Shelters for ‘Rapid Bus’ Riders OKd

A new rapid bus service will soon debut along with distinctive, prefabricated shelters on Ventura, Wilshire and Whittier boulevards.

The 89 shelters will cost nearly $3.7 million and will be paid for by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved fronting about two-thirds of that money, which the MTA will later repay.

To coincide with the start of the rapid bus service and several new Red Line subway stops in the San Fernando Valley this weekend, the first shelter is to be installed by Friday at the Universal City station.

The MTA hopes to entice commuters from their cars into buses with transponders that keep traffic signals green as they approach, allowing bus drivers to avoid red lights at congested intersections.

To help distinguish the new shelters from other MTA bus stops, they will have red and white signs to match the new buses, and translucent canopies.

A unique feature of the shelters is a real-time display that tells passengers when the next bus will arrive, said Rex Gephart, MTA rapid bus project manager.

Along the 16-mile Ventura Boulevard route from Universal City west to the Warner Center transit center, 27 shelters will be installed. On the Wilshire/Whittier boulevard line, 62 shelters are planned for the 26-mile route through Montebello, Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills.

MTA officials, working with Los Angeles’ Department of Transportation, think the signal-beating technology can shave up to 25% off travel time.

During its grand opening week, Saturday through June 30, passengers may ride on the rapid bus line for free.