Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority

This article is about the transit agency from 1951–1964. For the present transit agency, see Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority
Overview
Locale Los Angeles
Transit type Light rail
Local Bus
Bus rapid transit
Number of lines 10 Light rail
-- Bus routes
Number of stations -- Rail
Daily ridership -- (Weekdays)
Operation
Began operation July 24, 1951
Operator(s) Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority
Technical
System length Rail – 0 miles (0 km)
Bus – 0 miles (0 km)2
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge)

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority (sometimes referred to as LAMTA or MTA I) was a public agency formed in 1951.[1][2] Its original mandate was to do a feasibility study for a monorail line which would have connected Long Beach with the Panorama City district in the San Fernando Valley via Downtown Los Angeles.

The agency's powers were expanded in 1954, authorizing it to study and propose an extensive regional transit system.[3] In 1957, another expansion of the agency's powers authorized it to operate transit lines, and it subsequently purchased the bus and streetcar lines then being operated by Metropolitan Coach Lines, which had taken over passenger service of the Pacific Electric Railway in 1951, as well as the bus and streetcar lines of the Los Angeles Transit Lines, successor to the Los Angeles Railway.[4] The MTA began operating the lines on March 3, 1958,[5] and continued to do so until the agency was taken over by the Southern California Rapid Transit District on November 5, 1964.[6][7][8][9]

During the MTA's tenure, the last remaining rail transit lines in Los Angeles were abandoned and replaced with bus service, the last former Pacific Electric line in April 1961,[10][11][12] and the last former Los Angeles Railway lines in 1963.[13]


Rail Lines

Name Parent Company Abandoned
Bellflower Pacific Electric 1958
Long Beach Pacific Electric 1961
San Pedro via Dominguez Pacific Electric 1958
Watts Local Pacific Electric 1961
J Los Angeles Railway 1963
P Los Angeles Railway 1963
R Los Angeles Railway 1963
S Los Angeles Railway 1963
V Los Angeles Railway 1963
5 Los Angeles Railway 1963

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Here Are Details On Monorail Plan: Group Believes 44-Mile System Can Carry 30,000,000 a Year in Metropolitan Area". Los Angeles Times, July 25, 1951, Page 4. Link via ProQuest.
  2. ↑ "Warren Signs Bill For Monorail Transit". Los Angeles Times, July 25, 1951, Page 1. Link via ProQuest.
  3. ↑ "Extension of Monorail Act Sought in New Bill". Los Angeles Times, January 17, 1953, Page 5. Link via ProQuest.
  4. ↑ "Plan for Public Purchase of Transit Lines Revealed: Legislature Will Get Bill to Legalize Agreements on Sale With Metro and LATL". Los Angeles Times, May 6, 1955, Page 1. Link via ProQuest.
  5. ↑ "Transit Authority Begins Operating LATL and Metro: Public Now Owns Big Bus Lines". Los Angeles Times, March 4, 1958, Page B1. Link via ProQuest.
  6. ↑ "Brown Signs Bill Creating New Rapid Transit District: Steps to Replace MTA Will Start Aug. 18; Board to Study Early Bond lssue". Los Angeles Times, May 14, 1964, Page A1. Link via ProQuest.
  7. ↑ "MTA Will Reach End of the Line in August: Transit Authority Will Waddle Along as Lame Duck Until New District Takes Over". Los Angeles Times, May 17, 1964, Page B7. Link via ProQuest.
  8. ↑ "Pomona Mayor Named Rapid Transit Leader: New District Board Starts Organizational Groundwork Prior to MTA Takeover Nov. 5". Los Angeles Times, October 1, 1964, Page A12. Link via ProQuest.
  9. ↑ "New Agency Takes Over From MTA: Rapid Transit Planners Pledge Solution to Crisis". Los Angeles Times, November 6, 1964, Page OC1. Link via ProQuest.
  10. ↑ "Big Red Cars to Hoot Final Farewell: Pacific Electric Trains Will Make Last Run April 1". Los Angeles Times, December 12, 1960, Page B1. Link via ProQuest.
  11. ↑ "Long Beach Loses Plea for Red Cars: Injunction Denied to Halt MTA Bus Substitution". Los Angeles Times, April 6, 1961, Page B1. Link via ProQuest.
  12. ↑ "Passengers in Last Ride on Red Cars: Saddened Patrons Pay $4 Each for Sentimental Trip". Los Angeles Times, April 10, 1961, Page B1. Link via ProQuest.
  13. ↑ "Streetcars Go for Last Ride". Los Angeles Times, March 31, 1963, Page N5. Link via ProQuest.

External links