Silver Line (Los Angeles Metro)

Metro Silver Line
   

Los Angeles Metro rapid transit line

A Metro Silver Line Liner Bus at Slauson Station.
Overview
System Metro Liner
Operated by Metro (LACMTA)
Line number 910
Type bus rapid transit
Status in service
Opened December 13, 2009
Daily ridership

Weekdays (May 2011): 9,329 [1], Saturdays (May 2011): 3,004[1] ,

Sundays/Holidays (May 2011): 1,952[1]
Website Silver Line
Route
Character shared-use transitways with some city streets
Termini El Monte Bus Station
Artesia Transit Center
Stations 10
Line length 26 mi (41.8 km)
Technical
Rolling stock North American Bus Industries 45C-Metro in silver scheme & North American Bus Industries 45C-Metro in new Silver Line Livery
Yard Division 9 (El Monte)
Route map
Legend
El Monte
Begin El Monte Busway
Cal State LA
LAC+USC Medical Center
End El Monte Busway
Union Station
Spring Street
1st Street/Hill (Civic Center)
Olive/Kosciuszko
Grand/3rd Street
Olive/5th Street (Pershing Square)
Flower/5th Street
Figueroa/7th Street (7th St/Metro Center)
Flower/7th Street (7th St/Metro Center)
Figueroa/Olympic
Flower/Olympic
Figueroa/Pico (Pico)
Figueroa/Washington (Grand)
Figueroa/Adams
Begin Harbor Transitway
37th Street
Slauson
Manchester
Harbor Freeway/I-105
Rosecrans
End Harbor Transitway
Artesia Transit Center

The Silver Line is a bus rapid transit line which operates between El Monte Bus Station, Los Angeles Union Station, Downtown Los Angeles and the Artesia Transit Center. The 26 miles (42 km) line, one of two on the Metro Liner system, uses High-occupancy vehicle lanes on the El Monte Busway and Harbor Transitway and connects with the Metro Rail and Metro link commuter rail systems. It is operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and entered service in 2009. Much of the route is being converted to high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes and improvements are being made to the 10 transitway stations are being made as part of the Metro ExpressLanes project.

Contents

Description

The service runs west from the El Monte Station in El Monte to Union Station using High-occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV lanes) on the El Monte Busway. From there is heads south along general purpose streets through downtown Los Angeles, joins the Harbor Transitway using HOV lanes for the final section to the Artesia Transit Center near Carson. It stops at 10 transit stations along the busway/transitway sections serving the California State University, the USC Medical Center, University of Southern California. It also calls at a number of bus stops in the downtown area where it connects with other Metro Rail services and connects with mainline rail services from Union Station. The Silver Line does not have all the features of the Orange Line at all stops. The street stops on the Metro Silver Line (mostly the portion through downtown Los Angeles) lack the full station features of the Metro Orange Line. Prepaid boarding through ticket vending machines is not available at those stops. The Metro Silver Line replaced the express and downtown portions of the 444, 446/447, 484 and 490 when it began service on December 13, 2009. The Metro Silver Line was the only line in the Metro Rail/Liner system that did not have an opening ceremony with free rides offered to the public.

The service is operated with 45-foot (14 m) buses in a new Silver Line (silver) scheme.[2] & buses in the current silver scheme which were formely used on Metro Local Line 902. Metro is in the process of wrapping 30 buses to the new scheme. The line is internally known as Line 910 or Dual Hub BRT.[3]

Frequencies

Service operates every 5-10 minutes during the peak period, and every 15 minutes during the midday on weekdays. On Saturday, service operates every 20 minutes to El Monte and every 40 minutes to Artesia Transit Center, and on Sunday service operates every 30 minutes to El Monte and 60 minutes to Artesia Transit Center. Night service operates seven days a week at 30-60 minute headways. During peak hours and weekends, only half of all buses operate between Artesia Transit Center and 7th Street/Metro Center. The last Silver Line bus leaves each terminus at approximately 12:55 a.m., which is later than all Metro Rail lines. Other Metro Rail and Metro Liner routes do however have headways of no greater than every 20 minutes.

