| Questions and comments | ||
   |
||
View Map
|
BRT International Even a brief survey of planned or existing BRT lines around the world reveals that in virtually every corner of the globe, cities are increasingly looking to Bus Rapid Transit as a viable transit solution. Metro Orange Line – Los Angeles, CA Since opening over a year ago, L.A.’s 14-mile Metro Orange Line has more than tripled its initial ridership projections, with weekday ridership now approaching 22,000. The Orange line operates 60-foot, articulated buses in an exclusive busway located in a former railroad right-of-way, parallel to the congested 101 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley. The right-of-way also includes eight miles of adjacent public pathways and an irrigation system to support extensive landscaping that includes public art, 5,000 new trees and 800,000 new plants. With a cost of $330 million, construction time of a little over two years, and an apparent reduction of 14 minutes in the average commute time along the Valley portion of the 101 Freeway, the Orange Line is being touted as one of the most cost-effective transportation projects in the region’s history. The Orange Line’s implementation has not been without its pitfalls and detractors. Due to a number of bus-auto crashes at intersections in the first weeks of operation, Metro officials reduced bus intersection speeds from 25-30 mph to 10 mph. Complaints from surrounding neighborhoods quickly led to the construction of sound walls. Also balancing the official rosy reports are a number of cutting observations in the blogosphere that the Orange Line’s successes must be viewed as relative, given the general reported inadequacies and inefficiencies of the L.A. bus system. L.A.’s Orange Line. Copyright 2006, LACMTA.
|
More Info |
