Canoga Avenue Orange Line Busway extension underway
From left, MTA Board Member Richard Katz, Councilman Greig Smith, County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Councilman Dennis Zine, MTA CEO Art Leahy, and County Supervisor Michael Antonovich Aide Millie Jones.
Construction of the Canoga Avenue extension of the Orange Line busway kicked off at a groundbreaking ceremony on June 24 at the Chatsworth Depot. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Metro Board Member Richard Katz, and City and County transportation officials were among those who attended
The new 4-mile dedicated extension is expected to open in 2012 and will connect the Orange Line terminus at Warner Center to Chatsworth Depot Metrolink Train Station. It is funded with state transportation funds and with money from Measure R, which was approved by voters last year.
By interconnecting the existing Orange Line, Metro Rapid bus lines, Metrolink trains and the subway system, it will dramatically expand the public transit options for Valley commuters and reduce traffic congestion and pollution.
From left, Richard Katz; Mitch Englander, Chief of Staff to Councilman Greig Smith; Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, and Councilman Greig Smith.
The extension will benefit from safety and operational experience gained from the MTA’s highly successful Orange Line, which saw ridership shoot up from 16,000 passengers per day to more than 21,000 per day in its first year of operation, a level not anticipated until 2020.
There will be station stops at Sherman Way, Roscoe, Nordhoff and Chatsworth, a new park & ride lot at Sherman Way, landscaped bicycle and pedestrian paths, an elevated bridge at Lassen St., privacy walls for neighbors and new traffic improvements.
For more information, visit www.metro.net/canoga.
VICA inducts business leaders into SFV Hall of Fame
KNBC 4 Weathercaster Fritz Coleman joined the Valley Industry & Commerce Association (VICA) to induct The Beverly Garland Holiday Inn, Gelsons Markets, Los Angeles Pierce College, Spectrolab and Ritchie Valens into its San Fernando Valley Business Hall of Fame.
2009 Hall of Fame inductees: From left: Dr. David Lillington (Spectrolab), Heesook Nelson (Gelson's), Donna Tyndall (Gelson's), James Crank (The Beverly Garland Holiday Inn), Bert Seneca (The Beverly Garland Holiday Inn), VICA Chair Greg Lippe (Lippe, Hellie, Hoffer & Allison LLP) Connie Lemos (Ritchie Valens sister), Bob Garber (Pierce College) and Irma Norton (Ritchie Valens sister).
“It is an honor to recognize the achievements of these outstanding Valley leaders,” said VICA Chair Greg Lippe. “As we help to shape the Valley’s future, it is important to remember and celebrate our past.”
The 2009 inductees were welcomed into the San Fernando Valley Business Hall of Fame today at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Universal City. This year’s inductees join inaugural inductees: Bob’s Big Boy, Daily News of Los Angeles, Bob Hope Airport, The Voit Companies and William Mulholland.
Representatives from the inductee organizations and Ritchie Valens’ sisters were on hand to accept the induction into the Hall of Fame on behalf of the 2009 honorees. More than 300 VICA members and other community leaders joined the inductees to celebrate their success.
KNBC Weathercaster Fritz Coleman joined VICA to induct the 2009 Hall of Fame.
“All of the inductees into the Business Hall of Fame have left a significant mark on the Valley’s culture, history and economy,” Lippe said. “Recognizing their impressive achievements is a tradition that VICA hopes to continue for many years to come.”
The San Fernando Valley Business Hall of Fame was created by VICA in 2008 to recognize significant contributions to the Valley community. Inductees include individuals, businesses and other community organizations that have been responsible for the continued success, economic vitality and culture of the San Fernando Valley.
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