Los Angeles Metro Rail

Last updated

Metro Rail
Breda A650.jpg
Metro Rail rapid transit (subway) train in 2008
E-Line train at Expo Park-USC (cropped).jpg
Metro Rail light rail train in 2023
Overview
Area served Los Angeles County, California
Transit type
Number of lines
  • 4 light rail lines
  • 2 rapid transit lines
Number of stations102
Daily ridership208,300 (weekdays, Q3 2024) [1]
Annual ridership61,981,300 (2023) [2]
Website metro.net
Operation
Began operationJuly 14, 1990;34 years ago (1990-07-14)
Operator(s) Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)
Technical
System length109 mi (175 km) [3]
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification Overhead line (light rail) or third rail (rapid transit), 750 V DC
System map
Los Angeles Metro Rail
Los Angeles Metro System Map.png
Light rail LACMTA Circle A Line.svg   LACMTA Circle C Line.svg   LACMTA Circle E Line.svg   LACMTA Circle K Line.svg  
(2025)
Metrolink icon 2022.svg Pomona
BSicon exKINTa blue.svg
(2025)
La Verne
BSicon exBHF blue.svg
(2025)
San Dimas
BSicon exBHF blue.svg
(2025)
Glendora
BSicon exBHF blue.svg
  APU/Citrus College  
BSicon KBHFxa blue.svg
Azusa Downtown
BSicon BHF blue.svg
Irwindale
BSicon BHF blue.svg
Duarte/City of Hope
BSicon BHF blue.svg
BSicon uKDSTaq.svg
BSicon STR blue.svg
BSicon uABZr+r.svg
Monrovia
BSicon BHF blue.svg
Arcadia
BSicon BHF blue.svg
Sierra Madre Villa
BSicon MFADEg.svg
BSicon BHF blue.svg
BSicon vRP2BHF.svg
Allen
BSicon vRP2BHF.svg
BSicon BHF blue.svg
Lake
BSicon MFADEf.svg
BSicon BHF blue.svg
BSicon vRP2BHF.svg
BSicon TUNNEL2 blue.svg
Memorial Park
BSicon CBHFae blue.svg
BSicon TUNNEL2 blue.svg
Del Mar
BSicon BHF blue.svg
Fillmore
BSicon BHF blue.svg
South Pasadena
BSicon BHF blue.svg
Highland Park
BSicon BHF blue.svg
Southwest Museum
BSicon BHF blue.svg
BSicon TUNNEL2 blue.svg
BSicon KBHFa saffron.svg
  Atlantic  
Heritage Square
BSicon BHF blue.svg
BSicon BHF saffron.svg
East LA Civic Center
Lincoln/Cypress
BSicon hBHFa blue.svg
BSicon BHF saffron.svg
Maravilla
Division 21 Maintenance
and Storage Facility
BSicon lhSTRa@fq.svg
BSicon uKDSTaq.svg
BSicon mhABZg+r blue+u.svg
BSicon PORTALf.svg
BSicon BHF saffron.svg
Indiana
Chinatown
BSicon hBHFe blue.svg
BSicon tSTRc2 saffron.svg
BSicon tBHF3 saffron.svg
Soto
BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Metrolink icon 2022.svg BSicon BUS2.svg LACMTA Circle B Line.svg   LACMTA Circle D Line.svg   LACMTA Square J Line.svg   Union Station
BSicon INT blue.svg
BSicon PORTAL1c2.svg
BSicon STRc2 saffron.svg
BSicon PORTALc3.svg
BSicon tBHF3+1 saffron.svg
BSicon tSTRc4 saffron.svg
Mariachi Plaza
BSicon tBS2la blue.svg
BSicon PORTALc1.svg
BSicon tBHF3h+1a@f saffron.svg
BSicon PORTAL1c4.svg
BSicon STRc4 saffron.svg
Pico/Aliso
Little Tokyo/Arts District
BSicon tINT black.svg
Historic Broadway
BSicon tBHF black.svg
LACMTA Square J Line.svg   Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill
BSicon tINT black.svg
LACMTA Circle B Line.svg   LACMTA Circle D Line.svg   LACMTA Square J Line.svg   7th Street/​Metro Center
BSicon tINTe@f black.svg
LACMTA Square J Line.svg   Pico
BSicon INT black.svg
LACMTA Square J Line.svg   LATTC/Ortho Institute
BSicon STRc2 saffron.svg
BSicon lINT.svg
BSicon STR3+1h saffron.svg
BSicon lINT.svg
BSicon STR2+4h blue.svg
BSicon STRc3 blue.svg
Grand/LATTC LACMTA Square J Line.svg  
Jefferson/USC
BSicon BHF+1 saffron.svg
BSicon STRc4 saffron.svg
BSicon STRc1 blue.svg
BSicon BHF+4 blue.svg
San Pedro Street
BSicon TUNNEL2 saffron.svg
BSicon umABZgl blue+.svg
BSicon uENDEeq.svg
Washington tail track
Expo Park/​USC
BSicon BHF saffron.svg
BSicon BHF blue.svg
Washington
Expo/Vermont
BSicon BHF saffron.svg
BSicon BHF blue.svg
Vernon
Expo/Western
BSicon BHF saffron.svg
BSicon hBHFae blue.svg
Slauson
  Expo/Crenshaw  
BSicon INT saffron.svg
BSicon extKSTRaq ruby.svg
BSicon extkSTR2+r ruby.svg
BSicon extkSTRc3 ruby.svg
BSicon BHF blue.svg
Florence
Martin Luther King Jr.
BSicon STR saffron.svg
BSicon extkBHF+4 ruby.svg
BSicon hBHFae blue.svg
Firestone
Leimert Park
BSicon STR saffron.svg
BSicon extBHFe@f ruby.svg
BSicon BHF blue.svg
103rd Street/
Watts Towers
Hyde Park
BSicon STR saffron.svg
BSicon exBHF ruby.svg
BSicon STR blue.svg
BSicon MFADEg.svg
BSicon KBHFa jade.svg
BSicon vRP2BHF.svg
  Norwalk  
Farmdale
BSicon BHF saffron.svg
BSicon exTUNNEL1 ruby.svg
BSicon STR blue.svg
BSicon vRP2BHF.svg
BSicon BHF jade.svg
Lakewood Boulevard
Fairview Heights
BSicon STR saffron.svg
BSicon exBHF ruby.svg
BSicon STR blue.svg
BSicon vRP2BHF.svg
BSicon BHF jade.svg
Long Beach Boulevard
Downtown Inglewood
BSicon STR saffron.svg
BSicon exBHF ruby.svg
BSicon vRP2K+l.svg
BSicon KRW+l jade.svg
BSicon lINT~L.svg
BSicon KRWl blue.svg
BSicon KRW+r blue.svg
BSicon vRP2Kr.svg
BSicon KRWr jade.svg
BSicon lINT~R.svg
BSicon uSTR.svg
Willowbrook/
Rosa Parks
  Westchester/Veterans  
BSicon STR saffron.svg
BSicon KBHFxe exruby.svg
BSicon vRP2BHF.svg
BSicon BHF jade.svg
BSicon STR blue.svg
Avalon
Division 16 Maintenance
and Storage Facility
BSicon STR saffron.svg
BSicon uKDSTaq.svg
BSicon exSTR exruby.svg
BSicon uABZr+r.svg
BSicon vRP2BHF.svg
BSicon INT jade.svg
BSicon STR blue.svg
Harbor Freeway LACMTA Square J Line.svg  
(2025)
LAX/Metro Transit Center
BSicon STR saffron.svg
BSicon exKINTe exruby.svg
BSicon exKSTRa black.svg
BSicon vRP2BHF.svg
BSicon BHF jade.svg
BSicon STR blue.svg
Vermont/Athens
  Aviation/Century  
BSicon STR saffron.svg
BSicon lhBHFa.svg
BSicon KINTxa black.svg
BSicon vRP2BHF.svg
BSicon BHF jade.svg
BSicon STR blue.svg
Crenshaw
Expo/La Brea
BSicon hBHFa saffron.svg
BSicon htSTRae black.svg
BSicon MFADEf.svg
BSicon BHF jade.svg
BSicon vRP2BHF.svg
BSicon STR blue.svg
Hawthorne/​Lennox
La Cienega/​Jefferson
BSicon hBHF saffron.svg
BSicon hSTR black.svg
BSicon hINTa jade.svg
BSicon STR blue.svg
Aviation/LAX BSicon FLUG.svg (
via
 
