Devin Brown
The Metro Orange Line will usher San Fernando Valley residents for free on its official grand opening weekend, Oct. 29 and 30.
In addition to free rides for two days, on Oct. 29 there will be community festivities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., including information tables, vendor booths, community organizations and many more activities at these participating stations: Pierce College, North Hollywood, Los Angeles Valley College, Balboa and Warner Center.
The new 14-mile transit way will start in North Hollywood and cross the valley, paralleling the 101 Freeway until the final stop at Warner Center in Woodland Hills, taking approximately 40 minutes.
The Metro Orange Line will provide connections to Metro Rail and local bus lines, which will result in faster travel times and improved access to destinations within the San Fernando Valley and throughout Los Angeles County.
The new bus system will require extra caution from everyone. Dave Sotero, a spokesman for the MTA, asks pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists to keep off the transit way and exercise caution at street intersections.
“We have done our part in safety precautions by having these new high-tech buses,” Sotero said.
The bus can communicate with the traffic signal, has automatic stop announcements, shows on a screen what the next stop is and how many minutes until the bus will arrive.
“I am very concerned about the new busway, I drive my daughter to school everyday, and there is so much traffic. Those buses are so big. I am really appalled there aren’t even any gates to stop the buses on those tiny paths, said Nancy Martir, a parent and teacher.
“What if a car gets stuck in the small intersection? I can just tell this is a bad idea. The bus way should have big red flashing lights.”
Spaced one mile apart, the Orange Line includes 13 stations that will highlight innovative art as well as lighting, seating, security cameras, public telephones, bicycle racks and ticket vending machines. Signs at the station will display passenger wait time along with additional operating information.
“The new 60-foot articulated buses are similar to the light rail cars. They are roomy attractive and can seat 57 passengers,” said Sotero.
The Orange Line, which began construction in January 2003 is the first of its kind in Southern California.
The line integrates brand-new construction with revolutionary design features, from beautifully designed transit stations to an advanced traffic light signal system, several park and ride lots with more than 3,000 parking spaces, and easy access to the bicycle and pedestrian paths.
Two of the 13 stations are near Pierce College, one on Winnetka Avenue and Victory Boulevard and the other at De Soto Avenue and Victory Boulevard.
“Metro’s decision of where to put the stations was based on what they thought would be best for Pierce students, so we are not sure why Metro picked Winnetka instead of Mason. It was their decision, said Mike Cornner director of marketing and public relations for Pierce.
“But we have been given $750,000 to enhance the entrance into the school from Winnetka, so the students won’t cross through a hole in the fence,” Cornner added.
Los Angeles Valley College will also have a station located at Fulton Avenue and Burbank Boulevard the traveling time between Valley College and Pierce College will be approximately 20 minutes.
The total cost of construction for the Orange Line was $329.5 million, as well $8.1 million for a bikeway and pedestrian path built parallel to the transit way.
After the free rides opening weekend, Metro Orange Line fares will be $1.25 for one way trips, or $3 for a Metro day pass which allows unlimited local access on both the Metro bus and rail systems from the time of purchase until 3 a.m. the next morning.
Weekly transit passes are $14 and monthly transit passes are $52, for students a monthly pass is $30.
Day passes can be purchased at station ticket vending machines and monthly passes can be purchased on Metro’s web site at www.METRO.net except for student monthly passes.
Those have to be purchased in person, so a picture can be taken and put on the pass.