Ride the Orange Line

Ride the Orange Line (a Flickr photoset)

This weekend the Metro Orange Line began to shuttle passengers across the San Fernando Valley. The innovative 14-mile-long busway has been touted as an alternative to higher-cost rail systems in Los Angeles and elsewhere. Earlier today Chizi and I participated in the inaugural festivities by enjoying a free round-trip journey. I'd like to share some of the photos I took:

The Orange Line begins in North Hollywood. Behind the station's sign is one of several new transit-oriented mixed-use developments currently under construction in the vicinity.

A key aspect of the Orange Line is that it feeds into the Red Line subway, which proceeds from North Hollywood southeast to Downtown.

A view of one the articulated "Metro Liner" buses acquired to operate the line.

A Metro Liner arrives at North Hollywood. Note the line of waiting passengers at the left.

Boarding at the rail-like station platform was quick and easy considering the size of the crowd.

The terminus of the Orange Line is in Warner Center, across the street from the Westfield Promendae mall. On the return trip we saw some interesting art at the station while waiting for a bus.

A Metro Liner arrives at Warner Center.

While Chizi may not have been thrilled to be photographed riding a bus, I'm sure she'll come to appreciate her place in Los Angeles transit history. I certainly enjoyed her company very much.

Yours truly, loving the trip.

On the whole, I found using the Orange Line to be a convenient and pleasant experience. However, I'm unlikely to use it much because I don't live in the San Fernando Valley. I hope the large inaugural turnout is indicative of the busway's success; the true test begins tomorrow, when the first true commuters board.

Ride the Orange Line (a Flick photoset)

Previously on P.U.

Coming Soon: Metro Orange Line

Busway Anxiety