BSicon BUS2.svg
)
Culver City
BSicon hBHFe saffron.svg
BSicon hSTRl black.svg
BSicon STRr jade.svg
BSicon exSTR+r ruby.svg
BSicon tSTRr jade.svg
BSicon lhABZgr+r.svg
BSicon uSTR.svg
BSicon BHF blue.svg
Compton
Palms
BSicon DBHFae saffron.svg
BSicon exhSTR ruby.svg
BSicon BHF blue.svg
Artesia
Westwood/​Rancho Park
BSicon BHF saffron.svg
BSicon exhBHF ruby.svg
BSicon STR blue.svg
Mariposa
Expo/Sepulveda
BSicon hBHFa saffron.svg
BSicon exhBHF ruby.svg
BSicon STR blue.svg
El Segundo
Expo/Bundy
BSicon hBHFe saffron.svg
BSicon exhBHF ruby.svg
BSicon STR blue.svg
Douglas
Division 14 Maintenance
and Storage Facility
BSicon STR saffron.svg
BSicon uABZl+l.svg
BSicon uKDSTeq.svg
BSicon lhSTRa@fq.svg
BSicon uKDSTaq.svg
BSicon exSTR ruby.svg
BSicon lhABZgr+r.svg
BSicon uABZr+r.svg
BSicon STR blue.svg
26th Street/​Bergamot
BSicon BHF saffron.svg
BSicon exhKBHFe ruby.svg
BSicon STR blue.svg
  Redondo Beach  
17th Street/​SMC
BSicon BHF saffron.svg
BSicon hBHFa blue.svg
Del Amo
  Downtown Santa Monica  
BSicon KBHFe saffron.svg
BSicon lhSTRa@fq.svg
BSicon uKDSTaq.svg
BSicon STR blue.svg
BSicon lhABZgr+r.svg
BSicon uABZr+r.svg
BSicon lhSTRe@g.svg
BSicon BHF blue.svg
Wardlow
BSicon BHF blue.svg
Willow Street
BSicon BHF blue.svg
Pacific Coast Highway
BSicon BHF blue.svg
Anaheim Street
Pacific tail track
BSicon KRW+l blue.svg
BSicon uENDE@G.svg
BSicon KRWgr blue.svg
Pacific Avenue
BSicon HST(R)g blue.svg
BSicon HST(L)f blue.svg
5th Street
  Downtown Long Beach  
BSicon HSTlg blue.svg
BSicon HST(R)rf blue.svg
1st Street
Rapid transit LACMTA Circle B Line.svg   LACMTA Circle D Line.svg  
BSicon uKDSTCCa.svg
BSicon tKINTa black.svg
BSicon utKSTRe.svg
  Union Station   BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Metrolink icon 2022.svg BSicon BUS2.svg LACMTA Circle A Line.svg   LACMTA Square J Line.svg  
BSicon tINT black.svg
Civic Center/​Grand Park LACMTA Square J Line.svg  
BSicon tINT black.svg
Pershing Square BSicon FUNI.svg LACMTA Square J Line.svg  
BSicon tINT black.svg
7th Street/​Metro Center LACMTA Circle A Line.svg   LACMTA Circle E Line.svg   LACMTA Square J Line.svg  
BSicon tBHF black.svg
Westlake/MacArthur Park
BSicon tINT black.svg
Wilshire/​Vermont
Vermont/​Beverly
BSicon lBHF~L red.svg
BSicon tKRW+l red.svg
BSicon lBHF~L purple.svg
BSicon tKRWr red.svg
BSicon lBHF~R red.svg
BSicon tKRWl purple.svg
BSicon tKRW+r purple.svg
BSicon lBHF~R purple.svg
Wilshire/​Normandie
Vermont/​Santa Monica
BSicon tBHF red.svg
BSicon tKBHFxe purple.svg
  Wilshire/Western  
Vermont/Sunset
BSicon tBHF red.svg
BSicon extBHF purple.svg
Wilshire/La Brea
(2025)
Hollywood/​Western
BSicon tBHF red.svg
BSicon extBHF purple.svg
Wilshire/Fairfax
(2025)
Hollywood/Vine
BSicon tBHF red.svg
BSicon extBHF purple.svg
Wilshire/La Cienega
(2025)
Hollywood/​Highland
BSicon tBHF red.svg
BSicon extBHF purple.svg
Wilshire/Rodeo
(2026)
Universal City/​Studio City
BSicon tBHF red.svg
BSicon extBHF purple.svg
Century City/​Constellation
(2026)
LACMTA Square G Line.svg    North Hollywood  
BSicon tKINTe red.svg
BSicon extBHF purple.svg
Westwood/UCLA
(2027)
BSicon extKBHFe purple.svg
Westwood/VA Hospital
(2027)
Key
A Line LACMTA Circle A Line.svg  
BSicon STRq blue.svg
BSicon STRq saffron.svg
LACMTA Circle E Line.svg   E Line
B Line LACMTA Circle B Line.svg  
BSicon tSTRq red.svg
BSicon exSTRq ruby.svg
LACMTA Circle K Line.svg   K Line
C Line LACMTA Circle C Line.svg  
BSicon STRq jade.svg
BSicon STRq black.svg
Multiple services
D Line LACMTA Circle D Line.svg  
BSicon tSTRq purple.svg
BSicon BUS3.svg
LACMTA Square G Line.svg   LACMTA Square J Line.svg   BRT

Wheelchair symbol.svg All stations are accessible

The Los Angeles Metro Rail is an urban rail transit system serving Los Angeles County, California, United States, consisting of six lines: four light rail lines (the A, C, E and K lines) and two rapid transit lines (the B and D lines), serving a total of 102 stations. The system connects with the Metro Busway bus rapid transit system (the G and J lines), the Metrolink commuter rail system, as well as several Amtrak lines. Metro Rail is owned and operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro).

Contents

Los Angeles Metro Rail has been extended significantly since it started service in 1990, and several further extensions are either in the works or being considered. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 61,981,300 or about 208,300 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.

Los Angeles had two previous rail transit systems, the Pacific Electric Red Car and Los Angeles Railway Yellow Car lines, which operated between the late 19th century and the 1960s. The Metro Rail system uses many of their former rights of way, and thus can be considered their indirect successor.

Current system

Lines

In Los Angeles Metro terminology, common with most other metro systems, a line is a named service, defined by a route and set of stations served by trains on that route. (The word does not refer to a physical rail corridor, as it does in New York City Subway nomenclature.)

Metro also uses the same line letter naming system for its Metro Busway services (which are bus rapid transit routes operating in transitways).

Six Metro Rail lines operate in Los Angeles County: [3]

Line nameStationsTerminiType
Western/NorthernEastern/Southern
LACMTA Circle A Line.svg  A Line 44 APU/Citrus College Downtown Long Beach Light rail
LACMTA Circle B Line.svg  B Line 14 North Hollywood Union Station Rapid transit
LACMTA Circle C Line.svg  C Line 11 Aviation/Century Norwalk Light rail
LACMTA Circle D Line.svg  D Line 8 Wilshire/Western Union StationRapid transit
LACMTA Circle E Line.svg  E Line 29 Downtown Santa Monica Atlantic Light rail
LACMTA Circle K Line.svg  K Line 12 Expo/Crenshaw
Aviation/Century
Westchester/Veterans
Redondo Beach
Light rail

    The B and D lines follow a fully underground route, and the C Line follows a fully grade-separated route. The A, E, and K lines run in a mix of environments, including at-grade in an exclusive corridor, street running, elevated, and underground. [3]

    The two rapid transit (subway) lines (B and D) share tracks between Union Station and Wilshire/​Vermont, while two of the light rail lines (A and E) share tracks between Pico and Little Tokyo/Arts District.

