By Julie BUTCHER

On Tuesday night, the Glendale City Council heard presentations on two transportation projects of potential significant local import. First were plans from Metro for a “rapid bus” (or a BRT) and then an update on the feasibility study the Council ordered for a city streetcar.

According to representatives from the Metro agency, the BRT would be part of an 18-mile corridor running from North Hollywood to Pasadena, through Burbank, Los Angeles, and Glendale. The project, anticipated to be paid for by Measure M funding (Measure M was an increased sales tax approved by the voters of Los Angeles County in November 2016) is expected to cost up to $267 million and open to the public in 2024; it is billed as “light rail on tires,” utilizing rail-like all electric vehicles, dedicated branding, and station amenities focused on improving the customer experience.

Three possible rapid bus routes through the southern and downtown parts of Glendale are being considered and the planners will continue to solicit feedback and input from the community and business owners.

This plan, Mayor Ara Najarian noted, connects two valleys, the San Fernando Valley and the San Gabriel Valley, and Glendale is smack in the middle.

“It wasn’t an easy lift at Metro,” the Mayor recalled. “I had to sell this to Zev Yaroslavsky and tell him it was an extension of his Orange Line and at the same time sell it to Mike Antonovich and tell him it was an extension of his Gold Line.” Najarian also sits on the board of the Metro Transit Authority.

Staff updated the Council on the progress of the feasibility study for a streetcar running from the Larry Zarian Transit Center, either in a loop north on Central to just north of the 134 freeway and then south on Brand Boulevard, or up and down Brand. Phase II is envisioned to continue up Glenoaks to Burbank.

Funding for this project has been an historic obstacle. Najarian reported that there are Chinese companies that may be interested in the streetcar as a “P-3” project; that is, a public-private partnership where the private company would build, operate and maintain the streetcar in exchange for the revenue it would generate.

“This project is very important to all of us and has a first priority for all of us,” said Councilmember Vartan Gharpetian emphasizing the significance of the streetcar to the City Council. Councilmember Zareh Sinanyan echoed those sentiments.

“The enthusiasm to bring a streetcar back has not diminished. It would add a layer of character to our downtown that would put us a step above.”

In other local news, the council recognized National Library Week and announced that through April 13 any overdue or late materials can be returned to any library – fine free.

Crescenta Valley High School soccer coach Grant Clark addressed the Council to thank City Manager Yasmin Beers and (former mayor) Sinanyan on behalf of the girls and boys soccer teams for their years of work to replace the 10-foot fence that previously separated the school’s soccer field from the 210 with a new 30-foot wall, so “the four to six soccer balls that were ending up on the freeway” no longer do so.

Several more workshops are scheduled to review the City’s Integrated Resource Plan including weighing in on plans for the repowering of the Grayson Power Plant with details on the utility’s website: https://www.glendaleca.gov/government/departments/glendale-water-and-power.

Councilmember Paula Devine asked a question about the watering of newly planted parkway trees. The City waters them for 90 days after they’re planted and then they become the responsibility of the homeowner. Questions about trees? Call (818) 548-3950 and, as Councilmember Devine urged, “Take care of those trees!”

  Julie BUTCHER