WOODLAND HILLS—A new pedestrian underpass has been unveiled which connects the Redline to the Orange line at Metro’s North Hollywood Station. The line runs under Lankershim Boulevard between the platforms of the existing Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) station on the west of Lankershim Boulevard, to the mezzanine level of the North Hollywood Red Line subway station at the east of Lankershim Boulevard. Since its unveiling, Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) shared his praise over the new underpass.
“I’m very pleased to see new construction on the Orange Line. I’m confident this new underpass will help decrease crowding by giving pedestrians a safe way to cross Lankershim. These underpasses are much safer for families, particularly those with small children, and they save time for commuters connecting between Metro’s Red Line and Orange Line Stations in North Hollywood,” said Sherman.
The new underpass was revealed to the public at the Metro Orange Line Station at 11 a.m. on Monday, August 15. The Metro Orange Line Station is located at 5373 North Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood. Congressman Sherman shared his next goal for the city’s subway lines.
“Our next priority should be to build a subway through the Sepulveda Pass, from the Valley to LAX, with a connection in West Los Angeles to the Purple Line, now under construction, Sherman continued. Well-designed projects not only provide jobs for those who build them, but improve our regional economy and competitiveness, and thus help create jobs in all economic sectors.”
The new underpass will cut four to five minutes of station transfers. The new project cost the city $22 million.
The Metro Orange Line busway opened in 2005, and since its opening commuters have had to brave the crosswalk between its North Hollywood terminus north of Chandler Boulevard and the Red Line subway station across Lankershim.
“This is an important new amenity,” said Dave Sotero, an MTA spokesman. “It will create a safe condition for pedestrians connecting between the Red Line and Orange Line. It’ll save people from having to dart across Lankershim Boulevard, in heavy traffic to make their connections.”
According to the press release by Congressman Sherman’s office, on average 30,000 riders use the Orange Line coming from the Warner Center in Woodland Hills to the North Hollywood Red Line station. Congressman Sherman has funded other Orange Line projects in the past.
