In a move that's set to speed up commutes in Los Angeles, the city, along with Metro and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), has unveiled a stretch of 5.6 miles of new bus priority lanes on Sepulveda Boulevard. This development stands as part of a broader effort to enhance bus service reliability and cut transit times for the thousands who travel this route.

Official statements highlight that these bus lanes, designed to improve flow through a notably congested corridor, will benefit approximately 50,000 weekly bus riders. "With the addition of bus priority lanes on Sepulveda Boulevard, riders will enjoy a faster and more reliable transit service that will save them valuable time," said Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. In correspondence with these enhancements, bus speeds are expected to surge by at least 15 percent.

Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Karen Bass described the project as an essential step towards realizing a more efficient public transportation network. "Angelenos deserve a Metro system that can get them where they need to go reliably, quickly and safely. Infrastructure improvements like the Sepulveda bus priority lanes help us make progress towards those goals," Bass mentioned.

In total, Los Angeles will have around 51 miles of bus priority lanes once these recent lanes becomes operational. The city has plans to add another 46 miles over the next year, a part of ambitious upgrades anticipated ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This follows the city's big win of securing close to $900 million in funding aimed at bolstering critical infrastructure and expanding the Metro Rail system.