November 4, 2008 Contact: Marc Littman Metro Media Relations 213.922.4609/922.2700 www.metro.net/pressroom

Four Community Meetings Scheduled to Review Plans for Wilshire Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project

Four community meetings will be held between Nov. 12 and 19 along the Wilshire Corridor of Los Angeles to discuss the feasibility of a proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project on Wilshire Boulevard and solicit public comment.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and the City and County of Los Angeles are assessing the potential of dedicated curbside bus lanes during the morning and evening rush hours (7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.) on Wilshire Boulevard. The project area includes portions of Wilshire Boulevard from just west of the 110 freeway from downtown Los Angeles to the Santa Monica City line, excluding the City of Beverly Hills.

A joint document, consisting of an Initial Study/Environmental Assessment (IS/EA), is being conducted for the Wilshire BRT project to meet state and federal environmental requirements. The meetings are being conducted as part of this process. The study should be completed by next summer.

Wilshire Boulevard is the busiest transit corridor in Los Angeles County with 93,000 weekday transit boardings. The Wilshire BRT project could improve passenger travel times on buses by an average of 24 percent. Faster service could boost transit ridership in the corridor by up to 20 percent and ease traffic congestion.

The cost of reconstructing curb lanes, re-striping and other work related to the Wilshire BRT project is estimated at $31.5 million. Metro is seeking $23 million in federal funds for the project with the balance covered with local transit dollars.

Pending approval of the federal grant application and completion and approval of the environmental study, the Wilshire BRT project could be in place by December 2011.
Plans for the Wilshire Boulevard BRT will be discussed at the following meetings:

• Wednesday, Nov. 12, 6-8 p.m., Wilshire United Methodist Church, 4350 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010
• Monday, Nov. 17, 6-8 p.m., Westwood Presbyterian Church, 10822 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90024
• Tuesday, Nov. 18, 6-8 p.m., Southwestern Law School, 3050 Wilshire Blvd., 5th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010
• Wednesday, Nov. 19, 6–8 p.m., Felicia Mahood Center, 11338 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025

Identical information will be presented at each of the sessions. Public comments and questions are welcome.

Metro-180

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

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