In the long term, service could be upgraded to every 3 minutes during the peak period and every 10 minutes in midday. Funding for increased service will come from federal funds and congestion pricing charges.[4]

Fares

A flat premium fare of $2.45 or two fare zones is charged (which is a different fare structure from other Metro routes). Metro Day Pass holders may however use the service without paying any additional charges, which is a mitigation to passengers who now have to transfer to the Silver Line.[5][6] The fare is higher because of concerns raised by Foothill Transit that the proposed fare would undermine the Silver Streak which also runs on the El Monte Busway.[6] Fare payment is made on board and no special shelters are used for the Silver Line at the street stops although an information cube is posted at street stops.

History

The route was originally scheduled to open in June 2009 but was delayed until December 2009 due to issues with funding and fare structure on other express lines using the transitways. It replaced Metro Express lines 444, 446, 447, 484, and 490. These lines have changed their numbers to 344, 246, 247, 194 and 190, respectively. Other routes on the transitways remain in operation.[3]

In December 2009:

As part of the Metro ExpressLanes project a number of changes were made in 2010/2011. In particular, the Artesia Transit Center was provided with CCTV security, new bike lockers and a new Sheriff substation. Other improvements were made to transitway stations with enhance signage, lighting and security at Park & Ride lots. Increase service frequencies on Harbor Transitway section with vehicles every 15 minutes middays and every 40 minutes on Saturday (Peak, evening, and Sunday service remained the same).

Work began on constructing the high occupancy toll lanes on the Harbor Transitway on August 7th 2011 with detours at night.[7]

Current developments

High occupancy toll (HOT) lanes

The El Monte Busway and Haborfreeway sections will be converted to high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes as part of the Metro ExpressLanes project. This will initially be for a trial period only, but will be retained if it is successful in improving traffic speeds on the transitways.[8]

Work begain installing Fastrack transponders for the HOT lanes on August 7th 2011 with nightly detour takes place between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.[7] The construction is expected to be complete by September 2012.[7]

Bus priority in Downtown Los Angeles

Bus priority is being fitted to traffic lights in Downtown Los Angeles as part of the Metro ExpressLanes project to improve service performance. February 2012.[7]

Transitway station improvements

Changes are being made to a number of transway stations on the route as part of the Metro ExpressLanes project. In particular:[8]

From August 7th 2011 Metro Silver Line stations at 37th Street, Slauson, Manchester and Rosecrans will be closed during the designated period (10:00 p.m.- 6:00 a.m.) daily. Passengers at the Harbor Freeway/I-105 will need to board the Metro Silver Line at the Figueroa street entrance of the station (street level). The Metro Silver Line stop on the freeway level of this station is closed during the detour. During the detour, between 4:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. there are shuttles which run on Figueroa Street between 7th St./Metro Center & Artesia Transit Center. The shuttles begins at Artesia Transit Center & makes stops at Figueroa/ 182nd street, Figueroa/ Rosecrans, Figueroa/ Harbor Freeway Station, Figueroa/Manchester, Figueroa/ Slauson, Figueroa/ Exposition, Figueroa/ Adams & then the regular Silver Line stops until 7th St./Metro Center where the shuttles terminate. These shuttles will not charge for the service. Passengers can use these shuttles to connect to the nearest Silver Line stop.[9] Moreover, Metro Express lines 450X, 460, & 550 will not serve the stations while the detour is in effect. Metro Express lines 450X & 550 will only stop at Figueroa/ Harbor Fwy Station while the detour occurs. Metro Express line 460 runs nonstop between Downtown Los Angeles & Norwalk during the detour. [9]

New vehicles and services

Additional vehicles are being made procured As part of the Metro ExpressLanes project and service frequencies will be increased. In particular:[8]

Stations & Street Stops

Stop Connections Stop type
El Monte Bus Station Metro Local: 70, 76, 176, 190, 194, 267, 268, 270, 287
Metro Express: 487, 577X
Metro Rapid: 770
Foothill Transit: Silver Streak
Station
California State University, Los Angeles Metro Local: 71, 256, 665
Metro Express: 485, 487, 489
Metrolink: San Bernardino Line
Foothill Transit: Silver Streak
Station
Los Angeles County – USC Medical Center Metro Local: 70, 71, 251, 605
Metro Express: 485, 487, 489
Metro Rapid: 751
Foothill Transit: Silver Streak
Station
Union Station Red, Purple and Gold Lines
Metro Rapid: 704, 728, 733, 740, 745, 770
Foothill Transit: Silver Streak
Amtrak and Metrolink
Station
Spring St. & 1st St. (City Hall) Metro Rapid: 728, 733, 770
Foothill Transit: Silver Streak
Street stop
Civic Center Red and Purple Lines
Metro Rapid: 728, 730, 740, 745, 770, 794
Street stop
Grand St. & 3rd St. (Southbound)
Olive St. & Kosciuszko Way (Northbound)
Metro Rapid: 770 Street stop
Flower St. & 5th St. (Southbound)
Olive St. & 5th St. (Pershing Square) (Northbound)
Red and Purple Lines
Metro Rapid: 720, 728, 730, 740, 745, 770, 794
Foothill Transit: Silver Streak
Street stop
7th St./Metro Center

