Trains On Van Nuys Boulevard? Metro's Considering It

Metro got a nice Christmas gift from the Federal Transit Administration recently: $2 million, of which some will be used to start analyzing what kind of transit projects could work for frenetic Van Nuys Boulevard. The Source reports that Metro will not only be considering a rapid bus project, but also light-rail or streetcar alternatives. This is a kind of surprising as Van Nuys Blvd. is part of the Measure R project known as the "East San Fernando Valley North-South Transit Corridors" described as thus on the Metro website: "These projects will improve bus speed on north/south corridors on Reseda, Sepulveda, Van Nuys and Lankershim/San Fernando Boulevards. Alternatives include a standard median busway; a median busway with grade separation at four streets; and a tunnel segment between the Metro Orange Line and Vanowen St." Nada about a train or streetcar. Anyway, the Source notes that buses on Van Nuys Blvd. get more daily riders (27,000) than the Orange Line (23,500), so a choo-choo may make more sense. Some Source commenters point out that if this is a light-rail it could be part of that planned connection over the 405 and to the Westside. Metro should have a recommendation for an alternative in early 2013.
· FTA Gives Metro Green-Light to Study Options for Van Nuys Blvd. [The Source]