COMMUNITY COMMENTARY:Adding a bus service is not the answer

This is in response to article of Oct. 11 regarding proposed Express Bus service along the Ventura (134) Freeway ("Bus line between valleys is looked at," Tuesday).

Years ago, when studying transit at City of London College our lecturers hammered into us the reality that "resources are scarce, and are capable of alternative uses." Nowhere is this more true than here in Los Angeles, where we are trying to create a transit system that will be attractive to riders. After years of investing most of our transportation dollars in accommodating and encouraging the automobile, there is an almost endless list of transit projects within the region where our limited dollars could be spent.

So I am dismayed to see this proposed express bus service linking Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank along the Ventura (134) Freeway.

Why the concern? Surely this is a busy corridor that needs transit, just look at all the cars on the freeway. Well, as we have seen with other freeway express services, it's very hard to translate those freeway car trips into bus journeys. Millions of dollars were spent on the Harbor Freeway Busway, but this route is probably the least successful of all the transit investments in the region, for a number of reasons.

Patrons do not like waiting at freeway off-ramps or underpasses. It's a harsh, extremely noisy, fume-laden environment. Secondly, rarely do people's trips begin or end adjacent to the freeway, so most passengers will need to make at least one, if not multiple transfers.

These transfers eliminate any time savings gained by an express service as well as adding to the inconvenience.

In the case of the proposed service, it's hard to imagine there being much demand to link the Gold Line and the Red or Orange lines. It's easier to connect between the Gold and the Red Lines at Union Station, rather than a rail-bus-rail journey. The existing Metro Rapid route 780 makes a direct connection between Pasadena, Glendale and Hollywood, including the Red Line station at Highland Avenue. The proposed Metro Rapid 794 will connect Burbank with Glendale, and with Pasadena via the 780.

The Metro Rapids offer reasonable journey times with stops in the downtown and residential areas, allowing many opportunities for a direct trip without a transfer.