2008 Woodie Awards
The Alternate Route to Valley
The Metro Orange Line will open this month to offer relief to commuters.
Marc Howard
Issue date: 10/12/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
What once was a drawing on a napkin has become the Metro Orange Line busway - the Valley's newest transportation alternative.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority board member and Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky was the napkin artist who came up with the idea after observing a similar bus system while on a trip to Curitiba, Brazil.
"I'm very excited about the Orange Line," said Yaroslavsky at a recent meeting of community leaders and other local officials. "I think after you've taken a ride on it, you'll be excited too."
The MTA calls the $300 million-plus busway, which will open Oct. 29 "a shortcut across the Valley." Passengers will complete the 14-mile commute between North Hollywood and Warner Center in 40 minutes.
The Orange Line buses will stop at 13 stations located at high activity centers including Valley, Pierce College and the NoHo Arts District where commuters can transfer to the Metro Red Line. The stations include colorful porcelain steel art panels at station entries, terrazzo paving at platforms, sculpted seating and artistic landscaping elements. Buses will arrive every six minutes during rush hour on 'dedicated' non-traffic lanes. The new busway is equipped with specially designed sensors to allow Orange Line buses to bypass most red lights.
The stations are well-lit and include seating, public telephones, security cameras, bicycle racks and ticket-vending machines. Electronic displays will notify passengers of wait times and other commuter-related information. The bus corridor is also a 'green belt' with hundreds of thousands of new plants and trees and more than eight miles of pedestrian and bicycle paths.
The line is expected to save commuters time and money as they face $3-per-gallon gas prices and congested freeways.
"With gas prices the way they are now, I would take the bus to school to save some money," said criminal justice major Isoken Igodan. The express busway will take its place as Valley's first major transit service since the opening of the Metro Red Line in 2000. This will also be the first time that the new 60-foot Metro Liner buses will be in service within Los Angeles County.
It remains to be seen whether the convenience and low cost of riding the Orange Line will be enough of a draw to get motorists out of their cars.
"I used to ride the bus and I don't like it," said broadcasting major Gerardo Carbajal. "I don't really care if I could save a few dollars or a few minutes by taking the Orange Line...I'd rather be driving,"
Orange Line passengers will ride for free during opening weekend. Fares start at $1.25 for a one-way ticket and $3 for an unlimited day pass, good on other MTA bus and train lines.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority board member and Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky was the napkin artist who came up with the idea after observing a similar bus system while on a trip to Curitiba, Brazil.
 Media Credit: Artak Ayvazyan HITCHIN´ A RIDE - Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky discusses the openning of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is currently test-driving the Orange Line, set to open Oct. 29. The $300 million-plus busway runs through high activity locations, with 13 stops including stops at Valley and Pierce. |
"I'm very excited about the Orange Line," said Yaroslavsky at a recent meeting of community leaders and other local officials. "I think after you've taken a ride on it, you'll be excited too."
The MTA calls the $300 million-plus busway, which will open Oct. 29 "a shortcut across the Valley." Passengers will complete the 14-mile commute between North Hollywood and Warner Center in 40 minutes.
The Orange Line buses will stop at 13 stations located at high activity centers including Valley, Pierce College and the NoHo Arts District where commuters can transfer to the Metro Red Line. The stations include colorful porcelain steel art panels at station entries, terrazzo paving at platforms, sculpted seating and artistic landscaping elements. Buses will arrive every six minutes during rush hour on 'dedicated' non-traffic lanes. The new busway is equipped with specially designed sensors to allow Orange Line buses to bypass most red lights.
The stations are well-lit and include seating, public telephones, security cameras, bicycle racks and ticket-vending machines. Electronic displays will notify passengers of wait times and other commuter-related information. The bus corridor is also a 'green belt' with hundreds of thousands of new plants and trees and more than eight miles of pedestrian and bicycle paths.
The line is expected to save commuters time and money as they face $3-per-gallon gas prices and congested freeways.
"With gas prices the way they are now, I would take the bus to school to save some money," said criminal justice major Isoken Igodan. The express busway will take its place as Valley's first major transit service since the opening of the Metro Red Line in 2000. This will also be the first time that the new 60-foot Metro Liner buses will be in service within Los Angeles County.
It remains to be seen whether the convenience and low cost of riding the Orange Line will be enough of a draw to get motorists out of their cars.
"I used to ride the bus and I don't like it," said broadcasting major Gerardo Carbajal. "I don't really care if I could save a few dollars or a few minutes by taking the Orange Line...I'd rather be driving,"
Orange Line passengers will ride for free during opening weekend. Fares start at $1.25 for a one-way ticket and $3 for an unlimited day pass, good on other MTA bus and train lines.
