Silver Line (Los Angeles Metro)

Last updated

J Line (Silver)
LACMTA Square J Line (Silver).svg  
37th Street & USC Metro Silver Line Station 10.jpg
Metro Silver Line bus on the Harbor Transitway
Overview
Other name(s)Silver Line (2009–2020)
Type Bus rapid transit
System Los Angeles Metro Busway
StatusIn service
Termini El Monte Station
Harbor Gateway Transit Center (route 910)
San Pedro (route 950)
Stations11 (also makes additional street stops)
Daily ridership16,703 (April 2019, weekday avg.) [1]
Line number910 & 950
Website Silver Line
Operation
OpenedDecember 13, 2009;10 years ago (December 13, 2009)
Operator(s)LAMetroLogo.svg Metro (LACMTA)
CharacterShared-use busways with some city streets
Depot(s)Division 9 (El Monte) & Division 18 (Carson)
Rolling stock35 NABI 45C-LFW buses
Technical
Line length38 mi (61.2 km)
Route map

Contents

BSicon PARKING.svg
BSicon uKBHFa.svg
El Monte
BSicon uhSTRa.svg
BSicon dRP4q.svg
BSicon uhSKRZ-G4.svg
BSicon dRP4q.svg
BSicon dRP4q.svg
BSicon uhSKRZ-G4u.svg
BSicon dRP4q.svg
BSicon uhINT.svg
Cal State LA
Metrolink icon.svg
BSicon lhPSL.svg
BSicon uUWBl.svg
↓ left-side running
BSicon uhBHF.svg
LA County+USC Medical Center
BSicon dRP4q.svg
BSicon uhSKRZ-G4u.svg
BSicon dRP4q.svg
I-5 (1957).svg I-5
BSicon uehINT.svg
Union Station
(2020)
BSicon uhSTRe.svg
↑ El Monte Busway
BSicon dINT grey.svg
Alameda St
(Union Station)
  LACMTA Circle B Line (Red).svg   LACMTA Circle D Line (Purple).svg   LACMTA Circle L Line (Gold).svg   Metrolink icon.svg BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg
BSicon FOW grey.svg
↑ left-side running
BSicon dRP4q.svg
BSicon STR grey.svg
BSicon uSKRZ-G4o.svg
BSicon dRP4q.svg
BSicon HST grey.svg
Spring St/1st St
BSicon dINT grey.svg
1st St/Hill St
(Civic Center/Grand Park)
  LACMTA Circle B Line (Red).svg   LACMTA Circle D Line (Purple).svg  
BSicon SHI2+l grey.svg
BSicon SHI2+r grey.svg
↓ Grand │ Olive ↑
BSicon BHF(R)f grey.svg
BSicon BHF(L)g grey.svg
Kosciuszko Wy (northbound)
3rd St (southbound)
BSicon INT(R)f grey.svg
BSicon INT(L)g grey.svg
5th St
(Pershing Square)
  LACMTA Circle B Line (Red).svg   LACMTA Circle D Line (Purple).svg  
BSicon STRf grey.svg
BSicon STRg grey.svg
↓ Grand │ Olive ↑
BSicon STR2 grey.svg
BSicon lHST grey.svg
BSicon DNULfq.svg
BSicon STR3 grey.svg
6th St/Flower St
BSicon STR+1 grey.svg
BSicon STR+4 grey.svg
↑ Figueroa │ Flower ↓
BSicon INT(L)g grey.svg
BSicon INT(R)f grey.svg
7th St
(7th St/Metro Center)
  LACMTA Circle A Line (Blue).svg   LACMTA Circle B Line (Red).svg   LACMTA Circle D Line (Purple).svg   LACMTA Circle E Line (Expo).svg  
BSicon BHF(L)g grey.svg
BSicon BHF(R)f grey.svg
Olympic Bl
BSicon INT(L)g grey.svg
BSicon INT(R)f grey.svg
Pico Bl
(Pico)
  LACMTA Circle A Line (Blue).svg   LACMTA Circle E Line (Expo).svg  
BSicon RP4oq.svg
BSicon STR grey.svg
BSicon RP4oq.svg
BSicon STR grey.svg
BSicon INT(L)g grey.svg
BSicon INT(R)f grey.svg
Washington Bl
(Grand/LATTC)
LACMTA Circle A Line (Blue).svg  
BSicon INT(L)g grey.svg
BSicon INT(R)f grey.svg
23rd St
(LATTC/Ortho Institute)
LACMTA Circle E Line (Expo).svg  
BSicon BHF(L)g grey.svg
BSicon BHF(R)f grey.svg
Adams Bl
BSicon KRWl grey.svg
BSicon uKRW+l.svg
BSicon KRWr grey.svg
BSicon uKRW+r.svg
↑ Figueroa │ Flower ↓
BSicon uBS2c1.svg
BSicon uBS2+lr.svg
BSicon lhSTRa@f.svg
BSicon uBS2c4.svg
BSicon uhBHF.svg
37th Street/USC
BSicon PARKING.svg
BSicon uhBHF.svg
Slauson
BSicon PARKING.svg
BSicon uhBHFe.svg
Manchester
BSicon PARKING.svg
BSicon uCONTg@Gq.svg
BSicon vRP2e.svg
BSicon lMKRZvu.svg
BSicon vRP2q.svg
BSicon uINTq.svg
BSicon uSTR.svg
BSicon dvRP2q.svg
BSicon uCONTf@Fq.svg
Harbor Freeway (I-105 (1961).svg I-105 )
LACMTA Circle C Line (Green).svg  
BSicon PARKING.svg
BSicon uBHF.svg
Rosecrans
BSicon dRP4q.svg
BSicon uhSKRZ-G4a.svg
BSicon dRP4q.svg
BSicon uhSTR.svg
↑ Harbor Transitway
BSicon PARKING.svg
BSicon lhSTRe@g.svg
BSicon uBHF.svg
Harbor Gateway
BSicon HST grey.svg
Figueroa St/
Victoria St (northbound)
190th St (southbound)
BSicon dRP4q.svg
BSicon RP4oq.svg
BSicon STR grey.svg
BSicon dRP4q.svg
BSicon uhSTRa.svg
BSicon PARKING.svg
BSicon uhBHF.svg
Carson
BSicon PARKING.svg
BSicon dRP4q.svg
BSicon MSTR.svg
BSicon uhBHF.svg
BSicon RP4q.svg
BSicon dRP4q.svg
Pacific Coast Highway
(California 1.svg SR 1 )
BSicon uhSTRe.svg
↑ Harbor Freeway
BSicon PARKING.svg
BSicon HST grey.svg
Harbor Beacon Park & Ride
Ferry symbol.svg
BSicon HST grey.svg
Beacon St/1st St
BSicon HST grey.svg
Pacific Av/1st St
BSicon HST grey.svg
Pacific Av/3rd St
BSicon HST grey.svg
Pacific Av/7th St
BSicon HST grey.svg
Pacific Av/11th St
BSicon HST grey.svg
Pacific Av/15th St
BSicon HST grey.svg
Pacific Av/17th St
BSicon BHF(R)f grey.svg
Pacific Av/19th St
BSicon STR+l grey.svg
BSicon ABZgr grey.svg
BSicon STRg grey.svg
BSicon HST grey.svg
Pacific Av/21st St
BSicon STRl grey.svg
BSicon STRr grey.svg
Wheelchair symbol.svg all stations accessible

