LA Metro celebrated the groundbreaking Friday for a $668 million construction project on the G (Orange) Line that is expected to improve bus safety, speed and reliability for the San Fernando Valley.
The G Line Improvements Project will bring the first most significant upgrades to the busway in its nearly 20-year history. It’s intended to reduce end-to-end bus travel by 12 minutes, or nearly 30%. The project is funded by Measure M, a 2016 voter-approved half-cent sales tax for transit expansion, traffic relief measures and to improve streets and sidewalks.
According to Metro, the project will feature an aerial bridge over Van Nuys Boulevard, making room for another street level station for the future East San Fernando Valley Light Rail project.
It will also bring two additional bridges over Vesper Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard, four-quadrant gates at 13 busy intersections between North Hollywood and Van Nuys and other safety features such as flashing lights, bells, raised medians and crosswalk gates for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Additional bike lockers and bike parking will be offered at select Metro G Line stations. The transit agency plans to resurface the adjacent bike path, painting new striping and installing new lights, signs and fencing.
To improve traffic, part of the project entails a new transit signal system. Metro officials noted buses will have an extended signal phase, giving them the next green light in an intersection’s phasing cycle.
The G Line serves the San Fernando Valley, connecting Chatsworth to the North Hollywood B (Red) Line station.
County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, and L.A. City Council members Imelda Padilla and Bob Blumenfield were slated to join Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins for the Friday morning groundbreaking.
Mariah Bell, a figure skater who competed in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, and Tracy Eisser, a rower who competed in the 2016 Rio and 2021 Tokyo Olympics, also planned to be in attendance.
Metro officials noted that these improvements will also prepare the region ahead of the 2028 Olympics and Paralympic Games. Some of the sporting competitions will be at the Sepulveda Basin, a first for the San Fernando Valley. L.A. previously hosted the 1932 and 1984 Olympics.