MTA Completes First Busway Bridge in San Fernando Valley

MTA CEO Roger Snoble, left, and MTA Board Chairman and County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky at first bridge to be completed for the San Fernando Valley Metro Rapidway Project. (photo by Luis Inzunza)

LOS ANGELES -- The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has compleetd the first of three bridges for the San Fernando Valley Metro Rapidway Project -- a $330 million bus "expressway" that will carry passengers from North Hollywood to Warner Center.

Fontana-based Brutoco Engineering and Construction built the $3.8 million bridge that crosses the Los Angeles River in the Sepulveda Basin in the east San Fernando Valley.

"This new bridge will be capable of handling high-capacity, clean-fuel Metro Rapid buses across the Los Angeles River providing a lifeline to Valley schools, colleges and major business centers," said MTA Board Chairman Zev Yaroslavsky. "This is truly a major milestone that has been achieved towards the completion of this vital project."

The new bridge is 525-ft. long and will accommodate two 15-ft.-wide bus lanes. The deck of the bridge is 32 ft. above the river channel.

"This Metro Rapidway project is the first of its kind in Southern California and represents an innovative solution whereby transit buses operate on mostly exclusive guideways unimpeded by surrounding traffic," said MTA CEO Roger Snoble.

The San Fernando Valley Metro Rapidway is a 14-mi., landscaped busway connecting Warner Center in Woodland Hills and the North Hollywood Metro Rail Station. When completed in 2005, Metro Rapid buses will travel 1 mi. on city streets and 13 miles on an exclusive bus lane constructed in the former railroad right-of-way along portions of Oxnard Street and Victory and Chandler boulevards.

Spaced approximately 1 mi. apart, the Rapidway will include 13 stations at major activity centers. The stations will feature original art as well as lighting, seating, security cameras, public telephones, bicycle racks and ticket-vending machines. Station signage will display the waiting time between buses and other operating information.

Park and ride lots will be built at five stations, providing approximately 3,000 new parking spaces. Landscaping will add approximately 5,000 trees and a bikeway and pedestrian path will be built adjacent to much of the Rapidway.