    Stations

    Metro A Line train stationed at Downtown Long Beach (formerly Transit Mall) station Long Beach Civic Center Metro Blue Line Station 1.JPG
    Metro A Line train stationed at Downtown Long Beach (formerly Transit Mall) station
    Southbound Metro B Line train departing from Hollywood/Highland station LA Metro B Line train departing Hollywood-Highland Station.jpg
    Southbound Metro B Line train departing from Hollywood/Highland station
    Eastbound Metro C Line train to Norwalk Station departs from Redondo Beach station LA Metro C Line at Redondo Beach Station.jpg
    Eastbound Metro C Line train to Norwalk Station departs from Redondo Beach station
    Westbound Metro E Line to Downtown Santa Monica Station stopped at Expo/Sepulveda Station Metro E line at Morning Golden hour.jpg
    Westbound Metro E Line to Downtown Santa Monica Station stopped at Expo/Sepulveda Station
    Two Siemens P2000 trains at Memorial Park station Metrogoldlinemem.jpg
    Two Siemens P2000 trains at Memorial Park station
    Former Metro Gold Line (now part of the E Line) train at Atlantic station Atlantic Gold Line 3.JPG
    Former Metro Gold Line (now part of the E Line) train at Atlantic station

    The Los Angeles Metro Rail system consists of 102 stations. The light rail stations are either at ground level or elevated, with some trenched or fully underground. All rapid transit stations are fully underground. [3]

    Stations include at least two ticket vending machines, wayfinding maps, electronic message displays, and bench seating. Call boxes are available at stations to allow employees at the Metro Rail Operations Control Center to assist passengers with concerns. Unique artwork is integrated into every station, showcasing local culture and improving the aesthetic of the system. [4]

    Street-level stations are typically simpler with platforms designed with shade canopies, separated from nearby roads and sidewalks, where passengers can purchase fares and board a train. Free or paid park and ride lots are available at 44 stations and most have bike storage available. [5]

    Underground stations are typically larger with a mezzanine level for fare sales and collection above a platform level where passengers board trains. Underground stations and tunnels are designed to resist ground shaking that could occur at a specific location. There is no general magnitude of an earthquake that the entire system is expected to withstand. However, the Metro Rail system has not suffered any damage from earthquakes since its opening in 1990. [6]

    Metro Rail uses a proof-of-payment fare system, with Metro's fare inspectors randomly inspecting trains and stations to ensure passengers have a valid fare product on their Transit Access Pass (TAP) electronic fare card. When passengers enter a station, they encounter TAP card validators which collect fares when a customer places their card on top. Additionally, fare gates (turnstiles) connected to TAP card validators are at all underground stations, all elevated stations, and some surface stations. Once passengers pass these validators or board a train, they have entered the "fare paid zone", where fare inspectors may check their TAP card to ensure they have a valid fare. Passengers who fail to comply may be penalized and removed from the system. [7] [8]

    Rolling stock

    Metro Rail maintains two distinct systems of rail: a light rail system and a rapid transit (subway) system, which use incompatible technologies, even though they both use 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge and use 750 V power. Metro's rapid transit lines are powered by third rail, whereas its light rail lines are powered by overhead catenary. Also, the two separate systems have different loading gauge, and platforms are designed to match the separate car widths.

    Hours of operation

    The Los Angeles Metro Rail system runs for about 19 hours each day between 5:00 am and 11:45 pm. Limited service on particular segments is provided after midnight and before 5:00 am. [9] There is no rail service between 2:00 am and 3:30 am, except on special occasions such as New Year's Eve. [10] Before the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, service operated until approximately 2:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays but was removed to accommodate train cleaning. [11]

    Trains operate more frequently during weekday peak hours and less at other times. During peak hours, the light rail A and E lines run every 8 minutes and the light rail C and K lines run every 10 minutes. The light rail lines operate on 10-minute headways during off-peak periods and weekends. The B and D rapid transit lines operate every 12 minutes throughout the day. During early morning and late night hours, train frequency on all Metro Rail lines is reduced to every 20 minutes. [9] [12] Metro plans to increase train frequencies, proposing to further reduce headways on the B, C, D, and K lines by 2025. [13]

    Fares and fare collection

    The standard Metro base fare applies for all trips. Fare collection is based on a partial proof-of-payment system. At least two fare machines are at each station. Fare inspectors, local police, and deputy sheriffs police the system and cite individuals without proof of payment. Passengers are required to purchase a TAP card to ride Metro Rail. Passengers using a TAP card can transfer between Metro routes for free within 2 hours from the first tap. [14]

    Metro introduced daily and weekly fare caps in July 2023, replacing daily, weekly, and monthly passes. [15] With fare capping, the cost of each trip is credited towards the cost of a daily or weekly unlimited pass, automatically ensuring that all passengers pay the lowest fare possible. Due to this, passengers will never pay more than $5 (3 rides) in a day or $18 (11 rides) within seven days; rides are free once the cap is reached. Discounted or free fares are available for seniors, disabled individuals, Medicare recipients, low-income individuals, and students. [16]

    The following table shows Metro fares, effective July 1, 2023 (in US dollars): [14]

    Fare typeRegularSenior (62+)
    Disabled
    Medicare
    Student K-12/

    College
    Vocational

    Low Income (LIFE)
    Base fare$1.75$0.35 (off-peak)
    $0.75 (peak)
    $0.7520 Free Rides then Regular fare
    1-Day Cap$5$2.50$2.50
    7-Day Cap$18$5$6
    Metro-to-Muni Transfer$0.50$0.25

    Transit Access Pass (TAP) and fare gates

    Metro has implemented a system of electronic fare collection using a stored-value smartcard called the Transit Access Pass (TAP Card). This card was intended to simplify fare collection and reduce costs. [14] In 2012, paper monthly passes were phased out and replaced with the TAP Card. As of September 2013, first-time Metro riders must deposit an additional $2 (or $1 at TAP vending machines) on top of their first fare payment to obtain a reloadable TAP Card. In addition, in 2008 Metro began installing fare gates at all underground stations, all elevated stations, and some surface stations. Implementation of both programs (the TAP Card and the fare gate program) has turned out to be expensive ($154 million in total, so far) and its initial rollout was problematic. [17]

    Ridership

    In 2023, the Metro Rail system had a ridership of 61,981,300. [2]

    As of the third quarter of 2024, the combined Metro B and D lines averaged a weekday ridership of 67,300, making it the ninth busiest rapid transit system in the United States. [1] Taking overall track length into consideration, Metro Rail's rapid transit lines transport 7,960 passengers per route mile, making this the fifth busiest U.S. rapid transit system on a per mile basis. Metro's light rail system is the second-busiest in the United States with 141,000 average weekday boardings as of the third quarter of 2024. [1] In terms of route length, Metro's light rail system is the largest in the United States.

