January 20, 2005
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Rick Jager/Marc Littman
Metro MEDIA RELATIONS
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Metro Westside/Central Service Sector to Hold Public Hearing Feb. 9 on Proposed Service Changes

The Metro Westside/Central Service Sector will hold a public hearing to gather public input regarding proposed Metro Bus service changes to take place on June 26, 2005 or later.

The public hearing will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 9 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the La Cienega Tennis Center, 325 S. La Cienega Blvd. in Beverly Hills.

Interested members of the public are encouraged to attend the upcoming public hearing and provide testimony on the proposed Metro Bus service changes. Persons unable to attend the hearing can submit written testimony until the public hearing date.

All written testimony should be sent to LACMTA, Metro Westside/Central, One Gateway Plaza, Mail Stop: 99-4-5, Los Angeles, 90012-2952, Attention: June, 2005 Public Hearing.

The Westside/Central Service Sector Governance Council is considering implementing two new Metro Rapid Bus Lines, canceling one line due to low ridership and making various service modifications to other lines.

The affected bus lines and service proposals under consideration are listed below.

Line 14 (Beverly Blvd.) Reduce weekday frequency of service on Line 14 during peak hours and replace with new Metro Rapid Line 714.

Line 58 (Alameda Street) Cancel line due to low ridership demand.

Line 317 (Fairfax Ave. - Hollywood Blvd. Limited) Replace service on Line 317 with new Metro Rapid Line 717.

Line 714 (Beverly Metro Rapid) Implement new Metro Rapid service between Beverly Hills and downtown Los Angeles along Beverly Blvd., First St., Grand Ave./Olive Blvd. to Washington Metro Blue Line Station. Service will be provided during weekday peak hours only.

Line 717 (Fairfax Metro Rapid) Establish new Metro Rapid service between Hollywood/Vine Metro Red Line Station and the West Los Angeles Transit Center.

In addition, public comment can be made on the following Metro Bus service changes proposed for portions of the lines that also operate in the Westside/Central Service Sector area.

Line 107 (54^th Street - Fairview Blvd.) Reaffirm cancellation previously implemented in June 2004.

Line 207/357 (Western Ave. - 120^th Street) Two Proposals include restructuring some trips in the Hollywood area to link with Line 204 (Vermont Ave.) to reduce the number of buses operating on Garfield Place; and in Los Angeles, consider elimination of the route segment on 120^th Street between Western Ave. and the Harbor Metro Green Line Station.

Line 305 (UCLA- West Hollywood-Rosa Parks Station) Reduce weekday service and cancel service on Saturday and Sunday.

Line 357 (Western Ave. Limited) Cancel all service in December 2005 with the implementation of the Western Ave. Metro Rapid Line 757.

Line 442 (Los Angeles-Manchester Ave.-Hawthorne Blvd. Express) Cancel weekday service. Alternate service is available on new Metro Rapid 740, Lines 315 and the Harbor Transitway Lines 444, 445, 446/447 and 460.

Line 757 (Western Avenue Metro Rapid) Consider route, service periods, stops and terminal locations for the Western Avenue Metro Rapid expected to begin service in December 2005.

Line 156 (Panorama City-Van Nuys-North Hollywood-LA City College) Shorten northbound route at Burbank and Van Nuys Blvds. and extend service via Burbank Blvd. to Kester Ave. Alternate service is available on Lines 233 and 761 along Van Nuys Blvd. Shorten southbound route to Highland Ave. and Hollywood Blvd. Alternate service is available on Lines 4 and 304 along Santa Monica Blvd.

These proposals may be approved in whole or in part at a date following the public hearing. All written testimony should be transmitted to the Metro Westside/Central Sector for inclusion in the public record. Comments can also be sent by e-mail to: westsidecentral@metro.net or faxed to (213) 922-1211.

Patrons wishing to attend the public hearing can use Metro Bus Lines 20, 21, 28, 105, 328 Metro Rapid Lines 705 and 720.

METRO-007

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