Bus-only lanes will be created on Wilshire Boulevard during the morning and afternoon rush hours under a proposal approved on Dec. 10 by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board.
The curbside lanes on Wilshire Boulevard will be dedicated to buses only during rush hours under the new plan. (photo by Edwin Folven)
The bus rapid transit project will include a bus-only lane on either side of Wilshire Boulevard running along an 8.7-mile stretch between Mac Arthur Park and Centinella Avenue. The bus-only lanes will operate during weekdays between 7 to 9 a.m., and 4 to 7 p.m. The lanes are expected to reduce bus travel times on Wilshire Boulevard by 12 minutes, and increase ridership by up to 35,000 people daily. Currently, the travel time for buses is approximately 55 minutes, which will be reduced to 43 minutes. However, travel times for automobile traffic along Wilshire Boulevard is anticipated to increase because of the lanes being restricted to buses, adding 11 minutes to the average car trip, lengthening it to 59 minutes.
The Metro Board voted to exempt a stretch of Wilshire Boulevard between Comstock and Selby Avenues in Westwood. That stretch of Wilshire Boulevard has numerous condominium buildings, and residents had complained that the bus-only lanes would cause significant traffic congestion and limit access to residences. The project will also not include the stretch of Wilshire Boulevard that runs through Beverly Hills.
Vehicles that are turning right will be allowed to use the bus-only lane, as will bicycles. Buses will be restricted to the curbside lanes except to pass when necessary. Metro is also planning improvements to the Wilshire corridor. New left turn arrows will be installed at Highland Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard; La Brea Avenue and Olympic Boulevard, and Highland Avenue at Olympic Boulevard. Street repaving will also occur on Wilshire Boulevard between Western Avenue and San Vicente Boulevard. New turn lanes and street widening will also occur on Wilshire Boulevard west of Beverly Hills.
Metro has been considering the project since 2008, and the next step will be to get approval from the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Metro will then complete the final design process. The plan includes a construction and community awareness campaign prior to the projects being completed.
1 Comment
This is ridiculous. Westwood : I can sit in traffic at Wilshire & Selby, able to see the freeway entrance in the distance, but unable to get there. There are never less than 7 to 10 busses at any given time, between Selby & San Vicente on Wilshire, on both sides of the street. The busses not only tie up the far right lanes – they sit on Wilshire, double parked, waiting for a space to pull their bus in. They then tie up the other lanes by cutting in front of cars across lanes to circumvent traffic in order to expedite their trip, all the while blocking the stream of traffic, which is constantly backed-up on Wilshire. There are too many busses – 3 or 4 different bus lines, all there at the same time. Why are there so many bus lines all having the same routes? Why do they take precedent over people in cars? I have lived in this town for decadess. It used to be a great place – it’s now unbearable! There’s a new hotel hi-rise being built on Gayley & Wilshire, that will be a real boon to the gridlock!! They’re hoping it will boost the Village business. That’s a sick joke… it’ll only be for the people who live there – nobody else wants to go near Westwood Village in a car!!!