The Metro Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) was the main topic of interest at the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council meeting on Wednesday, October 14. The council heard a presentation by Bill Haller, who has taken a great interest in the BRT and made quite a number of presentations across the valley.

The BRT is currently being proposed by Metro to go from the North Hollywood Red Line station along either Laurel Canyon or Lankershim, west on Roscoe and then west along Nordhoff to the Chatsworth Orange Line station.

Haller’s presentation highlighted the benefits of the BRT including that it would address these Van Nuys issues:

  • Negative Wage growth (we’re at -0.3% while rest of LA is +2.8%);
  • Unemployment (we’re at 7.5% while rest of CA is 4%);
  • Worst district vacancy rate in LA at 3.2%;
  • Educational Attainment (College Degrees – 13th out of 15 districts).

VNNC Board Members asked a number of clarifying questions and heard stakeholder comments which supported both sides of the issue. Arguments in favor said that more transit was needed, that transit would improve Nordhoff property values and that students could more easily reach CSUN from Van Nuys. Arguments against said that more transit was not needed and is not being used now and that the transit line would not improve the wealth of the riders, nor would it rectify the wealth gap.

The Van Nuys Neighborhood Council voted to support the project moving to the next step which is to conduct and Environmental Impact Review on proposed routes. The Metro Board will hear the matter on Thursday, October 24, 10am at their upcoming meeting at One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, 90012. All interested stakeholders are invited to attend the meeting and make their voice heard. Metro Agenda: http://metro.legistar1.com/metro/meetings/2019/10/1586_A_Board_of_Directors_-_Regular_Board_Meeting_19-10-24_Agenda.pdf. See page 14, item 5.

VNNC Letter Supporting Metro Bus Rapid Transit for EIR Process

Also of interest is the VNNC’s intention to represent you, the stakeholder, on City Council files which will impact Van Nuys. We voted to approve five board members to author and submit Community Impact Statements that we approve, so that City Council will know where we stand. Our approved authors include: President Sam Woolf, Treasurer Veronica Marin, Secretary John Hendry and board members Riguey Mercado and Kathy Schreiner.

Join us at our next meeting on November 13, 7pm or join a committee. This week Outreach is meeting October 22, 6pm and Human Services is meeting October 23, 6pm.