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Los Angeles Metro Busway

Bus rapid transit system in Los Angeles County, California

Los Angeles Metro Busway
Summary

Bus rapid transit system in Los Angeles County, California

FieldValue
nameMetro Busway
imageLAMetroLogo.svg
imagesize100px
image219500 Westbound.jpg
caption2G Line
image3K9M J Line (3-2 crop).jpg
caption3J Line
localeLos Angeles County, California
transit_typeBus rapid transit
system_length55.7 mi
lines2
stations29
operatorLos Angeles Metro
map{{switcher
{{maplink-roadfromLos Angeles Metro Busway.map}}
{{Los Angeles Metro Buswayinlineyes}}
began_operation(G Line)
(J Line)
website

| | Show interactive map | [[File:Los Angeles Metro System Map.png|275px]] | Show static map | | Show route diagram (J Line) Metro Busway (formerly known as Metro Liner and Metro Transitway) is a system of bus rapid transit (BRT) routes operated by Los Angeles Metro. The system primarily uses exclusive or semi-exclusive roadways, referred to locally as a busway or transitway. It currently consists of two lines serving 29 stations, not including surface street stops: the G Line in the San Fernando Valley and the J Line, which serves El Monte, Downtown Los Angeles, Gardena, and San Pedro.

The G Line, which operates on a exclusive busway, was the first to open, beginning service on October 29, 2005. The J Line launched on December 13, 2009, utilizing the pre-existing Harbor Transitway and El Monte Busway, semi-exclusive corridors that are used by both buses and as high-occupancy toll lanes under the Metro ExpressLanes program.

Metro Busway services are designed to mimic Metro Rail services, in both the vehicles' design and their operation. Buses feature a silver livery similar to that used on Metro Rail vehicles, offer all-door boarding, and receive signal priority at intersections. Both lines operate on a proof-of-payment system; passengers with valid fare loaded on a TAP card may board through any door. TAP cards can be purchased and reloaded at ticket vending machines located at most stations.

System

Lines

Metro Busway lines are named as part of the naming scheme used for Metro Rail lines, however, the colored icons for the Metro Busway lines are squares instead of the circles used for Metro Rail lines.

Two Metro Busway lines operate in Los Angeles County:

Line nameOpeningLengthStationsTermini
200517.7 mi17(west)
(east)
200938 mi12(north)
(south)
(south)

Corridors

The elevated viaduct of the Harbor Transitway that the Metro J Line operates on.

These services operate on three primary corridors (in addition to city streets, where necessary):

  • G Line Busway
  • El Monte Busway
  • Harbor Transitway/Harbor Freeway

History

Main article: History of Los Angeles Metro Rail and Busway

Metro J Line bus arriving at Los Angeles General Medical Center station on the El Monte Busway

The first busway in the Los Angeles area was the El Monte Busway, which opened in January 1973. The El Monte Busway, which runs parallel to the San Bernardino Freeway, offered an 18-minute trip between El Monte and Downtown Los Angeles, compared to 35–45 minutes in the general-purpose lanes. The facility was a success with about 32,000 boardings per day on lines that used the busway as of November 2000.

Metro J Line bus stopped at Slauson station on the Harbor Transitway

The area's second busway, the Harbor Transitway, opened in 1996 offering a new connection between Gardena and Downtown Los Angeles. Ridership on the Harbor Transitway was radically lower than expected: Caltrans had projected that 65,200 passengers would travel along the Harbor Transitway each day, but after 10 years, the facility had only attracted 3,000 passengers per weekday.

A third busway to be built in the region came after community revolt against a proposed light rail line in the San Fernando Valley. Los Angeles Metro acquired the Southern Pacific Burbank Branch right of way in 1991, intending to utilize the corridor for light rail trains. Neighbors successfully petitioned lawmakers to pass a ban on utilizing transit tax revenue for anything other than an extension of the existing subway into the San Fernando Valley. However, the passage of Proposition A in 1998 cut off funding for any subway projects. With both subway and light rail now legally prohibited, but with growing political pressure to utilize the former railbed, the last available option was a dedicated busway. This proposal was also opposed by neighborhood groups; however, since the previous law did not prohibit it, it moved forward. The busway opened as the Orange Line (now G Line) on October 29, 2005. The line was a success, attracting nearly 23,000 boardings per day in the first year it was open, and nearly 30,000 boardings per day by 2013. The line is so popular, that in 2014 users petitioned lawmakers to repeal the ban on light rail, and Metro now plans to convert the busway to light rail by 2050.

