Silver Line (Los Angeles Metro)

Routing

The eastern section of Silver Line route runs on the El Monte Busway between the El Monte Station in El Monte and Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles. The southern section of the route runs on the Harbor Transitway between 37th Street/USC station in Downtown Los Angeles and the Harbor Gateway Transit Center near the city of Carson. Buses travel between the eastern and southern sections along surface streets in Downtown Los Angeles where Silver Line buses make a limited amount of stops (11 in each direction) near major employment centers, tourist destinations and Metro Rail stations. Silver Line route 950 trips continue south of the Harbor Gateway Transit Center along the Harbor Freeway to San Pedro traveling in general purpose freeway lanes and making two stops en route at stations located on the side of the freeway near off and on ramps. In San Pedro, Silver Line route 950 buses once again travel along surface streets, serving the Harbor Beacon Park & Ride and making frequent stops along Pacific Avenue.

The Silver Line currently connects to all Metro Rail lines, though it will not connect with the Crenshaw/LAX Line, scheduled to open in 2019.

Headways

Fares

The Silver Line charges a premium fare (which is a different fare structure from most other Metro routes).^[2][3] Metro 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.

Like the other Metro Rail and Metro Busway lines, the Silver Line operates on a proof-of-payment system.^[4] Passengers may board at either the front or rear door of Silver Line buses and validate their Transit Access Pass (TAP) electronic fare card at readers located on board the bus, near the door. Metro's fare inspectors randomly inspect buses to ensure passengers have a valid fare product on their TAP card.

TAP vending machines are available at most Silver Line stations (except Carson and Pacific Coast Highway) and are located near most street stops in Downtown Los Angeles. But, because vending machines are not available at all stations and street stops, passengers who need to purchase a card or add funds can do so at the farebox on board the bus. None of the other Metro Rail or Metro Busway lines offer onboard TAP sales.

As of December 15, 2014 the fares for the Silver Line are:

