Editorial: Want a transit system that actually works? Then L.A. needs bus-only lanes

It’s time — again — to test whether Los Angeles’ political leaders have the mettle to build a transit-friendly, environmentally sustainable city. Thanks to voter approval of the Measure M sales tax increase in 2016, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has plans to add new bus rapid transit lines throughout the region, among other projects. At a moment when Los Angeles needs mass transit ridership to increase, trips on the bus system dropped 25% over the last decade, The Times’ Laura Nelson reported. Metro is in the early stages of developing three bus rapid transit lines — one from North Hollywood to Pasadena, one from North Hollywood to Chatsworth that would pass Cal State Northridge and one from South Los Angeles to Hollywood along Vermont Avenue. This is also a test for Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Los Angeles City Council, as the majority of the planned bus rapid transit lanes are within the city of L.A.