Los Angeles County Metro Rail
Encyclopedia
Metro Rail is the rapid transit
rail system consisting of five separate lines (the red, purple, blue, green, and gold lines) serving 70 stations in the Los Angeles County, California area. The new Expo line is due to enter service in early 2012. It connects with the Metro liner bus rapid transit
system (the orange line and silver line) and also with the Metrolink commuter rail
systems. The system, which has a daily weekday ridership of approximately 350,000 , is owned and operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
(Metro) and started service in 1990. It has been extended significantly since that time and several further extensions are either in the works or being considered.
It is the indirect descendant of the Pacific Electric Red Car
and Los Angeles Railway Yellow Car
lines, which operated between the late 19th century and the 1960s.
.) Metro Rail lines are currently named after colors, and these colors are used to distinguish the lines on Metro's maps. However, Metro also uses colors for its Metro Liner
services (which are actually bus services operating in transitways). And some future Metro Rail lines (in particular, the Expo and Crenshaw Lines) have no colors assigned to them yet.
Five Metro Rail lines currently operate in Los Angeles County:
The Red and Purple Lines follow a fully underground route (subway), and the Green Line follows a fully elevated route. The Blue and Gold Line routes run in a mix of environments, including at-grade street running, at-grade ROW, elevated, and underground.
The two heavy-rail lines (Red and Purple) share right-of-way between and . Currently, none of the three light-rail lines share right-of-way, although they use compatible technologies. Future system expansions are expected to utilize shared light-rail rights-of-way.
The following table shows Metro fares, effective August 1, 2011 (in US dollars):
Fare collection is based on a proof of payment system. At least two fare machines are located outside each station. Fare inspectors and deputy sheriffs police the system and cite individuals without fares.
(or TAP Card). This card, similar in technology to London's popular Oyster card
, was intended to simplify fare collection and reduce costs. In 2009, paper monthly passes were eliminated, and replaced with the TAP Card.
In addition, Metro began installing ticket barriers (fare gates) in 2008, at all subway stations, select light rail stations and all future stations. It was estimated that Metro lost 5.5 million USD a year because of the honor system method. The barriers are intended to eliminate these losses. In addition, the fare gates are intended to improve security at all the stations, provide better ridership statistics and create the ability to have zone fares.
Implementation of both programs (the TAP program and the fare gate program) has turned out to be expensive ($154 million in total, so far) and problematic.
, Boston
, and Philadelphia, but roughly the same ridership as the Washington Metro
, a much larger heavy rail system.
Metro's light rail system is the third busiest LRT system in the United States by ridership, with 160,464 average weekday boardings during September 2010. Additionally, the Blue Line is the second largest light rail line by ridership in the United States with an average weekday ridership of 82,840, after the Boston Green Line
's daily ridership of 235,300, though the Boston Green Line has four outbound termini, so that its 25 miles (40.2 km) of track service a larger lateral area than the Blue Line's 22 miles (35.4 km), but a shorter length.
s of up to magnitude
7.5.
(Red Cars) and Los Angeles Railway
(Yellow Cars). The rail system was dismantled piecemeal in the years after World War II by a network of holding companies and intermediaries owned by a General Motors
-led consortium as part of an effort to sell more buses and cars in what became known as the Great American streetcar scandal. Streetcar use went into a steep decline, and, by 1963, all Los Angeles streetcar lines were closed down in favor of using automobiles on an extensive freeway system. In the decades that followed, the immense volume of traffic generated by the automobiles of 14 million people in the greater metropolitan area eventually led to renewed support for mass transit.
(LACMTA, now known as Metro).
The LACMTA began construction of the initial lines throughout the 1980s using revenues from a voter-approved increase in sales tax.
* Segment opened as part of the Red Line corridor. The Purple Line was not defined as a distinct line until 2006.
** Segment also included significant expansion of an existing station: this was not counted as a new station.
Metro Rail maintains two distinct systems of rail: a light rail system and a heavy rail system. The heavy rail and light rail systems are incompatible with each other, despite the fact that they both utilize standard gauge
track ( between rails). Metro's heavy rail lines are powered by third rail
, whereas its light rail lines are powered by overhead catenary lines
. Also, the widths of the cars are different, and platforms are designed to match the separate car widths.
, and are monitored by security personnel via closed-circuit television
cameras.
