‘Stop this madness’: Valley residents trying to block bus rapid transit

Metro’s Board of Directors will soon vote on whether to begin environmental review of a planned bus rapid transit project in the Northern San Fernando Valley, but some Valley residents are set on blocking the bus-only lanes.

A group called Save the San Fernando Valley—which distributed a flier comparing the project’s Nordhoff Street segment to a rapid bus system in Delhi—has encouraged residents to contact Metro directors to urge them to “stop this madness.” It appears they got the message.

Director Ara Najarian on Wednesday begged those concerned about the project to stop calling his private law office, and director Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, who chairs Metro’s planning and programming committee, said boardmembers had received “hundreds of calls on both sides of the issue.”

Dozens of residents turned out to the committee’s meeting Wednesday to voice opposition to the project, arguing that removing lanes for cars would cause more traffic and disrupt the lives of those who live close by.

“I am not against public transportation, but I am against that route,” said Linda Allison, 37, of Northridge. “I think it would strongly ruin the value of our homes.”

Jay Beeber, a leader of Save the San Fernando Valley, told committee members that residents hadn’t been properly notified about the project. Metro staffers at the meeting said the agency had been holding community meetings on the project since last year.

The proposed project would run between the North Hollywood area and Chatsworth, passing through the communities of Sun Valley, Panorama City, and Northridge along the way.

The route route hasn’t yet been finalized; the easternmost stop could be at the North Hollywood subway station or further west at the intersection of Chandler and Laurel Canyon boulevards.

Either way, the bus line would provide key connections to a planned light rail line along Van Nuys Boulevard and the Orange Line, an existing rapid bus that travels in dedicated lanes to the south of the proposed North Valley route.

Several opponents said they would be more supportive of a bus route along Roscoe Boulevard, rather than Nordhoff Street. Right now, the eastern portion of the planned route runs along Roscoe, before turning north to Nordhoff around the 405 freeway.

Running the entire project along Roscoe, however, could mean bypassing California State University, Northridge. One alignment Metro has considered for the project would turn north from Roscoe onto Lindley Avenue, linking up with the school. Another would turn north at Resda Boulevard, arriving at Nordhoff west of the campus.

School officials have pushed hard for better transit options for students, and Metro staff estimates that ridership on the bus would be highest between the university and the forthcoming light rail line to the east.

“Our students are coming from all over the greater Los Angeles region,” said university representative Francesca Vega. “We want CSUN to become a transit hub.”

The rapid bus is one of the 28 projects that Metro aims to complete by the 2028 Olympics. According to Metro staff, the project is on track to open by 2025.

The agency’s Board of Directors will consider the project further at is monthly meeting next week.