The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board of Directors approved staff recommendations to greatly improve the Valley’s Metro Orange Line by launching a formal environmental study of rail-style crossing gates throughout the line and grade separations at key locations along the corridor. Proposed improvements would be designed to allow for future conversion of this Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line to light rail.
LA Metro has completed a technical study that evaluated ways to enhance the BRT Line’s speed, safety, reliability and ridership. Alternatives considered included grade separations at some major intersections, minor street closures, better signal priority technology, electronic bus connectivity and a four quadrant gating system. After evaluating several potential improvements, the study found that four quadrant gates installed at more than 30 major Orange Line intersections between North Hollywood and Chatsworth provided the greatest speed and safety benefits.
Under a Board amendment, Metro will also further evaluate the stand-alone grade separations from the technical study as potential project alternatives. Metro will also work closely with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation to further study local intersection impacts.
Metro will start environmental review and preliminary engineering work as well as begin public outreach for the project. Improvements have the potential to create substantial time savings for Orange Line riders. Excluding station dwell times, the improvements are expected to shave up to 16 minutes off an end-to-end transit trip in each direction. The gates and bridge will also enhance safety by greatly reducing potential vehicle intrusions along the busway. Proposed improvements would also accommodate integration with other future Metro transit projects, including the East San Fernando Valley and Sepulveda Transit Corridor projects. Additionally, the Orange Line’s conversion to light rail is scheduled for later in the Measure M program.
Groundbreaking for the Metro Orange Line Improvements project is scheduled to begin in 2019 with an opening date approximately six years later. “These projects will improve the rider experience for everyone who uses the Orange Line to get where they’re going,” said L.A. Mayor and Metro Board Chair Eric Garcetti.
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