Metro Rapid

Metro Rapid

A NABI 60-BRT bus on Line 761 heading to Westwood
Slogan	Go Metro
Founded	June 24, 2000
Locale	Los Angeles County, California
Service type	bus service, bus rapid transit
Operator	Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Big Blue Bus Culver CityBus Torrance Transit

Metro Rapid is a local express bus service in Los Angeles County, California with bus rapid transit characteristics. It operates in mixed traffic environments and has fewer stops than the Metro Local service. The system is mainly operated by Metro. Two routes are operated by Big Blue Bus, one by Culver CityBus and one by Torrance Transit. The Rapid program speeds up travel time for passengers, complementing the Metro Local bus network operated by the Metro as well as other bus routes operated by smaller agencies.

To speed up travel times, buses are equipped with special transmitter devices that send a signal to traffic lights, which cause them to favor the bus by holding green lights longer and shortening red lights. Metro Rapid buses also stop less frequently than Metro Local buses, with Rapid stops located only at major intersections and transfer points. The frequency of Metro Rapid buses is increased as well, as more buses on a line translates to less wait time at each station. All Metro Rapid buses are low-floor CNG buses for faster boarding and alighting.

As a result of a recent federal court consent decree ruling, beginning in June 2006 almost all Rapid routes began operating from at least 5 am to 9 pm, five days a week, with a maximum of 10-minute peak headways and 20-minute midday and evening headways. Some Rapid routes operate on weekends as well.

Overview

Metro bus stop sign for Local line 4 and Rapid line 704 in Santa Monica.

The Metro Rapid Program was implemented in June 2000-December 2002 with the goal of improving bus speeds within urbanized Los Angeles County. Lines 720 (Wilshire), 745 (Broadway), 754 (Vermont) and 750 (Ventura) were the pilot routes of the program. Metro claims travel times were reduced by as much as 29%.

Metro Rapid stop demonstrating the new design and NextBus technology

Metro Rapid buses are distinguished by their red and silver livery. Some Rapid stops are equipped with "NextBus" technology which indicates the wait time before the next bus arrives. NextBus displays were installed mostly at stops on Lines 720 and 750.

Metro Rapid Lines 720, 770 and 780 are the only lines that complement multiple lines (the 720 runs alongside the 18 and 20; 770 runs alongside 68 and 70; and the 780 runs alongside the 180, 181 and 217); Lines 720 and 780 are the longest routes in the Metro Rapid system. They take roughly 2 hours from start to end during rush hours. Also, line 720 is the most frequent of all Rapids. In the morning rush hour, the Rapid 720 ranges from every 2–10 minutes.

Metro Rapid articulated bus in downtown Los Angeles

A year after Metro introduced SmartBus technology on most of their buses, marquees were modified on most Metro Rapid buses in which the "STOP REQUESTED" portion scrolls across the marquee instead of staying in place and "PLEASE USE REAR EXIT" scrolls slowly. Months later, marquees were switched back to their original format.

The fare is the same as other Metro bus and rail service. Routes are numbered in the 700 series (7xx).

Criticism

Critics see the Metro Rapid system as not sufficient to meet Los Angeles' growing transit needs. Limited funds, they say, would be better spent on extending the region's rail network. Rapid buses do not have the capacity or efficiency of light- or heavy-rail technology.

Other critics claim that Metro Rapid is a triumph of marketing over substance. For many years, Metro and its predecessor, the SCRTD, operated limited-stop routes, which were similar to Metro Rapid service in the middle of their routes (serving only transfer points and major stops), but made local stops at each end. Rapid buses do not change traffic signals outside of the City of Los Angeles because only the City has tied the transponders to the signal network. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works is working on rectifying the problem for all the other cities where Rapid buses pass through, but individual signals have to be reprogrammed to give signal priority to Rapid buses. In addition, only Rapid-branded buses have transponders, which causes problems when not enough Rapid buses are available (or conversely, when Rapid-branded buses are used on Local service).

Another complaint concerns the placement of Local and Rapid stops at separate locations at the same intersection. This was done to eliminate the backing up of buses at stops, but has resulted in a dangerous move called the "Rapid Bus Shuffle", in which a rider waiting at a Local stop runs to a Rapid stop, or vice versa, if the other bus arrives first. In response, some Rapid stops are placed adjacent to Local bus stops.

