Metro Rapid#Former routes
{{Short description|Bus service in Los Angeles County, California, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024|cs1-dates=ly}}
{{About|the service in Los Angeles}}{{Infobox Bus transit
| name = Metro Rapid
| logo =
| logo_size = 168px
| image = D13 XN60.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| image_caption =Metro Rapid Line 720 bus on Wilshire Boulevard
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| parent =
| defunct =
| headquarters =
| locale = Los Angeles County, California
| service_area =
| service_type = Limited-stop, with some Bus rapid transit features
| alliance =
| routes =3 (as of 2024)
| destinations =
| stops =
| hubs =
| stations =
| lounge =
| fleet =
| ridership =
| operator = Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)
Big Blue Bus
Culver CityBus
Torrance Transit
| ceo =
| leader_type =
| leader =
| website = https://www.metro.net/
|commenced=June 24, 2000}}Metro Rapid is a bus service in Los Angeles County, California, operated as part of the Los Angeles Metro Bus system. Metro Rapid service was introduced in the early 2000s to provide faster service on major corridors in Los Angeles, with stops spaced approximately {{Convert|1/2|mile|m}} apart.{{Cite web |last=Chiland |first=Elijah |date=2020-02-18 |title=Metro's bus shakeup will eliminate most rapid lines |url=https://la.curbed.com/2020/2/18/21136453/metro-rapid-buses-los-angeles-nextgen |access-date=2024-05-10 |work=Curbed LA}}
The first Metro Rapid lines featured physical infrastructure improvements, including signal priority at intersections in the City of Los Angeles, and enhanced bus shelters. The service was initially popular, expanding across Los Angeles County. Despite the service's initial popularity, service was cut on some major corridors in response to budget difficulties in the early 2010s.{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Jarrett |date=2020-02-24 |title=Los Angeles: The End of the Metro Rapid? |url=https://humantransit.org/2020/02/los-angeles-the-end-of-the-metro-rapid.html |access-date=2024-05-10 |work=Human Transit}}
A major reorganization of the Metro Bus network, the NextGen Bus Plan, was proposed in 2019. Much of the Metro Rapid network was suspended in 2020, as part of the broader impacts on transit from the COVID-19 pandemic, and most Rapid lines were not reinstated. The changes from the NextGen plan, implemented beginning in 2021, merged most Rapid lines back into their local counterparts.{{Cite web |last=Fried |first=Ben |date=2022-03-09 |title=Lessons From the Roll-Out of LA Metro's NextGen Bus Network Redesign |url=https://transitcenter.org/lessons-from-the-roll-out-of-la-metros-nextgen-bus-network-redesign/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=TransitCenter}}
Service
Metro Rapid service is a limited-stop bus service, with characteristics of bus rapid transit. These characteristics include off-board fare payment on some lines, enhanced bus stops that are spaced farther apart than corresponding local services, and signal priority at some intersections.{{Cite journal |last1=Cain |first1=Alasdair |last2=Flynn |first2=Jennifer |date=2013 |title=Examining the Ridership Attraction Potential of Bus Rapid Transit: A Quantitative Analysis of Image and Perception |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1077291X2201760X |journal=Journal of Public Transportation |volume=16 |issue=4 |pages=63–82 |doi=10.5038/2375-0901.16.4.4 |issn= |access-date=}}
The lack of dedicated bus lanes for Metro Rapid service has led scholars to describe it as "BRT-lite," as opposed to "bus rapid transit" or "full-service bus rapid transit."{{Cite journal |last1=Deng |first1=Taotao |last2=Nelson |first2=John D. |date=January 2011 |title=Recent Developments in Bus Rapid Transit: A Review of the Literature |url= |journal=Transport Reviews |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=69–96 |doi=10.1080/01441647.2010.492455 |issn=0144-1647 |access-date=}}{{Cite journal |last1=Bruun |first1=Eric |last2=Allen |first2=Duncan |last3=Givoni |first3=Moshe |date=December 2018 |title=Choosing the Right Public Transport Solution Based on Performance of Components |journal=Transport (16484142) |volume=33 |issue=4 |pages=1017–1029 |doi=10.3846/transport.2018.6157 |issn=1648-4142|doi-access=free }}