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
rail system consisting of five separate lines (the red, purple, blue, green, and gold lines) serving 70 stations in the Los Angeles County, California area. The new Expo line is due to enter service in early 2012. It connects with the Metro liner bus rapid transit
Metro Liner (Los Angeles County)
Metro Liner refers to bus rapid transit services operated by Los Angeles County Metro which operate on dedicated or shared-use busways.Metro Liner is designed to mimic the Metro Rail light rail services both in the vehicle's design and their operation...
system (the orange line and silver line) and also with the Metrolink commuter rail
Metrolink (Southern California)
Metrolink is a commuter rail system serving Los Angeles and the surrounding area of Southern California; it currently consists of six lines and 55 stations using of track....
systems. The system, which has a daily weekday ridership of approximately 350,000 , is owned and operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is the California state-chartered regional transportation planning agency and public transportation operating agency for the County of Los Angeles formed in 1993 out of a merger of the Southern California Rapid Transit District and the...
(Metro) and started service in 1990. It has been extended significantly since that time and several further extensions are either in the works or being considered.
It is the indirect descendant of the Pacific Electric Red Car
Pacific Electric Railway
The Pacific Electric Railway , also known as the Red Car system, was a mass transit system in Southern California using streetcars, light rail, and buses...
and Los Angeles Railway Yellow Car
Los Angeles Railway
The Los Angeles Railway was a system of streetcars that operated in central Los Angeles, California and the immediate surrounding neighborhoods between from 1901 and 1963. Except for two short funicular railways it operated on tracks...
lines, which operated between the late 19th century and the 1960s.
Current system
Lines
In Los Angeles Metro terminology, 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 nomenclatureNew York City Subway nomenclature
New York City Subway nomenclature describes terminology used in the New York City Subway system as derived from railroading practice, historical origins of the system, and engineering, publicity, and legal usage...
.) Metro Rail lines are currently named after colors, and these colors are used to distinguish the lines on Metro's maps. However, Metro also uses colors for its Metro Liner
Metro Liner (Los Angeles County)
Metro Liner refers to bus rapid transit services operated by Los Angeles County Metro which operate on dedicated or shared-use busways.Metro Liner is designed to mimic the Metro Rail light rail services both in the vehicle's design and their operation...
services (which are actually bus services operating in transitways). And some future Metro Rail lines (in particular, the Expo and Crenshaw Lines) have no colors assigned to them yet.
Five Metro Rail lines currently operate in Los Angeles County:
- The Metro Red Line is a heavy rail subway line that connects Downtown Los AngelesDowntown Los AngelesDowntown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area...
to , passing through several neighborhoods in Hollywood and Mid-WilshireMid-WilshireMid-Wilshire is a district in the City of Los Angeles, California. It is part of the Wilshire region.It mostly encompasses the area bounded by La Cienega Boulevard to the west, Melrose Avenue to the north, Hoover Street to the east and the Santa Monica Freeway to the south, although some...
.
- The Metro Purple Line is a heavy rail subway line running between Downtown Los AngelesDowntown Los AngelesDowntown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area...
and KoreatownKoreatown, Los Angeles, CaliforniaKoreatown is a neighborhood in the Mid-Wilshire district of the city of Los Angeles, California known for its concentration of Korean American people and institutions...
/Mid-WilshireMid-WilshireMid-Wilshire is a district in the City of Los Angeles, California. It is part of the Wilshire region.It mostly encompasses the area bounded by La Cienega Boulevard to the west, Melrose Avenue to the north, Hoover Street to the east and the Santa Monica Freeway to the south, although some...
.
- The Metro Blue Line is a light railLight railLight rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
line running between Downtown Los AngelesDowntown Los AngelesDowntown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area...
' Financial District and Downtown Long BeachLong Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. In between, the line serves several neighborhoods and cities in the county's south-central region, including Huntington ParkHuntington Park-In the United States:* Huntington Park, California* Huntington Park , a park in Newport News, Virginia* Huntington Park , a minor league baseball stadium in Columbus, Ohio...
, South Gate, WillowbrookWillowbrook, CaliforniaWillowbrook is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California. The population was 35,983 at the 2010 census, up from 34,138 at the 2000 census. The community is located near the southeast edge of, and is often considered part of, South Los Angeles...
and ComptonCompton-Canada:* Compton, Quebec* Compton County, Quebec* Compton , a former Quebec provincial electoral district now part of Mégantic-Compton* Compton , a former Quebec federal electoral district-England:...