After the successful launch of the busway in the San Fernando Valley, Metro decided to rebrand the county's other busways in an attempt to increase awareness. In March 2006, Metro decided that the Harbor Transitway would be colored bronze and the El Monte Busway would be colored silver on Metro's maps and the two would be marketed as a "Combined Transitway Service." No changes were made in the operations of the bus routes operated on either facility. The changes were criticized as being difficult to understand for irregular and new riders.

In 2009, Metro returned to plan it first proposed in 1993 and created a new bus rapid transit service called the Silver Line (now J Line) utilizing both the Harbor Transitway and the El Monte Busway. The new higher frequency service would be funded by converting both corridors into high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, to be branded as the Metro ExpressLanes. The bus route began operations on December 13, 2009. Since the J Line's start, Metro has refurbished the aging stations along both the Harbor Transitway and the El Monte Busway, bringing them closer to the amenities provided along the G Line's busway. The plan has led to higher ridership along the corridor, especially along the Harbor Transitway.

On June 30, 2012, the busway used by the G Line buses was extended northward to the Chatsworth Metrolink station, continuing to follow the former Southern Pacific Burbank Branch right-of-way owned by Metro.

The Siliver Line and Orange Line were renamed in 2020, as part of a systemwide rebranding. The Orange Line was renamed the G Line, and the Silver Line became the J Line.

The following table shows the timeline of BRT expansions:

Segment descriptionDate openedLine(s)Endpoints# of new
stationsBusway
length
(miles)
Metro Orange Line initial segmentOctober 29, 2005–1314
Canoga stationDecember 27, 20061−
Metro Silver Line initial segmentDecember 13, 2009–926
stationDecember 12, 20101−
Metro Orange Line Chatsworth ExtensionJune 30, 2012Canoga –44
Metro Silver Line San Pedro ExtensionDecember 13, 2015Harbor Gateway Transit Center – (Pacific/21st Street)28
Warner Center ShuttleJune 24, 2018Warner Center station removed-1−
TOTAL2944

Notes:

Future

Metro plans to add additional Metro Busway lines; some projects may have their timelines accelerated under its Twenty-eight by '28 initiative.

On March 17, 2021, Metro staff came forward with five corridors that the agency could pursue to have bus rapid transit implemented in them.

ConceptDescriptionConstructionOperationalStatusRef.
North San Fernando Valley Transit CorridorThis project was supposed to be a new east-west bus rapid transit (BRT) route connecting Metro's Chatsworth's Metrolink Station to the North Hollywood station in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. As of May 2022, Metro has dropped the single BRT line approach and instead focuses on improving local bus service via peak hour bus lanes on Roscoe Boulevard and signal priority on seven other lines. The project also adds around 400 bus shelters and 80 bus bulbs throughout the San Fernando Valley. Five major bus stops will receive key improvements (two at CSUN), including larger shelters, more seating, new real-time and wayfinding information, and better lighting. Project implementation is expected to begin in fall 2023 and be completed by winter 2025.20232025Under Construction
North Hollywood to Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit ProjectCreates a new east–west BRT route connecting Metro's Memorial Park station in Pasadena to the North Hollywood station in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley with stops in Eagle Rock, Glendale and Burbank. Metro currently has Measure M and SB-1 state funds to create the line. Project is set to cost under $267 million to construct. The BRT is expected to begin construction by 2024 and open by 2027 with approximately 22 stations. Part of the Twenty-eight by '28 initiative.20242027Pre Constructionurl=http://media.metro.net/projects_studies/images/final-2009-LRTP.pdftitle=2009 Long Range Transportation Planpublisher=Los Angeles Metropage=31year=2010access-date=January 9, 2016}}
Vermont Transit CorridorCreate a new north–south subway route down Vermont Avenue extending the HRT B Line at the Wilshire/Vermont Station south, to 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 transit, as the Vermont corridor is Metro's second busiest public transportation corridor.20202028Three LPA analysis funded / Pending Draft EIR for BRTurl=https://la.curbed.com/2018/5/7/17317100/los-angeles-subway-vermont-railtitle=A subway on Vermont? Metro is considering it - Curbed LAdate=7 May 2018publisher=La.curbed.comaccess-date=February 15, 2020}}
G LRT conversionConverting the current G Line Bus Rapid Transit route into LRT. Made possible after the 2014 repeal of state legislation prohibiting LRT along the G Line right of way, which had been enacted due to neighborhood opposition in the 1990s. Bridges along the busway are designed to LRT standards, but the project would require substantial service disruption as the roadway is replaced by rails and catenary wire installed. Some Valley politicians and pressure groups have endorsed the proposal; critics have suggested funding would be better spent on adding new lines along other corridors in the Valley. Long-term plans include complete conversion in phases with full replacement by 2057. Metro began BRT upgrades in 2018 by adding more grade crossing gates, two new viaducts at Van Nuys Blvd and Sepulveda Blvd, reducing travel time by 20%.20512057No current funds available for LRT until 2051first=Stevelast=Hymonurl=http://thesource.metro.net/2015/10/22/gold-line-to-azusa-to-open-march-5-ten-things-to-know-about-the-foothill-extension/title=Transportation headlines, Wednesday, July 9work=The Sourcepublisher=Los Angeles Metrodate=July 9, 2014access-date=January 19, 2016}}
Lincoln Blvd BRT/LRT LineExtend the LRT 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.20432047No LPA or EIR conductedurl=https://thesource.metro.net/2016/11/08/measure-m-project-descriptions/title=Measure M project descriptions - The Sourcepublisher=Thesource.metro.netdate=November 8, 2016access-date=February 15, 2020}}

