Bus lane camera enforcement, Metrolink ridership bump, and more

Scofflaw motorists who park in bus lanes - you are being put on notice.

Metro announced this week a 60-day warning period as the first phase of its bus lane enforcement pilot program started on November 1. Following that initial warning and outreach period, citations will be issued to violators. The first phase of the rollout will see cameras installed on 50 buses serving the 720 line on Wilshire and the 212 line on La Brea.

“800,000+ daily bus riders deserve fast and reliable transit service, and that’s why Metro has invested so much in bus priority lanes on key corridors,” said Metro chief executive officer Stephanie Wiggins in a  news release. “Our goal is to get our riders where they need to be safely, comfortably and on time, and bus lane enforcement is key to realizing that goal.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a proposal to more than double the state's film and television tax credit program to $750 million annually. The move comes at a time when film industry jobs are reeling, but also as numerous production facilities continue with expansion plans across Los Angeles County.

“Hollywood is the cornerstone of this city and our economy and our message to the industry today is clear – we have your back,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “When I was Speaker of the California State Assembly, I worked to support leaders like now-Councilman Paul Krekorian to create the film tax credit. Despite the economy being in a difficult spot, we knew that the industry needed support, and if we could at least start the program, then we could grow it. Today I’m proud to stand with Governor Newsom and industry leaders to continue this important work supporting this legacy industry.”

Here's what we're reading this week:

Multiple arrests as Dodgers’ World Series victory brings burglaries, vandalism, fires in parts of L.A. To paraphrase those Rick Caruso for Mayor ads, "it's a classic L.A. story."

Apartment remodeling can lead to LA renters losing their homes. The City Council just voted to stop these ‘renovictions’ "The council voted 11-0 to get rid of a local provision allowing landlords to evict tenants in cases where 'substantial remodel' work will take more than 30 days. Instead, landlords could soon be required to temporarily relocate tenants and let them return after renovations are complete." (LAist)

Metrolink admits expanded service off to a ‘bumpy start’ "On Monday, the first day of the new service alignment, Metrolink recorded 21,125 riders, the highest single-day figure since the COVID-19 pandemic  derailed public transit numbers across the state." (KTLA)

VA planning to appeal judge's order to build housing on West LA campus "Brad Rosenberg, the department's attorney, said in court Friday that the appeal will be filed next week. Part of it will argue that the payment will cause irreparable harm to the V.A.'s funding." (LAist)

Metro Breaks Ground on Early Phase of Southeast Gateway Light Rail Construction "The initial $7 billion SE Gateway Line segment will extend 14.5 miles from Artesia to the South L.A. community of Florence, with connections to the Metro A and C Lines" (Streetsblog LA)

Metro Seeking Input on Plans for Affordable Housing at 17th Street/SMC Rail Stop "This project will include somewhere between 275-380 units, although they haven’t announced how many will be affordable. The development is planned to be built over four parcels of land just south of Colorado Ave. between 16th and 18th." (Santa Monica Next)

Port of Los Angeles receives unprecedented $400-million grant to electrify operations "The so-called Clean Ports grant, announced Tuesday, is part of a larger $3-billion initiative to deploy zero-emission equipment at the nation’s ports, which are significant sources of lung-searing smog and greenhouse gas emissions." (LA Times)

Los Angeles region to get $380 million in state funding to combat homelessness "Of the $380.36 million, about $160 million will directly support the city of Los Angeles, another $97 million will go toward the county of L.A., and the remaining funds will support local jurisdictions such as Long Beach, Pasadena and Glendale." (ABC7)

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