A First Look at Big Bus Rapid Transit Plans in Los Angeles

A proposed bus rapid transit (BRT) route for Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles was approved in Measure M, the transportation sales tax approved by L.A. County voters in November.

1 minute read

February 9, 2017, 8:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Vermont BRT Proposed Concept 1

Steven Sharp reports on the details of a "technical study for a proposed bus rapid transit line which would link the Red, Purple, Expo and Green Lines via Vermont Avenue" in Los Angeles.

"The project stretches approximately 12.4 miles between Hollywood Boulevard in Los Feliz and 120th Street in the unincorporated community of Athens," reports Sharp. "With 45,000 daily boardings between Metro's 754 and 204 lines, Vermont is the second busiest bus corridor in the Metro network after Wilshire Boulevard. However, heavy congestion often interferes with service, resulting in slow travel speeds, late arrivals and overcrowding."

The technical study includes four concepts currently under consideration for the BRT proposal. The concepts range from end-to-end side running BRT (Concept 1), a combination of side and center running BRT (Concept 2), curbside running BRT (Concept 3), and peak period curbside running BRT (Concept 4). Concept 4 is already in place along stretches of Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, and most transit advocates consider such a proposal to be "BRT-lite," and well short of the BRT gold standard.

FULL STORY: A Look at the Proposed Vermont BRT Line

Wednesday, February 8, 2017 in Urbanize LA

Infrastructure Transportation California Los Angeles Vermont Avenue Vermont BRT Bus Rapid Transit BRT Measure M Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority View More

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.