busway station
BSicon uBHF.svg
BSicon uINT.svg
busway transfer station
on-street stop
BSicon HST grey.svg
BSicon dINT grey.svg
on-street transfer stop
one-way on-street stop
BSicon BHF(L)g grey.svg
BSicon INT(L)g grey.svg
one-way on-street
transfer stop

The J Line (formerly the Silver Line) is a 38 mi (61 km) limited-stop bus route with some bus rapid transit features that runs between El Monte, Downtown Los Angeles and Gardena, with some trips continuing to San Pedro. It is one of the two lines in the Metro Busway system and is operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro).

The J Line offers frequent, all-stops service along the El Monte Busway and the Harbor Transitway, two grade-separated transit facilities built into the Southern California freeway system. Along the route, buses serve several of the region's major transportation centers including El Monte Station, Union Station, 7th Street/Metro Center station, and the Harbor Gateway Transit Center.

The J Line was created as part of the conversion of the El Monte Busway and the Harbor Transitway from lanes reserved for buses and high occupancy vehicles into the Metro ExpressLanes that allow solo drivers to pay a toll to use lanes. The tolls collected have been used to operate the J Line and to improve amenities at stops.

As J Line buses travel along the El Monte Busway and the Harbor Transitway they serve stations built into the center or side of the roadway. There is a 3.6 mi (5.8 km) gap between the western end of El Monte Busway and the northern end of the Harbor Transitway in Downtown Los Angeles, where J Line buses travel on surface streets, making a limited number of stops.

In 2020, the line was renamed to the J Line while retaining its silver coloring. [2] [3] [4]

Service description

Two services are operated under the J Line name:

Routing

The eastern section of J Line route runs on the El Monte Busway between the El Monte Station in El Monte and Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles. The southern section of the route runs on the Harbor Transitway between 37th Street/USC station in Downtown Los Angeles and the Harbor Gateway Transit Center near the city of Carson. Buses travel between the eastern and southern sections along 3.6 mi (5.8 km) of surface streets in Downtown Los Angeles where Silver Line buses make a limited amount of stops (11 in each direction) near major employment centers, tourist destinations and Metro Rail stations. Buses utilize about 2.5 mi (4.0 km) of bus only lanes in each direction to speed trips across Downtown Los Angeles.

