March 4: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History

2002:  LACMTA Board Chairman John Fasana joined with civic leaders and local, state and federal officials to officially announce the extension of the El Monte Busway high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane.

The construction extends the HOV lane from 11 miles to 14.2 miles and widens the San Bernardino (I-10) Freeway from 8 to 10 lanes.

The 3.2-mile segment, funded by the state from MTA-programmed state funds and MTA local Proposition C funds, will extend the lane from Baldwin Avenue in El Monte to the San Gabriel (605) Freeway, reducing one-way delays for both bus riders and car/van-poolers by an additional five minutes.

During peak hours, more than 6,000 persons per hour use the HOV lane and save about one minute in travel time.

More than 400 lane miles of LACMTA-funded carpool lanes are in operation in Los Angeles County, and more than 350 lane miles are either in planning, design or construction.

This is the third time since 1973 that the El Monte Busway has been lengthened.

More information can be found in the March 4, 2002 MyMetro employee news digest.