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December
4, 2002 |
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MTA Moves
Closer to Selection of North-South Bus Transit Corridor in San Fernando
Valley, Narrows Candidate List to Five Following a series of
community meetings and analysis, an MTA project team has narrowed the list
of alternatives for a north-south high capacity bus transit corridor in
the San Fernando Valley from 13 to five.
The ongoing San Fernando Valley North-South Transit Corridor Study,
which will be completed in early 2003, will result in the recommendation
of a corridor(s) that would connect the north San Fernando Valley with
both the San Fernando Valley East-West Metro Rapid Transitway and with
Metro Rapid bus service on Ventura Boulevard. The five potential
north-south corridors that remain under study include (in alphabetical
order): the rail right-of-way adjacent to Canoga Avenue, Lankershim
Boulevard, Reseda Boulevard, Sepulveda Boulevard, and Van Nuys Boulevard. “High capacity
north-south bus service will be a vital piece of the transportation system
in the San Fernando Valley,” said Jim de la Loza, MTA executive officer
for countywide planning. “Metro
Rapid service on Ventura Boulevard is hugely successful and we expect the
east-west Metro Rapid transitway to draw large numbers of passengers, as
well. A north-south corridor
will be the right complement for these two lines.” In
addition to public input, the study is factoring in employment density,
population density, areas of high transit usage, land use condition and
population under 15 and over 64. To improve bus speeds at congestion points, the corridor may include dedicated bus lanes, either all day or during peak hours only. This may also include service beyond the limits of the corridor, such as enhanced transit service over the Sepulveda Pass to Wilshire Boulevard. The recommended project
also may incorporate the following list of potential enhancements:
enhanced bus stops with canopies, lighting, ticket machines, maps, “next
trip” displays, transit signal priority, park and ride facilities,
landscaping, and pedestrian and bike access improvements. Upon approval of a
project by the MTA Board in early 2003, funding for implementation would
include $100 million earmarked in Governor Gray Davis’ Transportation
Congestion Relief Program, approved by the state legislature two years
ago, supplemented by local sales tax dollars. In addition to meeting
with the community stakeholders on an ongoing basis, the study’s project
team will conduct another series of open houses in December at the
following times and locations:
Additional information
on the San Fernando Valley North-South Transit Corridor Study and on
upcoming meetings can be obtained by calling the study’s information
line at (818)701-2855 or by visiting MTA’s website at www.mta.net
and clicking on “Programs and Projects.” Anyone who is unable to
attend any of the public meetings and wishes to comment can send an e-mail
to martinr@mta.net or submit their
comments by mail to:
MTA-108 |
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