Metro Orange Line Extension Opens Saturday
CHATSWORTH (CBS) — Metro's Orange Line busway opened to the public on Saturday offering free rides on the new four-mile extension from Canoga Park to Chatsworth.
Festivities to celebrate the opening are planned from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at both the Chatsworth and Canoga Park stations.
"There's going to be lots of family activity. At this [Chatsworth] station, there will be a lot of cowboy activity because Chatsworth is cowboy country and at the other station, you'll have jazz bands and other musical entertainment," said Marc Lippman with the MTA.
The extension -- funded by voter-approved Measure R -- was completed ahead of schedule by three years and came in under budget.
"We came in ahead of schedule thanks to Measure R. This would have been built in 2016. Now we're opening here in 2012. We have very good construction bids here. The construction industry depressed so we got a great bid. Very careful management. They're working cooperatively with other agencies and we really worked hard," Lippman added.
Metro officials say the savings will go toward future projects. They estimate that 27,000 people will ride it each week.
Free rides along the Orange Line will be available to the public on Saturday and Sunday through 7 p.m.
Click here to find the nearest Orange Line location.
