The NoHo-Pasadena BRT project is a 19-mile half-billion dollar project featuring 22 new BRT stations spanning four cities: Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, and the L.A. City neighborhoods of Eagle Rock and North Hollywood. Roughly half the route will run on new bus-only lanes.

Longtime Metro Boardmember and Glendale City Councilmember Ara Najarian describes the North Hollywood to Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit Line as a “missing link” bringing high quality bus service to a “transit desert.” Najarian has long championed this project.

“For years, decades, elected officials have tried to solve the problem of connecting these two great valleys – the San Gabriel Valley, the San Fernando Valley and we finally came up with a plan to make it work.” Najarian delivered these remarks yesterday at the project’s groundbreaking ceremonies at Glendale City Hall. While it’s promising that the delayed bus line project is finally under construction, it still faces some complications from NIMBY opponents.

Metro already delayed the Valley to Valley BRT project due to NIMBY opposition, primarily in Eagle Rock, Burbank, and Glendale. The line was funded in 2016 via Metro’s Measure M sales tax, which programmed $266 million toward an anticipated 2020-23 groundbreaking and a 2022-25 opening.

In December 2024, Metro got some early project construction (“preconstruction”) underway. To open the line before the 2028 Olympics, Metro needs full construction underway basically right now. Today, the Metro board will vote on approving the overall $429 million project budget.

Angelenos will soon see BRT station construction along several prominent arterials, including Glenoaks Boulevard, Vineland Avenue, Central Avenue, and Colorado Street/Boulevard. The new BRT line will likely open to the public in early 2028.