LOS ANGELES—On Friday, Metro Board members, along with state, county and city elected officials, and community, business and labor organizations gathered at the North Hollywood Orange Line station to announce their support for Thursday’s Metro vote to study the feasibility of: (1) creating a new light rail system on the Orange Line; and (2) connecting the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys.
The Metro Board motion was sponsored by Councilmember Paul Krekorian, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Supervisors Yaroslavsky and Antonovich, and Directors John Fasana and Ara Najarian. Read the motion here.
“The steps we are taking today are steps toward a better transit system in the Valley,” said Metro Director and LA City Councilmember Paul Krekorian. “Valley residents deserve more transit options, including light rail, which would be a game changing enhancement of our system. Out of 80 rail stops in LA County, the Valley has only two. We have an opportunity give people better ways to get from home to work to school.”
“Today’s action begins the process of linking the San Fernando Valley to the San Gabriel Valley—and the San Gabriel Valley to the San Fernando Valley,” said Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich. “With a daily ridership of nearly 30,000, the Orange Line busway combined with the Gold Line’s 42,000 daily riders—more than the Green Line this link will serve as a vital component in our regional transportation system.”
The Metro Board vote comes on the heels of Gov. Jerry Brown signing AB 577 — introduced by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, who was also present and spoke at Friday’s event — which allows for the construction of light rail in the southeast San Fernando Valley. The historic move repealed a 23-year ban that had constrained Valley transportation options, affecting hundreds of thousands of commuters. In response, Metro constructed the bus-only Orange Line, which has been a tremendous success, far exceeding ridership expectations by carrying close to 30,000 people a day.