In addition, civil rights organizations like the Bus Riders Union complain about cutbacks in Local service required to implement Rapid service. Generally, between 25 and 50% of Local service is cut and replaced by Rapid service. Thus, riders not living or working near a Rapid stop must walk a longer distance to an intersection with both Local and Rapid stops, or wait longer for a Local bus. The Special Master of the consent decree between Metro and the BRU has ordered that no more than 33% of the resources for Rapids come from Local service.

It should be noted that Metro staff has never considered Metro Rapid a substitute for rail service, but is instead a pragmatic interim measure given current budgetary constraints.

Another major complaint is the lack of Saturday, Sunday, and holiday service on several of its high-volume routes like the 705, 710 and 740 where many patrons commute from inner-city suburbs, Downtown LA, or the South Bay to major cities for their jobs and local shopping.

Routes

Current Metro Rapid Routes

Route	Terminals		via	Days of Operation	Notes
704 ^[1]	Santa Monica 2nd St & Santa Monica Blvd	Downtown LA Union Station	Santa Monica Blvd	Daily (Mon-Sat: 5:00a-9:00p; Sun: 7:00a-8:00p)	Service began June 2007, replaced Line 304 and operates alongside Line 4
704 ^[1]	Westwood, Los Angeles Santa Monica Blvd & Sepulveda Blvd	Downtown LA Union Station	Santa Monica Blvd	Daily (Mon-Sat: 5:00a-9:00p; Sun: 7:00a-8:00p)
705 ^[2]	West Hollywood West Hollywood Library	Vernon Vernon Ave & Santa Fe Ave	La Cienega Blvd, Vernon Ave	Weekdays (5:00a-9:15p)	Service began June 2004, operates alongside Line 105
710 ^[3]	Koreatown, Los AngelesWilshire/Western station	Redondo Beach South Bay Galleria	Crenshaw Blvd	Weekdays, Saturday (M-F: 5:30a-9:30p; S: 6a-8:30p)	Service began February 2004, replaced Line 310 and operates alongside Line 210
720 ^[4]	Santa Monica Downtown Santa Monica station	Commerce Commerce Center	Wilshire Blvd, Whittier Blvd	Daily (M-F: 4:30a-1:00a; Sa/Su: 5:00a-1:00a)	Service began June 2000, one of the two original routes, replaced Lines 318, 320 and 322, and operates alongside Lines 18 and 20
	Westwood, Los Angeles Wilshire Blvd & Westwood Blvd	Downtown LA 6th St & S Central Ave
	Westwood, Los Angeles Wilshire Blvd & Westwood Blvd	Koreatown, Los Angeles Wilshire/Vermont station
728 ^[5]	Century City, Los Angeles Constellation Blvd & Century Park W	Downtown LA Union Station	Olympic Blvd	Weekdays (5:00a-9:00p)	Began December 2007, replaced Line 328 and operates alongside Line 28
733 ^[6]	Santa Monica Ocean Ave & Arizona Ave	Downtown LA Union Station	Venice Blvd	Daily (5:00a-11:00p)	Began June 2010, replaced Line 333 and operates alongside Line 33 (which replaces service during late evening and early morning hours)
734 ^[7]	Sylmar, Los Angeles Sylmar/San Fernando station	West LA Expo/Sepulveda station	Sepulveda Blvd, Brand Blvd	Weekdays (5a-10:15p)	Began June 2006, operates alongside Line 234 (which replaces service everyday during late evenings and early mornings and all day on weekends)
740 ^[8]	Jefferson Park, Los Angeles Expo/Crenshaw station	Redondo Beach South Bay Galleria	Hawthorne Blvd, Crenshaw Blvd	Weekdays, Saturday (M-F: 5a-9:15p; Sa: 5:45a-9:15p)	Began December 2004, replaced Line 340 and operates alongside Line 40
