Metro Rapid
|
A Metro Rapid bus in Red and Silver Livery |
Metro Rapid is a
bus rapid transit system in
Los Angeles County, California, operated by the
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The Rapid program attempts to speed up commuter travel time on Los Angeles' county streets. To accomplish this:
* The buses are equipped with special transponders that cause traffic signals to favor the bus. Green lights are held longer and red lights are shortened.
* The buses make fewer stops. Buses stop only at major intersections and transfer points. More frequent stops are reserved for the
Metro Local buses.
* The frequency of buses are increased. More Buses on a line means less wait time at each station.
* All Metro Rapid buses are low floor buses for faster boarding and alighting.
* Buses are not held to a schedule, which frees them from waiting at a station until the clock catches up.
Inspiration for the program partly came from the transportation network of
Curitiba in Brazil, although the concept in nascent form was first broached in a restructuring study long before the famous trip local officials took to Curitiba that brought fresh appreciation of the value of enhancing bus service efficiency to improve urban mobility for minimal cost and in a timely manner.
As a result of a recent federal court
consent decree ruling, almost all rapid routes will operate starting in June 2006 from at least 5 am to 9 pm, five days a week, with a maximum of 10 minute peak headways and 20 minute midday and evening headways. Many Rapid routes operate on weekends as well.
The Metro Rapid Program was implemented in June of 2000 with the goal of improving bus speeds across the
Southland. The
Metropolitan Tranportation Authority claims travel times have been reduced by as much as 29%.
When completed in 2008, the Metro Rapid Program will operate 26 routes across a network of 450 miles (720 km) of service. Simple routes are designed to interface with the regions urban rail
network.
Metro Rapid buses are distinguished by their Red and Silver livery. Older Rapid buses have a Red and white livery. Some rapid stops are equipped with next bus technology which indicates the wait time before the next bus arrives.
The Rapid Fleet consists exclusively of Low Floor buses manufactured by both
North American Bus Industries, and
New Flyer,
The fare is the same as other
Metro bus and rail service.
Metro Rapid lines are numbered in the 700 range, in this format: 7xx.
Critics see the Rapid system as not sufficient to meet Los Angeles's growing transit needs. Limited funds, they say, would be better spent on growing the regions rail network. Rapid buses do not have the capacity or efficiency of
light or
heavy rail technology.
Other critics claim that Metro Rapid is a triumph of marketing over substance. For many years, Metro and its predecessor the
SCRTD operated
limited stop routes, which were like Rapids in the middle of their routes (serving only transfer points and major stops) but made local stops at each end.
Another complaint concerns the separation of stops between regular and Rapid service. This was done to eliminate the backing up of buses at stops, but has resulted in a dangerous move called the
"Rapid Bus Shuffle", where one waiting at either of the stops runs to the other stop if a bus arrives. In response, some Rapid stops are placed adjacent to local bus stops.
In addition, civil rights organizations like the
Bus Riders Union complain about cutbacks in local service required to implement Rapid service. Generally, between 25 and 50% of local service is cut and replaced by Rapid service. Thus, riders not living or working near a Rapid stop must walk a longer distance to an intersection with both local and Rapid stops, or wait longer for a local bus. The Special Master of the
consent decree between Metro and the BRU has ordered that no more than 33% of the resources for Rapids come from local service.
It should be noted MTA staff have never considered Metro Rapid a substitute for rail service but instead a pragmatic interim measure given current budgetary constaints.
Current Routes
705 - La Cienega Boulevard - Vernon Avenue
Line 705, complementing Line 105, provides service on
La Cienega Boulevard and
Vernon Avenue between the West Hollywood Library in
West Hollywood and Vernon Ave. & Santa Fe Ave. in
Vernon, running through the neighborhoods of
Beverly Hills,
Culver City,
Crenshaw,
Leimert Park, and
Vernon. Service operates weekdays only from 5:30am to 8:15 pm.
