Finishing Current Projects
Our goal is to successfully deliver existing projects so that new service is available to the public. This includes coordination and partnership between city and regional agencies, including:
- LA Department of Transportation
- LA Department of Public Works
- Los Angeles County MTA
- Expo Metro Line Construction Authority
Orange Line
This 14-miles bus rapid transit project on an exclusive right-of-way opened in 2005 while Mayor Villaraigosa was chair of the MTA Board of Directors. Thirteen stops service major activity centers including:
- North Hollywood Red Line station
- Los Angeles Valley College
- Van Nuys Civic Center
- Pierce College
- Warner Center
The “light rail on rubber tires” line quickly exceeded ridership projections, with almost 24,000 daily weekday boardings (as of June 2007). According to UC Berkeley and reported in the Los Angeles Times (12/30/05), “traffic through the south San Fernando Valley from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. has sped up about 7% -- from an average 43 mph to 46 mph. And since the 14-mile busway opened Oct. 29, the amount of time that morning commuters waste being stuck in congestion -- defined as traffic slower than 35 mph -- has declined about 14%, the study found.”
We continue to fine-tune service, including adding photo red light enforcement to deter scofflaws and increase safety and opening a new station and park-and-ride lot at Canoga Avenue.
In addition, we are pursuing end-to-end express service to reduce travel time and encourage discretionary riders to take public transit.
Eastside Extension
The 5.9-mile light rail extension of the Gold Line will connect east Los Angeles from 3rd/Atlantic to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, with through service to Pasadena. The project includes a 1.8-mile tunnel section under Boyle Heights. The Eastside Extension will connect to numerous civic, educational, and cultural institutions in east Los Angeles. The project is currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2009.
Exposition Line — Phase I
The 9.6-mile light rail extension will connect Culver City and south Los Angeles to the 7th/Metro station in downtown Los Angeles. At 7th/Metro, transfers will be possible to the subway and the light rail Blue Line to Long Beach.
The Expo Line will also connect to the University of South California (USC), Exposition Park, and the Los Angeles Memorial Colesium. The City of Los Angeles is contributing $40 million toward the cost of construction. The project is currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2010.