744 ^[9]	Pacoima Van Nuys Blvd & Glenoaks Blvd	Northridge Reseda Blvd & Devonshire St (weekdays only)	Reseda Blvd, Ventura Blvd, Van Nuys Blvd	Daily (M-F: 5a-10p; Sa/Su: 5:30a-8p)	Began December 2014, replaced Lines 741 and 761 and operates alongside Lines 233 and 240
744 ^[9]	Pacoima Van Nuys Blvd & Glenoaks Blvd	Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles Sherman Oaks Galleria	Reseda Blvd, Ventura Blvd, Van Nuys Blvd	Daily (M-F: 5a-10p; Sa/Su: 5:30a-8p)
745 ^[10]	Downtown LA Union Station	South LA Harbor Freeway station	Broadway	Daily (M-F: 5a-9p; Sa: 5:30a-8p; Su: 6a-8p)	Began December 2002, replaced Line 345 and operates alongside Line 45 Some morning peak service begins at Florence Ave
750 ^[11]	Woodland Hills, Los Angeles Warner Center station	Studio City, Los Angeles Universal City/Studio City station	Ventura Blvd	Weekdays (5a-10:30p)	Began June 2000, one of the two original routes, operates alongside Line 150
751 ^[12]	Cypress Park, Los Angeles Ave 28 & Idell St	Huntington Park Palm Place & Seville Ave	Ave 26, Daly St, Soto St	Weekdays (4:30a-8:30p)	Began June 2004, replaced Line 350 and operates alongside Line 251
754 ^[13]	Hollywood Vermont Ave & Hollywood Blvd	Athens 120th St & Vermont Ave	Vermont Ave	Daily (M-F: 5:00a-9:30p; Sa: 6:00a-9:15p; Su: 6:00a-8:30p)	Began December 2002, replaced Line 354 and operates alongside Line 204
757 ^[14]	East Hollywood, Los Angeles Hollywood/Western station	Hawthorne Crenshaw station	Western Ave	Weekdays (5:00a-9:30p)	Began December 2005, replaced Line 357 and operates alongside Line 207
760 ^[15]	Downtown LA 5th St & Beaudry Ave	Lynwood Long Beach Blvd station	Santa Fe Ave, Pacific Blvd, Long Beach Blvd	Weekdays, Saturday (M-F: 5:00a-8:45p; Sa: 5:00a-8:40p)	Began June 2007, replaced Line 360 and operates alongside Line 60
762 ^[16]	Pasadena Fair Oaks Ave & Colorado Blvd	Compton Artesia station	Fair Oaks Ave, Atlantic Blvd	Weekdays (5:00a-9:00p)	Began June 2008, replaced Line 361 and operates alongside Line 260
762 ^[16]	Pasadena Fair Oaks Ave & Colorado Blvd	Lynwood Imperial Hwy & Atlantic Blvd	Fair Oaks Ave, Atlantic Blvd	Weekdays (5:00a-9:00p)
770 ^[17]	Downtown LA Broadway & Venice Blvd	El Monte El Monte Station	Garvey Ave, Cesar E. Chavez Ave	Weekdays, Saturday (M-F: 5:00a-9:00p; Sa: 6:15a-7:15p)	Began December 2007, replaced Lines 368 and 370 and operates alongside Lines 68 and 70
780 ^[18]	Pasadena Pasadena City College	Mid-City, Los Angeles Washington/Fairfax Transit Hub	Fairfax Ave, Hollywood Blvd, Colorado Blvd	Weekdays (5:00a-8:45p)	Began operating in December 2004 Replaced 380 in June 2005 to have a western terminus at Hollywood/Highland Station and combined it with the 717 in June 2006 to extend to its current western terminus at Washington/Fairfax Transit Hub. Operates alongside Lines 180, 181 and 217
788 ^[19]	Arleta Van Nuys Blvd & Woodman Ave	West LA Expo/Sepulveda station	Van Nuys Blvd, I-405	Operates on Weekdays during rush hours (4:45-10am; 2:30-8:15pm) as a Rapid Express	Began December 2014 Closed-door along the San Fernando Valley for northbound service and Westwood for southbound service
794 ^[20]	Sylmar, Los Angeles Sylmar/San Fernando station	Downtown LA Hill St & Venice Blvd	San Fernando Road	Weekdays (4:45a-9:20p)	Began June 2008, replaced Line 394 and operates alongside Lines 94 and 224 Uses a mix of 40 and 45-foot NABI vehicles

