A new statewide evaluation of rail transit stations gave LA County’s MTA an average grade. Four out of five of the worst-performing stops were along the Blue Line, which runs from Downtown LA to Long Beach.

While Metro’s six-line system graded at a C overall, the study, which was conducted by the Center for Law, Energy and the Environment at UC Berkeley, called most of the subway and light-rail stations, including Westlake/MacArthur Park, a model for transportation agencies. The study evaluated service by 489 rail transit stations to their surrounding neighborhoods. Stations were judged by how well they encourage ridership and create thriving, rail-oriented neighborhoods.

Best-performing stations are easily reached by walking, have high ridership and serve significant concentrations of employers, services, shopping and housing. Lowest-ranking stations were usually on the fringes of the rail systems in low-density, industrial or car-oriented communities. [LAT]