Frequently Asked Questions for BRT on Wilshire Blvd

metro.net | Wilshire Project Study FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

* Background/Overview
* Street Improvements
* Parking
* BRT Operations
* Environmental Analysis
* Cost/Funding
* Timing
* Miscellaneous
* Questions, Comments & More Information

Background/Overview
1. There is already BRT service on Wilshire Boulevard with the Metro Rapid and Metro Rapid Express. How is this different from the existing service provided on Wilshire Boulevard today?

Currently, there are no dedicated bus lanes on Wilshire Boulevard which is one of the most important key elements of BRT. The study will evaluate whether to dedicate the curb lanes for buses during weekday a.m. and p.m. peak hours. Vehicles wishing to make a right turn would also be allowed into the bus lanes.

2. What are the benefits of BRT versus other buses in the corridor?

BRT consists of a number of key elements that when combined together, can help to significantly improve bus passenger travel times and service reliability. Bus lanes are a critical element of a BRT system since travel time savings for bus passengers can be sustained over time due to the bus lane's separation from mixed-flow traffic.

3. Didn't we already have bus lanes on Wilshire Boulevard? What happened to those?

From March 2004-August 2007, there was a peak period bus lane along Wilshire Boulevard in West Los Angeles between Federal and Centinela Avenues. The City of Los Angeles removed the bus lane in August 2007 until there could be a larger BRT project.

Street Improvements
4. Will all of Wilshire Boulevard be repaired and repaved?

No, the largest segment of Wilshire Boulevard to be repaired and repaved is between Fairfax and Western Avenues. There are also other smaller segments along the project corridor that will be repaired and repaved as part of other infrastructure improvements.

5. Will there be traffic engineering improvements along Wilshire Boulevard?

Yes. Some of these improvements would include street repaving along damaged portions of Wilshire, improved traffic signal timing, improved bus signal priority, a left-turn pocket extension at Sepulveda, and some selected street widening.

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6. Will Wilshire Boulevard be widened at any point?

Yes, Wilshire Boulevard would be widened between Barrington and Bonsall to allow for the installation of a new eastbound bus lane.

Parking
7. What kind of parking restrictions can I expect along Wilshire Boulevard?

Since most of the parking along Wilshire Boulevard is currently prohibited during the weekday peak hours of 7 to 9 a.m. & from 4 to 7 p.m., this project would have little effect on parking restrictions since the bus lanes would operate during these same hours.

8. Will there be a loss of on-street parking?

There may be some limited reduction in parking spaces in scattered locations. This will be evaluated as part of this study.

BRT Operations
9. Will the bus lanes operate 24 hours a day?

No, the curbside bus lanes are proposed to operate only during weekday peak periods between the hours of 7-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m.

10. How will this project improve the existing Wilshire Boulevard BRT service?

If implemented, passenger travel times and reliability are expected to improve for transit services on Wilshire Boulevard.

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Environmental Analysis
11. What is an Initial Study/Environmental Analysis (IS/EA)?

An IS/EA is a preliminary analysis prepared to determine the relative environmental impacts associated with a proposed project. These studies are conducted in order to environmentally clear a project with respect to both the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. The results of these studies also determine whether further environmental analysis is required.

12. Will this project cause further congestion on Wilshire Boulevard?

That is one of the questions the IS/EA will evaluate. However, some of the goals of the project are to improve the reliability of the transit service and encourage a shift from automobile use to public transit.

Cost/Funding
13. What is the cost of the project?

The project cost is approximately $31.5 million.

14. How is this project being funded?

The total Federal share of the project is $23.3 million. Metro and the City of Los Angeles are contributing $8.2 million in local dollars.

Timing
15. When will the project be operational?

Once the IS/EA is completed and if it is found that no further environmental analysis is required, the FTA and Metro would then need to approve the project (approximately summer 2009). Once this occurs, final design and construction of the project may begin which is estimated to take about two years.

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16. How will construction impact the existing BRT service?

It is not known yet exactly how construction will impact the existing BRT service, however, Metro and the City of Los Angeles will try very hard to minimize any impacts to existing services.

Miscellaneous
17. Is this project a replacement for the possible extension of the Purple line?

No, this project is separate from the Purple line, which is currently undergoing its own environmental review process. However, it is a good near-term improvement for this heavily traveled transit corridor.

18. Why doesn't the project include the Cities of Beverly Hills or Santa Monica?

The Cities of Beverly Hills and Santa Monica have indicated interest in considering peak period bus lanes for their portions of Wilshire Boulevard after they are implemented elsewhere.

Questions, Coments & More Information
19. Can Metro present this information to my Homeowners Association or Business Group?

Yes, we'd be happy to make a presentation. Please go to Contact Us and fill out the on-line comment form or call the project information line at (213) 922-2500 to set up a meeting.

20. When is the deadline for submitting comments to be considered in the IS/EA?

Your comments are always welcome, however, if there are specific issues you would like us to evaluate in the IS/EA, please ensure you get your comments to us by December 12, 2008. Please go to Contact Us and fill out the on-line comment form and for other options on how you can send us your comments.

21. What if I have additional questions about the Wilshire BRT Project?

Please go to Contact Us and fill out the on-line comment form with your questions.