Silver Line route 950 trips continue south of the Harbor Gateway Transit Center along the Harbor Freeway to San Pedro traveling in general purpose freeway lanes and making two stops en route at stations located on the side of the freeway near off and on ramps. In San Pedro, Silver Line route 950 buses once again travel along surface streets, serving the Harbor Beacon Park & Ride and making frequent stops along Pacific Avenue.

Headways

TimeWeekdaysWeekends/

Holidays

5:00A – 10:00A4–1020
10:00A – 3:00P15
3:00P – 6:00P4–10
6:00P – 8:00P10–20
8:00P – 9:00P2040–60
9:00P – 1:00A40–60
1:00A – 5:00A (910 only)6060

Fares

The Silver Line charges a premium fare (which is a different fare structure from most other Metro routes). [5] [6] Metro day passes are accepted as full fare, but all other pass holders must pay for an upgraded 1 zone pass or pay the additional premium charge at the time of boarding.

Like the other Metro Rail and Metro Busway lines, the Silver Line operates on a proof-of-payment system. [7] Passengers may board at either the front or rear door of Silver Line buses and validate their Transit Access Pass (TAP) electronic fare card at readers located on board the bus, near the door. Metro's fare inspectors randomly inspect buses to ensure passengers have a valid fare product on their TAP card.

TAP vending machines are available at most Silver Line stations (except Carson and Pacific Coast Highway) and are located near most street stops in Downtown Los Angeles. But, because vending machines are not available at all stations and street stops, passengers who need to purchase a card or add funds can do so at the farebox on board the bus. None of the other Metro Rail or Metro Busway lines offer onboard TAP sales.

As of December 15, 2014 the fares for the Silver Line are:

Fare Type [8] RegularSenior (62+) / Disabled / MedicareCollege / VocationalStudent
(K-12)
PeakOff-Peak
Base Fare$2.50$1.35$0.95$2.50$2.50
Metro Day Pass

(Honored as Full Fare)

$7$2.50$7$7
Metro 30-Day + Zone 1 Pass

(Honored as Full Fare)

$122
Metro Discounted 30-Day Pass

(Honored as Full Fare)

$20$43$24
Premium Charge

Required for:

  • Metro 7-Day Pass
  • Metro 30-Day Pass (without Zone 1)
  • EZ transit pass (without Zone 1 or higher)
  • Metrolink tickets and passes
$0.75
Premium Charge

Required for:

  • Foothill Transit 31-Day Pass
$1.20

"Silver 2 Silver" fare program

Metro and Foothill Transit offer a reciprocal fare program called "Silver 2 Silver" where pass holders may ride either Silver Line or Silver Streak buses between Downtown Los Angeles and the El Monte Station. [9] Passengers who have a Metro 7-Day or 30-Day pass, an EZ transit pass, or a Foothill Transit Local 31-Day pass are all charged additional when they board a Silver Line or Silver Streak bus.

Stations & stops

Station/Street StopServicesImageConnectionsStop typeStation ParkingDate openedCity/ Neighborhood
NorthboundSouthbound910950
El Monte Station YesYes El Monte Station cycle park.jpg Upper Level:

Lower Level:

Station1,153 Spaces1973 El Monte
Cal State LA YesYes CSULA Metro Silver Line Station- 3.JPG

Freeway Level:

  • Metro Express: 487, 489
  • Foothill Transit: Silver Streak, 493, 495, 497, 498, 499, 699

Lower Level:

Street Level:

Station(none) East Los Angeles
Los Angeles County & USC Medical Center YesYes LAC & USC Med. Center Metro Silver Line Station- 4.JPG

Freeway Level:

  • Metro Express: 487, 489
  • Foothill Transit: Silver Streak, 493, 495, 497, 498, 499, 699

Street Level:

  • Metro Local: 70, 71, 106, 251, 605
  • Metro Rapid: 751
  • LADOT DASH: Boyle Heights/East LA, Lincoln Heights/Chinatown
Station(none) Boyle Heights
El Monte Busway/Alameda
(Union Station)
YesYes Union Station (El Monte Busway & Alameda) Metro Silver Line Stop 2.JPG

Freeway Level:

  • Metro Express: 487, 489
  • Foothill Transit: Silver Streak, 481, 493, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 699

Nearby Connections:

