Input on Planned Bus Route Changes Sought

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will hold a public hearing on Wednesday in Van Nuys to discuss proposed changes to bus service in the San Fernando Valley and to get feedback from riders.

The agency is considering cutting certain routes while beefing up service in other areas. Proposed changes include adding a new Metro Rapid bus line on Van Nuys Boulevard and cutting a route that runs from the Valley to Los Angeles International Airport.

The bus lines under consideration for changes are:

* 90-91 L.A.-Sunland-Sylmar Line: Increase weekend service from Sunland to Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar to once an hour.

* 92-93 L.A.-Glendale-Burbank Line: Cancel a segment on Brand Boulevard between Glenoaks Boulevard and Mountain Street. Cancel Line 93 segment on Allesandro Street.

* 94 L.A.-San Fernando Line: Extend route to Cascades Business Park via Foothill and Balboa boulevards.

* 234 Sepulveda Boulevard-Brand Boulevard-Sayre Street Line: Restructure route to terminate at the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink station and operate a shuttle route north of Mission College.

* 236 Balboa Boulevard-Woodley Avenue Line: Cut segment along Balboa Boulevard between Rinaldi Street and Midwood Drive.

* 243 De Soto Avenue-Ventura Boulevard-Winnetka Avenue Line: Add new Saturday service along De Soto Avenue.

* 410 San Fernando Express Line: Cancel route.

* San Fernando Road-Lankershim Boulevard Limited Line: Create a new limited stop service between Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink station and the North Hollywood Red Line subway station.

* 418 L.A.-Roscoe Boulevard Express Line: Cut the local/express route south of Roscoe and Laurel Canyon boulevards to downtown Los Angeles and replace it with Roscoe-Laurel Canyon limited stop service to North Hollywood Red Line subway station.

* 426 San Fernando Valley-Wilshire Boulevard Line: Cut the segment south of North Hollywood station.

* 561 Green Line-LAX-Van Nuys Boulevard Line: Cut line and integrate into Van Nuys Metro Rapid bus route between Lake View Terrace and Westwood.

* Van Nuys Rapid Line: Create new Metro Rapid bus service along Van Nuys Boulevard to replace Line 561.

* 603 Rampart Boulevard-Hoover Street-Colorado Street Line: reroute to Allesandro Street to replace Line 93 segment.

Some transit riders are already decrying the proposed cuts.

The MTA needs to reestablish service to Sylmar Juvenile Hall and preserve the LAX line, said Bart Reed, executive director of the Transit Coalition.

He said the proposed alternative could increase travel time from the Valley to LAX by an hour.

Wednesday’s public hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Van Nuys State Building, 6150 Van Nuys Blvd.