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Staff Writer
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March 16, 2026
The ambitious transportation plan that started back in 2016 is finally moving forward with one of its most anticipated upgrades. The North Hollywood–Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line is expected to break ground this spring, creating a fast east-west transit corridor linking the San Fernando Valley with the San Gabriel Valley.
For decades, travelers moving between these areas have relied mostly on slow local buses or complicated rail transfers through DTLA. The new BRT aims to change that equation by offering a faster and more direct route, expected to be 50% faster.
The NoHo–Pasadena BRT project
Developed by LA Metro, the project is designed to function more like a light rail than a typical bus route. Buses will run in dedicated lanes where possible, stop at enhanced stations, and allow passengers to board through any door.
The corridor will pass through several major communities across roughly 19 miles, including NoHo, Burbank, Glendale, Eagle Rock, and Pasadena. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2026, according to the City of Burbank. If everything goes according to plan, the project should be completed by late 2027, ahead of the Summer Olympics.
Via LA Metro.
The route will primarily operate in dedicated bus lanes on major streets, though some segments (particularly in Pasadena) will run in mixed traffic where space is limited. Key corridors include Colorado Boulevard and Glenoaks Boulevard.
Once completed, the BRT line is expected to cut the end-to-end trip to about 66 minutes, nearly 50% faster than the current bus travel time along the corridor, Urbanize LA reports.
Metro plans to build 22 new stations featuring upgraded shelters and improved transit amenities. Buses would run every 10 minutes on weekdays, with 15- to 30-minute intervals during off-peak hours. The line is expected to attract around 30,000 daily riders when it opens and will operate with zero-emission electric buses, making it one of Metro’s cleaner transit investments.