.
- The Metro Green Line is a fully elevated light railLight railLight rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
line running between Redondo BeachRedondo Beach, CaliforniaRedondo Beach is one of the three Beach Cities located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 66,748 at the 2010 census, up from 63,261 at the 2000 census. The city is located in the South Bay region of the greater Los Angeles area.Redondo Beach was originally part of...
and NorwalkNorwalk, CaliforniaNorwalk is a suburban city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 105,549 at the 2010 census, up from 103,298 at the 2000 census, making it the 58th most populous city in California and the 255th nationally....
. In between, the line serves several neighborhoods and cities, including El SegundoEl Segundo, CaliforniaEl Segundo is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located on the Santa Monica Bay, it was incorporated on January 18, 1917, and is one of the Beach Cities of Los Angeles County and part of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments...
, HawthorneHawthorne, CaliforniaHawthorne is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California. The city at the 2010 census had a population of 84,293, up from 84,112 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, and LakewoodLakewood, CaliforniaLakewood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 80,048 at the 2010 census. It is bordered by Long Beach on the west and south, Bellflower on the north, Cerritos on the northeast, Cypress on the east, and Hawaiian Gardens on the southeast. Major thoroughfares...
. It offers indirect access to Los Angeles International AirportLos Angeles International AirportLos Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
via a shuttle bus from the Aviation/LAX station.
- The Metro Gold Line is a light railLight railLight rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
line that runs between East Los AngelesEast Los Angeles, CaliforniaEast Los Angeles is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States...
and PasadenaPasadena, CaliforniaPasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, passing through Boyle HeightsBoyle Heights, Los Angeles, CaliforniaBoyle Heights is a neighborhood east of Downtown Los Angeles on the East Side of Los Angeles. For much of the twentieth century, Boyle Heights was a gateway for new immigrants. This resulted in diverse demographics, including Jewish American, Japanese American and Mexican American populations,...
, Little Tokyo, Downtown Los AngelesDowntown Los AngelesDowntown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area...
, Highland ParkHighland Park, Los Angeles, CaliforniaHighland Park is a neighborhood in Northeast Los Angeles.-Geography:Highland Park is located along the Arroyo Seco. It is situated within what was once Rancho San Rafael of the Spanish / Mexican era...
and South PasadenaSouth Pasadena, CaliforniaSouth Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 25,619, up from 24,292 at the 2000 census. It is located in in the West San Gabriel Valley...
.
The Red and Purple Lines follow a fully underground route (subway), and the Green Line follows a fully elevated route. The Blue and Gold Line routes run in a mix of environments, including at-grade street running, at-grade ROW, elevated, and underground.
The two heavy-rail lines (Red and Purple) share right-of-way between and . Currently, none of the three light-rail lines share right-of-way, although they use compatible technologies. Future system expansions are expected to utilize shared light-rail rights-of-way.
Hours of operation
All Metro Rail lines run regularly between 5am and midnight, seven days a week. Limited service on particular segments is provided after midnight and before 5am. There is no rail service between 2am and 3:30am. Service operates every 5-10 minutes during the peak period, every 10-15 minutes during middays and during the day on weekends, and every 20 minutes during the evening until the close of service. Exact times vary from route to route.Fares and fare collection
The standard Metro base fare applies for all trips. Transfers between lines are not free: each line requires a separate fare.The following table shows Metro fares, effective August 1, 2011 (in US dollars):
| Fare Type | Regular | Senior /Disabled /Medicare |
|---|---|---|
| Base Fare | $1.50 | $.55 |
| Tokens | $1.50 | |
| Metro Day Pass | $5.00 | $1.80 |
| Weekly Pass | $20.00 | |
| Student Fare Card (with monthly stamp) | $24.00 | |
| College/Vocational (with monthly stamp) | $36.00 | |
| Monthly Pass | $75.00 | $14.00 |
| Metro-to-Muni Transfer | $.35 | $.10 |
Fare collection is based on a proof of payment system. At least two fare machines are located outside each station. Fare inspectors and deputy sheriffs police the system and cite individuals without fares.