Stations & stops

Station/Street Stop		Services		Image	Connections	Stop type	Station Parking	Date opened	City/ Neighborhood
Northbound	Southbound	910	950
El Monte Station		Yes	Yes		Upper Level: Foothill Transit: Silver Streak, 481, 486, 488, 492, 494 Greyhound Lower Level: Metro Local: 70, 76, 176, 267, 268 Metro Express: 487, 577 Metro Rapid: 770 Foothill Transit: 178, 190, 194, 269, 270, 282 El Monte Commuter Shuttles: Civic Center, Flair Park Rosemead Explorer: Commuter Connection	Station	1,153 Spaces	1973	El Monte
Cal State LA		Yes	Yes		Freeway Level: Metro Express: 487, 489 Foothill Transit: Silver Streak, 481, 493, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 699 Lower Level: Metrolink: San Bernardino Line Street Level: Metro Local: 71, 256, 258, 665 Alhambra Community Transit: Blue Line Edmund D. Edelman Children's Court Shuttle El Sol: City Terrace / ELAC Monterey Park Spirit: 5	Station	(none)		East Los Angeles
Los Angeles County & USC Medical Center		Yes	Yes		Freeway Level: Metro Express: 487, 489 Foothill Transit: Silver Streak, 481, 493, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 699 Street Level: Metro Local: 70, 71, 106, 251, 605 Metro Rapid: 751 LADOT DASH: Boyle Heights/East LA, Lincoln Heights/Chinatown	Station	(none)		Boyle Heights
El Monte Busway/Alameda (Union Station)		Yes	Yes		Freeway Level: Metro Express: 487, 489 Foothill Transit: Silver Streak, 481, 493, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 699 Nearby Connections:   Metro Red Line   Metro Purple Line   Metro Gold Line Metro Local: 40, 68, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, 378 Metro Express: 442, 485 Metro Rapid: 704, 728, 733, 745, 770 Amtrak: Coast Starlight, Pacific Surfliner, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle, San Joaquin (bus connection) Antelope Valley Transit Authority: 785 City of Santa Clarita Transit: 794 LAX FlyAway LADOT Commuter Express: 431, 534, Union Station/Bunker Hill Shuttle LADOT DASH: B, D, Lincoln Heights/Chinatown Metrolink: 91/Perris Valley Line, Antelope Valley Line, Ventura County Line, San Bernardino Line, Riverside Line, Orange County Line Orange County Transportation Authority: 701 Santa Monica Big Blue Bus: Rapid 10 Torrance Transit: 4	Street Stop	Nearby Paid Parking (Independent)		Downtown Los Angeles
Spring/1st (Civic Center/Grand Park)		Yes	Yes		Metro Red Line   Metro Purple Line Metro Local: 33, 68, 70, 71, 83, 84, 92 & 96 Metro Express: 487, 489 Metro Rapid: 728, 733, 770 Foothill Transit: Silver Streak, 493, 497, 498, 499 & 699 LADOT DASH: D	Street stop	(none)	December 13, 2009
1st/Hill (Civic Center)		Yes	Yes		Metro Red Line   Metro Purple Line Metro Local: 2, 4, 10, 14, 28, 30, 37, 40, 45, 48, 68, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, 81, 83, 90, 91, 92, 94, 96, 302, 378 Metro Express: 442, 487, 489 Metro Rapid: 728, 733, 745, 770, 794 Antelope Valley Transit Authority: 785 Big Blue Bus: 10 City of Santa Clarita Transit: 799 Foothill Transit: Silver Streak, 493, 495 497, 498, 499, 699 LADOT Commuter Express: 409, 419, 422, 423, 431, 437, 438, 448, 534 LADOT DASH: A, B, D Montebello Bus Lines: 341, 342 Santa Monica Big Blue Bus: Rapid 10 Torrance Transit: 4	Street stop	(none)
Olive/Kosciuszko	Grand/3rd	Yes	Yes		Olive/Kosciuszko Connections: Metro Local: 14, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, 96 & 378 Metro Express: 442, 487, 489 Metro Rapid: 770 Torrance Transit: 4 Grand/3rd Connections: Metro Local: 37, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, 96, 378 Metro Express: 442, 487, 489 Metro Rapid: 770	Street stop	(none)
Olive/5th (Pershing Square)	Grand/5th (Pershing Square)	Yes	Yes		Olive/5th Connections:   Metro Red Line   Metro Purple Line Metro Local: 14, 16, 18, 37, 53, 55, 62, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, 96, 316, 355, 378 Metro Express: 442, 487, 489 Metro Rapid: 720, 728, 745, 770, 794 Foothill Transit: Silver Streak Torrance Transit: 4 Flower/5th Connections: Metro Local: 16, 18, 53, 55, 60, 62, 316, 355, 378 Metro Express: 442, 460 Torrance Transit: 4	Street stop	(none)
6th/Flower	(none)	Yes	Yes			Street stop	(none)
