Metro To Hold Three Public Hearings in February on Proposed Bus Service Changes and Enhancements To Be Implemented in June 2010

Wednesday January 20, 2010

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will hold three public hearing in February to receive community input on proposed modifications to Metro's bus service.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will hold three public hearing in February to receive community input on proposed modifications to Metro’s bus service.

The upcoming public hearings, held in conformance with federal public hearing requirements and Metro adopted guidelines will affect bus service operating in the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley and the Westside/Central area of Los Angeles.

Most of the proposed service changes involve restructuring or modifying various bus lines as well as the implementation of a new Metro Rapid bus line from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica via Venice Boulevard. The proposed changes, if approved, would take place on June 27, 2010 or later.

The public hearings will be held:

• San Fernando Valley Sector, February 3, 2010 at 6:30 p.m., at the Marvin Braude Constituent Service Center, 6262 Van Nuys Blvd. in Van Nuys.
• San Gabriel Valley Sector, February 8, 2010 at 6 p.m. at the San Gabriel Valley Sector Office, 3449 Santa Anita Ave., in El Monte.
• Westside-Central Sector, February 10, 2010 at 5 p.m. at the La Cienega Tennis Center, 325 South La Cienega Blvd., in Beverly Hills.

Listed below are the service proposals to be considered at the public hearings and the service sectors that will be conducting the hearings. In general, the proposed modifications will improve the efficiency of the bus system through better use of limited resources. The public an attend any of these hearings and comment on proposals of interest to them.

Metro San Gabriel Valley Sector

• Line 180/181- Hollywood-Glendale-Pasadena via Colorado Blvd. & Los Feliz Blvd. – Consider modifying route between the communities of Glendale and Los Feliz to serve the Silver Lake area.
• Line 287- El Monte-Montebello Mall-East Los Angeles College-Indiana Station. Restructure route to serve 1st Street from Atlantic Blvd./Cesar Chavez Ave. to 1st Street/Indiana Street due to proposed discontinuation of Line 31 service east of Indiana Street.

Metro Westside-Central Sector

• Line 30/31- Pico/Rimpau-Monterey Park via Pico Blvd. & East 1st Street: Cancel route 31. Line 287 will assume the portion of service currently operated by route 31 from Collegian Ave./Cesar E Chavez Ave. to 1st/Indiana streets.
• Line 33/333- Downtown Los Angeles-Santa Monica via Venice Blvd. Replace service on Limited-stop Line 333 with new Metro Rapid Line 733.
• Line 217- Vermont/Sunset Station-Fairfax/Washington via Fairfax Ave. and Hollywood Blvd. Consider implementation of short line trips at Hollywood/Vine Station.
• Line 733- Downtown Los Angeles-Santa Monica via Venice Blvd. Rapid. Implement Metro Rapid bus service on Venice Blvd. from Patsaouras Transit Plaza to Santa Monica.

Metro San Fernando Valley Sector

• Line 96- Downtown Los Angeles-Sherman Oaks via Riverside Drive, LA Zoo. Make permanent minor reroute from Riverside Drive to Glendale Blvd. between Fletcher Drive and Glendale Blvd. in Silver Lake.
• Line 166/364- Chatsworth Station-Sun Valley via Nordhoff Street, Osborne Street Local/Limited. Minor reroute from Nordhoff Street via Reseda Blvd. to proposed transit center at Cal State Northridge near Plummer Street and Darby Ave.
• Line 167- Chatsworth Station-Studio City via Plummer Street, Coldwater Canyon Blvd. Minor reroute from Plummer Street to proposed transit center at Cal State Northridge near Darby Ave.
• Line 168- Chatsworth Station-Pacoima via Lassen & Paxton streets. Minor reroute from Lassen Street via Reseda Blvd. to proposed transit center at Cal State Northridge near Plummer Street and Darby Ave.
• Line 240- Northridge-Universal City Station via Reseda Blvd. and Ventura Blvd. (Branch route of Line 150) Minor reroute from Reseda Blvd. to proposed transit center at Cal State Northridge near Plummer Street and Darby Ave.
• Line 741- Northridge-Tarzana via Reseda Blvd. Rapid. Extend route to Universal City Station via Ventura Blvd. Minor reroute from Reseda Blvd. to proposed transit center at Cal State Northridge near Plummer Street and Darby Ave. Route to terminate at Cal State Northridge or continue to existing terminal at Reseda Blvd. and Devonshire Blvd.
• Line 750- Warner Center-Universal City Station via Ventura Blvd. Rapid. Reduce weekday peak service and reallocate resources to Line 741.
• Line 902- Pacoima-North Hollywood Station via Van Nuys Blvd. and Burbank Blvd. Local/Limited. Make permanent new demonstration line and implement new midday service.

These proposals may be approved in whole or in part at a date following the public hearings. Approved changes may also include other alternatives derived from public comment. Interested members of the public are encouraged to attend the upcoming public hearings and provide testimony on the service proposals under consideration.

Persons unable to attend the hearings may submit written testimony postmarked through midnight, February 12, 2010. Written testimony can be sent to Metro Customer Relations, One Gateway Plaza, 99PL4, Los Angeles, CA. 90012-2932 Attn: June 2010 Service Changes.

Comments also can be sent via e-mail to customerrelations@metro.net Attn: June 2010 Service Changes or FAX to 213-922-6988. Additional information is available at metro.net.

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Editors Note: “Metro” should be used when referring to this agency.