𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗢𝗔𝗗: LA Metro Resumes Limited Bus Service on Fire-Damaged PCH, Malibu to Santa Monica скачать в хорошем качестве

𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗢𝗔𝗗: LA Metro Resumes Limited Bus Service on Fire-Damaged PCH, Malibu to Santa Monica

𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗕𝗨, 𝗖𝗔 – Santa Monica Closeup traveled along Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) from the Malibu Pier to Venice Beach on a very windy Sunday, March 2, 2025, documenting ongoing recovery efforts following the devastating Palisades Fire. The highway, still closed to the public, now serves as a critical operations hub for rebuilding and securing fire-damaged areas. Santa Monica Closeup also rode on the bike path to Venice Beach. During the ride from Malibu towards Santa Monica, Metro Bus 134 was observed stopping at PCH at the Malibu Pier to pick up and drop off passengers. LA Metro has partially resumed service on Line 134, reconnecting Malibu and Santa Monica for the first time since the Palisades Fire forced a shutdown nearly two months ago. The closed-door service, which began operating on Friday, February 28, provides a critical transportation link for residents, workers, and commuters navigating the ongoing recovery efforts. Metro Line 134, which runs along Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), now serves stops at the Malibu Pier, Cross Creek Road, Civic Center Way, and Malibu Canyon Road, extending to Trancas Canyon Road in Malibu and into Santa Monica, where it connects with the E Line Station and Ocean Avenue. However, buses will not open doors along a 10-mile work zone between PCH/Temescal Canyon Road and PCH/Rambla Vista near the Carbon Beach Terrace checkpoint, ensuring the safety of passengers and recovery crews working in fire-damaged areas. “Resuming service on Line 134 is a crucial step toward supporting the residents and commuters who depend on this route from Malibu to Santa Monica,” said Metro Board Member and LA County Third District Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “While there are still challenges ahead, we know how critical reliable transit service is to our communities. We are doing everything we can to safely serve this critical need; however, this is not yet operations as usual. We are committed to restoring essential connectivity and getting back to normal service as quickly as recovery conditions allow.” Public access to PCH remains heavily restricted, with only one lane open in each direction and a 25-mph speed limit enforced through the affected area. National Guard Military Police continue to staff checkpoints, allowing passage only to first responders, authorized personnel, and select press. Residents and contractors must obtain special entry passes to access impacted areas. Metro Board Chair and LA County Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn emphasized the importance of the restoration, stating, “Across the county, hundreds of thousands of people count on Metro to get to work, to school, to family, and everything in between. It is important that as we recover from these fires that we get this service back up and running as soon as possible for our riders that need it.” Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart also praised the initiative, highlighting the service’s role in easing congestion and aiding in the city’s recovery. “Restoring public transportation access to Malibu is a critical step in our community’s recovery,” Stewart said. “This modified service strikes a careful balance of safety and ensuring residents, workers, and business patrons have a safe and reliable way to travel through the area. We are grateful for LA Metro’s partnership. While the impact of the Palisades Fire remains, this marks an important milestone in reconnecting our city and supporting those who depend on public transit.” Delays are anticipated due to ongoing lane restrictions, and Metro has stated that schedules may be adjusted as conditions evolve. Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins underscored the significance of the restoration, noting, “January’s wildfires devastated the L.A. area and disrupted the connectivity of communities in and around the fire zones, which makes this partial restoration of service an important part of the recovery.” The Palisades Fire, which erupted on January 7, scorched over 23,000 acres, destroying more than 12,000 structures and displacing approximately 150,000 residents across Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and the San Fernando Valley. Strong Santa Ana winds and extreme drought conditions fueled the inferno, overwhelming emergency response efforts and grounding aerial firefighting teams. The disaster resulted in five fatalities and numerous injuries, leaving a lasting impact on the region. As rebuilding efforts continue, Metro’s partial service restoration offers a sign of progress, providing much-needed connectivity and support for those affected by the disaster.