Figueroa/7th (7th St/Metro Center)	Flower/7th (7th St/Metro Center)	Yes	Yes		Metro Red Line   Metro Purple Line   Metro Blue Line   Metro Expo Line Metro Local: 14, 16, 18, 20, 37, 51, 52, 60, 62, 66, 76, 78, 79, 81, 316, 352, 378 Metro Express: 442, 460, 487, 489 Metro Rapid: 720, 760 Antelope Valley Transit Authority: 785 City of Santa Clarita Transit: 799 Foothill Transit: Silver Streak, 493, 495, 497, 498, 499, 699 LADOT Commuter Express: 409, 422, 423, 431, 437, 438, 448, 534 LADOT DASH: A, B, E, F Montebello Bus Lines: 40, 50, 341, 342, 343 Orange County Transportation Authority: 701, 721 Santa Monica Big Blue Bus: Rapid 10 Torrance Transit: 4	Street stop	(none)
Figueroa/Olympic	Flower/Olympic	Yes	Yes		Metro Local: 28, 81 Metro Express: 442, 460 Metro Rapid: 728 Torrance Transit: 4	Street stop	(none)
Figueroa/Pico (Pico)	Flower/Pico (Pico)	Yes	Yes		Metro Blue Line   Metro Expo Line Metro Local: 30, 81, 330 Metro Express: 442, 460 Torrance Transit: 4	Street stop	(none)
Figueroa/Washington (Grand/LATTC)	Flower/Washington (Grand/LATTC)	Yes	Yes		Metro Blue Line Metro Local: 35, 81 Metro Express: 442, 460 Torrance Transit: 4	Street stop	(none)
Figueroa/23rd (LATTC/Ortho Institute)	Flower/23rd (LATTC/Ortho Institute)	Yes	Yes		Metro Expo Line Metro Local: 37, 81, 603 Metro Express: 460 Torrance Transit: 4	Street stop	(none)	April 30, 2012 (Flower/23rd) June 23, 2013 (Figueroa/23rd)	North University Park
Figueroa Way/Adams	Flower/Adams	Yes	Yes		Metro Local: 37, 81 Metro Express: 442, 460 Torrance Transit: 4	Street stop	(none)	June 26, 2011
37th Street/USC		Yes	Yes		Freeway Level: Metro Express: 460 LADOT Commuter Express: 438, 448 Orange County Transportation Authority: 701, 721 Torrance Transit: 4 Street Level: Metro Local: 81, 102, 200 Metro Express: 442, 550 LADOT DASH: F, Southeast, King-East	Station	(none)	June 1996	Exposition Park
Slauson		Yes	Yes		Freeway Level: Metro Express: 442, 460, 550 Dodger Stadium Express Orange County Transportation Authority: 701, 721 Torrance Transit: 4 Street Level: Metro Local: 45, 81, 108, 358 Metro Rapid: 745 LADOT DASH: Southeast	Station	151 Spaces		South Los Angeles
Manchester		Yes	Yes		Freeway Level: Metro Express: 460, 550 Dodger Stadium Express Orange County Transportation Authority: 701, 721 Torrance Transit: 4 Street Level: Metro Local: 45, 81, 115 Metro Express: 442 Metro Rapid: 745	Station	247 Spaces
Harbor Freeway		Yes	Yes		Freeway Level: Metro Express: 550 Dodger Stadium Express GTrans: 1X LADOT Commuter Express: 448 Orange County Transportation Authority: 721 Torrance Transit: 4 Upper Level:   Metro Green Line Street Level: Metro Local: 45, 81, 120 Metro Rapid: 745 GTrans: 1X Torrance Transit: 1, 2	Station	253 Spaces
Rosecrans		Yes	Yes		Freeway Level: Metro Express: 550 Dodger Stadium Express Orange County Transportation Authority: 721 Torrance Transit: 4 Street Level: Metro Local: 125	Station	338 Spaces		Harbor Gateway
Harbor Gateway Transit Center		Yes	Yes		Metro Local: 52, 130, 205, 246, 344 Metro Express: 550 Carson Circuit: North/South Shuttle Dodger Stadium Express GTrans: 2, 4 Torrance Transit: 1, 4, 6	Station	980 Spaces
Figueroa/Victoria	Figueroa/190th	No	Yes		Metro Local: 52, 130, 205 Torrance Transit: 6	Street stop	(none)	December 13, 2015	Carson
Carson		No	Yes		Metro Local: 205 Metro Express: 550 Carson Circuit: F, North/South Shuttle Torrance Transit: 1, 3, Rapid 3	Station	140 Spaces	June 1996
Pacific Coast Highway		No	Yes		Metro Local: 205, 232 Metro Express: 550 LADOT Commuter Express: 448 LADOT DASH: Wilmington	Station	244 Spaces
Harbor Beacon Park & Ride		No	Yes		Metro Local: 205 Catalina Express	Street stop	280 Spaces	December 13, 2015	San Pedro
Beacon/1st		No	Yes		Metro Local: 205	Street stop	(none)
Pacific/1st		No	Yes		Metro Local: 205, 246 LADOT DASH: San Pedro	Street stop	(none)
Pacific/3rd		No	Yes		Metro Local: 246	Street stop	(none)
Pacific/7th		No	Yes		Metro Local: 246	Street stop	(none)
Pacific/11th		No	Yes		Metro Local: 205, 246	Street stop	(none)
Pacific/15th		No	Yes		Metro Local: 246	Street stop	(none)
Pacific/17th		No	Yes		Metro Local: 246	Street stop	(none)
(none)	Pacific/19th	No	Yes		Metro Local: 246	Street stop	(none)
Pacific/21st Street		No	Yes		Metro Local: 246	Street stop	(none)

