Los Angeles Metro Rail
Typical Metro Rail subway train
Typical Metro Rail light rail train
Overview
Area served	Los Angeles County, California
Transit type	Light rail Rapid transit (subway)
Number of lines	4 light rail lines 2 subway lines
Number of stations	93
Daily ridership	170,100 (weekdays, Q2 2022)[1]
Annual ridership	47,865,500 (2021)[2]
Website	metro.net
Operation
Began operation	July 14, 1990; 32 years ago (1990-07-14)
Operator(s)	Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)
Headway	4–8 mins (peak); 10–20 mins (off-peak)
Technical
System length	97.6 mi (157.1 km)[3]
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead line (light rail) or third rail (subway), 750 V DC
System map

The Los Angeles Metro Rail is an urban rail transportation system serving Los Angeles County, California, United States. It consists of six lines, including four light rail lines (the A, C, L and E lines) and two rapid transit (known locally as a subway) lines (the B and D lines) serving 93 stations. It connects with the Metro Busway bus rapid transit system (the G and J lines) and also with the Metrolink commuter rail system.

Metro Rail is owned and operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and started service in 1990. It has been extended significantly since that time and several further extensions are either in the works or being considered. In 2021, the system had a ridership of 47,865,500, or about 170,100 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2022.

Los Angeles had two previous rail transit systems, the Pacific Electric Red Car and Los Angeles Railway Yellow Car lines, which operated between the late 19th century and the 1960s. The Metro Rail system uses many of their former rights-of-way, and thus can be considered their indirect successor.

Current system

Lines

In Los Angeles Metro terminology, common with most other metro systems, a line is a named service, defined by a route and set of stations served by trains on that route. (The word does not refer to a physical rail corridor, as it does in New York City Subway nomenclature.)

Metro also uses the same line letter naming system for its Metro Busway services (which are bus rapid transit routes operating in transitways).

Six Metro Rail lines operate in Los Angeles County:^[3]

Line name	Length	Stations	Termini	Type
A Line	21.3 mi (34.3 km)	22	7th Street/Metro Center (north) Downtown Long Beach (south)	Light rail
B Line	16.4 mi (26.4 km)[4]	14	North Hollywood (north) Union Station (south)	Subway
C Line	19.5 mi (31.4 km)	14	Redondo Beach (west) Norwalk (east)	Light rail
D Line	6.4 mi (10.3 km)[4]	8	Wilshire/Western (west) Union Station (east)	Subway
E Line	13.1 mi (21.1 km)	19	7th Street/Metro Center (east) Downtown Santa Monica (west)	Light rail
L Line	29.7 mi (47.8 km)	27	APU/Citrus College (north) Atlantic (south)	Light rail

The B and D lines follow a fully underground route, and the C Line follows a fully grade separated route. The A, E and L Line routes run in a mix of environments, including at-grade in an exclusive corridor, street running, elevated, and underground.^[3]

The two subway lines (B and D) share tracks between Union Station and Wilshire/Vermont, while two of the light rail lines (A and E) share tracks between 7th Street/Metro Center and Pico. Future system expansions are expected to use more shared light-rail tracks.

Stations

Two Siemens P2000 trains at Memorial Park station

Metro Gold Line (now L Line) train at Atlantic station

Westbound Metro Green Line (now C Line) train to Redondo Beach station arrives at Long Beach Boulevard station

Metro Red Line (now B Line) train entering Union Station

Metro Blue Line (now A Line) train stationed at Downtown Long Beach (formerly Transit Mall) Station

Metro Expo Line (now E Line)train departing from La Cienega/Jefferson station to Downtown LA.

The large majority of light rail stations are either at ground level or elevated, with some trenched or fully underground. All heavy rail (i.e. rapid transit) stations are fully underground. Future light rail lines will add more underground stations to the system.

Stations include at least two ticket vending machines, wayfinding maps, electronic message displays, and bench seating. Each station features unique artwork reflecting local culture and/or the function of transit in society.

Stations are unstaffed during regular hours. Call boxes are available at stations to allow employees at the Metro Rail Operations Control Center to assist passengers with concerns.

