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June
10, 2002 |
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MTA officially opens new 101 Freeway overpass to relieve congestion and provide better community access to Universal City Metro Red Line Station
MTA
joined elected officials today in officially opening a new freeway
overpass adjacent to the 101 freeway and the Metro Red Line subway station
and Metro Rapid Bus stop at Universal City. "Construction
of this new overpass next to the popular Universal City Metro Red Line
subway station is now complete and will help ease traffic flow in and out
of the station as well as alleviate traffic congestion on surrounding
streets," said MTA Board Chairman John Fasana. The
new six-lane bridge overpass spans the 101 freeway linking Ventura
Boulevard with the Universal City Metro Red Line station via the new
access street now known as Campo de Cahuenga Way. The overpass also
features a pedestrian walkway and on-and-off-ramps from the 101 freeway. Construction
of the new bridge overpass was performed by Brutoco Engineering and
Construction Company under contract to MTA as a cost of $34.6 million.
Construction began in December 1999 and also includes construction of the
Universal City Station Bus Plaza, additional parking lots and the widening
of Lankershim Boulevard. "With
the completion of this new overpass also comes good news for commuters who
use the Metro system with improved access and additional parking spaces
now open in the area," said Fasana. The
Universal City station now has a total of 790 parking spaces available, an
increase of 400 spaces since the Metro Red Line station opened. There is a
new parking facility at Lankershim and Ventura Boulevard for 75 vehicles,
a county park-n-ride lot along Ventura Boulevard with 162 spaces and a new
parking lot northeast of the overpass with 163 additional spaces. Metro
Rapid buses also will benefit from the opening of the new overpass. Metro
Rapid buses will now use the overpass from Ventura Boulevard to access the
Universal City Bus Station Plaza, reducing their travel time by 5 to 10
percent, depending on the time of day. Regular local MTA bus lines 150 and
240 will begin utilizing the overpass on June 30. "This
will greatly enhance the operation of the Metro Rapid buses now operating
along Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley," said MTA CEO Roger
Snoble. "Both Metro Rapid and regular Metro buses will now be able to
access the station via the new overpass in both di The bridge was financed as part of the expansion of the Metro Red Line subway system from Hollywood and Highland to North Hollywood. The project was financed with local, state and federal dollars. MTA-055 |
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