Transit Access Pass (TAP) and fare gates
Metro is moving toward a new system of electronic fare collection using a stored value smartcard called the Transit Access PassTransit Access Pass
The Transit Access Pass card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within Los Angeles County, California...
(or TAP Card). This card, similar in technology to London's popular Oyster card
Oyster card
The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems across London including London Underground, buses, the Docklands...
, was intended to simplify fare collection and reduce costs. In 2009, paper monthly passes were eliminated, and replaced with the TAP Card.
In addition, Metro began installing ticket barriers (fare gates) in 2008, at all subway stations, select light rail stations and all future stations. It was estimated that Metro lost 5.5 million USD a year because of the honor system method. The barriers are intended to eliminate these losses. In addition, the fare gates are intended to improve security at all the stations, provide better ridership statistics and create the ability to have zone fares.
Implementation of both programs (the TAP program and the fare gate program) has turned out to be expensive ($154 million in total, so far) and problematic.
Ridership
As of September 2010, the combined Metro Red and Purple lines averaged a weekday ridership of 148,214, making it the ninth busiest rapid transit system in the United States. Taking overall track length into consideration, Metro Rail's heavy rail lines transport 9,348 passengers per route mile, making this the ninth busiest system per length. This is still far lower ridership than transit systems of New York CityNew York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
, Boston
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, often referred to as the MBTA or simply The T, is the public operator of most bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry systems in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Officially a "body politic and corporate, and a political subdivision" of the...
, and Philadelphia, but roughly the same ridership as the Washington Metro
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail, is the rapid transit system in Washington, D.C., United States, and its surrounding suburbs. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , which also operates Metrobus service under the Metro name...
, a much larger heavy rail system.
Metro's light rail system is the third busiest LRT system in the United States by ridership, with 160,464 average weekday boardings during September 2010. Additionally, the Blue Line is the second largest light rail line by ridership in the United States with an average weekday ridership of 82,840, after the Boston Green Line
Green Line (MBTA)
The Green Line is a streetcar system run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in the Boston, Massachusetts area of the United States. It is the oldest line of Boston's subway, which is known locally as the 'T'. The Green Line runs underground downtown and on the surface in outlying...
's daily ridership of 235,300, though the Boston Green Line has four outbound termini, so that its 25 miles (40.2 km) of track service a larger lateral area than the Blue Line's 22 miles (35.4 km), but a shorter length.
Stations
The unmanned stations include at least two ticket machines, wayfinding displays, and bench seating. Surface stations are designed with shade canopies. Many suburban stations also have free or reserved parking available and some have bike storage available. Metro Rail stations are not staffed and do not yet have operating fare gates. The majority of stations are either at ground level or elevated, but there is also a significant number of them underground. Each station has a unique design with an interior design reflecting local culture and/or the function of transit in society. Both subway stations and tunnels are designed to resist earthquakeEarthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s of up to magnitude
Richter magnitude scale
The expression Richter magnitude scale refers to a number of ways to assign a single number to quantify the energy contained in an earthquake....
7.5.
Background
For over five decades, Southern California had one of the most extensive rail transit networks in the world, with over 1000 miles (1,609.3 km) of track operated by the Pacific Electric RailwayPacific Electric Railway
The Pacific Electric Railway , also known as the Red Car system, was a mass transit system in Southern California using streetcars, light rail, and buses...
(Red Cars) and Los Angeles Railway
Los Angeles Railway
The Los Angeles Railway was a system of streetcars that operated in central Los Angeles, California and the immediate surrounding neighborhoods between from 1901 and 1963. Except for two short funicular railways it operated on tracks...
(Yellow Cars). The rail system was dismantled piecemeal in the years after World War II by a network of holding companies and intermediaries owned by a General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
-led consortium as part of an effort to sell more buses and cars in what became known as the Great American streetcar scandal. Streetcar use went into a steep decline, and, by 1963, all Los Angeles streetcar lines were closed down in favor of using automobiles on an extensive freeway system. In the decades that followed, the immense volume of traffic generated by the automobiles of 14 million people in the greater metropolitan area eventually led to renewed support for mass transit.
