The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday had a ribbon cutting for a new access to the Canoga station of the Orange Line busway. The $200,000 project will allow residents at nearby apartment communities and employees of businesses along Eton Avenue easier access to public transit, representatives of the authority, known as Metro, said. Joining Metro staff at the ribbon cutting were Los Angeles City Councilman Bob Blumenfield and David Allison, chair of Warner Center Association, a nonprofit group made up of businesses and property owners. Blumenfield credited Allison’s group with pushing for the new access point, which connects the Canoga station east platform with a sidewalk between two apartment buildings leading to Eton Avenue. The access area has protective fencing, lighting, security cameras, a TAP vending machine and TAP card validator for boarding the buses. “It may seem like a small thing but this is a big thing,” Allison said. “It makes it easier for thousands of residents to get to and from this station.” Previously residents had to walk up to Vanowen Street and back to the station in order to catch a bus. Alta Warner, AMLI Warner Center, Reveal and Enclave at Warner Center are the four closest apartment communities to the access point. Businesses along Eton include a FedEx Shipping Center. This is the first of two improvements that Metro will open in the next few months. Later this summer work will be completed on an underground walkway linking the Orange Line North Hollywood station with the Red Line subway station. The Orange Line opened in October 2005 connecting North Hollywood with Warner Center and Chatsworth with a dedicated busway.