Metro Picks Locally Preferred Alternative for Orange Line Extension

L.A.METRO SELECTS BUSWAY ON EXISTING RAILROADRIGHT-OF-WAY AS LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE FORPOSSIBLE EXTENSION OF METRO ORANGE LINE TO CHATSWORTH

TheLos Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) todayreleased a Locally Preferred Alternative for the Canoga TransportationCorridor Project, a possible northern extension of the successful MetroOrange Line service

Agencystaff will recommend to the Metro Board that it select a busway alternativeon a Metro-owned former railroad right-of-way for the potential four-mileservice extension from the current busway terminus in Canoga Park toChatsworth

TheLocally Preferred Alternative is the result a one-year environmentalreview process that evaluated potential impacts for transit servicealong several possible corridors, including Metro’s own existing railroadright-of-way, Canoga Avenue, De Soto Avenue, and Topanga Canyon Boulevard.The Canoga Busway alternative was chosen because of its cost-effectivenesscompared to other on-street dedicated bus lane alternatives, minimalenvironmental impacts, improved safety and quicker transit travel times.

Metrostaff’s recommended Locally Preferred Alternative includes a gradeseparation over Metrolink/Union Pacific tracks and Lassen Street thatenables the busway to directly enter the Chatsworth Metrolink Station

Theprojected cost of this recommended alternative is $191 million in December2007 dollars

TheMetro Board of Directors will consider staff’s recommendation at itsJune 26 Board meeting at Metro’s headquarters building in downtownLos Angeles.  If the Board approves the recommended alternative,the project would then move into its Final EIR and preliminary engineeringphase.

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