April 23: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History

Written by Kenn Bicknell

1973: Southern California Rapid Transit District improves the frequencies of bus service, another part of its major improvement program of 1973.

2004: Groundbreaking for the six-story Wilshire Vermont Station complex. The project features 449 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, shops and restaurants, plus a new subway entrance plaza.

More information can be found in the January 25, 2005 MyMetro employee news digest.

2009: The Metro Board of Directors votes to fund the first phase of the I-405 (San Diego Freeway) Sepulveda Pass Widening Project between the I-10 (Santa Monica Freeway) and U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway).

The decision establishes a life-of-project budget of over $1 billion to initiate construction, and is expected to generate 18,000 local construction jobs.

In the same meeting, the Board also approves the purchase of up to 150 new state-of-the-art buses fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG) using stimulus funding, subject to final award by the Federal Transit Administration.