Metro North Hollywood
to Pasadena Bus Rapid
Transit Project –
Final Environmental Impact
Report Comment Letter
City Council
April 12, 2022
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
Tonight’s Presentation
• What is Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
• Project Description and Alignment
• Project Changes since Draft Environmental
Impact Report (DEIR)
• Changes Needed to Build and Protect
Neighborhoods
• Recommendation
Project Background
Metro NoHo to Pasadena Corridor
• A new transit corridor: Red Line / Orange in
NoHo to Gold Line in Pasadena via Burbank,
Glendale, and Eagle Rock
• $267 million Budget Funded with Measure M
and SB-1
What is BRT
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): Premium rail -like
service, “Light Rail on Tires”
• Dedicated Stations
• Pay Fare Prior to Boarding
• Frequent Service (every 5 to 10 minutes)
• Street Improvements to Increase Speed
• Dedicated Lanes
• Queue Jumps
• Signal Priority
Why BRT?
• Travel by transit today requires up to 3
transfers, 120 minutes on local bus
• Faster than regular bus, far cheaper than
light rail
• Stations are permanent / better land use
planning
• BRT street improvements are
neighborhood-sensitive
Metro Project Development
• 2017: Metro Technical Study
• 2019: Metro Alternatives Analysis
• 2020: Metro Releases DEIR; City Council sends
Comment Letter
• Early 2021: Metro Board Approves Project
Alternative
• Late 2021: Metro Revises Some Project Elements
• March 2022: Metro Releases FEIR
Proposed Alignment
Proposed
Alignment
In Burbank
Proposed Alignment In Burbank
Proposed Alignment In Burbank
Project Changes Since DEIR
1. Olive Avenue Corridor Changed from
“Curb-Running” to “Side-Running”
2. Project Realigned to Serve Disney / St.
Joseph’s
Project Changes Since DEIR
3. Olive Bridge Station Relocated to Olive
/ Lake
4. Stations added at Naomi / Alameda and
Olive / Verdugo; Station removed at
Buena Vista / Olive
BRT Builds a Better Burbank
• Supports Burbank’s 12,000 Housing Unit Goal
• Relieves Jobs-Housing Imbalance Impacts
• Connects Residents to Regional Transit &
Eases Regional Traffic Impacts on
Neighborhoods
• Supports Metrolink 15-Minute Service
• Supports General Plan and Specific Plans
• Avoids Sensitive Corridors (Chandler)
Major Changes Needed to
Build & Protect
Neighborhoods
• Bus Lanes on Olive Avenue – Two Options
• Olive Avenue Bridge Station
• Neighborhood Protection / Complete Streets
Olive Ave Option #1
Install Mixed -Flow BRT
• Mixed Flow until 17,500 rides per day
(50 percent of 2042 ridership estimate)
• At that ridership, buses are carrying about
as many people as the car lane;
• Straightforward to convert mixed-flow to
bus lanes in the future
Olive Ave Option #2
Install Side -Running BRT for 36 -month Trial
• Install side-running bus lanes for 36-
month trial; revert to mixed-flow if project
does not achieve 17,500 rides per day
(50 percent of 2042 ridership estimate)
• Allows City and Metro to test
configuration and measure congestion
effects
• Metro to remove lanes if ridership goals
not met
Olive Avenue Bridge Station at
Metrolink
• Add aerial BRT station with second elevator on
south side
• Implement complete streets pedestrian
improvements over I-5 to Metrolink
• Improved bridge rails
for safety
• Update structure and
improve seismic safety
Neighborhood Protection / Complete
Streets
• Request Metro include additional $5 million for
neighborhood protection and complete streets
• Necessary for bus lanes (either added now or
later)
Staff Recommendation
1. Approve FEIR Comment Letter to Metro
2. Select Option 1 (“mixed-flow”) on Olive
Avenue as the City Council’s preferred
project configuration
QUESTIONS & COUNCIL DIRECTION
David Kriske
Assistant Community Development
Director - Transportation