    LA Metro Ridership by Year [18]
    YearBusRailTotalChange
    2009370,983,14192,540,577463,523,718n/a
    2010358,228,81695,596,698453,825,514Decrease2.svg2.09%
    2011359,604,56997,762,378457,366,947Increase2.svg0.78%
    2012360,076,040108,879,123468,955,163Increase2.svg2.53%
    2013363,319,498114,790,046478,109,544Increase2.svg1.95%
    2014352,058,138112,535,260464,593,398Decrease2.svg2.83%
    2015333,971,187106,974,667440,945,854Decrease2.svg5.09%
    2016304,160,857111,458,473415,619,330Decrease2.svg5.74%
    2017284,708,290112,783,075397,491,365Decrease2.svg4.36%
    2018275,777,661108,017,525383,795,186Decrease2.svg3.45%
    2019277,308,84593,171,898370,480,743Decrease2.svg3.47%
    2020161,171,52851,918,949213,090,477Decrease2.svg42.48%
    2021179,859,17447,866,883227,726,057Increase2.svg6.87%
    2022197,952,37560,565,995258,518,370Increase2.svg12.78%
    2023222,922,67765,165,346288,088,023Increase2.svg10.99%

    Security and safety

    Half of the Metro Rail's trains and stations are patrolled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department under a law enforcement contract. The Los Angeles Police Department and Long Beach Police Department patrol stations within their respective cities, also under contract. [19] The system is monitored by security personnel through closed-circuit television cameras. [20] Metro Ambassadors are an in-house outreach team to provide a better user experience. They help riders navigate and provide information about the system. [21]

    In June 2024, the Metro Executive Board voted 10-0 to create their own transit police force. A cited reason included frustration with a lack of control over the existing contracts. This force is planned to consist of officers, crisis workers, and homelessness outreach teams. [22]

    History

    The first operating segment of Los Angeles Metro Rail opened on July 14, 1990, then known as the Blue Line. LA Blue Line Opening Celebration.jpg
    The first operating segment of Los Angeles Metro Rail opened on July 14, 1990, then known as the Blue Line.

    In the early 20th century, Southern California had an extensive privately owned rail transit network with over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of track, operated by Pacific Electric (Red Cars) and Los Angeles Railway (Yellow Cars). [23] However, from 1927 revenue shortfall caused Pacific Electric to begin replacing lightly used rail lines with buses. In 1958 the remnants of the privately owned rail and bus systems were consolidated into a government agency known as the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority or MTA. By 1963, the remaining rail lines were completely removed and replaced with bus service.[ citation needed ]

    In the following decades, growing traffic congestion led to increased public support for rail transit's return. Beginning in the 1970s, a variety of factors, including environmental concerns, an increasing population, and the price of gasoline led to calls for mass transit other than buses.[ citation needed ] The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA, now branded as Metro) began construction of the initial lines throughout the 1980s using revenues from a voter-approved increase in sales tax.[ citation needed ] The Blue (A) Line opened on July 14, 1990, 27 years after the final streetcar line closed. The system has been progressively expanded since. The following table shows this expansion's timeline:

    Just before the opening of the Metro Rail, Proposition U passed, which halved the allowable residential density throughout much of Los Angeles. This reduced the viability of the Metro Rail by limiting dense residential housing near transit stations. Before 2000, none of the land near the stations was converted to residential use. [24]

    Segment descriptionDate openedCurrent line(s)
    on segment
    EndpointsNumber of
    new stations
    Length
    (miles)
    Construction cost
    Blue Line Initial SegmentJuly 14, 1990 LACMTA Circle A Line.svg   LACMTA Circle E Line.svg   PicoAnaheim Street 1719.1$2.2 billion
    Blue Line Long Beach LoopSeptember 1, 1990 LACMTA Circle A Line.svg   Anaheim StreetPacific Avenue 42.2
    Blue Line To Financial DistrictFebruary 15, 1991 LACMTA Circle A Line.svg   LACMTA Circle E Line.svg   Pico7th Street/​Metro Center 10.7
    Red Line MOS-1January 30, 1993 LACMTA Circle B Line.svg   LACMTA Circle D Line.svg   Union StationWestlake/MacArthur Park 3 [a] 4.4$3.1 billion
    Green LineAugust 12, 1995 LACMTA Circle C Line.svg   LACMTA Circle K Line.svg   Redondo BeachNorwalk 13 [a] 20.0$1.5 billion
    Red Line MOS-2 WestJuly 13, 1996 LACMTA Circle B Line.svg   LACMTA Circle D Line.svg   Westlake/MacArthur ParkWilshire/Western 32.0$3.4 billion
    Red Line MOS-2 NorthJune 12, 1999 LACMTA Circle B Line.svg   Wilshire/​VermontHollywood/Vine 54.7
    Red Line MOS-3June 24, 2000 Hollywood/VineNorth Hollywood 36.3$2.3 billion
    Gold Line Initial SegmentJuly 26, 2003 LACMTA Circle A Line.svg   Union StationSierra Madre Villa 12 [a] 13.7$721 million
    Gold Line Eastside ExtensionNovember 15, 2009 LACMTA Circle A Line.svg   LACMTA Circle E Line.svg   Union StationAtlantic 86.0$887 million
    Expo Line Phase 1April 28, 2012 LACMTA Circle E Line.svg  Flower/Washington – La Cienega/​Jefferson [b] 87.6$1.3 billion
    Expo Line To Culver CityJune 20, 2012 La Cienega/​JeffersonCulver City 11.0
    Farmdale station Farmdale 1 [c]
    Gold Line Foothill ExtensionMarch 5, 2016 [25] LACMTA Circle A Line.svg   Sierra Madre VillaAPU/Citrus College 6 [25] 11.5 [25] $714 million
    Expo Line Phase 2May 20, 2016 [26] LACMTA Circle E Line.svg   Culver CitySanta Monica 7 [26] 6.6 [26] $1.5 billion
    L Line Little Tokyo ClosureOctober 24, 2020 [27] Little Tokyo/Arts District -1 [d] -0.3 [e]
    K Line Initial SegmentOctober 7, 2022 [28] LACMTA Circle K Line.svg   Expo/​CrenshawWestchester/​Veterans 6 [a] 5.9 [3] $2.1 billion
    Regional ConnectorJune 16, 2023 [29] LACMTA Circle A Line.svg   LACMTA Circle E Line.svg   7th Street/​Metro CenterLittle Tokyo/Arts District 31.9$1.8 billion
    Aviation/Century stationNovember 3, 2024 [30] LACMTA Circle C Line.svg   LACMTA Circle K Line.svg   Aviation/​Century 1
    Total102113.3 [f] $21.5 billion
    1. 1 2 3 4 Segment also included significant expansion of an existing station(s): this was not counted as a new station.
    2. In terms of added trackage; Expo Line was through service to 7th Street/Metro Center.
    3. Infill station on the Expo Line between Expo/La Brea and Expo/Crenshaw; opened on the same day in conjunction with the Expo Line To Culver City.
    4. The at-grade Little Tokyo/Arts District station was demolished to make way for the Regional Connector; it was replaced by an underground station nearby.
    5. In terms of removed trackage; L Line service between Union Station and Pico/Aliso was discontinued.
    6. Likely varies from the "official" Metro figure due to rounding differences.

    Planned expansion

    Metro has worked to plan and prioritize project funding and implementation. Metro's 2009 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) was developed to provide a long-term vision of transportation system development for the next 30 years. [31] Metro worked to update the 2009 LRTP citing new housing trends and fiscal changes. Metro released the updated LRTP in 2020. [32]

    Beginning in 2014, Metro saw its ridership numbers begin to decline. Many explanations exist for the decline, including safety concerns, an increase in ride-hailing service usage, low-income housing opportunities drying up in L.A. because of the increase in rents, and a shortage of housing. [33] Ridership declines also coincide with passage of AB 60, signed into law by Governor Brown in 2013, which provides for issuance of a vehicle operators license regardless of immigration status. [34] [35]

    The fiscal changes are the passage of Measure R, a countywide incremental sales tax increase passed by voters in 2008, providing funding for many of the highest priority projects in the LRTP. [36] [ non-primary source needed ] On November 6, 2012, Metro attempted to pass Measure J, [37] but failed as it did not reach the two-thirds majority needed to pass. [38] [39] In November 2016 election, Metro decided to place another sales tax on the ballot. The voters then approved Measure M, a half-cent permanent sales tax increase to fund many local projects, including Metro Rail expansion. [40]

    In 2018, Metro approved renaming its rail lines using a letter-based scheme, similar to those in New York City. [41] [42] Metro recommended the opening of the refurbished A Line in 2019 as a starting point to rename the lines, [43] and then continuing with the opening of the K line, finishing in time for the opening of the Regional Connector in 2023. [44] [45]

