For images of some of the ideas under consideration: check out The Source.
Working with the cities of Los Angeles and San Fernando, Metro is studying north-sound transit improvements in the San Fernando Valley, mostly along Van Nuys Boulevard. Among the options being studied are bus rapid transit and light rail (all four of the alternatives are below). Here’s a recent post on the Alternatives Analysis study for the project; maps of the bus rapid transit and light rail options under study are above.
The draft environmental study for the project — officially known as the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor – is just beginning. There are four meetings to give the public a chance to learn more about the project and provide feedback.
The public can leave official comments on the project via email, the project’s Twitter feed (use the hashtag #ESFVscoping) or on this form on the project’s Facebook page. Metro is trying to make it easier for people to officially comment on projects and it’s good to see social media now part of that effort.
This scoping period is the time when the public tells Metro what’s most important for them about this project and which questions they most want the study to answer. Comments will be accepted until May 6.
The format and information provided at each public meeting will be identical. In the first half hour of the meeting, the public is invited to roam around and visit information stations around the room.
Meeting Dates, Locations, and Information
Saturday, March 16, 2013, 10 am-12 pm
Panorama High School
8015 Van Nuys Boulevard
Panorama City, CA 91402
Served by Metro Rapid Line 761 & Metro Local Line 233; DASH Route – Panorama City/Van Nuys
Tuesday, March 19, 2013, 6-8 pm
The City of San Fernando Regional Pool Facility
208 Park Avenue
San Fernando, CA 91340
Served by Metro Rapid Lines 794 and Metro Local Lines 224 and 234
Thursday, March 21, 2013, 6-8 pm
Arleta High School
14200 Van Nuys Boulevard
Served by Metro Rapid Line 761 and Metro Local Lines 158 and 233
Wednesday, March 27, 2013, 4-6 pm
Marvin Braude Constituent Service Center
6262 Van Nuys Boulevard
Van Nuys, CA 91401
Validated Parking available at City Hall Parking Lot (Sylvan/Sylmar Av Entrance)
Served by Metro Orange Line, Metro Rapid Line 761, Metro Local Lines 154, 156, 164, 233 and 237 and DASH Routes Panorama City/Van Nuys and Van Nuys/Studio City
Can’t make it in-person? Then, view and comment via a live-stream of the presentation beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2013, or on-demand at: http://ustream.tv/channel/eastSFV.
Overview
The Study is evaluating the following alternatives:
- No Build: Establishes a baseline for comparison with the other alternatives being evaluated. It represents conditions predicted for the year 2035 if no new project is constructed. It does incorporate other new projects that are already included in adopted plans
- Transportation System Management (TSM): Evaluates the benefits of lower cost operational improvements including enhanced bus frequencies for Van Nuys Rapid Bus 761 or other bus lines, traffic signal synchronization, off-board fare collection, bus stop amenities/improvements, bus schedule restructuring, intersection and road improvements, etc.
- Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): Similar to the Metro Orange Line, BRT would generally operate in dedicated lanes with some portions operating in mixed-flow traffic. BRT typically provides higher frequency, speed and reliability when compared to standard Rapid or Local Bus service. The BRT route being evaluated for this project would travel from the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station southeast along San Fernando Road and then south on Van Nuys Boulevard with three possible options for the project’s southern terminus.
- Light Rail Transit (LRT): Similar to the Metro Gold, Blue, Green, and Expo Lines, LRT operates with standard gauge passenger railcars, on exclusive right-of-way with overhead electric power. A two-car train set can carry approximately 300 passengers. Stations are typically spaced about one mile apart. Under this Alternative, Metro would also need to build a new LRT maintenance facility. The LRT Alternative route would travel from the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station southeast along San Fernando Road and then south on Van Nuys Boulevard to Ventura Boulevard.
