Los Angeles Earthquake Transportation Study: An Analysis of the 1994 Northridge Quake on Metrolink Commuter Rail Ridership

Federal Transit Administration 50th Anniversary1995PDFTech ReportGardner Consulting PlannersUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Transit AdministrationUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Transit AdministrationLos Angeles (California)United StatesAnalysisCostsEarthquakesRidershipLevel of serviceFinancePlanning and ForecastingPublic TransportationImprovementsDOT-T-96-15The Los Angeles (Northridge) Earthquake of January 17, 1994, resulted in the destruction of key freeway links, causing severe hardship to personal mobility and causing massive auto congestion. Commuters who traditionally relied on their autos had to utilize other means, specifically Metrolink, a commuter rail system, which connects downtown Los Angeles to San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys to the north where the quake was centered. This study was undertaken to document what happened to the transportation systems following the Northridge earthquake. The objective of the study is to better understand the trade-offs that were made by the stranded commuters in the Interstate 5 and State Route 14 freeway corridors. The aim is to identify and quantify the actions taken by Metrolink and other transportation related agencies, to quantify the ridership response to the service changes as well as the costs associated with these improvements. The intent is to use the information developed from the study, to make more informed cost-effective decisions and actions, that can be utilized by other transportation/transit agencies to deal with natural disasters and to accommodate and retain ridership after such an event.95