    Current and priority projects

    The following rail projects have been given high priority by Metro. They all appear in the 2009 LRTP constrained plan, [31] and all have funding earmarked from Measure R. [36] [46] With the passage of Measure M in 2016, Metro released an updated Long Range Transportation plan in February 2017, and released a full report in 2020, [47] along with its Twenty-eight by '28 initiative. [48]

    Concept nameDescriptionConstructionOperationalStatusRef.
    LAX Automated People Mover and LACMTA Circle K Line.svg  K Line stationsWill connect LAX terminals and a new rental car facility to the Metro Rail system through the construction of an automated people mover system. LAX/Metro Transit Center station of C and K lines will open as this project is completed.2018–20262025 (C & K lines)
    2026 (APM)
    Under construction [49]

    [50] [51] [52] [53] [54]

    LACMTA Circle D Line.svg   D Line Subway Extension Project Sections 1, 2, and 3 Section 1 extends the D Line west along Wilshire Blvd to La Cienega, Section 2 extends a further three miles west from La Cienega through Beverly Hills to Century City. Section 3 extends west to Westwood/UCLA and the VA Medical Center. All phases are under construction with plans to finish in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics.2015–20272025 (Section 1) / 2026 (Section 2) / 2027 (Section 3)Under construction [55] [56] [57] [58] [59] [60] [61]
    LACMTA Circle A Line.svg   Foothill Extension Phase 2B Further extends the northeast segment of the current A Line eastward from APU/Citrus College to Pomona.2019–20252025Under construction [62] [63] [64] [65] [66] [67]
    East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project Constructs a light rail line connecting the east San Fernando Valley to the G Line, largely along the median of Van Nuys Blvd and San Fernando Road. The line will connect with Metrolink and Amtrak at the Van Nuys station and the future Sepulveda Transit Corridor.20242031Under construction [68] [69] [70] [71] [72] [73]
    Southeast Gateway Line Creates a new light rail line connecting Downtown Los Angeles to Artesia and the Gateway Cities, much of it along the West Santa Ana Branch.20252035 [74] Under construction [75] [76] [77] [78] [79] [80] [81] [82]
    LACMTA Circle E Line.svg   Eastside Transit Corridor Phase 2 Further extends the southeast segment of the current E Line eastward along Washington Boulevard to Whittier.20252035Final EIR certified / NEPA clearance underway [83] [84] [85] [86]
    LACMTA Circle C Line.svg   C Line Extension to Torrance Extends the C Line from its current terminus in Redondo Beach towards Torrance and South Bay cities. By the time this extension is complete, the K Line will have taken over this extension after the C Line is rerouted to LAX/Metro Transit Center.20262033 [87] LPA adopted / Draft EIR in progress [88] [86]
    Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project Phases 1 and 2 Planning is underway on a rail connection between the G Line and the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor (see above) in the Valley to the D and E lines on the Westside. Modes under consideration include a standalone rapid transit line; or a monorail, which unlike the other modes could traverse the Sepulveda Pass without tunneling. Existing local funding sources will provide approximately $5.7 billion for the project for a scheduled opening in the early 2030s; additional funds, including from public–private partnerships, are being sought to complete the line before the 2028 Summer Olympics.20282033–2035 (Phase 1) / 2057–2059 (Phase 2) [89] Five LPA's analysis in progress / Draft EIR in progress [90] [91]
    LACMTA Circle K Line.svg   K Line Northern Extension Create a new underground light rail line connecting the B Line's Hollywood/Highland station south to the D Line, and the K Line's Expo/Crenshaw station via Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. Possible north–south routes include Fairfax, La Brea, and San Vicente Boulevard. An extension north of the K Line is included as a Tier 1 Strategic Unfunded Plan project in the 2009 Long Range Transportation Plan.20412047Three LPA's analysis in progress / Draft EIR Completed [31] [92] [93] [94] [95] [96]
    LACMTA Circle B Line.svg   LACMTA Circle D Line.svg   Arts District/6th Street station Extend the B and D rapid transit lines from their eastern terminus at Union Station, south along the L.A. River to the Arts District, and possibly across the river along Whittier Bl to the Eastside. However, Metro is studying the possibility of adding one or two stops along the river in the Arts District as part of a project to improve and expand the rail yard already in the area to accommodate increased headways once the D Line extension west is completed.UnknownUnknownDraft EIR in progress [97] [98] [99] [100]
    Vermont Transit Corridor Create a new north–south route down Vermont Avenue between Wilshire/Vermont station, the Metro E Line and C Line. Included as a Tier 2 Strategic Unfunded Plan project in 2009 Long Range Transportation Plan; a bus rapid transit line has been funded in the near term by Measure M, but studies will be conducted for possible heavy rail rapid transit, as the Vermont corridor is Metro's second busiest public transportation corridor.BRT 2020; HRT 2060BRT 2028–2030; HRT 2067Three LPA's analysis funded / Pending Draft EIR for BRT
    LACMTA Square G Line.svg   G Line LRT Conversion Converting the current G Line bus rapid transit route into light rail. Made possible after the 2014 repeal of state legislation prohibiting light rail along the G Line right of way, which had been enacted due to neighborhood opposition in the 1990s. Long term plans include complete conversion in phases with full replacement by 2057. Metro commenced BRT upgrades in 2018 to add grade crossing gates, and two new elevated segments at Van Nuys Bl and Sepulveda Bl, reducing travel time by 20%.20512057No current funds available for LRT until 2051 [101] [102] [103]
    LACMTA Circle C Line.svg   Lincoln Blvd BRT/LRT Line Extends the C Line from LAX northwest to Venice and Santa Monica Beach and possibly connect with the E Line's western terminus. The C Line was originally engineered to maintain compatibility with this extension. Included in City of Los Angeles Westside Mobility Plan, and as a Tier 2 Strategic Unfunded Plan project in 2009 Long Range Transportation Plan.BRT 2043; LRT UnknownBRT 2047; LRT UnknownNo LPA or EIR conducted [31] [104]

    Other expansion concepts

    Metro's Long Range Transportation Plan was published in 2009, [31] and was updated in 2020. [32] The following proposed line/system expansions do not have funding or high priority in Metro's long-range plans. Some are listed as "strategic unfunded" in the last Long Range Transportation Plan, indicating some possibility they could be constructed should additional funding materialize. Others have been the subject of Metro Board discussion, with the possibility of future feasibility studies. (More information on each project can be found in the references.)

    Concept nameDescriptionSource
    Burbank–Glendale LineWould connect Downtown Los Angeles to Glendale and Burbank. Studied in the 1990s, and included as a Tier 1 Strategic Unfunded Plan project in 2009 Long Range Transportation Plan. [31] [105] [31]
    B Line To Burbank AirportExtend the Metro B Line 3.2 miles (5.1 km) from its northwestern terminus to Hollywood Burbank Airport. Included as a Tier 1 Strategic Unfunded Plan project in 2009 Long Range Transportation Plan. [31] [31]
    C Line To Norwalk Metrolink Extend the C Line east to Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs station (Metrolink). Included as a Tier 1 Strategic Unfunded Plan project in 2009 Long Range Transportation Plan, [31] but is included among the Major Transit Projects (Figure 8) in the 2020 Long Range Transportation Plan with an estimated "open year" of 2052. [32] [106]
    "Pink Line"/"Silver Line" (former names)DTLA Union Station thru Hollywood to Beverly Hills terminating at the under construction D Line Century City Station. Stops in or near Silver Lake, Dodger Stadium, Echo Park, West Hollywood and Century City. Mostly a Sunset Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard east–west route. Possibly using the already built HRT B Line tracks thru Hollywood or the LRT K Line under consideration in West Hollywood. East of Union Station would head to the City of La Puente or El Monte, CA. With possible stops in East L.A., Cal State LA, San Gabriel and Baldwin Park. No LPAs listed. No funds available. Listed as one of several "Strategic Unfunded Plan" project in the 2009 Long Range Transportation Plan, Tier 2. [31] Eastside route no longer met by the removed Eastside Transit Corridor option along The 60 Freeway. [107] [108] [109] [31]
    Harbor LineLight rail line to connect harbor area (San Pedro) to Metro A Line or C Line. Floated in LA City Council motions and Metro Harbor Subdivision studies. Also, a further southward extension of the C Line is included as a Tier 1 Strategic Unfunded Plan project in the 2009 Long Range Transportation Plan. Other plans could lead to the J Line being converted to rail. [31] [110]
    D Line Extension Phase 4Extend the Metro D Line 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from its under construction western terminus, Westwood/VA Hospital station to Downtown Santa Monica station. No funds available. [111] [112]
    Venice Boulevard CorridorRestore the Venice Boulevard right-of-way train service from Venice Beach in the west to Culver Junction area possibly heading north on La Brea Avenue to Hollywood or east into Downtown Los Angeles. Would service the westside and Central Los Angeles. Pacific Electric Venice Short Line was last used in the 1950s. [113]