Street StopNearby Paid Parking (Independent) Downtown Los Angeles
Spring/1st
(Civic Center/Grand Park)
YesYes Spring & 1st- Metro Silver Line Street Stop 1.JPG
  • LACMTA Circle B Line (Red).svg  B Line (Red)  
  • LACMTA Circle D Line (Purple).svg  D Line (Purple)  
  • Metro Local: 33, 68, 70, 71, 83, 84, 92 & 96
  • Metro Express: 487, 489
  • Metro Rapid: 728, 733, 770
  • Foothill Transit: Silver Streak, 493, 497, 498, 499 & 699
  • LADOT DASH: D
Street stop(none)December 13, 2009
1st/Hill
(Civic Center)
YesYes
  • LACMTA Circle B Line (Red).svg  B Line (Red)  
  • LACMTA Circle D Line (Purple).svg  D Line (Purple)  
  • Metro Local: 2, 4, 10, 14, 28, 30, 37, 40, 45, 48, 68, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, 81, 83, 90, 91, 92, 94, 96, 302, 378
  • Metro Express: 442, 487, 489
  • Metro Rapid: 728, 733, 745, 770, 794
  • Antelope Valley Transit Authority: 785
  • Big Blue Bus: 10
  • City of Santa Clarita Transit: 799
  • Foothill Transit: Silver Streak, 493, 495 497, 498, 499, 699
  • LADOT Commuter Express: 409, 419, 422, 423, 431, 437, 438, 448, 534
  • LADOT DASH: A, B, D
  • Montebello Bus Lines: 341, 342
  • Santa Monica Big Blue Bus: Rapid 10
  • Torrance Transit: 4X
Street stop(none)
Olive/KosciuszkoGrand/3rdYesYes Grand & 3rd St.-Metro Silver Line Street Stop 1.JPG

Olive/Kosciuszko Connections:

  • Metro Local: 14, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, 96 & 378
  • Metro Express: 442, 487, 489
  • Metro Rapid: 770
  • Torrance Transit: 4X

Grand/3rd Connections:

  • Metro Local: 37, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, 96, 378
  • Metro Express: 442, 487, 489
  • Metro Rapid: 770
Street stop(none)
Olive/5th

(Pershing Square)

Grand/5th

(Pershing Square)

YesYes

Olive/5th Connections:

  • LACMTA Circle B Line (Red).svg  B Line (Red)  
  • LACMTA Circle D Line (Purple).svg  D Line (Purple)  
  • Metro Local: 14, 16, 18, 37, 53, 55, 62, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, 96, 316, 355, 378
  • Metro Express: 442, 487, 489
  • Metro Rapid: 720, 728, 745, 770, 794
  • Foothill Transit: Silver Streak
  • Torrance Transit: 4X

Flower/5th Connections:

  • Metro Local: 16, 18, 53, 55, 60, 62, 316, 355, 378
  • Metro Express: 442, 460
  • Torrance Transit: 4X
Street stop(none)
6th/Flower(none)YesYesStreet stop(none)
Figueroa/7th

(7th St/Metro Center)

Flower/7th

(7th St/Metro Center)

YesYes Flower St. & 7th St. Metro Silver Line Southbound Stop.JPG
  • LACMTA Circle A Line (Blue).svg  A Line (Blue)  
  • LACMTA Circle B Line (Red).svg  B Line (Red)  
  • LACMTA Circle D Line (Purple).svg  D Line (Purple)  
  • LACMTA Circle E Line (Expo).svg  E Line (Expo)  
  • Metro Local: 14, 16, 18, 20, 37, 51, 52, 60, 62, 66, 76, 78, 79, 81, 316, 352, 378
  • Metro Express: 442, 456, 460, 487, 489
  • Metro Rapid: 720, 760
  • Antelope Valley Transit Authority: 785
  • City of Santa Clarita Transit: 799
  • Foothill Transit: Silver Streak, 493, 495, 497, 498, 499, 699
  • LADOT Commuter Express: 409, 422, 423, 431, 437, 438, 448, 534
  • LADOT DASH: A, B, E, F
  • Montebello Bus Lines: 40, 50, 341, 342, 343
  • Orange County Transportation Authority: 701, 721
  • Santa Monica Big Blue Bus: Rapid 10
  • Torrance Transit: 4X
Street stop(none)
Figueroa/OlympicFlower/OlympicYesYes
  • Metro Local: 28, 81
  • Metro Express: 442, 460
  • Metro Rapid: 728
  • Torrance Transit: 4X
Street stop(none)
Figueroa/Pico

(Pico)

Flower/Pico

(Pico)

YesYesStreet stop(none)
Figueroa/Washington

(Grand/LATTC)

Flower/Washington

(Grand/LATTC)

YesYes
  • LACMTA Circle A Line (Blue).svg  A Line (Blue)  
  • Metro Local: 35, 81
  • Metro Express: 442, 456, 460
  • Torrance Transit: 4X
Street stop(none)
Figueroa/23rd

(LATTC/Ortho Institute)

Flower/23rd

(LATTC/Ortho Institute)

