November Gives Colorado Boulevard Back, Then Takes the Cars Off It
On the south side of Colorado Boulevard, between Lake Avenue and Mentor Avenue, the sidewalk has been closed off for Metro's bus rapid transit station work. Metro's construction notice for that corner set the start as early as July 24 and said the work would take about three months. Colorado has been down to fewer lanes between Hudson and Catalina, and business access has stayed open the whole time.
Five blocks west, at Los Robles, a second notice set the start for the week of August 17, again for about three months, with lanes reduced in phases and at least one Colorado lane open throughout. Count three months out from those dates and both corners finish this fall. Then, on Sunday, November 15, the boulevard closes to cars from Pasadena Avenue to Allen Avenue for CicLAvia. Colorado will spend a good part of this fall half-blocked by construction. Its first big day after the work wraps up is a day with no cars on it.
Pasadena Now reported on September 21 that work at Pasadena's four station sites was expected to finish in November, based on a city report. All four were active construction sites at the time. The same report put construction at individual locations at about four to six weeks, a shorter figure than the roughly three-month windows in Metro's corner notices, and said schedules are subject to change.
| Station site | What Metro's notices describe |
|---|---|
| Holly Street and Arroyo Parkway | Active station site, per city and Metro |
| Colorado Boulevard and Los Robles Avenue | Phased Colorado lane reductions, at least one lane open, business access maintained |
| Colorado Boulevard and Lake Avenue | Lane reductions between Hudson and Catalina, south-side sidewalk closed between Lake and Mentor |
| Hill Avenue between Colorado and Green | Active station site, per city and Metro |
Metro's August presentation put Pasadena's construction window at April through November 2026. The station work is the Pasadena end of a 19-mile line linking North Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, Eagle Rock and Pasadena. It will use zero-emission electric buses running mostly in dedicated lanes, with all-door boarding. Stations will have seating, shade canopies and real-time bus-arrival information. Metro estimates the full trip at about 66 minutes.
A finished station is still a long way from a working bus line. Work along the full corridor is expected to continue through late 2027, and passenger service is scheduled to start before the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Metro's project page isn't consistent on timing either: its summary lists 2028 and its FAQ says late 2027. The schedule hasn't always run smoothly. At the City Council's Municipal Services Committee meeting on September 22, Councilmember Justin Jones raised concerns that local businesses weren't getting enough notice of construction delays, and he asked Metro to communicate promptly. Metro's active-work notices have the latest corner-by-corner status.
CicLAvia runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a route of nearly three miles. Its footprint covers almost everything above: Colorado from Pasadena Avenue to Allen Avenue, plus Raymond Avenue from Pacific Alley to East Dayton Street. The Los Robles corner, the Lake corner and the Hill Avenue site all sit inside that stretch of Colorado.
The logistics matter most if you live or park on the route:
A few local businesses have posted offers for the day. Bar Method has a free class. Bokãos Aveda is doing sidewalk consultations and styling. Strong Sports Gym is running mini-lessons, and Tea Spots is giving Pasadena residents 10% off.
The Colorado Hub's address is 1778 E. Colorado. A few doors west, at 1770, Lucky Baldwins Trappiste closed to the public on August 1 after 15 years near Pasadena City College. "It is with much sadness that we are closing our East Pasadena location," owner Peggy Simonian said. She thanked the longtime customers and staff, and said the pub had "felt very much part of the community here in East Pasadena." The original Lucky Baldwins in Old Town and Lucky Baldwins Delirium in Sierra Madre are both still open.
According to Pasadena Now, the pub site is part of a proposed mixed-use project at 1756–1776 E. Colorado called Colorado Crest. City documents describe a seven-story building with about 90 homes, 88 of them affordable plus two manager's units, made possible by California's State Density Bonus Law. The boulevard's next change at its east end has already started. On November 15, it's where CicLAvia sets up its water station.
Halfway between the two hubs, at 695 E. Colorado, Vroman's Bookstore spent close to three years looking for a new owner. On September 24, LAist reported that Robert Hoffman and his family will take over both Vroman's and Book Soup in West Hollywood. Hoffman works in public policy in Washington, D.C., grew up in Southern California, and has been coming to the store since he was five. Joel Sheldon announced his retirement in 2024. His family had owned Vroman's for more than 100 years, and the store is now 132 years old.
The store's ownership page says the location, team, programming and curation all stay the same, including author events, book clubs and community partnerships. The fall calendar backs that up, and some of the biggest nights are held off-site. Eric Idle talks with Sacha Gervasi on Saturday, October 10, at the Arcadia Performing Arts Center, and Barbara Kingsolver discusses Partita on October 21 at Pasadena Presbyterian Church. November brings Dr. Pedram Navab with Blake Boyd on the 4th, Truong Tran's poetry memoir event on the 8th, and Matt O'Hara with Edan Lepucki on the 18th, three days after CicLAvia.
Three food spots on Colorado opened during the construction months, and all three sit on the CicLAvia route. Pasadena Now's August 17 roundup had the details.
The Daily Catch has the most recent proof that it's open. The Pasadena Star-News reviewed it on October 1 and described Boston-style seafood flown in several times a week. For the other two, August's opening reports are the latest coverage, so check their hours before planning a stop.
If you own along Colorado and November's mix of construction and street closures has you thinking about timing, showings or what the new stations will mean for your block, Backbeat Homes can walk the boulevard with you and talk through what's changing on your stretch. Work With Us.
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