    See also

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority</span> Public transport agency in Los Angeles County, California, United States

    The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), branded as Metro, is the county agency that plans, operates, and coordinates funding for most of the public transportation system in Los Angeles County, California, the most populated county in the United States.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Metrolink (California)</span> Regional commuter rail system serving Southern California

    Metrolink is a commuter rail system in Southern California, serving Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties, as well as to Oceanside in San Diego County. The system consists of eight lines and 69 stations operating on 545.6 miles (878.1 km) of track. This includes Arrow, which Metrolink operates under a contract with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA).

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">A Line (Los Angeles Metro)</span> Light rail line in Los Angeles County, California

    The A Line is a light rail line in Los Angeles County, California. It is one of the six lines of the Los Angeles Metro Rail system, operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). The A Line serves 44 stations and runs east-west between Azusa and Pasadena, then north-south between Pasadena and Long Beach, interlining and sharing five stations with the E Line in Downtown Los Angeles. It operates for approximately 19 hours per day with headways of up to 8 minutes during peak hours. It runs for 48.5 miles (78.1 km), making it the world's longest light rail line since 2023.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">L Line (Los Angeles Metro)</span> Former light rail line

    The L Line and Gold Line are former designations for a section of the current Los Angeles Metro Rail system. These names referred to a single light rail line of 31 miles (50 km) providing service between Azusa and East Los Angeles via the northeastern corner of Downtown Los Angeles, serving several attractions, including Little Tokyo, Union Station, the Southwest Museum, Chinatown, and the shops of Old Pasadena. The line, formerly one of seven in the system, entered service in 2003. The L Line served 26 stations.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">E Line (Los Angeles Metro)</span> Light rail line in Los Angeles County, California

    The E Line is a 22-mile (35 km) light rail line in Los Angeles County, California. It is one of the six lines of the Los Angeles Metro Rail system, operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). The E Line runs east-west and serves 29 stations between East Los Angeles and Santa Monica. It interlines and shares five stations with the A Line in Downtown Los Angeles. Service operates for 21 hours per day with headways of up to 8 minutes during peak hours. The E Line, the second-busiest light rail line in the system, saw an average of 41,902 passengers on weekdays in October 2023.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">North Hollywood station</span> Rapid transit and bus rapid transit station in Los Angeles, California

    North Hollywood station is a combined rapid transit and bus rapid transit (BRT) station in the Los Angeles Metro Rail and Metro Busway systems. It is the northwestern terminus of the B Line subway and eastern terminus of the G Line BRT route. It is located at the intersection of Lankershim Boulevard and Chandler Boulevard in the NoHo Arts District of the North Hollywood neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">C Line (Los Angeles Metro)</span> Light rail line in Los Angeles County, California

    The C Line is a 19.3-mile (31.1 km) light rail line running between the Los Angeles neighborhood of Westchester and the city of Norwalk within Los Angeles County, California. It is one of six lines forming the Los Angeles Metro Rail system and opened on August 12, 1995. Along the route, the line also serves the cities of Downey, Hawthorne, and Lynwood, as well as several unincorporated communities in the South Los Angeles region including Athens, Del Aire, and Willowbrook. The fully grade-separated route runs mainly in the median strip of Interstate 105 for its latitude portion and in a mixture of viaducts, embankments, and an open trench for its western leg. A free shuttle bus to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is available at Aviation/LAX and Aviation/​Century stations.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">D Line (Los Angeles Metro)</span> Rapid transit line in Los Angeles, California

    The D Line is a fully underground 5.1-mile (8.2 km) rapid transit line operating in Los Angeles, running between Koreatown and Downtown Los Angeles. It is one of six lines on the Metro Rail system, operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">K Line (Los Angeles Metro)</span> Light rail line in Los Angeles County, California

    The K Line is a light rail line in Los Angeles County. It currently consists of two separate noncontiguous segments. The 5.9-mile (9.5 km) northern segment runs north–south between the Jefferson Park and Westchester neighborhoods of Los Angeles, California, passing through various South Los Angeles neighborhoods and the city of Inglewood. The southern segment runs north–south between the Westchester neighborhood of Los Angeles and the city of Redondo Beach. It is one of six lines in the Los Angeles Metro Rail system operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). The northern segment, the oldest segment of the line, opened on October 7, 2022, making it the system's newest line.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">J Line (Los Angeles Metro)</span> Bus rapid transit line in Los Angeles County, California, US

    The J Line is a 38-mile (61.2 km) bus rapid transit line that runs between El Monte, Downtown Los Angeles and the Harbor Gateway, with some trips continuing to San Pedro. It is one of the two lines in the Metro Busway system operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro).

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Tokyo/Arts District station</span> Light rail station in Los Angeles, California

    Little Tokyo/Arts District station is an underground light rail station on the Los Angeles Metro Rail system. It replaced an at-grade station with the same name that was located on the east side of Alameda Street between 1st Street and Temple Street, on the edge of Little Tokyo and the Arts District in Downtown Los Angeles. The at-grade station opened in 2009 as part of the Gold Line Eastside Extension and was served by the L Line. The at-grade station closed in October 2020, and the new underground station on the south side of 1st Street between Central Avenue and Alameda Street opened on June 16, 2023.

    Measure R was a ballot measure during the November 2008 elections in Los Angeles County, California, that proposed a half-cent sales taxes increase on each dollar of taxable sales for thirty years in order to pay for transportation projects and improvements. The measure was approved by voters with 67.22% of the vote, just over the two-thirds majority required by the state of California to raise local taxes. The project was touted as a way to "improve the environment by getting more Angelenos out of their cars and into the region's growing subway, light rail, and bus services." It will result in the construction or expansion of a dozen rail lines in the county.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Angeles Metro Busway</span> Bus rapid transit system in Los Angeles County, California

    The Los Angeles Metro Busway is a system of bus rapid transit (BRT) routes that operate primarily along exclusive or semi-exclusive roadways known locally as a busway or transitway. There are currently two lines serving 29 stations in the system: the G Line in the San Fernando Valley, and the J Line, serving El Monte, Downtown Los Angeles, Gardena, and San Pedro. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) operates the Metro Busway system.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Leimert Park station</span> Los Angeles Metro Rail station

    Leimert Park station is an underground light rail station on the K Line of the Los Angeles Metro Rail system. It is located underneath Crenshaw Boulevard at its intersection with Vernon Avenue in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">LAX/Metro Transit Center station</span> Future light rail transport hub in Los Angeles, California