Early study

This elevated section of the Harbor Transitway carries the Metro Silver Line and the Metro ExpressLanes over the frequently congested Harbor Freeway.

Plans for a route similar to the Silver Line date back to 1993 when Metro's Scheduling and Operations Planning department issued a report on what it called a "Dual Hub High Occupancy Vehicle Transitway." The report suggested that when the Harbor Transitway opened in 1995, it should be served by a "high speed, high capacity service" that would also serve the El Monte Busway which opened earlier in 1973. Existing express routes that traveled on the two facilities would be truncated to end at one of two hubs (El Monte station and the Harbor Gateway Transit Center) where passengers would transfer to a bus that would take them the rest of the way to Downtown LA.

In the end, Metro decided to adopt another proposal in the report, increasing service on the existing Harbor Freeway express lines and operating each as independent routes. Because most of the freeway express buses traveling on the El Monte Busway and Harbor Transitway served the needs of commuters, service was frequent along the corridors during the weekday peak hours, but infrequent during other times.

When the Harbor Transitway opened in 1995 it was seen as a white elephant. The route stopped a mile short of Downtown LA and the stations, being close to freeway traffic, were criticized as being noisy, polluted and appeared uninviting.^[7]

Planners projected that 65,200 passengers would travel along the Harbor Transitway each day, but after 10 years ridership fell far below those predictions, with the route seeing just 3,000 passengers per weekday in 2004.^[7]

Introducing the Silver Line

Northbound Metro Silver Line bus departing Manchester Station.

Starting in the early 2000s Metro tried to increase ridership on the two corridors by branding them as a part of the Metro system. The El Monte Busway was added to maps using a silver color, while the Harbor Transitway was added in a bronze color.

In 2007, Foothill Transit introduced the Silver Streak as a "single hub" service along the El Monte busway. Several Foothill Transit routes were truncated at the El Monte station and passengers transferred to frequent, high capacity Silver Streak buses. The line was deemed a success.

In 2008, Metro once again looked at the concept of linking the El Monte Busway and the Harbor Transitway with a "Dual Hub Bus Rapid Transit" route.^[8] After several months of study the Metro voted to introduce the service as the Silver Line in summer 2009. Five Metro Express lines were truncated to terminate at either Harbor Gateway Transit Center or the El Monte station, where passengers would transfer to the Silver Line to continue into Downtown Los Angeles.^[9]

Metro also studied drastically changing the fare structure on the route. Previously, passengers on freeway express routes would pay zone fares up to $3.95 based on distance travelled. To encourage ridership, Metro looked into charging the same $1.50 flat-rate base fare used on Metro Rail, the Metro Orange Line and Metro Local routes. The plan encountered heavy opposition from Foothill Transit who worried the low fares would reduce ridership on its more expensive Silver Streak service.^[3] In the end Metro set a flat-rate fare of $2.45, which was more than the base fare used on the rest of the system, but 30¢ cheaper than the Silver Streak. The fare fight delayed the opening of the Silver Line several months.

The line eventually opened in December 2009 and carried 6,200 passengers a day during the first month, similar to the combined ridership of the express routes the Silver Line replaced.^[10] Service operated half-hourly during the mid-day hours and hourly at night and on weekends. Over the next two years, ridership steadily increased to 11,000 daily passengers in October 2011.^[10] Encouraged by the results Metro continued to improve headways, operating buses every 15 minutes during the mid-day hours and every 40 minutes on Saturday.^[10]

Metro ExpressLanes improvements

Harbor Gateway Transit Center is the southern terminus of the Metro Silver Line.

Major improvements to the Silver Line were made as part of the Metro ExpressLanes project to convert the El Monte Busway and the Harbor Transitway from lanes reserved for buses and high occupancy vehicles into high occupancy toll lanes that allow solo drivers to pay a toll to use lanes. Federal funding and some of the tolls collected were used to both refurbish the aging stations used by the Silver Line and improve frequencies on the route. The most drastic change happened at the crowded, 37-year-old El Monte Station which was demolished in 2010 and entirely rebuilt.^[10] The new station opened in October 2012 with more bus bays, staffed information counters, restrooms, improved lighting and security.

The old clock was replaced with signage towards the parking lot at Harbor Gateway Transit Center.

Stations along the Harbor Transitway were improved between early 2011 and late 2012 with the addition of real time arrival signs, new wayfinding signage, improved lighting and sound proofing.^[10] The Harbor Gateway Transit Center also received bathrooms and a substation for LA County Sheriff's deputies who now exclusively patrol Silver Line facilities.^[10]

Stations along the El Monte Busway were the last to be improved, each closing for a month in early 2015. During the closure staircases were replaced and new wayfinding signage, real-time arrival signs and improved lighting were installed.