Metro Rail uses a proof-of-payment fare system, with Metro's fare inspectors randomly inspecting trains and stations to ensure passengers have a valid fare product on their Transit Access Pass (TAP) electronic fare card. When passengers enter a station, they encounter TAP card validators which collect fares when a customer places their card on top. Additionally, fare gates (turnstiles) connected to TAP card validators are at all underground stations, all elevated stations and some surface stations. Once passengers pass these validators or board a train, they have entered the "fare paid zone," where fare inspectors may check their TAP card to ensure they have a valid fare.

Underground stations are typically large in size with a mezzanine level for fare sales and collection above a platform level where passengers board trains.

Street-level stations are typically simpler with platforms designed with shade canopies, separated from nearby roads and sidewalks, where passengers can purchase fares and board a train.

Subway stations and tunnels are designed to resist ground shaking that could occur at a specific location, but there is no general magnitude of earthquake that the entire system is expected to withstand.^[5] The Metro Rail system has not suffered any damage due to earthquakes since its opening in 1993.

Some suburban stations have free or paid park and ride lots available and most have bike storage available.

Rolling stock

Metro Rail maintains two distinct systems of rail: a light rail system and a subway system, which use incompatible technologies, even though they both use 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge. Metro's subway lines are powered by third rail, whereas its light rail lines are powered by overhead catenary. Also, the two separate systems have different loading gauge, and platforms are designed to match the separate car widths.

Hours of operation

Between the system's opening in 1990 and February 2020, Metro Rail lines ran regularly between 5:00 am and midnight, seven days a week. Limited service on particular segments was provided after midnight and before 5:00 am. On Friday and Saturday evenings, service operated until approximately 2:00 am. There was no rail service between 2:00 am and 3:30 am, except on special occasions such as New Year's Eve. Service operated every 5–10 minutes during the peak period, every 10–15 minutes during middays and during the day on weekends, and every 20 minutes during the evening until the close of service. Exact times varied from route to route.

In March 2020, the system started to adjust train frequencies in order to accommodate for restrictions that were enacted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trains would continue to run between 5:00 am and midnight daily, with late night weekend service being removed in order to accommodate for train cleaning.

Fares and fare collection

The standard Metro base fare applies for all trips. Fare collection is based on a partial proof-of-payment system. At least two fare machines are at each station. Fare inspectors, local police and deputy sheriffs police the system and cite individuals without proof of payment. Passengers are required to purchase a TAP card to enter stations equipped with fare gates. Passengers using a TAP card can transfer between Metro routes for free within 2 hours from the first tap.

The following table shows Metro fares, effective December 17, 2021 (in US dollars):

Transit Access Pass (TAP) and fare gates

Metro has implemented a system of electronic fare collection using a stored value smartcard called the Transit Access Pass (TAP Card). This card was intended to simplify fare collection and reduce costs.^[7] In 2012, paper monthly passes were phased out and replaced with the TAP Card. As of September 2013, first-time Metro riders must deposit an additional $2 (or $1 at TAP vending machines) on top of their first fare payment to obtain a reloadable TAP Card. In addition, in 2008 Metro began installing fare gates at all underground stations, all elevated stations and some surface stations. Implementation of both programs (the TAP Card and the fare gate program) has turned out to be expensive ($154 million in total, so far) and its initial rollout was problematic.^[8]

Ridership

In 2021, the Metro Rail system had a ridership of 47,865,500.^[2]

As of the second quarter of 2022, the combined Metro B and D lines averaged a weekday ridership of 74,200, making it the ninth busiest rapid transit system in the United States.^[9] Taking overall track length into consideration, Metro Rail's subway lines transport 7,960 passengers per route mile, making this the fifth busiest U.S. rapid transit system on a per mile basis.

Metro's light rail system is the busiest in the United States with 95,900 average weekday boardings as of the second quarter of 2022.^[10] In terms of route length, Metro's light rail system is the second largest in the United States.

