Metro Express (Los Angeles County)

This article is about Metro Express in Los Angeles County, California. For MetroExpress rural transit bus service in Nova Scotia, see MetroExpress (Halifax).
Metro Express

Metro Express route 460 to Disneyland at Flower Street & Adams Boulevard in Downtown Los Angeles.
Locale Los Angeles County, California
Service type express bus
Routes 8
Fuel type CNG
Operator Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA)

Metro Express is a network of express bus routes in Los Angeles County, California, operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Metro Express buses typically operate like a local or limited stop route at the origin of their run, then enter a freeway where they make no or very limited stops, followed by another section of local or limited stops at the destination of the run. Routes that run to and from downtown are identified by numbers in the 400's and routes that run in other areas are identified by numbers in the 500's. Most runs use buses painted in the poppy-orange Metro Local livery.

History

Metro Express route 577 at Long Beach in the blue paint scheme that is no longer in use.

Metro created a separate brand for its express routes in 2003 as the agency introduced a new branding, including separate paint scheme for buses. Metro had proposed giving Metro Express buses a crisp blue color[1] (referred to by Metro as "Business Blue"). Buses in this color scheme rolled out on two new "premium express" lines (routes 450X and 577X) that would operate between major transportation hubs or activity centers with very few stops and no local operations.[2] It was a service concept Metro planned to expand to other lines, but ridership was disappointing. Metro eventually abandoned the "premium express" concept, integrating line 450X into the Silver Line and making route 577X a more traditional Metro Express route.

Routes

400s (Express to/from Downtown Los Angeles)

Route Terminals via Days of Operation Notes
442
[3]		 Downtown Los Angeles
Union Station		 Inglewood
Hawthorne/Lennox station		 In Downtown LA: Figueroa St/Flower St
Express Portion: Harbor Transitway
In South LA: Manchester Blvd, La Brea Ave		 Weekday peak hours (Mon-Fri: 5:45a-8:45a, 3:45p-7:15p) in the peak direction (northbound in the AM, southbound in the PM)
  • Operates in local service in Downtown LA and limited-stop service in South LA.
  • Serves Inglewood Transit Center.
  • Local fare applies on the following areas: Downtown Los Angeles and 39th/Figueroa and Manchester/Figueroa and Hawthorne/Lennox Metro Green Line Station.
  • Express fare applies between Manchester/Figueroa and 39th/Figueroa.
460
[4]		 Downtown Los Angeles
Los Angeles St & 5th/6th St		 Anaheim
Disneyland Resort		 In Downtown LA: Figueroa St/Flower St
Express Portion: Harbor Transitway, Interstate 105
In South LA: Rosecrans Ave, Alondra Blvd		 Daily (Mon-Fun: 3:45a-12:00a; Sat/Sun/Holidays: 4:30a-12a; northbound service is 24 hours.)
  • Line has the highest ridership for the Metro Express Lines category.
  • Longest bus line in the Metro bus system (Metro Express).
  • Operates in local service in Downtown LA, and east of the Norwalk Metro Green Line station.
  • Orange County Transportation Authority accepts Metro's 30 day pass at selected bus stops where Line 460 connects to OCTA buses in the Orange County.
  • Serves Knott's Berry Farm and Fullerton Park and Ride Lot.
  • Local fare applies between Norwalk Metro Green Line Station and Disneyland.
  • Express fare applies between Downtown Los Angeles and Norwalk Metro Green Line Station.
487
[5]		 Westlake, Los Angeles
Westlake/MacArthur Park station		 El Monte
El Monte Station		 In Downtown LA: Wilshire Blvd, Grand Ave/Olive St
Express Portion: El Monte Busway
In the San Gabriel Valley: San Gabriel Blvd, Sierra Madre Blvd, Santa Anita Ave		 Daily (Mon-Fri: 6:00a-9:00p; Sa: 7:00a-8:30p; Su: 7:00a-8:00p)
  • Operates in local service off the El Monte Busway.
  • Serves the Mission/Broadway and Del Mar Park and Ride Lots in San Gabriel and Sierra Madre Villa station.
  • Local fare applies in the following areas: Westlake/Mac Arthur Park station and El Monte Busway and Cal State LA Metro station, Del Mar Ave/Marshall St and El Monte Station.
  • Express fare applies between Cal State LA Metro station and Del Mar Ave/Marshall St.
489
[6]		 Westlake, Los Angeles
Westlake/MacArthur Park station		 Temple City
Rosemead Blvd & Huntington Dr		 In Downtown LA: Wilshire Blvd, Grand Ave & Olive St
Express Portion: El Monte Busway
In the San Gabriel Valley: Valley Blvd, Rosemead Blvd		 Weekday peak hours (Mon-Fri: 6:00a-8:00a, 4:00p-7:00p) in the peak direction (westbound in the AM, eastbound in the PM)
  • Operates in local service off the El Monte Busway
  • Serves the Del Mar Park and Ride Lot in San Gabriel.
  • Local fare applies in the following areas: Westlake/Mac Arthur Park station and El Monte Busway and Cal State LA Metro station, Del Mar Ave/ Marshall St and Temple City.
  • Express fare applies between Cal State LA Metro station and Del Mar Ave/Marshall St.