Along the street-running portion of the Silver Line in Downtown Los Angeles, LADOT added bus priority to traffic lights to improve on-time performance in Downtown Los Angeles. This work was completed by October 31, 2012.^[11]

Starting in 2012, toll revenue used to improve service during peak hours was further improved with buses arriving as often as every 4 minutes, Saturday service frequency was improved to 20 minutes and to 30 minutes on Sundays. Sunday frequency was further improved to 20 minutes in December 2013.^[12]

Silver 2 Silver

As feared by Foothill Transit officials, the 30¢ higher fares on the Silver Streak meant passengers along the El Monte Busway often opted to ride the Silver Line to save money. That led to Silver Line buses operating at capacity during peak hours, with the larger Silver Streak buses being under-utilized. To address the problem a new reciprocal fare program between Metro and Foothill Transit called "Silver 2 Silver" was introduced as part of a one-year trial in October 2012.^[13][14] Fares on the Silver Streak were lowered match the price of the Silver Line and passengers with a valid pass may ride either route between Downtown Los Angeles and the El Monte Station.^[6] Toll funding from the Metro ExpressLanes was used to reimburse Foothill Transit for the cost difference. In October 2013 a review of the program deemed it a success and made it permanent.

Extension to San Pedro and express service

While many freeway express lines on the Harbor Transitway were truncated after the introduction of the Silver Line, a notable exception was Metro Express Line 450X. Considered one of Metro's "premium express" routes, buses made very limited stops between Downtown Los Angeles and the Harbor Gateway Transit Center, skipping most of the stations along the Harbor Transitway. The route initially only ran during weekday peak hours, but was later extended to San Pedro and operated as a shuttle service between the Harbor Gateway Transit Center and San Pedro during off-peak hours and weekends.

In December 2015, Metro restructured the Silver Line and Metro Express 450X. Now during off-peak hours and weekends some Silver Line trips traveled to San Pedro and during weekday peak periods a Silver Line Express route, branded as Line 950X, operates between San Pedro and El Monte, skipping most of the stations along the Harbor Transitway. The change gave passengers a one-seat ride to San Pedro during the off-peak periods and created more Silver Line service on the El Monte Busway.

Due to overcrowding on Silver Line buses during the peak period, Silver Line Express buses began stopping at Manchester and Slauson stations in December 2016. Only two stations were skipped for a two minute time savings.^[15] Metro discontinued Silver Line Express service completely in June 2017, rebranding Line 950 buses as the service pattern which continues to San Pedro.^[16]

Fare payment changes

On June 26, 2016 Metro changed how passengers pay their fare on the Silver Line in an effort to reduce dwell time and increase on-time performance.^[17][18] Passengers were allowed to board at either the front or rear door of Silver Line buses and validate their TAP electronic fare card at readers located on board the bus. Like on Metro Rail and the Orange Line, passengers are required to use the TAP card for fare payment and Metro fare enforcement will randomly board buses and check cards to ensure passengers are paying. The system differs from the off-board fare payment system on Metro Rail and the Orange Line where TAP vending machines are installed at all stations and passengers are required to TAP before stepping onto the platform.

New transitway station at Patsaouras Transit Plaza

A new transitway station for the Metro Silver Line will be located at Patsaouras Transit Plaza at Union Station to provide better access to bus, Metro Rail, Metrolink and Amtrak services. As of April 2017 the station is under construction, and is expected to open in the spring of 2018.^[19]

Vehicle strike at the Harbor Freeway Station

Metro Silver Line bus at Harbor Freeway station showing yellow bollards installed after a private vehicle drove onto the platform injuring waiting passengers.

Seven passengers waiting on the northbound platform of the Harbor Freeway Station received critical and serious injuries when a private vehicle entered the station and struck the platform on February 22, 2012.^[21] After the accident Metro studied the design of the Silver Line stations and decided to add concrete filled metal bollards at the platform edge of a number of stations during August 2012.^[22] The bollards are spaced close enough to stop a car from entering the platform, but have enough room to allow multiple buses to stop at the platform and lower the accessibility ramp.

Further reading

• https://www.metro.net/board/Items/2011/10_October/20111020OPItem52.pdf
• https://www.metro.net/board/Items/2011/4_April/20110420AHCPItem1.pdf%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D
• http://laccod.org/cms1_153455.pdf
• http://libraryarchives.metro.net/DPGTL/hov/dual_hub_hov_transitway.pdf
• https://www.metro.net/board/Items/2011/7_July/20110708OtherSectorSBAItem6.pdf%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D