YesYes
  • LACMTA Circle E Line (Expo).svg  E Line (Expo)  
  • Metro Local: 37, 81, 603
  • Metro Express: 456, 460
  • Torrance Transit: 4X
Street stop(none)April 30, 2012 (Flower/23rd)

June 23, 2013

(Figueroa/23rd)

North University Park
Figueroa Way/AdamsFlower/AdamsYesYes Flower & Adams Silver Line Stop 1.JPG
  • Metro Local: 37, 81
  • Metro Express: 442, 456, 460
  • Torrance Transit: 4X
Street stop(none)June 26, 2011
37th Street/USC YesYes 37th Street & USC Metro Silver Line Station 22.JPG

Freeway Level:

  • Metro Express: 460
  • LADOT Commuter Express: 438, 448
  • Orange County Transportation Authority: 701, 721
  • Torrance Transit: 4X

Street Level:

  • Metro Local: 81, 102, 200
  • Metro Express: 442, 550
  • LADOT DASH: F, Southeast, King-East
Station(none)June 1996 Exposition Park
Slauson YesYes Slauson & 1-110 Metro Silver Line Station- Picture 6.JPG

Freeway Level:

  • Metro Express: 442, 460, 550
  • Dodger Stadium Express
  • Orange County Transportation Authority: 701, 721
  • Torrance Transit: 4X

Street Level:

  • Metro Local: 45, 81, 108, 358
  • Metro Rapid: 745
  • LADOT DASH: Southeast
Station151 Spaces South Los Angeles
Manchester YesYes Manchester Metro Silver Line Station 02.JPG

Freeway Level:

  • Metro Express: 460, 550
  • Dodger Stadium Express
  • Orange County Transportation Authority: 701, 721
  • Torrance Transit: 4X

Street Level:

  • Metro Local: 45, 81, 115
  • Metro Express: 442
  • Metro Rapid: 745
Station247 Spaces
Harbor Freeway YesYes Harbor Freeway Station- Metro Silver Line platform 2013.JPG

Freeway Level:

  • Metro Express: 550
  • Dodger Stadium Express
  • GTrans: 1X
  • LADOT Commuter Express: 448
  • Orange County Transportation Authority: 721
  • Torrance Transit: 4X

Upper Level:

Street Level:

  • Metro Local: 45, 81, 120
  • Metro Rapid: 745
  • GTrans: 1X
  • Torrance Transit: 1, 2
Station253 Spaces
Rosecrans YesYes Rosecrans Metro Silver Line Station 3.jpg

Freeway Level:

  • Metro Express: 550
  • Dodger Stadium Express
  • Orange County Transportation Authority: 721
  • Torrance Transit: 4X

Street Level:

  • Metro Local: 125
Station338 Spaces Harbor Gateway
Harbor Gateway Transit Center YesYes Harbor Gateway Transit Center 04.JPG Station980 Spaces
Figueroa/VictoriaFigueroa/190thNoYes
  • Metro Local: 52, 130, 205
  • Torrance Transit: 6
Street stop(none)December 13, 2015 Carson
Carson NoYes
  • Metro Local: 205
  • Metro Express: 550
  • Carson Circuit: F, North/South Shuttle
  • Torrance Transit: 1, 3, Rapid 3
Station140 SpacesJune 1996
Pacific Coast Highway NoYes
  • Metro Local: 205, 232
  • Metro Express: 550
  • LADOT Commuter Express: 448
  • LADOT DASH: Wilmington
Station244 Spaces
Harbor Beacon Park & Ride NoYes LACMTA Metro Silver Line 03.jpg Street stop280 SpacesDecember 13, 2015 San Pedro
Beacon/1stNoYes LACMTA Metro Silver Line- Beacon & 1st Street Stop.jpg
  • Metro Local: 205
Street stop(none)
Pacific/1stNoYes
  • Metro Local: 205, 246
  • LADOT DASH: San Pedro
Street stop(none)
Pacific/3rdNoYes
  • Metro Local: 246
Street stop(none)
Pacific/7thNoYes
  • Metro Local: 246
Street stop(none)
Pacific/11thNoYes
  • Metro Local: 205, 246
Street stop(none)
Pacific/15thNoYes
  • Metro Local: 246
Street stop(none)
Pacific/17thNoYes
  • Metro Local: 246
Street stop(none)
(none)Pacific/19thNoYes
  • Metro Local: 246
Street stop(none)
Pacific/21st StreetNoYes LACMTA Metro Silver Line 950X; San Pedro Layover 2.jpg
  • Metro Local: 246
Street stop(none)

History

This elevated section of the Harbor Transitway carries the Metro Silver Line and the Metro ExpressLanes over the frequently congested Harbor Freeway. Harbor Fwy Upper Deck1.jpg
This elevated section of the Harbor Transitway carries the Metro Silver Line and the Metro ExpressLanes over the frequently congested Harbor Freeway.