Rapid routes operated by other agencies

Route	Terminals		via	Days of Operation	Notes
Big Blue Bus Rapid 3 ^[21]	Santa Monica 4th St & Wilshire Blvd	Westchester, Los Angeles Aviation/LAX station	Lincoln Blvd	Daily (6:10a-8:40p)	Operates alongside Big Blue Bus Line 3 Operated by Big Blue Bus
Big Blue Bus Rapid 7 ^[21]	Santa Monica Broadway & 5th St	Koreatown, Los Angeles Wilshire/Western station	Pico Blvd	Daily (5:35a-11:10p)	Operates alongside Big Blue Bus Line 7 Operated by Big Blue Bus
Big Blue Bus Rapid 12 ^[21]	Westwood, Los Angeles UCLA Charles E Young/P2 Hub	Palms, Los Angeles Overland Ave & Venice Blvd	Westwood Blvd, Overland Ave	Daily (M-F: 5:30a-11:00p; Sa/Su: 6:30a-11:00p)	Operated by Big Blue Bus
Culver CityBus Rapid 6 ^[22]	Westwood, Los Angeles UCLA	Westchester, Los Angeles Aviation/LAX station	Sepulveda Blvd	Weekdays (5:50a-9:57a; 2:20p-7:35p)	Operates alongside Culver CityBus Line 6 Operated by Culver CityBus
Torrance Transit Rapid 3	Redondo Beach South Bay Galleria	Long Beach Downtown Long Beach station	Carson St, Avalon Blvd, Pacific Coast Hwy	Weekdays (6:05a-10:20a; 2:15p-7:40p)	Operates alongside Torrance Transit Line 3 Operated by Torrance Transit

Former routes

Route	Terminals		via	Notes/History
711 ^[23]	Inglewood Inglewood Transit Center	Bell Gardens Florence Ave & Garfield Ave	Florence Ave	Began service on June 29, 2003 to replace the Local Limited Line 311. Replaced by Line 311 in December 2010
714 ^[24]	Beverly Hills Santa Monica Blvd & Canon Drive	Grand Station	Beverly Blvd	Originally operated daily before the service cut to only on weekday peak hours Discontinued in December 2010 due to low ridership
715	Westchester, Los Angeles LAX City Bus Center	Downey Downey Depot Transportation Center	Manchester Blvd, Firestone Blvd	Began service in June 2008, replaced the Local Limited Line 315 for weekday services Discontinued in December 2010 due to low ridership
715	Inglewood Inglewood Transit Center	Downey Downey Depot Transportation Center	Manchester Blvd, Firestone Blvd
717	Hollywood Hollywood/Vine station	Mid-City, Los Angeles Washington/Fairfax Transit Hub	Hollywood Blvd, Fairfax Ave	Began operating in June 2005, replacing the Local Limited Line 317, which began in December 2004 Merged with Line 780 in June 2006
724	Sylmar, Los Angeles Sylmar/San Fernando station	North Hollywood, Los Angeles North Hollywood station	San Fernando Road, Lankershim Blvd	Began service in June 2008, and operated alongside Metro Line 224 Discontinued in June 2009 due to low ridership
730	Mid-City, Los Angeles Pico/Rimpau Transit Center	Little Tokyo Little Tokyo/Arts District station	Pico Blvd	Began operating in June 2008, replaced Local Limited Line 330. Replaced by Line 330 in June 2012
741 ^[25]	Northridge Reseda Blvd & Devonshire St	Encino Ventura Blvd & Reseda Blvd	Reseda Blvd	Began operating in December 2005 Replaced by Line 744 in December 2014
753	Downtown LA 5th St & Beaudry Ave	Willowbrook Willowbrook/Rosa Parks station	Central Ave	Began operating in June 2008, replaced Local Limited Line 350 Discontinued in December 2010 due to low ridership
761 ^[26]	Pacoima Van Nuys Blvd & Glenoaks Blvd	Westwood, Los Angeles Federal Building	Van Nuys Blvd, Sepulveda Blvd	Began operating in June 2003 and replaced by the Metro Express Line 561 Replaced by Lines 734 and 744 in December 2014
920 ^[27]	Santa Monica Colorado Ave & Ocean Ave	Koreatown, Los Angeles Wilshire/Vermont station	Wilshire Blvd	Began operating in June 2007 Former Rapid Express Line Operated during weekday peak hours Discontinued in December 2010 due to low ridership, although riders have advocated improvements, during the service's short life
920 ^[27]	Westwood, Los Angeles Wilshire Blvd & Westwood Blvd	Koreatown, Los Angeles Wilshire/Vermont station	Wilshire Blvd
940 ^[28]	Downtown LA Union Station	Torrance Del Amo Fashion Center	Hawthorne Blvd, Crenshaw Blvd, Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd	Began operating in June 2007 Former Rapid Express Line Operated during weekday peak hours in peak directions Discontinued in June 2008 due to low ridership, although riders have advocated improvements , during the service's short life