History
A delegation from the Los Angeles city government, including Mayor Richard Riordan, visited the Brazilian city of Curitiba in early 1999. The civic leaders were impressed by Curitiba's comprehensive bus rapid transit system, the Rede Integrada de Transporte, and sought to replicate it. By the summer of 1999, planning was underway for a pilot program of bus rapid transit service on two corridors: Wilshire Blvd/Whittier Blvd and Ventura Blvd.{{Cite report |url=https://libraryarchives.metro.net/DPGTL/eirs/WilshireBRT/2010_draft_eir_ea_app_i_demonstration_program_report.pdf |title=Final Report: Los Angeles Metro Rapid Demonstration Program |last=Transportation Management & Design, Inc. |date=March 2002}}
The establishment of Metro Rapid service followed a 1996 consent decree, the product of a federal lawsuit brought by a coalition of civil rights organizations, including the Bus Riders Union. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit argued that Metro's large subsidies for rail construction and operation, relative to its expenditures for bus service, were discriminatory. Metro Rapid service was one part of Metro's proposals to improve bus service, approved by special master Donald T. Bliss. In addition to introducing Metro Rapid service, Metro expanded local and express bus service, purchased hundreds of new buses, and lowered bus pass prices.{{Cite book |last1=García |first1=Robert |title=Running on empty: Transport, social exclusion and environmental justice |last2=Rubin |first2=Thomas A. |date=2004 |publisher=Bristol University Press |isbn=978-1-84742-600-0 |editor-last=Lucas |editor-first=Karen |chapter=Crossroad blues: the MTA Consent Decree and just transportation |doi=10.2307/j.ctt1t89876}}{{Cite book |url=https://libraryarchives.metro.net/DPGTL/longrangeplans/2001-draft-long-range-transportation-plan.pdf |title=2001 Long Range Transportation Plan for Los Angeles County |date=2001 |publisher=Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority |pages= |chapter=Metro Rapid Program}}File:Wilshire Western 720 stop.jpg]]Metro Rapid service on the two pilot corridors began in June 2000, opening on the same day as the Red Line extension to North Hollywood. Both lines were immediately popular, generating ridership growth of 25% in their first 90 days of operation. Travel time was improved by over 20% on both lines, aided by the signal priority at intersections in the City of Los Angeles.{{Rp|page=4}} Customer satisfaction increased relative to the previous local and limited-stop bus services, and the Rapid service quickly captured over 60% of bus ridership on both corridors.{{Rp|page=9}}
Following the initial pilot program of two lines in 2000, the Metro Rapid system expanded quickly. 6 lines were in operation in 2003,{{Cite web|title=Metro Bus and Rail System Map|date=August 2003|publisher=Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority|url=https://libraryarchives.metro.net/dpgtl/maps/2003_08_lacmta_system_map.pdf}} expanding to 26 lines in 2010.{{Cite web |date=June 2010 |title=Bus and Rail System |url=https://libraryarchives.metro.net/dpgtl/maps/2010-Metro-System-Map.pdf |publisher=Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority}} This rapid expansion was followed by significant reduction, with 5 Rapid lines cut in 2011 due to a budget crisis.{{Cite web |date=2010-11-29 |title=Cash-Strapped MTA To Cut Bus Lines, Trim Service |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/cash-strapped-mta-to-cut-bus-lines-trim-service/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |work=CBS Los Angeles}}