The El Monte Busway opened along Interstate 10 in 1973. As the new Harbor Transitway was under construction in the early 1990s, Metro drew up plans to offer a unified bus rapid transit service along both corridors, connected by street running through Downtown Los Angeles; however, eventually the agency chose to increase service on the existing Harbor Freeway express lines and operate each as independent routes, mostly at peak hours. Ridership was radically lower than expected: planners had projected that 65,200 passengers would travel along the Harbor Transitway each day, but after 10 years ridership fell far below those predictions, with the route seeing just 3,000 passengers per weekday in 2004. [10]

In the early 2000s, Metro began depicting the two busways on its Metro Rail maps, and in 2008, Metro once again looked at the concept of linking them with a "Dual Hub Bus Rapid Transit" route. [11] The service was rolled out as the Silver Line in December 2009. Five Metro Express lines were truncated to terminate at either Harbor Gateway Transit Center or the El Monte station, where passengers would transfer to the Silver Line to continue into Downtown Los Angeles. [12]

As part of the Metro ExpressLanes project to convert the El Monte Busway and the Harbor Transitway from lanes reserved for buses and high occupancy vehicles into high occupancy toll lanes that allow solo drivers to pay a toll to use lanes, aging stations were refurbished and frequencies on the route were improved; the most drastic change was the complete reconstruction of El Monte Station which was demolished and entirely rebuilt, reopening in 2012. [13] LADOT added bus priority to traffic lights to improve on-time performance in Downtown Los Angeles in the same year. [14]

In 2015, Metro integrated the last remaining Metro Express route on the Harbor Transitway, the 450X to San Pedro, into the Silver Line. Originally a new express Silver Line service was added that served San Pedro and skipped many Harbor Transitway stations; but by June 2017, San Pedro-bound buses were serving all stations, the increase in speed being deemed not enough to justify increased crowding on local buses. [15]

Current developments

New transitway station at Patsaouras Transit Plaza

New transitway station under construction in July 2017 El Monte Busway stop at Patsaouras Transit Plaza under construction, July 2017.jpg
New transitway station under construction in July 2017

A new transitway station for the Metro Silver Line and other transit buses operating on the El Monte Busway is being built to the south of the Patsaouras Transit Plaza in the median of the El Monte Busway. The project has been planned for years but has been beset by delays and an increasing budget.

When completed, the station will allow buses traveling in both directions on the busway to serve Union Station with a minimum of delay for passengers for other destinations. [16] [17] When the project is completed, a bridge will allow passengers to walk directly from the Patsaouras Transit Plaza to the busway station, thereby eliminating a long, convoluted walk across the Union Station property to the current stop located on the El Monte Busway at Alameda.

Construction on the station started in early 2017. Work on the station was halted on April 24, 2018, when archaeological and Native American artifacts were discovered at the site. Archaeological investigation field work was completed nearly a year later on April 12, 2019. Construction is now expected to resume in May 2019, with construction scheduled to be completed in Summer of 2020. [18]

The project is now estimated to cost $51 million, well more than double the original estimate. The project is funded by tolls collected as a part of the Metro ExpressLanes project and a grant from the U.S. government. [19] [20]

Ridership and reliability

Ridership has steadily grown on the Silver Line each year.

An estimated 6,612 passengers rode the Silver Line each weekday in January 2010 (the first full month of operation) and ridership has grown steadily each year since. [1] Ridership set a new all-time high in February 2016 with an estimated 16,884 passengers riding the line each weekday.

Silver Line Estimated Ridership
YearWeekdaysSaturdaySunday
20107,3022,6411,795
20119,4223,3242,148
201211,6584,3852,941
201312,8425,4683,661
201414,1735,9674,390
201514,7436,0094,378
201615,4785,8254,386
201714,9055,9594,543
201815,0596,3465,127

The on time performance of the Metro Silver Line is currently around 82.4%, defined as being less than 5 minutes behind schedule. [21] That places it far behind the Metro Rail lines (99% on time) and Orange Line (94% on time), but better than an average Metro bus route (80.6% on time). On time performance benefits from the active traffic management system installed as part of the Metro ExpressLanes project.

Incidents

Vehicle strike at the Harbor Freeway Station

Metro Silver Line bus at Harbor Freeway station showing yellow bollards installed after a private vehicle drove onto the platform injuring waiting passengers. Harbor Freeway Metro Green & Silver Lines Station- Picture 1.JPG
Metro Silver Line bus at Harbor Freeway station showing yellow bollards installed after a private vehicle drove onto the platform injuring waiting passengers.

Seven passengers waiting on the northbound platform of the Harbor Freeway Station received critical and serious injuries when a private vehicle entered the station and struck the platform on February 22, 2012. [22] After the accident Metro studied the design of the Silver Line stations and decided to add concrete filled metal bollards at the platform edge of a number of stations during August 2012. [23] The bollards are spaced close enough to stop a car from entering the platform, but have enough room to allow multiple buses to stop at the platform and lower the accessibility ramp.

