Metro moved a step closer to extending the Orange Line today when it released a Locally Preferred Alternative for an extension from Canoga Park to Chatsworth.  As Metro notes in its press release, the Metro Board still needs to approve the staff's recommendation and then go into the final environmental review before the project can be funded and built.

You can read Metro's full release after the jump:

L.A. METRO SELECTS BUSWAY ON EXISTING RAILROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY AS LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE FOR POSSIBLE EXTENSION OF METRO ORANGE LINE TO CHATSWORTH

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) today released a Locally Preferred Alternative for the Canoga Transportation Corridor Project, a possible northern extension of the successful Metro Orange Line service

Agency staff will recommend to the Metro Board that it select a busway alternative on a Metro-owned former railroad right-of-way for the potential four-mile service extension from the current busway terminus in Canoga Park to Chatsworth

The Locally Preferred Alternative is the result a one-year environmental review process that evaluated potential impacts for transit service along several possible corridors, including Metro’s own existing railroad right-of-way, Canoga Avenue, De Soto Avenue, and Topanga Canyon Boulevard. The Canoga Busway alternative was chosen because of its cost-effectiveness compared to other on-street dedicated bus lane alternatives, minimal environmental impacts, improved safety and quicker transit travel times.

Metro staff’s recommended Locally Preferred Alternative includes a grade separation over Metrolink/Union Pacific tracks and Lassen Street that enables the busway to directly enter the Chatsworth Metrolink Station

The projected cost of this recommended alternative is $191 million in December 2007 dollars

The Metro Board of Directors will consider staff’s recommendation at its June 26 Board meeting at Metro’s headquarters building in downtown Los Angeles.  If the Board approves the recommended alternative, the project would then move into its Final EIR and preliminary engineering phase.

To obtain a copy of the LPA report or to view a project map, visit www.metro.net/canoga. 

Image: Metro