Glendale Councilman and Metro Board member, Ara Najarian, has proposed an express bus line connecting Pasadena to Bob Hope’s Airport and the Orange Line in the valley serving as a connection between the San Gabriel Valley and the San Fernando Valley.
The proposed express bus service would start at the Del Mar station in Pasadena; stop at the airport in Burbank, while passing by Glendale via Brand Boulevard, Burbank’s Media District, and the Red and Orange Line station in North Hollywood.
Estimated cost
If Metro ends up operating the bus line, it will cost between $5.3 million and $6.1 million a year. If Metro ends up contracting out with a private entity, the cost will drop to $4 million, according to a report presented to Metro’s System Safety, Security and Operations Committee.
Metro’s reaction and final decision
Metro’s CEO, Art Leahy, spoke out against the proposal. Instead, he suggested asking the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) to expand Line 549 that goes from Encino to Walnut and Fair Oaks in Pasadena.
The Metro board is expected to have a final vote on the express bus line by March.
Conclusion
With the expected completion of the Gold line to the east by 2016, and if this proposal gains steam, the San Gabriel valley transportation future will look shiny and bright. It will be a win-win situation for San Gabriel Valley and San Fernando Valley commuters alike.
For the Greater Pasadena area residents, business commuters will be able to travel to and from the airport in Burbank without having to fight traffic. Similarly, leisure commuters will be able to hop on a bus and ride all the way to the Metro Orange Line Bike Path, spend the day biking or walking, and come back without getting into a car.
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