Controversial North Hollywood-Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit Line Approved

“L.A. County transit officials approved a bus line through a highly traveled corridor linking the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys,” reports Ryan Fonseca for LAist. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Bord of Directors approved the project’s final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on April 28, 2022.

The North Hollywood to Pasadena Transit Corridor inspired heated controversy since its original proposal in 2018. Metro released a draft EIR in Fall 2020 before encountering unexpected obstruction in Spring 2021 from Councilmember Kevin de León, who is now running for mayor. Some of the most heated controversy created by the project centered on a proposed alignment along Colorado Boulevard in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles. The final EIR includes the Colorado Boulevard alignment.

The final plan is to connect North Hollywood (a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley in the city of Los Angeles) to Pasadena, also passing through several L.A. neighborhoods in addition to the cities of Burbank and Glendale.

“The route will run roughly 19 miles with 22 stops, starting at Metro’s B/G (Red/Orange) Line Station in North Hollywood to the west and ending at Pasadena City College to the east. BRT functions more like ‘light rail on wheels,’ with enhanced stations and prioritization at intersections,” explains Fonseca.