Flower St. & 7th St. (Southbound)
Figueroa St. & 7th St. (Northbound)

Red, Purple and Blue Lines
Metro Rapid: 720, 760, 770
Metro Local: 51, 52, 60
Metro Express: 439, 442, 450X, 460
Street stop
Flower St. & Olympic Blvd. (Southbound)
Figueroa St. & Olympic Blvd. (Northbound)
Metro Local: 28, 81
Metro Express: 439, 442, 460
Metro Rapid: 728
Street stop
Figueroa St. & Pico Blvd. (Pico Blue Line Station) Blue Line
Metro Rapid: 730
Metro Local: 30, 81
Metro Express: 439 (n/b only), 442, 460
Street stop
Figueroa St. & Washington Blvd. Metro Local: 35, 81, 335
Metro Express: 442, 460
Street stop
Flower St. & Adams Blvd. (Southbound)
Hov Roadway (Figueroa Way). & Adams Blvd. (Northbound)
Metro Local: 37, 81
Metro Express: 442, 460
Street stop
37th Street Metro Local: 81, 102, 200
Metro Express: 442, 460, 550
Station
Slauson Metro Local: 45, 81, 108, 358
Metro Express: 460,550
Metro Rapid: 745
Station
Manchester Metro Local: 45, 81, 115, 305
Metro Express: 460, 550
Metro Rapid: 745
Station
Harbor Freeway/I-105 Green Line
Metro Local: 45, 81, 120
Metro Express: 450X, 550
Metro Rapid: 745
Station
Rosecrans Metro Local: 125
Metro Express: 550
Station
Artesia Transit Center Metro Local: 52, 130, 205, 246, 344, 352
Metro Express: 450X, 550
Torrance Transit: 1, 6
Carson Circuit: North / South Shuttle
Gardena Transit: 1, 2, 4
Station

Operations

Depots

All Silver Line buses operate from Division 9, adjacent to the El Monte Station terminus.

Fleet

North American Bus Industries 45C-Metro buses are used for the Metro Silver Line. Though the Silver Line is part of the Metro Liner system, the Silver Line buses do not have the "Metro Liner" name and dark gray livery. As of September 2011, most of the Silver Lines buses are painted in a new scheme. The buses say "A faster way to Downtown: Metro Silver Line." A few of the buses use the old gray design. These buses were provided when Line 902 in the San Fernando Valley was cancelled. Metro is nearly complete in wrapping up 30 buses into the new Silver Line scheme. During weekday rush hours, a few NABI 40-LFW buses (Metro Local) are used for the Metro Silver Line.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Ad hoc committee pricing committee - Status report". 2011-07-20. http://www.metro.net/board/Items/2011/07_July/20110720AHCPItem32.pdf. 
  2. ^ "Silverline bus". http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrolibraryarchive/6026109345/. 
  3. ^ a b "SB910 Feb09 public hearing". 2009-02-01. http://metro.net/riding_metro/special_services/images/SB910%20Feb09%20public%20hearing.pdf. 
  4. ^ "Dual Hub Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) El Monte Station to Artesia Transit Center". 2008-11-20. http://metro.net/board/Items/2008/11_November/20081119AHCPItem18Handout.pdf. 
  5. ^ "Guide to the Metro Silver Line". The Source. http://thesource.metro.net/2009/12/09/guide-to-the-metro-silver-line/. 
  6. ^ a b "Line 910 fare structure". 2009-10-15. http://www.metro.net/board/Items/2009/10_October/20091015OPItem38.pdf. 
  7. ^ a b c d e "Metro Silver Line (service tab)". http://www.metro.net/projects/silverline/. 
  8. ^ a b c "Metro ExpressLanes". Metro MTA. http://www.metro.net/projects/expresslanes/. 
  9. ^ a b "Harbor Transitway Detour map August 2011 - September 2012". http://www.metro.net/projects_studies/silverline/images/110_Service_Detour_Map.pdf. 

External links