Burbank and Metro Reach Interim Pact on North Hollywood-Pasadena BRT Upgrades

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the City of Burbank have established an interim legal agreement permitting initial work to move forward on the North Hollywood to Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit line. While the underlying lawsuit regarding dedicated transit lanes remains unresolved, the compromise allows Metro to proceed with undisputed infrastructure upgrades.

Under the terms announced by the municipality, Metro may execute construction on bus stations, street lighting, traffic signals, landscaping, sidewalk improvements, and ADA compliance features. However, Burbank will withhold permits related directly to dedicated bus-only lanes along Olive Avenue between Buena Vista Street and Lake Street, where local officials favor mixed-flow traffic operations.

This arrangement ensures the transit corridor can begin operating by its projected 2027 completion date, even if the lane dispute remains ongoing in court. For real estate developers and land-use planners along the route, the agreement provides near-term clarity on planned pedestrian and transit station enhancements that can influence multimodal access and transit-oriented site planning.