Fleet

Metro Silver Line 45 foot NABI Compo bus Harbor Gateway Transit Center 08.JPG
Metro Silver Line 45 foot NABI Compo bus

The Metro Silver Line is operated with a fleet of dedicated NABI Metro 45C "CompoBus" coaches. Each 45-foot (14 m) long bus is made of light composite materials and is powered by CNG (Compressed Natural Gas). Coaches are painted or vinyl wrapped with a special grey livery that matches the design of newer Metro Rail vehicles and the coaches used on Metro Orange Line. Most coaches also have a vinyl decal that says "A faster way to Downtown: Metro Silver Line." [24]

See also

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Bus rapid transit Public transport system

Bus rapid transit (BRT), also called a busway or transitway, is a bus-based public transport system designed to improve capacity and reliability relative to a conventional bus system. Typically, a BRT system includes roadways that are dedicated to buses, and gives priority to buses at intersections where buses may interact with other traffic; alongside design features to reduce delays caused by passengers boarding or leaving buses, or purchasing fares. BRT aims to combine the capacity and speed of a metro with the flexibility, lower cost and simplicity of a bus system.

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority public transit operator in Los Angeles County, California

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is an agency that operates public transportation in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It was formed in 1993 out of a merger of the Southern California Rapid Transit District and the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission. It is chartered under state law as a regional transportation planning agency.

Union Station (Los Angeles) Main railway station in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles Union Station (LAUS) is the main railway station in Los Angeles, California, and the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States. Union Station is located on the original site of the Tongva village of Yaanga, which was "believed to have been the largest of the Tongva villages." It opened in May 1939 as the Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal, replacing La Grande Station and Central Station, and celebrated its 80th birthday in 2019.

Harbor Transitway

The Harbor Transitway is an 11-mile (18 km) shared-use bus corridor (transitway) and high-occupany toll roadway that runs in the median of Interstate 110 in Southern California. The main bus service operating on the busway is the Metro Silver Line which was introduced on December 13, 2009. The Metro Silver Line bus rapid transit line runs on the Harbor Transitway from Harbor Gateway Transit Center to Downtown Los Angeles and continues to El Monte Bus Station. The line operates daily with frequent service. In addition to Metro Silver Line, other Metro bus and municipal bus routes also operate on the Harbor Transitway. They include Metro Express lines 442, 460 and 550, Torrance Transit line 4, Gardena Transit line 1X and Orange County Transportation Authority lines 701, 721. Metro Express lines 442 and 550 operate only during weekdays peak hours. Metro Line 442 operates peak a.m. northbound only and southbound p.m. only. Torrance Transit line 4, Gardena Transit line 1X, and Orange County Transportation Authority: 701, 721 operate only during weekday peak hours. Metro Express line 460 operates daily along with the Metro Silver Line. Busway bus lines originate from Downtown Los Angeles and El Monte, with final destinations in Disneyland, and Disney California Adventure Park located in Anaheim, Knott's Berry Farm, Artesia, Fullerton, Gardena, Hawthorne, Huntington Beach, San Pedro and Torrance.

El Monte Busway

The El Monte Busway is an 11-mile (18 km) shared-use express bus corridor (busway) and high occupancy toll lane running west along Interstate 10 from Interstate 605 and El Monte Station in El Monte, California, via busway stations at Cal State LA station and LA County+USC Medical Center station into Downtown Los Angeles and its terminus at Union Station.

Harbor Freeway station Los Angeles Metro Rail station

Harbor Freeway is a transport hub located on the Harbor Transitway, within the Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange of Interstates I-105 and I-110 near Figueroa Street in the neighborhood of South Los Angeles. The station serves the Metro C Line and the Metro J Line and other bus services. It is owned by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

37th Street/USC station Busway station in Los Angeles, California

37th Street/USC is a busway station located in Los Angeles, California. It is situated between the LATTC/Ortho Institute and Slauson stations on the Metro Silver Line, which runs between El Monte, Downtown Los Angeles and San Pedro as part of the Metro Busway system. The station consists of two side platforms in the center of Interstate 110 above 37th Street, adjacent to the University of Southern California campus. The station serves the University Park, Exposition Park and Historic South Central neighborhoods of Los Angeles.

Slauson station (Silver Line) station on the Los Angeles Metro Silver Line

Slauson is a bus rapid transport transitway station for the Metro Silver Line on the Harbor Transitway/(I-110) at the overcrossing of Slauson Avenue in South Los Angeles. The station was re-branded as a station for the Metro Silver Line when the line began service on December 13, 2009. It is managed by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The Slauson Metro Blue Line Station is located approximately 2 miles to the east.

