Free Rides Offered on New Rapid Buses

Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials hope to persuade commuters to make use of new rapid buses that will speed riders from Warner Center along Ventura Boulevard to the Universal City subway station.

The distinctive red-and-white buses are fitted with electronic devices that extend green lights, shaving about 15 minutes off a typical hourlong cross-Valley bus ride.

The rapid buses are scheduled to debut Saturday to coincide with the opening of the final six miles of subway between Hollywood and the Valley.

Riders can try out the bus line for free Saturday through June 30.

After that, commuters will have to pay $1.35 to ride from Warner Center to Universal City. The fare includes a transfer to a downtown train.

To speed their movement along city streets, rapid buses are fitted with a transponder that triggers data wire loops embedded in Ventura Boulevard at regular intervals.

Each time a bus passes over a data loop, information about its location and speed is sent to a controller box at the intersection. The controller box forwards the data to a Department of Transportation computer in the basement of City Hall.

If the bus is within 10 seconds of arriving at a signal, the computer’s software will send a signal back to the controller box at the intersection to lengthen the green light for another 10 seconds. The entire process takes about one second.

“This saves a lot of time,” MTA spokesman Ed Scannell said. “You don’t have to sit and wait for the signal cycle.”

In addition to the buses’ signal-priority feature, transportation officials say commuting times will be shortened because rapid buses will stop once every mile rather than every six-tenths of a mile to pick up and drop off passengers. The buses are expected to run every three to five minutes during rush-hour and about every 12 minutes during off-peak periods and on weekends.

Rapid buses cruising along Ventura Boulevard will stop at 16 new bus stations outfitted with real-time speed and location displays for passengers to track their bus’ progress. The buses will stop 16 times along the Ventura Boulevard line between Warner Center and Universal City.

The new 40-seat buses also will run along Wilshire Boulevard from Santa Monica to downtown Los Angeles and continue to Montebello, primarily along Whittier Boulevard beginning Saturday.

If the rapid bus routes prove successful--as measured by strong ridership and quicker travel times--transportation officials say they intend to launch 16 additional rapid bus lines, including three in the Valley along Van Nuys Boulevard, San Fernando Road and Roscoe Boulevard.

Rapid buses will replace the express bus service that transports riders from the Valley to downtown via local freeways, said Mike Brewer, an MTA schedule planner.

However, he said, local and limited-stop bus service will continue to run along routes that have been modified somewhat to accommodate the new rapid bus operation.

Rapid buses generally will run between 5 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. on weekdays, weekends and holidays between Warner Center and Universal City, officials said.

*

For specific bus routes and times, go online to https://www.mta.net or call (800) COMMUTE.