The mile-long bus lane on Wilshire Boulevard was under debate Wednesday at the Transportation Committee meeting at City Hall.  The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) board came to the Committee requesting the bus lane to become permanent.

The Transportation Committee, consisting of Councilmembers Antonio Villaraigosa, Greig Smith and Tom LaBonge, has found a great deal of support for the bus lane: the MTA board, Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski, and Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, according to Julie Pietroski, Senior Legislative Deputy for Miscikowski.

The lane was proposed by MTA in late August.  MTA’s website supports the proposition with benefits such as travel time savings, greater service consistency, less merging for buses, and eliminating delays which could cause accidents.  While it may be a new concept in Los Angeles, bus-exclusive lanes are in use across the nation.

Parking will be prohibited during rush hour, which has upset several merchants along Wilshire. The business owners fear this will take away customers who can’t find parking.  The Transportation Department and Automobile Club of Southern California are among those who dispute plans to make the lanes a permanent fixture, according to the Los Angeles Times.  There is also fear of further congestion, which is the opposite of what the MTA hopes to achieve with the bus lane.

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) recommended a six-month trial period to conduct more tests, but the Committee voted to make the bus lane permanent. However, staff members will report on the progress in six months, said David Mieger, MTA’s Director of Westside Planning.

“LADOT and MTA both support the bus lane,” Mieger added.  “The only difference was about the six-month trial period. It’s been very successful in the past six months, and we are happy with the lane.”

Based on the success, the lane may be expanded in the future.  “We’ll see if Santa Monica and Beverly Hills want to come aboard,” Pietroski said about the possibility of the  MTA looking for more locations to set up lanes.

The recommendation of the Transportation Committee will go to the City Council for approval some time next week.