The Purple (D Line) Extension continues to make progress. Some news from Section 2, which will run between Wilshire/La Cienega, downtown Beverly Hills, and Century City.
At its March 25, 2021 meeting, the Long Beach Transit Board of Directors authorized the purchase 20 new battery-electric buses from New Flyer of America. The zero-emission buses will be smaller than LBT’s typical 40-foot buses and move LBT closer to its goal of a zero-emission fleet.
LBT issued a request for proposals in January 2020 and after an evaluation process, New Flyer of America was chosen. Capital and grant dollars will be used to fund the $22 million purchase the 20 buses. The agreement includes the option to purchase up to 20 additional buses within three years, subject to approval by the LBT Board of Directors.
The LA Metro Board of Directors last Thursday approved a $679 million life-of-project budget for the I-5 North County Enhancements Project.
This project is designed to improve the operations and safety of the freeway corridor, improve the movement of freight and people, and accommodate expected growth between Santa Clarita and Castaic in large part through the addition of one HOV lane in each direction, along with other improvements in this 14-mile corridor.
In addition to new HOV lanes in both directions, improvements include a two-mile extension of truck lanes, improvements to auxiliary lanes at multiple locations, and the replacement of the Weldon Canyon Bridge. These improvements will enhance safety on the freeway by removing trucks from the general-purpose lanes and adding more space for merging.
LA Metro is managing the project in partnership with Caltrans. It will be funded through a combination of Measure R and Measure M funding specifically set aside for road and highways projects, along with SB1 and federal dollars. Thursday’s vote allows LA Metro’s CEO to execute a contract and begin working toward starting construction.
LA Metro expects the project to break ground in early summer and it is expected to be completed in 2026.
For more information about the I-5 North County Enhancements Project, visit https://www.metro.net/projects/i-5-enhancements/
The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) is on its way to converting its entire fleet to zero emissions by the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games with an order of 155 buses that will be put into service on its network in the next two years.
You Ride, We Guide.