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.
Study to Bring Another Busway and Extended Rail Service to the Valley Approved
Reader Reactions: A Busway Up Van Nuys Blvd & More Rail Service in the Valley
In anticipation of today's City Council Transportation Committee meeting, last Friday we posted about a study of north-south transit corridors in the San Fernando Valley, which concluded that the city should further study a busway along Van Nuys Boulevard and more rail service, possibly linking the North Hollywood Station to the Sylmar Metrolink station. Readers had a lot say about this.
Dozens Turn Out for First Meeting About Train from Wilshire to LAX
The first of four public meetings about the Crenshaw Corridor project was last night, with 50 to 60 people reportedly showing up. Out of those who attended, "about a dozen spoke their two minutes — with nearly every public speaker in favor of the light rail option," wrote transit blogger LA Wad on MetroRiderLA. That included LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas who paid a surprise visit to the meeting in support of the light rail option.
Orange Line Extension Revs up to Break Ground
Not owning your own property can be a bitch. And such is life when leasing from the government, one who will now be using some of the land for a transportation corridor. The Orange Line busway extension from the Warner Center up Canoga Avenue to the Chatsworth Train Station is slated to break ground this June. That means the businesses that have been leasing right-of-way property from Metro--some have for 50 years--will be booted or have their lease properties be chopped up into small ones.
Orange Line Ridership Breaks Records Again
The gas price spike may be over, but it would seem that some are sticking to public transit. The latest numbers coming from Metro show that the Orange Line continues to grow in popularity. September saw the highest ridership ever for the Orange Line in the Valley at 28,000. Which has us asking, when will that feared and applauded (depending on who you are) proposal to turn the dedicated busway into a light rail happen?
Dear Google Maps, What About Orange Line Stations?
Have you ever noticed that Google Maps displays Metro Subway and Light Rail stations but not Orange Line ones, even though the buway pretty much acts like train on rubber wheels (yeah, cheesy description). We posed that question to Google and a spokesperson quickly responded saying those stations would be marked on the map if Metro joined the Google Transit program.
Councilman Opposes Smart Planning in Van Nuys
What? So, Metro is set to vote this week on a mixed-use residential/commercial development that will literally be feet from the Orange Line Sepulveda station in Van Nuys (you know, in that huge parking lot no one uses). "When they first came to me about it, it was supposed to be all residential," Councilman Tony Cardenas, who represents the area, is quoted saying in the Daily News. "Now they are talking about having commercial development." Cardenas also voted against a sales tax increase that could go towards public transit projects such as the "Subway to the Sea."
LA, Home of North America's Largest Natural Gas Bus
Ever feel like you're cramped in a bus of 100 people? Imagine a bus where 100 could fit comfortably. As reported last week, the Orange Line in the Valley got a new bus to play with today. The gigantic 65-foot bus that will be in service for a one year pilot began taking passengers back and forth between the NoHo Arts District and Woodland Hills late this morning. To alleviate the high usage of...