Manchester station (Los Angeles Metro) Los Angeles Metro station

Manchester is a bus rapid transit Metro Silver Line transitway station on the Harbor Transitway/I-110 at its overcrossing of Manchester Avenue in South Los Angeles. The station was re-branded as a station for the Metro Silver Line when the line began service on December 13, 2009. The station is managed by Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The Firestone Station of the Metro Blue Line is located around 3 miles east of the station.

Harbor Gateway Transit Center

Harbor Gateway Transit Center is a Metro Silver Line station and a large bus station at southern end of the Harbor Transitway located in the southwest corner of Interstate 110 and State Route 91 in Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles, close to Carson. The station has 12 bus bays and 980 park and ride spaces, and is the southern terminus of the Metro Silver Line. Many passengers connect to this station from other buses to transfer to the Silver Line. Public restrooms for passengers as began installation in October 2012 and opened in February 2013. The nextrip bus screens were installed in November 2012 and became fully functional in April 2013. The large hub is undergoing station improvements.

Cal State LA station railway station

Cal State LA is a commuter train, bus rapid transit, and local bus station beside Interstate 10 at its namesake campus. It is located in the El Sereno neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles and Eastside region, in southern California. It began service as a bus station in 1973 and a train station in 1994.

El Monte Station

El Monte Station is a large regional bus station in the city of El Monte, California, United States, adjacent to Interstate 10, serving the Metro Silver Line, Foothill Transit, Greyhound Lines, and El Monte Transit. It is the Metro Silver Line's eastern terminus. According to Metro, the station is the largest bus-only transit station west of Chicago.

Silver Streak (bus)

The Silver Streak is a bus rapid transit system operating between Montclair and Los Angeles by Foothill Transit which travels from the Montclair TransCenter via the San Bernardino Freeway to El Monte Bus Station and from there using the El Monte Busway into Downtown Los Angeles.

This article discusses the history of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the regional transportation planning agency for Los Angeles County, California.

Los Angeles Metro Busway

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

The Metro ExpressLanes project is a transport project in Los Angeles County, California that debuted in 2012 to "improve traffic flow and provide enhanced travel options on I-10 and I-110 in Los Angeles County". It includes a range of infrastructure developments on the Harbor Transitway and the El Monte Busway. The existing high-occupancy lanes on these transitways were converted to high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes. Associated works included a major upgrade to El Monte bus station, expansion of Metrolink's Pomona Station, the creation of a new transit station at Union Station and increased park and ride capacity and bike lockers at many transit stations. In addition, new vanpool vehicles and buses will be purchased. The project was delivered by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the California Department of Transportation, and others. The budget was $290 million and construction, which began in 2011, was completed in February 2013. Some transit improvements for the Metro Silver Line are still being worked on.

Patsaouras Transit Plaza

Patsaouras Transit Plaza is a bus station located on the east side of Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles and near the El Monte Busway. The Transit Plaza was originally named the Gateway Transit Plaza, but was named after Nick Patsaouras, former RTD board member who was an advocate for public transportation.

Harbor Beacon Park & Ride park and ride lot served by the Metro Silver Line bus rapid transit line in San Pedro, California

Harbor Beacon Park & Ride is a park and ride lot served by the Metro Silver Line bus rapid transit line in San Pedro, California. The 246 space lot is located at 515 N Beacon St, San Pedro. This stop is served by Silver Line buses in both directions. Northbound Silver Line buses head to Downtown Los Angeles and continues eastward to El Monte via the El Monte Busway and the Harbor Transitway. Southbound Silver Line buses continue southward in San Pedro, California to Pacific/ 21st Street. Prior to the Metro Silver Line San Pedro Extension on December 14, 2015, bus service between Downtown Los Angeles and the Harbor Gateway Transit Center was formerly served by Metro Express Line 450.

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 the 10 freeway 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

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  15. http://thesource.metro.net/2017/06/19/service-changes-go-into-effect-june-25-orange-line-and-silver-line-to-operate-around-the-clock/
  16. "Patsaouras Plaza/El Monte Busway Station". EE&K Architects. Perkins Eastman.
  17. "Patsaouras Plaza Connector (Conceptual Plan)". Flickr. May 12, 2009.
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  19. McCarty Carino, Meghan (January 2, 2017). "Metro starts work on pedestrian bridge at LA's Union Station". KPCC . Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  20. Clarke, Richard (May 2019). "Program Management Major Project Status Report" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority . Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  21. Mendelson, Aaron (February 19, 2015). "How late are Los Angeles buses and trains? Depends which line you're riding". KPCC – Southern California Public Radio. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  22. "Source: Accident on The Harbor Transitway". February 22, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  23. "Harbor Freeway Metro Silver Line Station platform improvements" (PDF). April 20, 2012.
  24. "Silverline bus".

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