Fleet

NABI Metro 45C #8084 on the 780 on the way to Hollywood

The Metro Rapid fleet consists exclusively of low-floor buses manufactured by both North American Bus Industries, and New Flyer.

Other Los Angeles-area Rapids

Foothill Transit's Silver Streak made its debut on March 18, 2007, using the El Monte Busway and the San Bernardino Freeway. This route is not part of the official Metro Rapid program.

References

↑ "Route Map : 704" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
↑ "Route Map : 705" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
↑ "Route Map : 710" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
↑ "Route Map : 720" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
↑ "Route Map : 728" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
↑ "Route Map : 733" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
↑ "Route Map : 734" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
↑ "Route Map : 740" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
↑ "Route Map : 744" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
↑ "Route Map : 745" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
↑ "Route Map : 750" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
↑ "Route Map : 751" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
↑ "Route Map : 754" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
↑ "Route Map : 757" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
↑ "Route Map : 760" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
↑ "Route Map : 762" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
↑ "Route Map : 770" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
↑ "Route Map : 780" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
↑ "Route Map : 788" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
↑ "Route Map : 794" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
1 2 3 "Big Blue Bus Rapid 3 Schedule" (PDF). June 12, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
↑ Archived April 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
↑ "Route Map : 711". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
↑ "Route Map : 714". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
↑ "Route Map : 741". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
↑ "Route Map : 761" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
↑ "Route Map : 920". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
↑ "Route Map : 940". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 2016-08-06.

External links

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)

Services

Metro Rail

Subway	Red Line Purple Line

Light rail	Blue Line Green Line Gold Line Expo Line

Metro Busway

Metro Bus

Facilities and stations

Capital projects

Fleet

Other information

Currently operating bus rapid transit systems in the United States

Arizona	Phoenix RAPID

California	Escondido Breeze Rapid Los Angeles Orange Line Santa Monica Big Blue Bus San Gabriel Valley Silver Streak Silver Line sbX San Diego SuperLoop Rapid San Jose Line 522 Stockton Metro Express

Colorado	Fort Collins MAX

Connecticut	Hartford–New Britain CTfastrak

Florida	Jacksonville First Coast Flyer Orlando Lynx Lymmo South Miami-Dade Busway

Massachusetts	Boston MBTA Silver Line

Michigan	Grand Rapids Silver Line

Minnesota	Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro: A Line Metro Red Line

Missouri / Kansas	Kansas City Metro Area Express

New Jersey	Newark go bus Penn XBL PABT Lincoln Tunnel XBL BBS Route 9 & 22

New York	Albany and Schenectady BusPlus New York City MTA Select Bus Service

North Carolina	Charlotte Area Transit System

Ohio	Cleveland HealthLine Cleveland State Line

Oregon	Eugene Emerald Express

Pennsylvania	Pittsburgh MLK East Busway South Busway West Busway Philadelphia SEPTA Route 103

Tennessee	Nashville MTA Gallatin Road BRT

Texas	El Paso Sun Metro Brio San Antonio VIA Primo

Utah	Salt Lake City MAX

Virginia	Arlington-Alexandria Metroway Richmond GRTC Pulse Virginia Beach VB Wave

Washington	Snohomish County Swift

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