The NextGen Bus Plan, a Metro initiative to redesign its entire bus network, proposed to eliminate most of the Metro Rapid network beginning in 2020. Implementation of the NextGen plan was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused service cuts independent of the network redesign. In the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning in late 2020, service was reallocated from Metro Rapid lines to local lines. A December 2020 service change eliminated 6 lines,{{Cite web |last=Hymon |first=Steve |date=2020-11-24 |title=Service changes coming to Metro Bus system on Dec. 13 including more frequent buses |url=https://thesource.metro.net/2020/11/24/service-changes-coming-to-metro-bus-system-on-dec-13-including-more-frequent-buses/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |work=The Source |publisher=Metro}} and much of the rest of the network was proposed to be eliminated by 2021. The NextGen plan included the construction of over {{Convert|30|mi|km}} of new bus lanes across Los Angeles, a feature notably absent from the Metro Rapid system since its introduction.{{Cite web |last=Lipmen |first=Eli |date=2023-10-02 |title=LA is (Not-So) Quietly Adding a LOT of Bus Lanes |url=https://transitcenter.org/la-is-not-so-quietly-adding-a-lot-of-bus-lanes/ |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=TransitCenter |language=en-US}}
As of 2024, three Metro Rapid lines remain in operation, serving the Wilshire Blvd, Vermont Av, and Van Nuys Blvd/Sepulveda Pass corridors.
Perception and criticism
{{Multiple image
| image1 = Olive St. & Kosciuszko Way- Metro Silver Line 1.JPG
| image2 = New Rapid Line 710 Stop.JPG
| image3 = LACMTA 5979 740 Vernon & Crenshaw 29-Nov-2019.jpg
| total_width = 600
| direction = horizontal
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| footer = Bus stops on later Metro Rapid lines, as shown here, often lacked amenities
}}A 2009 study by the National Bus Rapid Transit Institute found that the public perception of Metro Rapid service was better than that of Metro's corresponding local bus services, and similar to the Blue Line. However, Metro Rapid service was perceived as lower-quality than Orange Line BRT and Metro's other rail services.
Transit planner Jarrett Walker, who is unaffiliated with Metro, criticized the rapid growth of the Metro Rapid service on multiple occasions. Walker characterized the system as "diluted," commenting that Metro Rapid lines introduced after the first two lacked the bus stop amenities, service frequency, and signal priority that defined the two initial lines. Walker nonetheless praised the system for the attitude it represented, describing it as "a remarkable effort to step up mobility all over the city in a very short time."{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Jarrett |date=2009-06-19 |title=When Expansion is Dilution |url=https://humantransit.org/2009/06/when-expansion-is-dilution.html |access-date=2024-05-22 |work=Human Transit}}
Routes
=Current Metro Rapid routes=
{{Main|Los Angeles Metro Bus}}
class=wikitable style="font-size: 95%;" |
!Route !colspan=2|Terminals !via !Days of Operation !Notes |
rowspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;" |
|Santa Monica |rowspan=2|Downtown LA |rowspan=2|Wilshire Bl |rowspan=2|Daily (Mon-Fri: 4:30a-1a; Sat/Sun: 5a-1a) |rowspan=2|
|
Westwood Wilshire Bl & Westwood Bl |
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"|
|East Hollywood |Athens |Daily (Mon-Fri: 5a-9:30p; Sa: 6a-9:15p; Su: 6a-8:30p) |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"|
|Sylmar |West LA |Daily (6a-9p) |
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=Rapid routes operated by other agencies=
class=wikitable style="font-size: 95%;" |
!Route !colspan=2|Terminals ! style="width:250px;"|via !Days of Operation !Notes |
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| Big Blue Bus Rapid 3 {{Cite web|url=http://www.bigbluebus.com/Routes-and-Schedules/PdfHandler.ashx/R3/little-blue-book.pdf|title=Big Blue Bus Rapid 3 Schedule|date=June 12, 2016|access-date=July 4, 2016}}
|Santa Monica |Westchester |Lincoln Bl |Weekday peak hours (6a-9a, 1p-7p) |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;" |
|Santa Monica |Koreatown |Pico Bl |Weekdays (6a-7:30p) |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;" |Big Blue Bus Rapid 10
|Santa Monica |Downtown LA |Santa Monica Bl, Bundy Dr, I-10, Grand Av/Olive St, Figueroa St/Flower St, Temple St |Weekday peak hours (6a-8:15a, 3:30p-6:15p) |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;" |
|Westwood |Palms |Westwood Bl, Overland Av |Daily (M-F: 5:30a-11:00p; Sa/Su: 6:30a-11:00p) | |