Planning
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. In 1976, the State of California formed the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission to coordinate the SCRTD's efforts with those of various municipal transit systems in the area and to take over planning of countywide transportation systems. The SCRTD continued planning of the Metrorail Subway (the Red Line), while the LACTC developed plans for the light rail system. After decades, the wheels of government began to move forward, and construction began on the Los Angeles County Metro Rail system in 1985. In 1988, the two agencies formed a third entity under which all rail construction would be consolidated. In 1993, the SCRTD and the LACTC were finally merged into the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation AuthorityLos Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is the California state-chartered regional transportation planning agency and public transportation operating agency for the County of Los Angeles formed in 1993 out of a merger of the Southern California Rapid Transit District and the...
(LACMTA, now known as Metro).
The LACMTA began construction of the initial lines throughout the 1980s using revenues from a voter-approved increase in sales tax.
Operation
The Blue line finally opened on 14 July 1990, some 27 years after the final streetcar line closed, and has since been developed to its current size. The following table shows the timeline of this expansion:| Segment description | Date opened | Line(s) | Endpoints | # of new stations |
Length (miles) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Line Initial Segment | July 14, 1990 | Blue | to | 17 | 19.1 |
| Blue Line Long Beach Loop | September 1, 1990 | Blue | to | 4 | 2.2 |
| Blue Line To Financial District | February 15, 1991 | Blue | to | 1 | 0.7 |
| Red Line MOS-1 | January 30, 1993 | Red, Purple* | to | 4** | 4.4 |
| Green Line | August 12, 1995 | Green | to | 13** | 20.0 |
| Red Line MOS-2 West | May 26, 1996 | Red, Purple* | to | 3 | 2.0 |
| Red Line MOS-2 North | June 12, 1999 | Red | to | 5 | 4.7 |
| Red Line MOS-3 | June 24, 2000 | Red | to | 3 | 6.3 |
| Gold Line To Pasadena | July 27, 2003 | Gold | to | 12 | 13.7 |
| Gold Line Eastside Extension | November 15, 2009 | Gold | to | 8 | 6.0 |
| 70 | 79.1 |
Future
Metro has worked over the past several years 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. Measure R, a countywide incrememental sales tax increase passed by voters in 2008, provides funding for many of the highest priority projects in the LRTP.Current and priority projects
The following rail projects have been given high priority by Metro. They all appear in the LRTP constrained plan, and all have funding earmarked from Measure R (except Expo Phase 1, which had already been funded before the measure passed).| Project Name | Description | Earliest Measure R Funds |
Expected Completion |
Status (November 2011) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expo Line Phase 1 Expo Phase 1 (Los Angeles Metro) Expo Phase 1 is a current construction project for the first segment of Metro Expo line, the newest line on the Metro Rail System. and will connect Downtown Los Angeles to Culver City, mostly along the Exposition Boulevard right-of-way. The project is sponsored by the Los Angeles County... |
Creates the initial light-rail route to be used by the Metro Expo Line, from Downtown Los Angeles to Culver City. | n/a | Jan. 2012, Mar. 2012 | Complete. Pre-Revenue Testing |
| Gold Line Foothill Extension Gold Line Foothill Extension (Los Angeles Metro) The Gold Line Foothill Extension is a planned extension of the Metro Gold Line light-rail corridor from its current terminus in Pasadena, California, east through the "Foothill Cities" of Los Angeles County. The plan is currently being implemented as two separate mass-transit projects, known as... Phase 2a |
Extends the Metro Gold Line light rail corridor from its current terminus in East Pasadena to the eastern edge of Azusa. | 2010-12 | 2015 | under construction |
| Expo Line Phase 2 Expo Phase 2 (Los Angeles Metro) The Metro Rail Exposition Corridor, Phase 2 is a mass-transit project to extend the light-rail Expo corridor as part of the Los Angeles County Metro Rail System. The corridor extension will connect Culver City to Santa Monica, mostly along the Exposition Boulevard right-of-way... |
Extends the Metro Expo Line light rail corridor westward from Culver City to Santa Monica. | 2010-12 | 2015 | under construction |
| Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor Crenshaw Corridor (Los Angeles Metro) The Crenshaw Corridor is a mass-transit project to construct a new light-rail corridor through southwest Los Angeles. The corridor will run generally north-south and will connect the Crenshaw District and Leimert Park to Inglewood and LAX... |
Creates a new light-rail route to be used by the Metro Crenshaw Line, from Crenshaw/Expo (Metro Expo Line) to Aviation/Imperial (Metro Green Line). | 2010-12 | 2016 | pre-construction |
