The Los Angeles City Council Tuesday signaled the city’s willingness to work with Metro to improve service on the Metro Orange Line, including a plan to raise the speed limit from 10-mph to 25-mph over most of the 18-mile bus rapid transit system.
The council voted 15-0 to instruct the Los Angeles Police and Department and the city Department of Transportation to work with Metro on service enhancements for the line.
The city has authority over speed limits and would need to sign off on any proposed increases on the Orange Line, and would also be working with Metro on an idea to use light signal information to inform bus operators on when to speed up or slow down.
Raising the speed cap would to save riders approximately 8 minutes each way on the Orange Line, and “is a major reduction and an improvement in quality-of-life for folks,” said San Fernando Valley-area Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who authored the motion with Councilman Paul Krekorian.
The entire length of the Orange Line currently takes about 48 to 66 minutes to travel, according to the motion.
While Metro Board weighs long-term upgrades to the line — and potentially a project to replace the buses with a light rail system — the city should help advance some short-term improvements, the council members said.
Such improvements are necessary because the line has exceeded expectations, Krekorian said.
“We have such a success with the Orange Line that it is well beyond its capacity now, and it’s improving capacity and improving convenience that’s going to take it to the next level,” Krekorian said.
Blumenfield said the public transit needs of the West San Fernando Valley area he represents “has not been a big enough priority” in the past. The area is heavily dependant on the Orange Line, which is “the only east-west dedicated transit way” in the area, he said.\
— City News Service