wonderfully iconic and beautiful - to visit Mel-Hel, the new hipster zone by LA City College. We got off at Vermont/Santa Monica and walked half a mile to eat gelato at Scoops. Scoops has gotten major press for its homemade gelato. You can get gelato with flavors that include ingredients like bacon. I don't really get that part. But hey, these kinds of amenties didn't exist when I was a kid growing up nearby before we decamped to the SFV.

Transit: $5 day pass; we used Google Transit to figure out our itinerary (www.maps.google.com). Ian, Justine, and I started our journey by walking or driving to the North Hollywood subway station while Juan, Hoi Ning, and Ryan rode the 720 Wilshire bus to MacArthur Park.

Mama's Hot Tamales, 2122 West Seventh Street (a half a block west of Alvarado St., and directly across the southern border of MacArthur Park), Los Angeles, CA 90057. Tel. 213.487.7474 - Fax (213) 487-8475. Open: 11 am - 3:30 pm seven days a week. Metro Red Line: Westlake/MacArthur Park.

Lost Soul Cafe - Old Bank District - Harlem Place Alley 124 W. 4th Street Los Angeles, CA 90001, 213.617.7000. On Twitter (twitter.com/lostsoulscafe); Facebook (facebook.com/lostsoulscafe); MySpace (myspace.com/lostsoulscafe); and the web (www.lostsouls.com). Metro Red Line: Civic Center.

Philippe's. 1001 N. Alameda Ave, Los Angeles, 90012, 213.628.3781. www.philippes.com. Metro Red Line: Union Station.

Scoop's, 712 N. Heliotrope Dr., Los Angeles, 90029, (323) 906-2649, Hours:Mon-Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., Sun. 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Metro Red Line: Vermont/Santa Monica.

Two Car Purple Line Trains

It's the 747-SP of the Metro Rail Lineup.

We spotted this horizontally-challenged subway on a transit-oriented food adventure to Mama's Hot Tamales, Grand Central Market, Lost Souls Cafe, Philippe's, and Scoop's this weekend. Although these two metrorail cars may look lonely, shortening trains is one way to control costs while keeping headways low (having more frequent service) during times of decreased demand for service (mid-day on a sunday, in this case). I understand from MetroRiderLA that they were running mid-day on a Monday as well.

I did see a 1-car green line train a few weekends ago, but I didn't get a picture of it.