Security and safety

Half of the Metro Rail's trains and stations are patrolled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department under a law enforcement contract. The Los Angeles Police Department, and Long Beach Police Department also patrol stations within their respective cities, also under contract.^[11] The system is also monitored by security personnel through closed-circuit television cameras in Metro Rail stations and subway cars.^[12]

History

In the early 20th century, Southern California had an extensive privately owned rail transit network with over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of track, operated by Pacific Electric (Red Cars) and Los Angeles Railway (Yellow Cars).^[13] However, from 1927 revenue shortfall caused Pacific Electric to begin replacing lightly used rail lines with buses. In 1958 the remnants of the privately owned rail and bus systems were consolidated into a government agency known as the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority or MTA. By 1963 the remaining rail lines were completely removed and replaced with bus service.

In the following decades, growing traffic congestion led to increased public support for rail transit's return. Beginning in the 1970s, a variety of factors, including environmental concerns, an increasing population and the price of gasoline led to calls for mass transit other than buses. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA, now branded as Metro) began construction of the initial lines throughout the 1980s using revenues from a voter-approved increase in sales tax. The Blue (A) Line finally opened on July 14, 1990, some 27 years after the final streetcar line closed. Since that date, the system has been developed to its current size. The following table shows this expansion's timeline:

Segment description	Date opened	Line(s) on segment	Endpoints	# of new stations	Length (miles)
Blue Line Initial Segment	July 14, 1990		Pico – Anaheim Street	17	19.1
Blue Line Long Beach Loop	September 1, 1990		Anaheim Street – Pacific	4	2.2
Blue Line To Financial District	February 15, 1991		Pico – 7th St/Metro Center	1	0.7
Red Line MOS-1	January 30, 1993		Union Station – Westlake/MacArthur Park	3[a]	4.4
Green Line	August 12, 1995		Redondo Beach – Norwalk	13[a]	20.0
Red Line MOS-2 West	July 13, 1996		Westlake/MacArthur Park – Wilshire/Western	3	2.0
Red Line MOS-2 North	June 12, 1999		Wilshire/Vermont – Hollywood/Vine	5	4.7
Red Line MOS-3	June 24, 2000		Hollywood/Vine – North Hollywood	3	6.3
Gold Line Initial Segment	July 26, 2003		Union Station – Sierra Madre Villa	12[a]	13.7
Gold Line Eastside Extension	November 15, 2009		Union Station – Atlantic	8	6.0
Expo Line Phase 1	April 28, 2012		Flower/Washington – La Cienega/Jefferson[b]	8	7.6
Expo Line To Culver City	June 20, 2012		La Cienega/Jefferson – Culver City	2[c]	1.0
Gold Line Foothill Extension	March 5, 2016[14]		Sierra Madre Villa – APU/Citrus College	6[14]	11.5[14]
Expo Line Phase 2	May 20, 2016[15]		Culver City – Santa Monica	7[15]	6.6[15]
Total				93	105.8[d]

Planned expansion

Metro has worked to plan and prioritize project funding and implementation. Metro's 2009 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) was developed to provide a long-term vision of transportation system development for the next 30 years.^[16] Metro worked to update the 2009 LRTP plan citing new housing trends and fiscal changes. Metro released the updated LRTP in 2020.^[17]

Beginning in 2014, Metro saw its ridership numbers begin to decline. Many explanations exist for the decline, including safety concerns, an increase in ride-hailing service usage, low-income housing opportunities drying up in L.A. because of the increase in rents, and a shortage of housing.^[18] Ridership declines also coincide with passage of AB 60, signed into law by Governor Brown in 2013, which provides for issuance of a vehicle operators license regardless of immigration status.^[19][20]

The fiscal changes are the passage of Measure R, a countywide incrememental sales tax increase passed by voters in 2008, provides funding for many of the highest priority projects in the LRTP.^{[21][non-primary source needed]} On November 6, 2012, Metro attempted to pass Measure J,^[22] but failed as it did not reach the two-thirds majority needed to pass.^[23][24] In November 2016 election, Metro decided to place another sales tax on the ballot. The voters then approved Measure M, a half-cent permanent sales tax increase, to fund many local projects, including Metro Rail expansion.^[25]

