Ready and Waiting: New Law Makes Light Rail Possible in the San Fernando Valley

"Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill Thursday that will allow the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to convert the Metro Orange Line to light-rail. Brown's signature reverses a 1991 law that banned above-ground rail through North Hollywood and Van Nuys," reports Laura Nelson.

"Transit advocates said reversing the so-called Robbins Bill, authored by then-state Sen. Alan Robbins (D-Tarzana), is a needed step for the Valley, which is home to just two of Los Angeles County's 80 commuter rail stations. But Metro officials said the hardest work is still ahead."

The plans to build light rail in The Valley can now commence, although any proposal will still require several steps before funding is even considered: "An Orange Line project is not included in the agency's list of short-term priorities, he said, and the route has no additional funding identified in Measure R, the half-cent sales tax for transportation passed by Los Angeles County voters in 2008….But Los Angeles City Councilman and Metro board member Paul Krekorian wants to push ahead immediately. Krekorian plans to ask Metro this month for a feasibility study on how to convert the busway to light-rail, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told The Times."