| Regional Connector | Creates a new light-rail route through Downtown Los Angeles, linking the Metro Blue Line, Gold Line and Expo Line. | 2014-16 | 2019 | Final EIR Environmental impact statement An environmental impact statement , under United States environmental law, is a document required by the National Environmental Policy Act for certain actions "significantly affecting the quality of the human environment". An EIS is a tool for decision making... in progress |
| Westside Subway Extension Westside Subway Extension (Los Angeles Metro) The Westside Subway Extension is a proposed mass-transit rail project to create a new heavy rail subway corridor in Los Angeles County, extending the Metro Purple Line from its current terminus at to the Westside... |
Extends the Metro Purple Line west along Wilshire to Westwood. | 2013-15 | 2022 | Final EIR Environmental impact statement An environmental impact statement , under United States environmental law, is a document required by the National Environmental Policy Act for certain actions "significantly affecting the quality of the human environment". An EIS is a tool for decision making... in progress |
| Gold Line Eastside Phase 2 Corridor | Extends the Metro Gold Line from its current Eastside terminus eastward. | 2022-24 | 2035 | Draft EIR Environmental impact statement An environmental impact statement , under United States environmental law, is a document required by the National Environmental Policy Act for certain actions "significantly affecting the quality of the human environment". An EIS is a tool for decision making... in progress |
| Green Line Extension to South Bay | Extends the Metro Green Line from its current terminus in Redondo Beach toward the South Bay. | 2028-30 | 2035 | Draft EIR Environmental impact statement An environmental impact statement , under United States environmental law, is a document required by the National Environmental Policy Act for certain actions "significantly affecting the quality of the human environment". An EIS is a tool for decision making... in progress |
| West Santa Ana Branch Corridor West Santa Ana Branch The West Santa Ana Branch is a former streetcar right-of-way and potential transit corridor connecting Los Angeles County and Orange County in Southern California. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority owns the part of the ROW in L.A. County, and the Orange County... |
Creates a new mass transit route connecting the Gateway Cities to Orange County. | 2015-17 | 2027 | alternatives analysis in progress |
| Gold Line Foothill Extension Gold Line Foothill Extension (Los Angeles Metro) The Gold Line Foothill Extension is a planned extension of the Metro Gold Line light-rail corridor from its current terminus in Pasadena, California, east through the "Foothill Cities" of Los Angeles County. The plan is currently being implemented as two separate mass-transit projects, known as... Phase 2b |
Extends the Metro Gold Line light rail corridor from the Phase 2a terminus in Azusa to Montclair, just past 0.6 mile (0.965604 km) of the county line in San Bernardino County San Bernardino County, California San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census... . |
2013 | 2019 | scoping in progress |
| Green Line Extension to LAX | Extends the Metro Green Line northwest to LAX. | 2010-12 | 2028 | not started |
| Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor The Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor is a planned transit corridor connecting the Los Angeles Basin to the San Fernando Valley. Project alternatives along the four mile section of the I-405 include light rail option along the corridor; providing bus-only on- and off-ramps for bus rapid transit... |
Creates a new rapid-transit route connecting the west San Fernando Valley to the Westside. | 2030-32 | 2039 | not started |
Other expansion concepts
The following proposed line/system expansions do not currently have funding or high priority in Metro's long-range plans. (More information on each project can be found in the references.)| Concept Name | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pink Line (Originally HRT) | Create new LRT connecting Metro Red Line's Hollywood/Highland station to Metro Purple Line, via Santa Monica Boulevard and West Hollywood. Possible future extension south of Wilshire on San Vicente Boulevard, connecting to a future Crenshaw Line that would run north of Exposition Boulevard. | Metro's Westside Subway Extension Westside Subway Extension (Los Angeles Metro) The Westside Subway Extension is a proposed mass-transit rail project to create a new heavy rail subway corridor in Los Angeles County, extending the Metro Purple Line from its current terminus at to the Westside... meetings. |
| Gold Line Ontario Extension | Further extend Metro Gold Line eastward to L.A./Ontario International Airport Ontario International Airport LA/Ontario International Airport , formerly Ontario International Airport, is a public airport located east of the central business district of Ontario, a city in San Bernardino County, California, USA. This airport is owned and operated by the Los Angeles World Airports , an agency of the city... , via Upland Upland, California Upland is a city in San Bernardino County, California, located at an elevation of 1,242 feet . As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 73,732, up from 68,393 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated on May 15, 1906, after previously being named North Ontario.-History and culture:Upland... . |