In 2018, Metro approved renaming its rail lines using a letter-based scheme, similar to those in New York City.^[26][27] Metro recommended the opening of the refurbished A Line in 2019 as a starting point to rename the lines,^[28] and then continuing with the opening of the K line, finishing in time for the opening of the Regional Connector in 2022.^{[29][non-primary source needed]}

Current and priority projects

The following rail projects have been given high priority by Metro. They all appear in the 2009 LRTP constrained plan,^[16] and all have funding earmarked from Measure R.^[21][30] With the passage of Measure M in 2016, Metro released an updated Long Range Transportation plan in February 2017, and released a full report in 2020,^[31] along with its Twenty-eight by '28 initiative.^[32]

Concept name	Description	Construction	Operational	Status	Ref.
Crenshaw/LAX Line	Constructs a new light rail route starting at an underground station at the current Crenshaw/Expo station on the E Line at Crenshaw Blvd and running south to connect to the C Line near the current Aviation/LAX station.	2014–2020	Oct. 7, 2022	Testing	[33][34]
Regional Connector	Creates a new light rail tunnel through Downtown Los Angeles linking the A, L and E Lines.	2015–2022	Fall 2022	Testing	[35][36][37]
D Line Extension	Phase 1 extending the D Line west along Wilshire Blvd to La Cienega, Phase 2 extending a further three miles from La Cienega thru Beverly Hills to Century City. Phase 3 will consist of two additional stations—in Westwood near UCLA, and at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center. All currently under construction with plans to finish all three phases in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics, which the city will host. UCLA will be site of the Olympic Village.	2015–2026	2024 (Phase 1) / 2025 (Phase 2) / 2027 (Phase 3)	Under construction	[38][39][40][41]
LAX Automated People Mover	Will connect LAX terminals and a new rental car facility to the Metro Rail system through the construction of an automated people mover system and an infill light rail station, LAX/Metro Transit Center station,[42] which will be served by the K and C Lines. Built-in cooperation with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA).	2018–2023	2023	Under construction	[43][44][45]
Gold Line Foothill Extension Phase 2B (Part 1)	Further extends the northeast segment of the current LRT L Line (which will be operated as part of the A Line by the time this extension opens) eastward from APU/Citrus College station in Azusa to Pomona. Phase 2B (Part 2) from Pomona to Montclair is still attaining funding.	2019–2025	2025	Under construction	[46][47][48][49]
East San Fernando Light Rail Transit Project	LRT line connecting the east San Fernando Valley to the G Line, largely along Van Nuys Blvd and San Fernando Road. The HRT Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor is immediately south of Van Nuys Blvd corridors terminus. A transfer station will be constructed to connect with three possible transit options: the BRT G Line, HRT Sepulveda pass Transit Corridor Line and the planned LRT. Transfer station optioned include the Metrolink Van Nuys station, a Sherman Way station or the G Line Van Nuys station. LRT and HRT are not compatible as a single route.	2022	2028	EIR/CEQA Completed – Construction expected 2023	[50][51][52][53]
Eastside Transit Corridor Phase 2	Extends the LRT L Line (future E Line) from its current East LA terminus eastward along Washington Boulevard to Whittier.	2025	2035	Draft EIR/CEQA in progress	[54][55]
South Bay C Line Extension	Extends the LRT C Line from its current terminus in Redondo Beach towards Torrance and South Bay cities. If accelerated and funds are available, by 2028.	2026	2033[56]	Three LPA's optioned / Draft EIR in progress	[57]
West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor	Creates a new LRT route connecting downtown LA to Artesia and the Gateway Cities, much of it along the West Santa Ana Branch, a disused Pacific Electric right-of-way. The downtown terminus is still undetermined; possibilities include the Arts District, and Union Station.	2023	2033[58]	Draft EIR complete / Pending EIR	[59][60][61][62]
Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor Phase 1 and 2	Planning underway on a rail connection between the G Line and the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor (see above) in the Valley to the D and E Lines on the Westside. Modes under consideration including a standalone HRT subway; or a monorail, which unlike the other modes could traverse the Sepulveda Pass without tunneling. Existing local funding sources will provide approximately $5.7 billion for the project for a scheduled opening in the early 2030s; additional funds, including from public-private partnerships, are being sought to complete the line before the 2028 Summer Olympics.	2028	2039	Four LPA's analysis in progress / Draft EIR in progress	[63][64]
