As of June 2023[update], there are 117 routes in the system (excluding Metro Busway routes). Metro employs the drivers that operate most routes, but some are contracted out to MV Transportation, Southland Transit, and Transdev.
The Los Angeles Metro bus has the third largest fleet in North America, with 2,320 buses, about 80 percent are standard length (35 feet (11 m) or longer) and 17 percent are high-capacity 60-foot (18 m) articulated buses.[3]
Starting in 2003, Metro operated its bus network under three different brands: orange Metro Local buses for traditional routes, red Metro Rapid buses for limited stop routes, and blue Metro Express buses for minimal stop services along the region's extensive freeway network. The separate brands were retired in 2020 as part of Metro's NextGen Bus Plan, a major restructuring of the agencies routes, with most of the Metro Rapid routes retired in favor of more frequent service on the former Metro Local routes, which will now make fewer stops.
Routes
Metro buses are given line numbers that indicate the type of service offered. This method was devised originally by the Southern California Rapid Transit District, Metro's predecessor.
Line numbers lower than 100 are local routes to/from Downtown Los Angeles
Line numbers in the 100s are local east/west routes in other areas
Line numbers in the 200s are local north/south routes in other areas
Line numbers in the 300s are limited-stop routes
Line numbers in the 400s are freeway express routes to/from Downtown Los Angeles
Line numbers in the 500s are freeway express routes in other areas
Line numbers in the 600s are shuttle/circulator routes
Line numbers in the 700s are limited-stop rapid routes.
Line numbers in the 800s are used to designate Metro Rail routes as well as supplementary shuttles for suspended rail service.
Local bus service to/from Downtown Los Angeles and other areas. The line numbering begins at line 2 (Sunset Bl, a line leading west from USC) and proceeds counterclockwise around Downtown Los Angeles, ending at line 96 (Riverside Dr.)
Northern half of the route originated at West Hollywood via San Vicente Bl before June 2012.
Southern half of the route between the Harbor Gateway Transit Center and San Pedro was replaced by portions of Lines 205 and 246 on Vermont Av and Gaffey St, respectively, on December 11, 2022.
As of September 2019[update], Metro operates 2,320 buses in revenue service, the third-largest fleet in North America behind New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (5,825) and New Jersey's NJ Transit (3,003).[114] Metro operates the nation's largest fleet of compressed natural gas powered buses.[115]
Photos
A Metro Local bus with the old "yellow jacket" paint scheme.
