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Close Call on Orange Line

Posted on: Tuesday, 25 October 2005, 21:01 CDT

By Lisa Mascaro, Daily News, Los Angeles

Oct. 24--Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was taking his first ride Monday on the Metro Orange Line to promote safety around the busway when suddenly the driver hit the brakes, narrowly avoiding a motorist who apparently ran a red light at Kester Avenue.

It was a real-life, real-time example of what officials are seeing repeated across the San Fernando Valley as buses practice for Saturday's opening. For the mayor and others on board, it underscored the need for motorists and pedestrians to be careful.

"For San Fernando Valley residents who've waited for their share of transportation improvements, the Orange Line is a down payment on progress," said Villaraigosa, who also chairs the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board, at a press conference at the Valley College Station.

"Pay attention to the red lights. Pay attention to all the traffic signs at the intersections. Save yourself some money, but most importantly save yourself some injuries and pay attention.

"Let's make the Orange Line the Valley's safest new short cut."

Sheriff Lee Baca's deputies have issued more than 500 citations over the past month along the route, and Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky noted the sheriff's "ruthless and merciless" enforcement of the traffic laws.

"The reason we're being so hard is because we want people to live through this experience -- and there's no reason why they shouldn't," said Yaroslavsky, another MTA board member, who has led the effort to build the Orange Line.

"This is a great amenity, and the only thing that can ruin this amenity is (if) somebody, through their own negligence, ends up getting hurt or getting killed."

Dozens of intersections have been reconfigured along the 14-mile busway, which runs on a former rail corridor between North Hollywood and Warner Center. A right turn on red is now banned at many of the corners -- to prevent motorists from turning into the path of a bus.

"In the San Fernando Valley, that's a new type of sign," said Councilwoman Wendy Greuel. "We want to make sure people are actually reading those signs and obeying those signs."

Sherman Oaks resident Haleh Zahab complained to officials about getting a $147 ticket for making an illegal right turn at Burbank and Fulton avenues after dropping her child off at school.

The intersection is posted with a sign, but not a red-arrow signal like other intersections have. She asked whether the sign could be upgraded to a light.

"We'll look at it," Villaraigosa told her.

Critics have long said the $330 million Orange Line should have crossing gates like those at a railroad crossing, but officials maintain that gates are unnecessary because traffic can be managed the same way it is on city streets.

The mayor -- on his first ride of the Orange Line -- heaped praise on the busway, saying it will offer Valley commuters an alternative to sitting in gridlock on the 101 Freeway.

He also admired the landscaping along the route. The MTA has brought hundreds of thousands of plants and trees in a $20 million beautification effort.

Officials stopped briefly at the Sepulveda Station, noting they've created 3,200 parking spaces along the route.

"It's going to be a great addition to our regional transportation system," Villaraigosa said.

The Orange Line is expected to draw at least 5,000 riders a day during its first year.

Yaroslavsky said the busway will remain a work in progress, with service added or adjusted based on commuter demand.

"When we cut the ribbon on Friday and it opens to the public on Saturday, that's not the end of the project. That's the beginning," he said.

"We'll look at what works and build on it, and we'll see what doesn't. ... That is our challenge. That is our goal. We will continue to fine-tune this thing. Saturday is a beginning, not an end."

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Source: Daily News - Los Angeles, California

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