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;" | Culver CityBus Rapid 6 {{Cite web |url=http://www.culvercity.org/home/showdocument?id=8170 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-08-03 |archive-date=2017-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804012642/http://www.culvercity.org/home/showdocument?id=8170 |url-status=dead }}
|Westwood |Westchester |Sepulveda Bl |Weekdays (5:50a-9:57a; 2:20p-7:35p) |
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style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;" | Torrance Transit Rapid 3
|Torrance |Long Beach |Carson St, Avalon Bl, Pacific Coast Hwy |Weekdays (6:05a-10:20a; 2:15p-7:40p) |
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=Former routes=
class=wikitable style="font-size: 95%;" |
!Route !colspan=2|Terminals ! style="width:250px;"|via !Notes/History |
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 704
|Santa Monica |Downtown LA |Santa Monica Bl |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 705 {{cite web|url=https://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/705.pdf |title=Route Map : 705 |website=Metro.net |access-date=2016-01-23}}
|West Hollywood |Vernon |La Cienega Bl, Vernon Av |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 710 {{cite web|url=https://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/710.pdf |title=Route Map : 710 |website=Metro.net |access-date=2016-01-23}}
|Koreatown, Los Angeles |Redondo Beach |Crenshaw Bl |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 711 {{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/257322/LA-Metro-711 |title=Route Map : 711 |website=www.scribd.com |access-date=2016-08-06}}
|Inglewood |Bell Gardens |Florence Av |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 714 {{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/257323/LA-Metro-714 |title=Route Map : 714 |website=www.scribd.com |access-date=2016-08-06}}
|Beverly Hills |Downtown LA |Beverly Bl |
|
rowspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 715
|Westchester, Los Angeles |rowspan=2|Downey |rowspan=2|Manchester Bl, Manchester Av, Firestone Bl |rowspan=2|
|
Inglewood Inglewood Transit Center |
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 717
|Hollywood |Culver City |Hollywood Bl, Fairfax Av |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 724
|Sylmar, Los Angeles |North Hollywood, Los Angeles |San Fernando Rd, Lankershim Bl |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 728 {{cite web |title=Route Map: 728 |url=https://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/728.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422064321/http://media.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/728.pdf |archive-date=2021-04-22 |access-date= |website=Metro.net }}
|Century City, Los Angeles |Downtown LA |Olympic Bl |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 730
|Mid-City, Los Angeles |Little Tokyo |Pico Bl |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 733 {{Cite web |date=2018-12-16 |title=Route Map: 733 |url=https://media.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/733.pdf |access-date=2022-12-02 |website=Metro.net }}
|Santa Monica |Downtown LA |Venice Bl |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;" | 734 {{cite web|url=https://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/734.pdf |title=Route Map : 734 |website=Metro.net |access-date=2016-01-23}}
|Sylmar, Los Angeles |West LA |Sepulveda Bl |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 740 {{cite web|title=Route Map : 740|url=https://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/740.pdf|access-date=2016-01-23|website=Metro.net}}
|Jefferson Park, Los Angeles |Redondo Beach |Crenshaw Bl, Hawthorne Bl |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 741 {{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/257327/LA-Metro-741 |title=Route Map : 741 |website=www.scribd.com |access-date=2016-08-06}}
|Northridge |Tarzana |Reseda Bl |
|
rowspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;" | 744 {{cite web|url=https://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/744.pdf |title=Route Map : 744 |website=Metro.net |access-date=2016-01-23}}
|rowspan=2|Pacoima |Northridge |rowspan=2|Van Nuys Bl, Ventura Bl, Reseda Bl |rowspan=2|
|
Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles Sherman Oaks Galleria |