References

References

  1. (June 2023). "Facts At A Glance". [[Los Angeles Metro]].
  2. (January 24, 2012). "40 Years Ago This Week: Groundbreaking For El Monte Busway — California's First Multi-Modal System & The World's First Bus Rapid Transit Station".
  3. Shuit, Douglas P.. (November 20, 2000). "Harbor Transitway Has Everything but Riders". Los Angeles Times.
  4. (7 April 1996). "Tracks to the Past". Los Angeles Times.
  5. Broverman, Neal. (February 4, 2014). "State Could be About to Repeal Ban on Light Rail in the Valley". LA Curbed.
  6. "Public utilities code section 130250-130265".
  7. "Legal arguments against the busway".
  8. (February 2020). "Metro Ridership". [[Los Angeles Metro]].
  9. Broverman, Neal. (July 8, 2014). "It's Now Legal to Build Light Rail in the San Fernando Valley". LA Curbed.
  10. (July 17, 2018). "LA's Metro says improvements are in the works for the Orange Line, with light rail in mind".
  11. Emsden, Maya. (March 16, 2006). "Approve color designations for Metro lines and fixed guideways". [[Los Angeles Metro]].
  12. Freemark, Yonah. (December 10, 2009). "Los Angeles Integrates Service on Two Busways, with Plans to Implement Congestion Pricing". The Transport Politic.
  13. (August 1993). "Dual Hub High Occupancy Vehicle Transitway Report". Los Angeles Metro Scheduling and Operations Planning Staff.
  14. (January 18, 2012). "Item 44 Program Management Project Budget and Schedule Status". Metro.
  15. Fonseca, Ryan. (2020-01-08). "LA Metro's New Train And Bus Names Are Official. Time To Learn Your Transit ABCs".
  16. (March 17, 2021). "Metro Staff Recommend Five Corridors". Urbanize.
  17. "North San Fernando Valley Bus Rapid Transit Improvements News". Urbanize.la.
  18. "North San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor – Project Update Summer 2022".
  19. "North San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor".
  20. (2010). "2009 Long Range Transportation Plan". [[Los Angeles Metro]].
  21. Sharp, Steven. (October 1, 2018). "Planning for North Hollywood - Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit Line Moves Forward". Urbanize LA.
  22. (September 25, 2018). "Community meetings begin this month for NoHo to Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit project - The Source". Thesource.metro.net.
  23. "That Rapid Bus Line from North Hollywood to Pasadena is Officially Happening".
  24. (March 29, 2023). "Update on LA Metro’s North Hollywood to Pasadena BRT project".
  25. (7 May 2018). "A subway on Vermont? Metro is considering it - Curbed LA". La.curbed.com.
  26. Hymon, Steve. (July 9, 2014). "Transportation headlines, Wednesday, July 9". [[Los Angeles Metro]].
  27. (October 12, 2018). "Metro breaks ground on Orange Line Improvements Project - The Source". Thesource.metro.net.
  28. (November 8, 2016). "Measure M project descriptions - The Source". Thesource.metro.net.
Wikipedia Source

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