VAN NUYS RAPID BUSES GETTING READY TO RUMBLE.Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer Come Sunday, sleek, fast Metro Rapid Metro Rapid is a bus rapid transit system in Los Angeles County, California, operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The Rapid program attempts to speed up commuter travel time on Los Angeles' county streets. buses will be running on Van Nuys Boulevard, promising up to a 25 percent quicker ride and a choice between local and express service for thousands of San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. bus riders. Trips from Lake View Terrace to the University of California, Los Angeles UCLA comprises the College of Letters and Science (the primary undergraduate college), seven professional schools, and five professional Health Science schools. Since 2001, UCLA has enrolled over 33,000 total students, and that number is steadily rising. , should take just over an hour on the red buses that have proved to be popular on Ventura Boulevard Ventura Boulevard is one of the primary east-west thouroughfares in the San Fernando Valley; as it was originally a part of the El Camino Real (the trail between Spanish missions), Ventura Boulevard is the oldest route in the San Fernando Valley. It was also U.S. - the only other Valley street with the MTA's expanding Metro Rapid program. ``People want frequency and speed,'' said the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Rex Gephart, director of regional transit plans. ``We want to make the biggest difference for the greatest number of people, with more frequent and faster service.'' Many riders Wednesday said they welcomed a faster bus - anything that can boost current trip speeds that average 11 mph. ``It's going to be a great idea, the Rapid, it's going to go much, much faster,'' said Alejandro Avila Alejandro Avila is a convicted murderer who abducted, sexually assaulted and killed five-year-old Samantha Runnion in California in July 2002. He was sentenced to death and is currently imprisoned at San Quentin State Prison in California. , a 24-year-old security guard riding the Van Nuys Boulevard line Boulevard Line refers to the following transit lines:
``There may be some bugs to work out,'' said transit advocate Kymberleigh Richards, a member of the MTA's Valley Service Sector Council. ``I think it's going to improve matters.'' Van Nuys Boulevard will now have local line 233, which will come every 15 minutes during rush hour and make frequent stops, and the new 761, which will come every 10 minutes and stop only at major intersections. The current limited-stop 561 will be eliminated. The new 761 is modeled after the Rapid on Ventura Boulevard, launched in 2000, which has a system that keeps traffic lights green for buses, and has shaved 23 percent off commute times. Line 761 cost $4.7 million, and the MTA (1) (Message Transfer Agent or Mail Transfer Agent) The store and forward part of a messaging system. See messaging system. (2) See M Technology Association. 1. (messaging) MTA - Message Transfer Agent. plans to have 27 Metro Rapid routes across Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County by 2008. ``I'm going to like it,'' said 32-year-old Stacy Perkins, who has cerebral palsy cerebral palsy (sərē`brəl pôl`zē), disability caused by brain damage before or during birth or in the first years, resulting in a loss of voluntary muscular control and coordination. and uses a walker, adding that the Ventura line has already won her over. But not all riders are as enthusiastic. Longtime transit advocate Bart Reed believes the new route's bus stops do not match ridership trends. He points to the 761's northernmost terminus at Foothill Boulevard The following streets are named Foothill Boulevard:
He further points to the elimination of busy stops, like Plummer Street where riders connect to the Veterans Affairs Veterans Affairs is a term of the business that deals with the relation between a government and its veteran communities, usually administered by the designated government agency. Southern California System at Sepulveda. ``To imagine that somebody's ride will be quicker when you take away the connection of a transferring bus line leads me agog,'' said Reed, also a member of the Valley's Service Sector Council. ``I have a problem with the Metro Rapid system because of its complete disregard for passengers and its sole regard for moving buses faster.'' Gephart agrees some riders will be inconvenienced, adding that the MTA will make changes, if needed, after two weeks, then review the system again in two months. ``The majority wins here with Metro Rapid.'' Lisa Mascaro, (818) 713-3761 lisa.mascaro(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos, map Photo: (1 -- color) Robert Teufal of Santa Monica loads his bicycle Wednesday on the front of the 561 bus in Sylmar. The 561 will be replaced Sunday by the new 761 Metro Rapid bus line, which promises a faster ride. (2) Security guard Alejandro Avila rides the 561 bus Wednesday with his son to visit his wife at work. Of the switch Sunday to the new 761 line, Avila said ``it's going to go much, much faster.'' Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer Map: VAN NUYS BLVD. METRO RAPID SOURCE: MTA Daily News |
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