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 745 {{cite web|title=Route Map : 745 (12/15/19)|url=https://media.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/745.pdf|access-date=2019-12-15|website=Metro.net}}
|Downtown LA |South LA |Broadway |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 750 {{cite web|url=https://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/750.pdf |title=Route Map : 750 |website=Metro.net |access-date=2016-01-23}}
|Canoga Park, Los Angeles |Studio City, Los Angeles |Ventura Bl |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 751 {{cite web|title=Route Map : 751|url=https://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/751.pdf|access-date=2016-01-23|website=Metro.net}}
|Cypress Park, Los Angeles |Huntington Park |Av 26, Daly St, Soto St |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 753
|Downtown LA |Willowbrook |Central Av |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 757 {{cite web|url=https://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/757.pdf |title=Route Map : 757 |website=Metro.net |access-date=2016-01-23}}
|East Hollywood, Los Angeles |Western Av |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 760 {{cite web|title=Route Map : 760|url=https://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/760.pdf|access-date=2016-01-23|website=Metro.net}}
|Downtown LA |Santa Fe Av, Pacific Bl, Long Beach Bl |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;" rowspan="2"| 762 {{cite web|title=Route Map : 762|url=https://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/762.pdf|access-date=2016-01-23|website=Metro.net}}
|rowspan=2|Pasadena |rowspan=2|Fair Oaks Av, Atlantic Bl |rowspan=2|
|
Lynwood Imperial Hwy & Atlantic Bl |
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 770 {{cite web|url=https://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/770.pdf |title=Route Map : 770 |website=Metro.net |access-date=2016-01-23}}
|Downtown LA |Cesar E. Chavez Av, Garvey Av |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;" | 780 {{cite web|url=https://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/780.pdf |title=Route Map : 780 |website=Metro.net |access-date=2016-01-23}}
|Pasadena |Culver City |Colorado Bl, Hollywood Bl, Fairfax Av |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;" | 788 {{cite web|url=https://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/788.pdf |title=Route Map : 788 |website=Metro.net |access-date=2016-01-23}}
|Arleta |West LA |Van Nuys Blvd, Interstate 405 |
|
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;" | 794 {{cite web|url=https://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/794.pdf |title=Route Map : 794 |website=Metro.net |access-date=2016-01-23}}
|Sylmar, Los Angeles |Downtown LA |San Fernando Rd |
|
rowspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 920 {{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/257356/LA-Metro-920 |title=Route Map : 920 |website=www.scribd.com |accessdate=2016-08-06}}
|Santa Monica |rowspan=2|Koreatown, Los Angeles |rowspan=2|Wilshire Bl |rowspan=2|
|
Westwood, Los Angeles Wilshire Bl & Westwood Bl |
style="text-align:center; background:white; color:black; vertical-align:top;"| 940 {{cite web|url=http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/940.pdf |title=Route Map : 940 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120232033/http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/940.pdf |access-date=2025-03-12|archive-date=November 20, 2008 }}
|Downtown LA |Torrance |Martin Luther King Jr. Bl, Crenshaw Bl, La Brea Av, Hawthorne Bl |
|
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- [https://www.metro.net Metro Rapid Homepage]
Further reading
- {{Cite thesis |publisher=California State Polytechnic University, Pomona |last=Tong |first=Jeremy |title=Metro Local Versus Metro Rapid Bus Service: An Analysis of Performance on Western Avenue and Vermont Avenue |date=2022 |url=https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/downloads/05741z555 |degree=Master's |format=}}
{{Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority}}
{{USBRT}}
Category:Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority