Metro’s North Hollywood to Pasadena BRT Is Under Construction in Pasadena
Metro’s North Hollywood to Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit project is taking shape in Pasadena, where construction has been underway since April 2026.
The 19 mile BRT corridor will eventually connect Pasadena with Eagle Rock, Glendale, Burbank and North Hollywood through a new zero emission bus service. Metro plans 22 enhanced stations along the route, with features including all door boarding, transit signal priority and dedicated bus lanes along portions of the corridor.
Metro’s Board approved a life of project budget of approximately $429 million in May 2026. The agency expects construction to continue through late 2027, with passenger service planned before the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
For Pasadena residents, the project is already becoming visible around the city.
Where Metro BRT construction is happening in Pasadena
Metro’s current construction schedule identifies four major station locations in Pasadena:
- Holly Street and Arroyo Parkway
- Colorado Boulevard and Lake Avenue
- Hill Avenue and Green Street, near Pasadena City College
- Colorado Boulevard and Los Robles Avenue
Construction began at the Holly Street and Arroyo Parkway and Colorado Boulevard and Lake Avenue locations in April. Work later expanded to Hill Avenue and Green Street, followed by Colorado Boulevard and Los Robles Avenue.
Metro currently expects the Pasadena portion of station construction to continue through November 2026, although construction schedules remain subject to change.
The work can include new station infrastructure, curb and sidewalk improvements, accessibility upgrades, paving, striping and other street improvements. Residents, students and drivers should expect temporary lane reductions, parking restrictions and pedestrian changes around active construction areas.
What the North Hollywood to Pasadena BRT will do
Bus Rapid Transit, commonly called BRT, is designed to provide faster and more reliable bus service by incorporating some features typically associated with rail transit.
Metro’s North Hollywood to Pasadena BRT will use zero emission electric buses and enhanced stations. The system will also incorporate all door boarding, transit signal priority and dedicated bus lanes along portions of the route.
Not every section of the 19 mile corridor will operate in an exclusive bus lane. Metro’s approved alignment includes different configurations depending on the street and community, including sections where buses can operate in mixed traffic.
The project will create an east to west transit connection between the San Gabriel and San Fernando valleys, linking Pasadena, Eagle Rock, Glendale, Burbank and North Hollywood.
It will also connect riders with Metro’s existing rail and busway network, including the A Line in Pasadena and the B and G Lines at North Hollywood.
Pasadena is first in the construction schedule
Pasadena was the first city along the corridor to enter major BRT construction, with work beginning in April 2026.
Metro’s latest construction schedule shows work in Burbank beginning in September 2026. Glendale construction is expected to begin in mid October, while construction in Eagle Rock and North Hollywood is currently scheduled to begin in November.
The schedule calls for Pasadena station construction to continue through November 2026. Work elsewhere along the corridor will continue into 2027 and 2028.
Metro says it expects the overall project to be completed ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Burbank and Metro remain in a legal dispute
Construction elsewhere on the route has been more complicated.
Metro filed a lawsuit against the City of Burbank in May 2026 following disagreements involving project approvals, environmental review and the proposed use of dedicated bus lanes along portions of Olive Avenue.
Burbank has said its concerns include the potential implications of California Senate Bill 79, a state law involving housing development near qualifying transit stops, as well as a preexisting disagreement over Metro’s proposed dedicated bus lanes on Olive Avenue.
On July 17, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge denied Metro’s request for a preliminary injunction against Burbank.
The dispute has not stopped all BRT work in the city.
Under an interim agreement announced in September, Metro can proceed with undisputed improvements in Burbank, including bus stations, roadway and sidewalk work, accessibility improvements, street lighting, traffic signals and landscaping.
The agreement does not authorize implementation of the disputed dedicated bus lanes on Olive Avenue between Buena Vista Street and Lake Street. That issue remains unresolved as the litigation continues.
Why the BRT project matters for Pasadena
Pasadena already has significant regional transit service through Metro’s A Line, Pasadena Transit and other bus connections, but the North Hollywood to Pasadena BRT will add a major east to west connection that does not currently exist as premium transit.
That could be particularly useful for people traveling between Pasadena and major destinations in Glendale, Burbank, Eagle Rock and North Hollywood.
The project also connects two major regional transit corridors. Pasadena riders will be able to connect with the Metro A Line locally, while the western end of the BRT route will connect with the B and G Lines at North Hollywood.
For Pasadena City College, the Hill Avenue and Green Street station will put the eastern end of the BRT corridor near one of the city’s largest educational institutions.
What Pasadena residents should expect during construction
Metro says construction around BRT stations can involve lane reductions, sidewalk changes, temporary parking restrictions, noise and other short term impacts.
Current Pasadena work includes locations along Colorado Boulevard, Hill Avenue and Holly Street.
Drivers, businesses, students and residents traveling near active construction areas should check Metro’s current construction notices because schedules and traffic controls can change as work progresses.
Metro currently expects the Pasadena phase of station construction to continue through November 2026, while construction across the full corridor is expected to continue into 2027.
Passenger service is planned to begin before the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Sources
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, North Hollywood to Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit Project
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, North Hollywood to Pasadena BRT construction schedules and active construction notices
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board, May 28, 2026, North Hollywood to Pasadena BRT life of project budget
City of Burbank, Metro NoHo to Pasadena Corridor Bus Rapid Transit Project
City of Burbank, September 3, 2026, update on Metro Bus Rapid Transit litigation and interim agreement
City of Glendale, North Hollywood to Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit Project
FAQ’s
- When will the North Hollywood to Pasadena BRT open?
Metro expects construction to be completed ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with revenue service planned before the Games. Metro - Where are the BRT stations in Pasadena?
Current Pasadena construction locations include Holly Street and Arroyo Parkway, Colorado Boulevard and Lake Avenue, Colorado Boulevard and Los Robles Avenue, and Hill Avenue and Green Street near Pasadena City College. Salesforce Marketing Cloud - How much does the North Hollywood to Pasadena BRT cost?
Metro’s Board approved a life of project budget of $428,988,535 on May 28, 2026. Metro - Will the Pasadena BRT have dedicated bus lanes?
The BRT project includes dedicated bus lanes, but the entire 19 mile route will not operate exclusively in bus only lanes. The approved alignment uses several operating configurations, including mixed traffic sections. Metro - Does the BRT connect to Metro rail?
Yes. Metro says the corridor will provide connections to the A Line in Pasadena and the B and G Lines at North Hollywood.