710 - Crenshaw Boulevard
Line 710, complementing Line 210 and replacing Line 310 (minus service to the Wilshire/Western Red Line Station), provides service on Vine St. and Crenshaw Blvd. between the Hollywood/Vine Red Line Station and the South Bay Galleria, running through Hollywood, Hancock Park, Mid-City, Inglewood, Hawthorne, and Torrance. Service operates weekdays and Saturdays from 5:30am to 9:30pm on weekdays and from 6am to 8:30pm on Saturdays.
711 - Florence Avenue
Line 711, complementing Line 111 and replacing Line 311, provides service on Florence Av. from the Inglewood Transit Center to Florence Ave. & Garfield Ave. in Bell Gardens, running through Inglewood, Hyde Park, Florence, Huntington Park, Bell, Cudahy, and Bell Gardens. Service operates daily from 5am to 9pm on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 6:45am to 8pm on Sundays. 45-foot NABI Compobuses are used on this route.
714 - Beverly Boulevard
Line 714, complementing Line 14, provides rush-hour service on Beverly Blvd. from Beverly Hills to Grand Blue Line Station in Downtown Los Angeles. Service operates weekdays only, bi-directionally during rush hours, from around 6am to 9:40am and from around 3pm to 7pm.
720 - Wilshire Boulevard/Whittier Boulevard
One of two pilot routes, Line 720, complementing Lines 18 and 20 and replacing Lines 318, 320, and 322, provides service on
Wilshire Boulevard,
Whittier Boulevard, and 5th and 6th Streets in Downtown Los Angeles from
Santa Monica to
Commerce, running through Brentwood, Westwood, Beverly Hills, La Brea, Koreatown, Downtown Los Angeles, and East Los Angeles. Line 720 is meant to mimic both the proposed and established route of the
Metro Red Line subway. Service operates daily from 4:30am to 1:30am on weekdays and 5am to 1:30am on weekends. 60-foot NABI articulated buses are used on this route.
734 - Sepulveda Boulevard
Line 734, complementing Line 234, provides service on Sepulveda Blvd. from the
San Fernando Metrolink station to Ventura Blvd., running through Pacoima, North Hills, Panorama City, and Van Nuys. Service operates weekdays only from 5am to 10pm.
740 - Hawthorne Boulevard - Crenshaw Boulevard - Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Line 740, complementing Line 40 and replacing Line 340, provides service on Broadway, Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Crenshaw Blvd., and Hawthorne Blvd. from Union Station / Patsaouras Transit Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles to the South Bay Galleria, running through Leimert Park, Hyde Park, Inglewood, and Hawthorne. Service operates weekdays and Saturdays from 5am to 9:30pm. 45-foot NABI Compobuses are used on this route.
745 - South Broadway
Line 745, complementing Lines 45 and 46 and replacing Line 345, provides service on South Broadway from
Union Station / Patsaouras Transit Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles and the
Harbor Freeway/I-105 Green Line station. Service operates daily from 5am to 8pm. 45-foot NABI Compobuses are used on this route.
750 - Ventura Boulevard
The other pilot route, Line 750, complementing Line 150 and in combination with the Metro Red Line replacing Lines 425 and 427, operates on Ventura Blvd. between the Universal City Red Line Station and the Warner Center Transit Hub, running through Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Encino, and Tarzana. Service operates daily from around 5am to 10:30pm. 45-foot NABI Compobuses are used on this route.
751 - Soto Street
Line 751, complementing Line 251 and replacing Line 350, provides service on Soto St. and Long Beach Blvd. from Cypress Park to the Long Beach Blvd. Green Line station, running through Lincoln Heights, Boyle Heights, Vernon, Huntington Park, and South Gate. On Saturdays, Line 751 terminates at South Gate Plaza in Huntington Park. Service operates weekdays and Saturdays from 4:30am to 8:30pm weekdays, and from 6:30am to 7pm Saturdays.
754 - Vermont Avenue
Line 754, complementing Line 204 and replacing Line 354, provides service on Vermont Ave. from the Vermont / Sunset Red Line station to the Vermont Green Line station. Service operates daily from 5am to 9:30pm weekdays, 6am to 9pm Saturdays, and 6am to 8pm Sundays. 60-foot NABI articulated buses are used on this route.
