It's a big week for Metro.

This weekend will see the opening of the Gold Line Extension from Pasadena to Azusa. But before that, on Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will launch its "NoHo to Pasadena Express" bus service.

The new service, Line 501, will connect the Metro Red and Orange lines in North Hollywood and the Metro Gold Line in Pasadena. It will operate seven days a week — every 15 minutes during peak hours and every half an hour during off-peak times.

Residents of the San Fernando Valley wishing to attend the opening of the Gold Line Extension in Pasadena this Saturday are encouraged to take the new express line.

Line 501, which starts service on Tuesday, is estimated to take passengers from North Hollywood to Pasadena in about 50 minutes. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

"Instead of taking the Red Line into downtown Los Angeles and then connecting with the Gold Line back out to Pasadena, they can now get on an express bus at North Hollywood and go directly to Pasadena," said Metro's Dave Sotero. "That's going to save them time."

It typically takes at least an hour or more to travel between North Hollywood and Pasadena using the Red and Gold Line trains. Sotero estimates that the average ride on the "NoHo to Pasadena Express" will take about 50 minutes.

"These types of express services take advantage of the extensive carpool lane network that we do have and get more people through the corridor and [fewer] cars," said Sotero.