    LAX/Metro Transit Center station is an under construction light rail transport hub in the Los Angeles Metro Rail system, located near Aviation Boulevard and 96th Street in the Westchester district of Los Angeles. The station was designed as a station for the C and K lines. It will serve as the transfer point between Metro Rail and the LAX Automated People Mover (APM) serving the Los Angeles International Airport terminals and facilities. Additionally, the station will have connections to Metro Bus, other municipal bus lines, a customer service center, and a Metro Bike Share hub. Metro is scheduled to start serving the station sometime in 2025, although the APM connection is not scheduled to open until early 2026.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill station</span> Light rail station

    Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill station is an underground light rail station on the A and E lines of the Los Angeles Metro Rail system. The station also has street level stops for the J Line of the Los Angeles Metro Busway system. The station is located under the intersection of 2nd Place and Hope Street, near the Grand Avenue Arts district and in the Bunker Hill neighborhood of Downtown Los Angeles, after which the station is named. In planning documents, the station was originally referred to as 2nd Place/Hope.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastside Transit Corridor</span> Future light rail line extension in Los Angeles County, California

    The Eastside Transit Corridor is a light rail line extension that currently connects Downtown Los Angeles with East Los Angeles. However, the extension is planned to extend further southeast to connect with the Gateway Cities, continuing from a relocated Atlantic station southeast to a new Lambert station in Whittier.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">K Line Northern Extension</span> Planned light rail extension project in Los Angeles, California

    The K Line Northern Extension, formerly known as the Crenshaw Northern Extension, is a project planning a Los Angeles Metro Rail light rail transit corridor extension connecting Expo/Crenshaw station to Hollywood/Highland station in Hollywood. The corridor is a fully underground, north-south route along mostly densely populated areas on the western side of the Los Angeles Basin; it would be operated as part of the K Line. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is prioritizing the project along with pressure from the West Hollywood residents. Construction is slated to start in 2041 and begin service by 2047 unless means to accelerate the project are found.

    The history of the Los Angeles Metro Rail and Busway system begins in the early 1970s, when the traffic-choked region began planning a rapid transit system. The first dedicated busway opened along I-10 in 1973, and the region's first light rail line, the Blue Line opened in 1990. Today the system includes over 160 miles (260 km) of heavy rail, light rail, and bus rapid transit lines, with multiple new lines under construction as of 2019.

