MTA Officials Advise Taking Bus to Subway Opening

Predicting a parking crunch, officials are urging people who plan to ride the new Red Line subway this weekend to also consider taking public transportation to the station.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is predicting about 200,000 daily subway passengers on Saturday and Sunday, and with festivals and other special events planned at each of the three new stations, traffic will be heavier than usual.

Parking may also be hard to find, particularly at the Universal City station where just 250 spots will be ready.

“It’s always possible the overall attendance will exceed our expectations,” said Gary Wosk, MTA spokesman. “We don’t think it will be chaotic. But it may require some patience.”

In a city that, until recently, viewed riding the subway almost as an amusement park ride--more a novelty than a daily transportation option--getting to a subway station often means driving one’s car.

But the MTA advises folks from the Valley to try the new Metro Rapid bus, plying Ventura Boulevard from Warner Center to Universal City. It’s free this weekend through June 30, and, for those who are into cheap thrills, the bus is equipped with transponders to keep all, if not most, signals green.

Many subway riders are also expected to visit the eighth NoHo International Theatre and Arts Festival, which will be staged adjacent to the new North Hollywood station.

“We want people to come to the event,” said Alice Buonato, spokeswoman for the festival and the Universal City/North Hollywood Chambers of Commerce. “We’d also encourage people to find other ways of getting there because there are a limited number of spaces.”

This year’s festival is expected to be the largest yet, Buonato said.

To try out the subway and to reach the special events scheduled this weekend, the MTA advises people to consider using the Metro Blue or Green Line or Metrolink trains to board the Red Line at either 7th Street/Metro Center or Union Station.

From those two Red Line stations, the new subway extension to the Valley can be reached.

Here are parking tips for the three new Red Line stations opening this weekend:

* At the Hollywood/Highland station, a jazz festival sponsored by the Knitting Factory nightclub will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Hollywood Boulevard between Highland Avenue and North Orange Drive will be closed. There are limited, private parking lots south of Hollywood Boulevard, off Highland.

* At the Universal City station, the neighboring historic site Campo de Cahuenga site will fire a Civil War-era cannon, and actors in period costume will recreate the 1848 treaty signing that ended the Mexican-American War, giving control of California to the United States. Universal Studios will also present costumed characters and entertainment. Activities are scheduled both Saturday and Sunday. Some parking lots adjacent to the station will be available, but space is limited.

* At the North Hollywood station, the NoHo International Theatre and Arts Festival will be held all weekend, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Skydivers, 13 theaters hosting free performances, dance programs, a “Kids Court” (with face-painting, magic shows and puppets), live entertainment, crafts and food booths will be offered.

Lankershim Boulevard, from Cumpston Street to Magnolia Boulevard, will be closed for the festival.

The North Hollywood subway station parking lot has 800 spots available.

More festival parking can be found at North Hollywood Park, with a free shuttle taking visitors to the festival. The shuttle will make three stops: the subway station at Cumpston and Lankershim, Lankershim and Magnolia, and the park at Magnolia and Tujunga Avenue.