Crenshaw Northern Extension Rail Project	Create a new LRT subway line connecting the B Line's Hollywood/Highland station south to the D Line, and the K Line's Expo/Crenshaw Station via Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. Possible north–south routes including Fairfax, La Brea, and San Vicente Boulevard. An extension north of the K Line is included as a Tier 1 Strategic Unfunded Plan project in the 2009 Long Range Transportation Plan. The city council approved in May 2018, to expedite its own environmental study to speed up the approval process with Metro. Metro's 2018 budget included $500,000 to begin the draft environmental studies for the extension project. Local residents created the West Hollywood Advocates for Metro Rail to advocate a new LRT or HRT. West Hollywood has publicly stated they prefer all routes be underground thru Santa Monica boulevard.	2041	2047	Three LPA's analysis in progress / Draft EIR in progress	[16][65][66][67][68]
Arts District/6th Street station	Added due to public comments. Extend the HRT D and B Lines from their eastern terminus at Union Station, south along the L.A. River to the Arts District, and possibly across the river along Whittier Blvd. to the Eastside. Not included in 2009 Long Range Transportation Plan. However, Metro is studying the possibility of adding one or two stops along the river in the Arts District as part of a project to improve and expand the rail yard already in the area to accommodate increased headways once the D Line extension west is completed. Draft Environmental study funds were appropriated in the 2018 Metro budget. Draft EIR in progress. Metro advocates no Measure M or R funds are available for construction.	Unknown	Unknown	Draft EIR in progress	[69][70][71][72]
Vermont Transit Corridor	Create a new north–south subway route down Vermont Avenue extending the HRT B Line at the Wilshire/Vermont Station south, to the Metro E Line and C Line. Included as a Tier 2 Strategic Unfunded Plan project in 2009 Long Range Transportation Plan; a Bus rapid transit line has been funded in the near term by Measure M, but studies will be conducted for possible heavy rail rapid transit, as the Vermont corridor is Metro's second busiest public transportation corridor.	BRT 2020; HRT 2060	BRT 2024; HRT 2067	Three LPA analysis funded / Pending Draft EIR for BRT	[16][73]
G LRT Conversion	Converting the current G Line Bus Rapid Transit route into LRT. Made possible after the 2014 repeal of state legislation prohibiting LRT along the G Line right of way, which had been enacted due to neighborhood opposition in the 1990s. Bridges along the busway are designed to LRT standards, but the project would require substantial service disruption as the roadway is replaced by rails and catenary wire installed. Some Valley politicians and pressure groups have endorsed the proposal; critics have suggested funding would be better spent on adding new lines along other corridors in the Valley. Long terms plans include complete conversion in phases with full replacement by 2057. Metro commenced BRT upgrades in 2018 by adding more grade crossing gates, two new over cross bridges at Van Nuys Blvd and Sepulveda Blvd, reducing travel time by 20%.	2051	2057	No current funds available for LRT until 2051	[74][75][76]
Lincoln Blvd BRT/LRT Line	Extend the LRT C Line from LAX northwest to Venice and Santa Monica Beach and possibly connect with the E Lines western terminus. The C Line was originally engineered to maintain compatibility with this extension. Included in City of Los Angeles Westside Mobility Plan, and as a Tier 2 Strategic Unfunded Plan project in 2009 Long Range Transportation Plan.	BRT 2043; LRT Unknown	BRT 2047; LRT Unknown	No LPA or EIR conducted	[16][77]

Other expansion concepts

Metro's Long Range Transportation Plan was published in 2009,^[16] and was updated by in 2020.^[17] The following proposed line/system expansions do not have funding or high priority in Metro's long-range plans. Some are listed as "strategic unfunded" in the last Long Range Transportation Plan, indicating some possibility they could be constructed should additional funding materialize. Others have been the subject of Metro Board discussion, with the possibility of future feasibility studies. (More information on each project can be found in the references.)