New Plan for Bus Routes to Begin Sunday

The first phase of an ambitious plan to restructure and streamline bus service throughout the San Fernando Valley is scheduled to begin Sunday with the addition of three new routes and revision or cancellation of more than a dozen others.

The ultimate goal of the changes is to prepare the system for its biggest shift in 20 years, from a traditional grid layout to a “hub-and-spoke” pattern of bus lines radiating from transit centers scattered throughout the Valley.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, implementing recommendations developed over half a decade of study, expects the new system to be completed by the end of the year or early 1996.

“Our customers told us they would like to have improved local service, and we listened to them,” said MTA board member Mel Wilson, a Northridge real estate agent.

The changes scheduled for Sunday will affect bus routes throughout the Valley, from the city of San Fernando down to Warner Center in Woodland Hills.

Three lines are to be added, nine modified and six dropped because of lack of patronage, MTA officials said. Many of the adjustments involve moving buses onto major streets.

The new plan does not please all of the 5,000 passengers likely to be affected.

Some riders have complained that the reconfiguration of routes will worsen their commutes.

Others accuse the MTA of using the restructuring plan to disguise cuts in bus service designed purely to save money for expensive rail projects.

Transit officials defend the system overhaul, saying it was adopted after a public hearing last January and an intensive study of each line.

“The service changes . . . are the culmination of an extremely thorough public process,” said county Supervisor Mike Antonovich, who chairs the MTA board.

The eventual goal of the restructuring is to establish six transit bases around the rim of the Valley where passengers can transfer easily between bus lines or between bus and rail travel.

Transit centers are envisioned for Warner Center, Cal State Northridge, Universal City, Chatsworth, Sylmar and Burbank.

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Bus Route Changes As part of the biggest overhaul of the San Fernando Valley’s bus system in two decades, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will add three bus new lines, revamp nine others and cancel six on Sunday. The route changes are listed below.

ADDITIONS Line 233: Lake View Terrace-Van Nuys Boulevard: Originates at Eldridge Avenue and Terra Bella Street in Lake View Terrace and provides local service along Van Nuys Boulevard between Foothill and Ventura boulevards. Replaces portions of service formerly provided by Line 560. New limited-stop bus service will be provided along Van Nuys Boulevard between San Fernando Road and Ventura Boulevard via new Line 561. Line 522: Reseda Boulevard-Ventura Boulevard-Los Angeles City College: Replaces former Line 240 (Reseda Boulevard). Provides continuous service from Devonshire Street along Reseda Boulevard, Ventura Boulevard, the Hollywood Freeway and Vermont Avenue to Los Angeles City College. Passengers destined for Downtown via the Hollywood Freeway may transfer at the Hollywood Freeway and Western Avenue bus stop to Line 424 or 425. Line 561: LAX-San Diego Freeway-Van Nuys Boulevard-San Fernando Express Limited: Originates at the Sylmar-San Fernando Metrolink station. Provides local service along portions of Truman Street and San Fernando Road to Van Nuys Boulevard. Limited stops along Van Nuys Boulevard from San Fernando Road to Ventura Boulevard. Local and express service along Ventura Boulevard, the San Diego Freeway and Sepulveda Boulevard to Westwood, Culver City, Westchester, the LAX Transit Center and eventually the Aviation/I-105 Metro Green Line station. Replaces portions of former Line 560. Local service along Van Nuys Boulevard will be provided by new Line 233. MODIFICATIONS Line 96: Los Angeles-Burbank-Sherman Oaks via Riverside Drive: Will run on Riverside Drive in Sherman Oaks and to the Burbank Transit Center via Olive Avenue and 1st Street, returning via Olive Avenue and Glenoaks Boulevard. Line 163: Sherman Way-Sun Valley-Hollywood Way: The western segment will continue to operate along Sherman Way to West Hills Medical Center; the eastern segment will be modified to operate primarily via Hollywood Way through the Cahuenga Pass to Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. Line 164: Victory Boulevard: Will serve Warner Center via Victory Boulevard, Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Oxnard Street and Owensmouth Avenue. Line 169: Saticoy Street-Sunland Boulevard: Will eliminate the loop around Burbank Airport and extend the eastern terminal to Mt. Gleason Avenue. Line 181: Hollywood-Glendale-Pasadena via Colorado Boulevard-Yosemite Drive: Eastern terminal will be extended to Pasadena City College. Line 212: La Brea Avenue: Northbound route will end at Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. Line 236: Balboa Boulevard-Rinaldi Street-Woodley Avenue: Northbound route will run on Balboa Boulevard to Midwood Drive, continue via Paso Robles Avenue, Lorillard Street, Balboa Boulevard, Rinaldi Street and Woodley Avenue to Victory Boulevard. Service extended along Victory and Van Nuys boulevards to Ventura Boulevard. Line 418: Los Angeles-Roscoe Boulevard-Northridge Express: Westbound service extended on Roscoe Boulevard to Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Line 425: Los Angeles-Ventura Boulevard Express Limited: Limited-stop trips will be provided northbound only in the morning and southbound in afternoon rush hours. CANCELLATIONS Line 97: Los Angeles-Burbank-North Hollywood via Riverside Drive: Most of this line will be replaced by the modified Line 96. Line 240: Reseda Boulevard: Replaced by new Line 522. Line 406: Los Angeles-Sunland Express via Pennsylvania Avenue: Alternate service on portions of the line will be available on Los Angeles city Commuter Express Line 409 and MTA local lines 90 and 91. Line 407: Los Angeles-Sunland Express via La Crescenta Avenue: Alternate service on portions of the line will be available on Los Angeles city Commuter Express Line 409 and MTA local lines 90 and 91. Line 412: Los Angeles-Burbank Media District-North Hollywood-Valley Plaza Freeway Express Line 560: LAX-San Diego Freeway-Van Nuys Boulevard: Replaced by new lines 233 and 561. Source: Metropolitan Transportation Authority