Study to Bring Another Busway and Extended Rail Service to the Valley Approved
The L.A. City Council today approved a directive allowing city transportation staff to work with Metro on north-south transit corridors in the Eastern San Fernando Valley. The study, funded through Measure R and other outside sources, will begin the process towards scoping, budgeting and public outreach for improving bus speeds on key north-south corridors, a busway on Van Nuys Boulevard and extending rail service from the North Hollywood Red Line station to the Northeast Valley.
“Today’s action is a strong step forward in the process to create a dedicate busway in the Northeast San Fernando Valley, which will bring transit equity to our communities and traffic relief to our residents,” said Councilmember Richard Alarcón of the Van Nuys busway, which could stretch from Orange Line to Panaroma City. He says the street has 36,000 daily boardings, 13,000 more than the Orange Line.
Options for the project include a median busway, possibly with grade separations at major streets and a tunnel during one segment.
"That will be a very critical north-south transit connection," noted one LADOT transportation planner during Friday's meeting. Another critical link, according to the him, is extending the rail system between the North Hollywood Red Line Station and Sylmar Metrolink Station, which could be home to high speed rail in the near future.
Transit officials also hope to improve bus speeds along the Reseda, Sepulveda, Van Nuys and Lankershim/San Fernando arteries.
Previously
- A Busway for Van Nuys Blvd. and More Rail Service in the Valley?
- Reader Reactions: A Busway Up Van Nuys Blvd & More Rail Service in the Valley