Why Is Los Angeles Such A Car Culture?

Exploring the City’s Love for Automobiles and the Open Road

In the 1960s, Los Angeles saw a significant decline in its commuter train system, largely due to the dismantling of the extensive Pacific Electric Railway (also known as the "Red Car" system) and the Los Angeles Railway (the "Yellow Cars"). Several factors contributed to the downfall of these commuter trains:

1. Rise of Automobile Culture
After World War II, Los Angeles experienced rapid suburban growth, with people increasingly moving to areas where cars became the primary mode of transportation. The freeway system expanded to accommodate this car-centric lifestyle, further reducing the reliance on public transit. By the 1960s, owning a car was seen as a symbol of modernity and independence, which caused many commuters to abandon trains in favor of automobiles.

2. Freeway Expansion
During the 1950s and 1960s, Los Angeles invested heavily in freeway construction, which allowed people to commute faster by car. The city's urban planning favored roads over rails, leading to the neglect of the public transportation infrastructure. The massive freeway system that Los Angeles is known for today came at the expense of maintaining and improving its train systems.

3. Decline of Pacific Electric and Los Angeles Railway
The Pacific Electric Railway, which was one of the largest electric railway systems in the world, gradually phased out its commuter trains, with the last line shutting down in 1961. The Los Angeles Railway, which primarily operated within the city, also saw its trolley lines replaced by buses. These transitions were part of a broader shift in public transportation policy that favored buses as cheaper, more flexible alternatives to rail systems.

4. The "Great American Streetcar Scandal
"Some historians point to what is known as the "Great American Streetcar Scandal," where automotive and oil companies, including General Motors, allegedly bought and dismantled streetcar systems across the United States, including in Los Angeles. The companies were accused of replacing streetcars with buses to promote the use of cars and fuel. Although this remains a debated topic, it is often cited as one of the reasons for the decline of rail transit in cities like Los Angeles.

5. Changing Public Policies
In the 1960s, local governments were more focused on freeway expansion and urban sprawl rather than maintaining and upgrading the commuter rail system. Public transportation funding was often directed towards bus systems rather than preserving rail networks. The shift in policy, along with public preferences, made commuter trains less viable in the region.

6. Efforts to Revive Rail Transit
By the 1960s, the commuter rail system had almost entirely disappeared, with the Pacific Electric and Los Angeles Railway lines gone. However, in the following decades, there were efforts to bring back rail transit in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Metro system, which includes light rail and subway lines, began operations in the 1990s as a modern attempt to restore public transit options in the car-centric city.
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The dismantling of Los Angeles' commuter train system in the 1960s was a product of changing transportation trends, public policy favoring automobiles, and the rise of the freeway network.