I'm sure you've noticed that transit in the San Fernando Valley is improving quickly in ways that add both ease and comfort to your morning commute.Most recently, Metro announced a new type of transit connection that will come to the Valley soon: cell phone service on the train. We're on track to get cell phone service up and running all along the Red Line by the end of the year. This will be a huge upgrade for those of us who seek to continue our conversations or use the internet on the way to work or school.
This is just one in a long line of tremendous investments Metro has made in our community over the years, which all started in 2000 with the opening of the Red Line subway. That was followed in 2005 with the opening of the Metro Orange Line busway, the nation's premiere dedicated Bus Rapid Transit Line.
To meet growing parking needs on the Red Line, the agency also built nearly 200 additional temporary parking spaces on the north side of Chandler Boulevard just a few years ago. Metro also built a multi-use path adjacent to the new parking lot that offers a safe connection for pedestrians and bicyclists to the existing Chandler and Orange Line bikeways.
In 2016, I helped Metro launch the North Hollywood to Pasadena Express that directly connects bus riders traveling between the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys. Months later, we cut the ribbon on Metro's new underground pedestrian passageway connecting the Red and Orange Lines, saving people from the hassle and risk of crossing busy Lankershim Boulevard at street-level.
And just last month, we welcomed Groundwork Coffee into the historic, newly restored Lankershim Depot. With Groundwork now in place, Metro next has plans to install a Metro Bike Hub at the depot in the future. I am also working with Metro to turn the corner of Lankershim and Chandler into a pocket park that our community will greatly enjoy.
All these initiatives create better opportunities for our community to eat, shop, play, live and work in harmony with transit. Metro's recent cell phone service announcement continues this trend. It means Red Line passengers soon will be able to make calls, send texts and access the internet using their data plans while taking the train.
Metro has been rolling out cell service in in tunnels and at stations since last spring, with all of Downtown and the Purple Line currently connected. Now through the end of the year, they will work on the Red Line, including the North Hollywood and Studio City/Universal City stations. Because of work this weekend, the Vermont/Sunset and Hollywood/Western Red Line stations will be closed, with bus service between the stations, so please factor that into your travel plans if you are heading toward Hollywood.
I will keep you updated on this and other transportation improvements in the future as we work together to make our Valley transit network even more connected. If you have any ideas or comments, please contact me: [email protected] or (818) 755-7676.