757 - Western Avenue
Line 757, complementing Line 207 and replacing Line 357, provides service on Western Ave. from the Hollywood / Western Red Line station to the Crenshaw Green Line station, running through Hollywood, Koreatown, Jefferson Park, and Hyde Park. Service operates daily from 5am to 9:30pm weekdays, and from 6am to 8:30pm weekends. 60-foot NABI articulated buses are used on this route.
761 - Van Nuys Boulevard
Line 761, complementing Line 233 on Van Nuys Blvd. and replacing Line 561, provides service on Van Nuys Blvd. and Sepulveda Blvd. from Lake View Terrace to the Federal Building in Westwood, running through Panorama City, Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, and the Getty Museum. Some trips bypass their normal route on I-405 north of the Getty Museum and use Sepulveda Blvd. to Ventura Blvd. before returning to their regular route. Service operates daily from 5am to 10:30pm weekdays, and from 5:30am to 10pm weekends. 60-foot NABI articulated buses are used on this route.
780 - Fairfax Avenue - Hollywood Boulevard - Los Feliz Boulevard - Colorado Boulevard
Line 780, complementing Lines 180, 181, and 217 and replacing Lines 317, 380 and 717, provides service on Colorado Blvd., Los Feliz Blvd., Hollywood Blvd., and Fairfax Ave. from Pasadena City College to the West Los Angeles Transit Center, running through Pasadena, Eagle Rock, Glendale,
Hollywood,
West Hollywood,
Mid City, and
West Los Angeles. Up until June 23, 2006, the Fairfax portion of Line 780 was designated as Line 717, but then became consolidated with the existing Line 780 to form the current Line 780. Service operates weekdays only from 5am to 8:30pm. 40 foot NABI buses, mostly the original Metro Rapid buses, are used on this route.
Future Routes
704 - Santa Monica Boulevard
Line 704 would complement Line 4 and replace Line 304 along Santa Monica Blvd., and could begin service as early as December 2006.
715 - Manchester Boulevard - Firestone Boulevard
Line 715 would complement Line 115 and replace Line 315 along Manchester and Firestone Blvd., and could begin service as early as December 2006.
741 - Reseda Boulevard
Line 741 would complement Line 240 along Reseda Blvd. from Northridge to Ventura Blvd., and could begin service as early as December 2006.
753 - Central Avenue
Line 753 would complement Line 53 along Central Ave., and could begin service as early as December 2006.
760 - Long Beach Boulevard - Santa Fe Avenue
Line 760 would complement Line 60 and replace Line 360 along Long Beach Blvd. and Santa Fe Ave., and could begin service as early as December 2006.
762 - Atlantic Boulevard - Fair Oaks Avenue
Line 762 would complement Line 260 and replace Line 361 along Atlantic Blvd. and Fair Oaks Ave., and could begin service as early as June 2007.
766 - San Fernando Road - Lankershim Boulevard or 774 - San Fernando Road
Line 766 would complement Line 166 and the northern portion of Line 94 along San Fernando Rd. and Lankershim Blvd. from the Sylmar Metrolink Station to the North Hollywood Red Line Station. As an alternative to Line 766, Line 774 would complement Line 94 and replace Line 394 along San Fernando Rd. from the Sylmar Metrolink Station to Downtown Los Angeles. Either line could begin service as early as December 2006.
770 - Garvey Avenue - Cesar Chavez Avenue
Line 770 would complement Lines 68 and 70 and replace Lines 370 and possibly 368 along Garvey Ave. and Cesar Chavez Ave., and could begin service as early as December 2007.
The Santa Monica
Big Blue Bus operates the Rapid 3-Lincoln Boulevard Line along Lincoln Boulevard, along with the local route 3. It is the first Rapid line in the Los Angeles area operated by a municipal operator. These buses are in a painted in a metallic Blue livery. Service operates weekdays rush hours only, 6 am-9 am and 3 pm-6 pm. Eventually Torrance Transit and Culver CityBus are also slated to each operate a Rapid line.
Foothill Transit is planning a bus rapid transit-type service called the
Silver Streak, using the
El Monte Busway and the
San Bernardino Freeway. This route is not part of the official Metro Rapid progrm.
*
Metro Rapid Homepage*
Rapid Bus increases door-to-door travel time (op-ed)