500s (Express in other areas)

Metro Express Line: 550 at Harbor Gateway Transit Center.
Route Terminals via Days of Operation Notes
501
[7]		 Pasadena
Del Mar station		 North Hollywood, Los Angeles
North Hollywood station		 Express Portion: State Route 134 Daily (Mon-Fri: 5:30a-9:45p; Sat/Sun/Holiday: 5:45a-9:30p)
  • Operates in express service for the entire route[8]
  • Began operation on March 1, 2016
534
[9]		 Santa Monica
Downtown Santa Monica station		 Malibu
Pacific Coast Highway & Trancas Canyon Rd		 Express Portion: Pacific Coast Highway Daily (Mon-Fri: 5:30a-9:30p; Sa: 7:00a-9:00p; Su: 7:00a-8:00p)
  • Some trips operate via Point Dume
  • Originally Line 434, which operated to Union Station
550
[10]		 Exposition Park, Los Angeles
Expo/Vermont station
(weekday peak trips)		 San Pedro, Los Angeles
7th St & Patton Ave		 Express Portion: Harbor Transitway
In South LA: Vermont Ave, Normandie Ave		 Daily (Mon-Fri: 4:45a-11:30p; San: 6:00a-11:30p; Sun/Holidays: 6:00a-11:30p)
  • Operates in local service south of Pacific Coast Highway, limited-stop service in other areas except on the Harbor Transitway.
  • Local fares applies on the following areas: Hoover/32nd St and 39th/Figueroa St & Harbor Gateway Transit Center and San Pedro.
  • Express fares applies between 39th/Figueroa St and Harbor Gateway Transit Center.
Gardena
Harbor Gateway Transit Center
(off-peak/weekend trips)
577
[11]		 El Monte
El Monte Station		 Long Beach
Cal State Long Beach		 Express Portion: Interstate 605
In Long Beach: 7th St		 Weekdays (Mon-Fri: 5:30a-11:15p)
  • Serves Los Cerritos Center, Norwalk station, Rio Hondo College
  • Express fares applies throughout entire route of line.
  • Operated by Southland Transit.

Fares

Metro Express routes charge a premium fare (which is a different fare structure from most other Metro routes). During the local/limited stop portion of their run passengers are charged the standard Metro Local base fare, but once the bus enters the express portion of the run all passengers are expected to have paid the express fare. Metro 1-Day passes are accepted as full fare, but all other pass holders must pay for an upgraded 1 zone pass or pay the additional premium charge at the time of boarding.

As of December 15, 2014 the fares for the Metro Express routes are:

Fare Type[12] Regular Senior (62+) / Disabled / Medicare College / Vocational Student
(K-12)
Peak Off-Peak
Express Base Fare

(Includes transfers if paid with TAP card)

 $2.50 $1.35 $0.95 $2.50 $2.50
Local Base Fare

(Includes transfers if paid with TAP card)

 $1.75 $0.75 $0.35 $1.75 $1
Zone 1 Premium Charge

Required for those riding express portions with:

  • Transfer with local base fare
  • Metro 7-Day Pass
  • Metro 30-Day Pass (without Zone 1)
  • EZ transit pass (including Metrolink tickets and passes)
 $0.75 $0.60 $0.75 $0.75
Metro 1-Day Pass

(Accepted as express fare)

 $7 $2.50 $7 $7
Metro 30-Day + Zone 1 Pass

(Accepted as express fare)

 $122 — — —
Metro Discounted 30-Day Pass

(Accepted as express fare)

 — $20 $43 $24

See also

References

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