"Twelve minutes - and shaving off any time - makes a huge difference for a family...that needs to drop off kids and get to work on the public transit system" proclaimed U.S. Congressmember Luz Rivas.
Rivas was among the many Valley and Metro leaders on hand to break ground on Metro G Line bus improvements this morning. The $668 million project is anticipated to improve G Line end-to-end trip times by 12 minutes.
The project has had a somewhat difficult trajectory to get to this point. When design and environmental clearance were approved in 2018, a groundbreaking was expected to follow in 2019. Then construction costs came in well above what was anticipated, ultimately leading to a couple of rounds of scaling back the project scope. As the 2028 Olympics deadline loomed, the reduced (still very worthwhile) scope was finalized last summer.
The project includes two large grade separations (basically bridges) that carry the busway over Van Nuys and Sepulveda Boulevards. It also adds rail-type crossing gates, modest bike/walk path improvements, and more.
Construction is already underway, as are construction bus and bike detours. The project is expected to be completed in 2027.
Below are photos of today's event.
Note: after publication, Metro revised its statement that this project will improve travel times by "12-16" minutes to just "12" minutes. At Metro's request, the story has been updated.
