2008 Woodie Awards
Bus Line Attracts Vandals
Zabie Mansoory
Issue date: 10/26/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
After $200,000 in vandalism, 17 arrests, and 500 tickets, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa spoke Monday at the Orange Line stop near Valley College to discuss the safety issues of the 14-mile busway, which will run from the Warner Center in Woodland Hills to the Red Line Station in North Hollywood that is scheduled to open this Saturday.
In the last six months, Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies have written more than 500 tickets, arrested 17 people and solved cases involving more than $200,000 in vandalism along the Orange Line's route, said Sheriff Lee Baca.
"Public safety is my top priority," said Villaraigosa, who is also the chair of Metropolitan Transportation Authority. "Safety is in the mind of all of us here at Metro."
Unlike trains, the Orange Line doesn't have barriers to block vehicles, which makes it easier for vehicles to run a red light and crash into the 60-foot buses. The Sheriff's Department warns drivers and pedestrians to pay special attention to traffic signals and signs posted around the busway.
City Councilperson Wendy Greuel, chair of the Transportation Committee, said she introduced a motion last week asking the city's Department of Transportation to work with Metro and law enforcement officials to report to the council every 30 days on any safety issues arising from the Orange Line.
"I'm committed to making the Metro Orange Line as safe and convenient as any line we operate," said Yaroslavsky. "It is vitally important that we learn and follow the rules of the road to ensure that our new line will be one of the best ones yet."
Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who came up with the idea Orange Line, after observing a similar bus system while on a trip to Curitiba, Brazil.
The new busway allows riders to get away from the traffic on the 101 Freeway and commuters are expected to save up to $5,000 year if they use the Orange and Red lines to get to and from downtown, according to Yaroslavsky.
The $330-million busway is the Valley's first major public transportation system in the San Fernando Valley, but it won't be the last one.
"The Orange Line is a down payment for what is to come," Villaraigosa said. "The Orange Line is truly the Valley's fastest public system."
Drivers should use extra caution when driving around the busway, because Sheriff deputies are not warning anymore.
"We were issuing warning tickets before Sept. 1," said Sgt. Dave Willard, area supervisor of the Sheriff's Department. "Since Sept. 1, we [have been]ticketing every violation in and around the Orange Line."
MTA will offer free rides on the line this weekend to encourage people to try out the Valley's newest transportation system.
In the last six months, Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies have written more than 500 tickets, arrested 17 people and solved cases involving more than $200,000 in vandalism along the Orange Line's route, said Sheriff Lee Baca.
"Public safety is my top priority," said Villaraigosa, who is also the chair of Metropolitan Transportation Authority. "Safety is in the mind of all of us here at Metro."
Unlike trains, the Orange Line doesn't have barriers to block vehicles, which makes it easier for vehicles to run a red light and crash into the 60-foot buses. The Sheriff's Department warns drivers and pedestrians to pay special attention to traffic signals and signs posted around the busway.
City Councilperson Wendy Greuel, chair of the Transportation Committee, said she introduced a motion last week asking the city's Department of Transportation to work with Metro and law enforcement officials to report to the council every 30 days on any safety issues arising from the Orange Line.
"I'm committed to making the Metro Orange Line as safe and convenient as any line we operate," said Yaroslavsky. "It is vitally important that we learn and follow the rules of the road to ensure that our new line will be one of the best ones yet."
Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who came up with the idea Orange Line, after observing a similar bus system while on a trip to Curitiba, Brazil.
The new busway allows riders to get away from the traffic on the 101 Freeway and commuters are expected to save up to $5,000 year if they use the Orange and Red lines to get to and from downtown, according to Yaroslavsky.
The $330-million busway is the Valley's first major public transportation system in the San Fernando Valley, but it won't be the last one.
"The Orange Line is a down payment for what is to come," Villaraigosa said. "The Orange Line is truly the Valley's fastest public system."
Drivers should use extra caution when driving around the busway, because Sheriff deputies are not warning anymore.
"We were issuing warning tickets before Sept. 1," said Sgt. Dave Willard, area supervisor of the Sheriff's Department. "Since Sept. 1, we [have been]ticketing every violation in and around the Orange Line."
MTA will offer free rides on the line this weekend to encourage people to try out the Valley's newest transportation system.