Metro Gold Line Foothill Construction Authority, GoldLine2Ontario.com |
| Red Line Eastern Extension | Extend Metro Red Line (or Purple Line) from eastern terminus, south along the river to either Arts District or the future "Cleantech" corridor, and possibly across the river along Whittier Blvd. to the Eastside. | |
| Red Line To Burbank Airport | Extend Metro Red Line from 3.2 miles (5.1 km) northwestern terminus to Burbank Airport. | |
| Lincoln Blvd Line | Extend Green Line northwest to Westchester, Marina Del Rey or Santa Monica. | |
| Green Line To Norwalk Metrolink | Extend Green Line east to Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs (Metrolink station) Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs (Metrolink station) The Norwalk/Sante Fe Springs Metrolink Station is a Metrolink rail station in the city of Norwalk, California. It is served by Metrolink's 91 Line from Los Angeles Union Station to Riverside and Metrolink's Orange County Line running from Los Angeles Union Station to Oceanside. On weekdays, this... . |
|
| Vermont Corridor Subway | Create new subway down Vermont Avenue, connecting Metro Red Line and Purple Line to Metro Expo Line and Green Line. | |
| "Silver Line" (former name) | New light-rail line planned to connect El Monte El Monte, California El Monte is a residential, industrial, and commercial city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city's slogan is "Welcome to Friendly El Monte," and historically is known as "The End of the Santa Fe Trail." As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 113,475,... to Hollywood Hollywood, Los Angeles, California Hollywood is a famous district in Los Angeles, California, United States situated west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Due to its fame and cultural identity as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, the word Hollywood is often used as a metonym of American cinema... , via Valley Blvd corridor and Santa Monica Boulevard. |
Silver Line website (archived), The Transit Coalition website |
| NoHo-Pasadena Corridor | ||
| Yellow Line | North Hollywood to Downtown L.A. Planned to use former Pacific Electric "Belmont Tunnel." Tunnel can no longer be used due to recent construction now blocking tunnel portal. | |
| Harbor Line | Light rail line to connect harbor area (San Pedro) to Metro Blue Line or Green Line. | Citizens for a Harbor Line (blog) |
| Get LA Moving | Detailed comprehensive plan of regional mass transit, including new lines and extensions to existing lines. | Get L.A. Moving Plan |
| LAX Express | Limited stop line connecting Union Station to Los Angeles International Airport, mainly via rail right-of-way along Slauson Avenue. |
Rolling stock
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
track ( between rails). Metro's heavy rail lines are powered by third rail
Third rail
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
, whereas its light rail lines are powered by overhead catenary lines
Overhead lines
Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...
. Also, the widths of the cars are different, and platforms are designed to match the separate car widths.
Security and safety
Metro Rail's trains and stations are patrolled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's DepartmentLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is a local county law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. It is the fourth largest local policing agency in the United States, with the New York City Police Department being the first. The second largest is the Chicago Police...
, and are monitored by security personnel via closed-circuit television
Closed-circuit television
Closed-circuit television is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors....
cameras.
See also
- Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation AuthorityLos Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation AuthorityThe Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is the California state-chartered regional transportation planning agency and public transportation operating agency for the County of Los Angeles formed in 1993 out of a merger of the Southern California Rapid Transit District and the...
- Los Angeles Metro Rail rolling stockLos Angeles Metro Rail rolling stockThe Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority operates five rail lines as part of its Metro Rail system. This system includes 3 light rail lines and 2 heavy rail lines....
- Transportation in Los Angeles
- List of rapid transit systems
- List of United States rapid transit systems by ridership
- Measure RMeasure RMeasure R was a ballot measure in the November 2008 elections in Los Angeles County, California that proposed raising county sales taxes by one half cent 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...
- Breda A-650 Metro Red Line Railcar
External links
- Official Metro website
- Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority website
- History of the Metro Rail System
- The Transit Coalition
- Network map (to-scale)
- Los Angeles Metro System on Google Maps
- Google map of Metro Rail Stations