    References

    1. 1 2 3 "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
    2. 1 2 "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Facts At A Glance". Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 2023. Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
    4. "Art – Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority". May 20, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
    5. "Metro Parking Lots by Line". metro.net. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
    6. Hymon, Steve (August 10, 2012). "Designing a subway to withstand an earthquake". The Source . Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
    7. "A beginner's guide to Metro". Time Out Los Angeles. March 25, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
    8. "Metro Customer Code of Conduct" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 1, 2018. p. 11. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
    9. 1 2 "Metro Maps and Schedules". Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 10, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
    10. Mitteenn, Mey Lyn (December 21, 2023). "Go Metro for free on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve". The Source. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
    11. "Coronavirus: Metro to end late-night rail service on Saturday". ABC7 Los Angeles. March 21, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
    12. "Metro December 2023 Service Change" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. November 7, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
    13. "FY 25 Proposed Budget" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
    14. 1 2 3 "Fares - LA Metro". metro.net. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
    15. "L.A. Metro Fare Capping Starts July 1 - Streetsblog California". cal.streetsblog.org. June 7, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
    16. "Fare Capping". metro.net. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
    17. "MTA's $46M system of locking turnstiles sits unused, waiting for fare cards to be adopted – LA Daily News". Dailynews.com. August 21, 2010. Archived from the original on August 25, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
    18. "LA Metro Ridership Statistics".
    19. "LAPD Officers to Patrol Metro Buses, Trains in the City of Los Angeles". lamayor.org. February 23, 2017. Archived from the original on June 2, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
    20. "Riders with Other Forms of Transport Switching to Metro". www.metro.net. September 13, 2006. Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
    21. "Meet Our Metro Ambassadors". metro.net. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
    22. Uranga, Rachel; Jany, Libor (June 27, 2024). "Metro OKs plan to start its own police agency, wind down contracts with sheriff, LAPD". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved July 6, 2024.
    23. Taplin, Michael (1991). "City of the Automobile: Los Angeles looks to Light Rail London". Light Rail Review 2. Platform 5 Publishing/Light Rail Transit Association. pp. 27–30. ISBN   1-872524-23-0.
    24. Severen, Christopher (2023). "Commuting, Labor, and Housing Market Effects of Mass Transportation: Welfare and Identification" (PDF). Review of Economics and Statistics. 105 (5): 1073–1091. doi:10.1162/rest_a_01100. ISSN   0034-6535. S2CID   158142894.
    25. 1 2 3 Nelson, Laura (March 5, 2016). "San Gabriel commuters cheer as Gold Line rail extension officially opens". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
    26. 1 2 3 Hymon, Steve (February 25, 2016). "17 things to know about Expo 2 opening on May 20". The Source. Metro. Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
    27. Jager, Rick. "Building the Last Phase of the Regional Connector Transit Project Requires A 22-Month Closure of Little Tokyo/Arts District Station Effective Saturday, Oct. 24 through Fall 2022". Metro . Retrieved October 4, 2023.
    28. Patel, Tine (October 7, 2022). "LA Metro's new K Line opens today". CBS. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
    29. Von Quednow, Cindy (June 16, 2023). "Metro Regional Connector opens in Los Angeles, bringing more direct access to downtown". KTLA . Nexstar Media Group . Retrieved June 16, 2023.
    30. Hymon, Steve (October 14, 2024). "Changes are coming Sunday, Nov. 3, to the C and K Lines as we open the new Aviation/Century Station". Metro The Source. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
    31. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "2009 Long Range Transportation Plan" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). 2010. p. 31. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 26, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
    32. 1 2 3 2020 Long Range Transportation Plan (PDF) (Report). Metro. 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
    33. Chiland, Elijah (May 22, 2019). "Is Metro ridership down because low-income passengers are leaving LA?". Curbed LA. Archived from the original on May 22, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
    34. "AB 60 Driver Licenses". California Department of Motor Vehicles. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
    35. "L.A. Metro Ridership". Propel L.A. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
    36. 1 2 "Measure R". Metro. Archived from the original on September 19, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
    37. "Measure J". Metro. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
    38. "Measure J Fails". County of Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder. Archived from the original on January 14, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
    39. "Transit Backers Seek to Change State Law". Los Angeles Times . December 4, 2012. Archived from the original on December 17, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
    40. Nelson, Laura J. (June 23, 2016). "Metro puts half-cent sales tax increase for transportation projects on November ballot". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 4, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
    41. Hymon, Steve (April 7, 2015). "PowerPoint: Metro staffs proposal to rename rail and BRT lines". The Source. Metro. Archived from the original on April 11, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
    42. "LA Metro Could Switch Rail Line Names From Colors To Letters". Curbed Los Angeles. Curbed Staff. April 3, 2015. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
    43. "More intersection, road closures for Blue Line upgrades". Long Beach Post. Archived from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
    44. "Plan 2018-0684 – Metro Board". Boardagendas.metro.net. November 15, 2018. Archived from the original on November 13, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
    45. "Transit Maps: New Official Map: Los Angeles Metro with Regional Connector, 2023". Transit Maps. June 12, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
    46. "Transit Program – Project Management – Project Budget and Schedule Status" (PDF). Metro. June 19, 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 14, 2016. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
    47. "Long Range Transportation Plan". Metro.net. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
    48. "Twenty-Eight by '28 Initiative". Metro.net. Archived from the original on February 19, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
    49. Metro, L. A. (June 21, 2022). "Metro Board of Directors has June meeting this Thursday at 10 a.m." The Source. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
    50. "Airport Metro Connector". Metro. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
    51. "City Council approves long-awaited people mover to LAX". Los Angeles Times . April 11, 2018. Archived from the original on April 12, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
    52. GmbH, finanzen net. "Fluor Announces Financial Close on Los Angeles International Airport Automated People Mover". markets.businessinsider.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
    53. "The K Line opens Friday, October 7!". The Source. September 22, 2022. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
    54. "2024-0212 - STAFFING REQUEST FOR LAX/METRO TRANSIT CENTER OPENING AND RELATED C AND K LINE RECONFIGURATION". Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority . Retrieved August 29, 2024.
    55. "Purple (D Line) Extension Transit Project". Metro. Archived from the original on September 29, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
    56. "Summer 2013 – General Fact Sheet – Purple Line Extension" (PDF). Metro. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
    57. Notice to proceed issued for section 2 of the Purple Line Extension Archived November 25, 2020, at the Wayback Machine , the source.metro.net, 2017/04/27.
    58. Sotero, Dave (November 10, 2014). "Long wait over: groundbreaking held for Wilshire Boulevard subway extension". The Source. Metro. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
    59. "D Line Subway Extension Project – Section 1". Metro . Retrieved July 9, 2024.
    60. "D Line Subway Extension Project – Section 2". Metro . Retrieved July 9, 2024.
    61. "D Line Subway Extension Project – Section 3". Metro . Retrieved July 9, 2024.
    62. Newton, Damien (October 5, 2019). "Foothill Gold Line to Pomona Is Officially Under Construction – Streetsblog Los Angeles". La.streetsblog.org. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
    63. Pacheco, Antonio (June 28, 2017). "L.A. pushes ahead with $1.4 billion Gold Line extension". Archpaper.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
    64. Márquez, Liset (April 26, 2018). "There's now enough money to build the Gold Line through to Montclair – Daily Bulletin". Dailybulletin.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
    65. "Metro approves $1.4B construction plan for Gold Line extension to Claremont – Curbed LA". La.curbed.com. June 23, 2017. Archived from the original on August 13, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
    66. "Background". Foothill Gold Line. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
    67. "Foothill Extension".
    68. "East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor". Metro. July 8, 2014. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
    69. "The Valley will get light rail: Metro board approves north–south line along Van Nuys Boulevard". Los Angeles Times. June 28, 2018. Archived from the original on May 21, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
    70. Sotero, Dave (December 3, 2020). "Metro Board approves Final EIR for East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project". The Source. Metro. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
    71. @numble (June 28, 2022). "Updates on LA Metro's East SFV rail project schedule were provided recently at an employee meeting. Current schedule is start receiving construction (PDB) contract bids in Summer 2022, award contract in 2023, and complete project in 2028" (Tweet). Retrieved October 7, 2022 via Twitter.
    72. @numble (November 27, 2023). "October 2023 status report for LA Metro's East San Fernando Valley line. Contractor's initial schedule shows line opening at end of 2031, Metro is targeting summer 2031" (Tweet). Retrieved November 28, 2023 via Twitter.
    73. Scauzillo, Steve (July 28, 2024). "Metro gets rolling on San Fernando Valley light rail construction". Los Angeles Daily News . MediaNews Group . Retrieved August 2, 2024.
    74. "Metro Board approves route for initial segment for West Santa Ana Branch Project and Union Station as northern terminus". The Source. January 28, 2022. Archived from the original on February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
    75. "West Santa Ana Transit Corridor". Metro. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
    76. "Home". pacificelectriccorridor.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
    77. "West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority. April 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
    78. "West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor". Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority. Archived from the original on January 29, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
    79. "EIS_EIR". Dropbox . Retrieved April 17, 2024.
    80. "Metro certifies environmental impact report for Southeast Gateway Rail Line". Los Angeles Daily News . MediaNews Group. April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
    81. @numble (April 25, 2024). "LA Metro has released the RFP for a contractor for "Advanced Works" for Southeast Gateway Line, to prepare alignment for main project construction (utility relocations, soil abatement, freight relocation, etc.). Contract might also include building C Line infill transfer station" (Tweet). Retrieved April 29, 2024 via Twitter.
    82. Linton, Joe (October 31, 2024). "Metro Breaks Ground on Early Phase of Southeast Gateway Light Rail Construction". Streetsblog Los Angeles. OpenPlans . Retrieved October 31, 2024.
    83. "Eastside Transit Corridor Phase 2". Metro. May 6, 2014. Archived from the original on August 5, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
    84. Metro, L. A. (July 1, 2022). "Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) released for extension of L Line to Whittier". The Source. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
    85. "Final EIR (April 2024)". Dropbox . Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority . Retrieved April 26, 2024.
    86. 1 2 Sharp, Steven (May 24, 2024). "Metro moves forward with Eastside and South Bay rail extensions Neither project is expected to open for passengers". Urbanize LA. Urbanize Media LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
    87. "Green Line Extension to Torrance Fact Sheet" (PDF). Metro. March 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
    88. "C Line (Green) Extension to Torrance". LA Metro. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
    89. "We're exploring alternatives to the 405". LA Metro ArcGIS StoryMaps. May 20, 2024.
    90. "Rail concepts released for Sepulveda Transit Corridor project – The Source". Thesource.metro.net. June 7, 2018. Archived from the original on June 2, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
    91. "Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project". LA Metro. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
    92. "WHAM – West Hollywood Advocates for Metro Rail". Whamrail.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
    93. Sharp, Steven (July 23, 2018). "Five Options Under Consideration for the Crenshaw/LAX Line's Northern Extension". Urbanize LA. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
    94. "Actions taken by Metro Board today – The Source". Thesource.metro.net. May 24, 2018. Archived from the original on July 11, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
    95. Hymon, Steve (August 17, 2020). "Three routes recommended for further study on K Line Northern Extension project". The Source. Metro. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
    96. "KNE_DraftEIR". Dropbox . Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority . Retrieved August 14, 2024.
    97. Vaillancourt, Ryan (May 27, 2010). "Los Angeles Downtown News and Information". Los Angeles Downtown News – the Voice of Downtown Los Angeles. Ladowntownnews.com. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
    98. Nelson, Laura J. (March 18, 2015). "Metro could expand subway service to the downtown L.A. Arts District". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
    99. "Metro Board considers item for formal study of Arts District Station – The Source". Thesource.metro.net. June 20, 2018. Archived from the original on July 31, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
    100. Hymon, Steve (March 30, 2021). "Scoping meetings in April for upcoming Arts District Station environmental report". The Source. LACMTA. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
    101. Hymon, Steve (July 9, 2014). "Transportation headlines, Wednesday, July 9". The Source. Metro. Archived from the original on January 11, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
    102. Olga, Grigoryants (July 17, 2018). "LA's Metro says improvements are in the works for the Orange Line, with light rail in mind". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
    103. "Metro breaks ground on Orange Line Improvements Project – The Source". Thesource.metro.net. October 12, 2018. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
    104. "Measure M project descriptions – The Source". The Source. Thesource.metro.net. November 8, 2016. Archived from the original on September 8, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
    105. BURBANK-GLENDALE-LOS ANGELES RAIL TRANSIT PROJECT (PDF) (Report). Metro. 1992. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
    106. Weikel, Dan (January 10, 2016). "Closing 2.8-mile transit gap in Norwalk could smooth regional commute". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on August 12, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
    107. "Metro Silver Line – Los Angeles Light Rail Trains from El Monte to Silver Lake // Silverline, Mass Transit". metrosilverline.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2005.
    108. "The National Transit Coalition". thetransitcoalition.us. Archived from the original on February 16, 2009. Retrieved May 21, 2007.
    109. Freemark, Yonah (October 18, 2010). "Realizing the Impossible: Los Angeles' Subway Extension « The Transport Politic". The Transport Politic. Thetransportpolitic.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
    110. "harborline". harborline.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on June 27, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2006.
    111. "Does L.A. Need the Santa Monica Purple Line Extension?". Urbanize LA. January 31, 2017. Archived from the original on March 12, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
    112. "L.A.'s not-quite 'subway to the sea' finally breaks ground". Los Angeles Times. November 8, 2014. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
    113. "Who Are We Building Transit For?". LA Streetsblog. January 9, 2020. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
    Template:Attached KML/Los Angeles Metro Rail
    KML is not from Wikidata