 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Los Angeles Metro" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(August 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Los Angeles Metro | |
|---|---|
 | |
.jpg) .jpg)  .png) Gallery of Metro services, clockwise from top left:Metro Bus,Metro Busway bus rapid transit,Metro Rail subway, and Metro Rail light rail | |
| Overview | |
| Locale | Los Angeles County, California |
| Transit type | |
| Number of lines |
|
| Number of stations |
|
| Daily ridership | 953,200 (weekdays, Q2 2025)[2] |
| Annual ridership | 311,250,200 (2024)[3] |
| Chief executive | Stephanie Wiggins |
| Headquarters | Metro Headquarters Building One Gateway Plaza Los Angeles, California |
| Website | www |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | February 1, 1993; 32 years ago (February 1, 1993) |
| Technical | |
| System length |
|
TheLos Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, branded asMetro, is the agency that plans, operates, and coordinates funding for most of thetransportation system inLos Angeles County, California, the most populated county in theUnited States.
Metro directly operates a largepublic transit system that includesbus,bus rapid transit,light rail, andrapid transit (subway) services. The agency also provides funding for transit it does not operate, includingMetrolink commuter rail,municipal bus operators andparatransit services. The agency also provides funding and directs planning for theLos Angeles freeway system and railroad projects within the county.
In 2024, the Metro system had a total ridership of 311,250,200, and had a ridership of 953,200 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2025. It is the largest transit agency by ridership in thestate of California, and the second-largest in the United States.
Metro was formed on February 1, 1993, by theCalifornia State Legislature which merged two rival agencies: theSouthern California Rapid Transit District (RTD) and theLos Angeles County Transportation Commission (LACTC).[4]
The RTD was founded on August 18, 1964, to operate most public transportation in the urbanizedSouthern California region, including Los Angeles,San Bernardino,Orange, andRiverside counties. RTD replaced the major predecessor public agency, theLos Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority, and took over eleven failing other bus companies and services in the Southern California region.[5] Services outside of Los Angeles County began to be divested in the early 1980s.
The LACTC began operation in 1977 after a state requirement that all counties form local transportation commissions. Its main objective was to be the guardian of all transportation funding, both transit and highway, for Los Angeles County.[6]
The bickering between the two agencies came to a head in the 1980s. At that time, the LACTC was building the Blue Line (now A Line) light rail line betweenLos Angeles andLong Beach, while the RTD was building the Red Line (now B Line) subway in Downtown Los Angeles. It was revealed that due to disputes between the agencies, the LACTC was planning to end the Blue Line atPico Station, instead of serving the7th Street/Metro Center station being built by the RTD six blocks north.
Metro has assumed the functions of both agencies and now develops and oversees transportation plans, policies, funding programs, and both short-term and long-range solutions to mobility, accessibility and environmental needs in the county. The agency is also the primary public transit provider for the city ofLos Angeles, the second largest city in the United States, providing the bulk of such services. even though the city's ownLos Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) operates a smaller bus only public transit system of its own calledDASH within the MTA service area in the city of Los Angeles, often overlapping with some Metro Bus routes and stops in several neighborhoods primarily in the central part of the city.
Since 1995, the agency has been based out of theMetro Headquarters Building, a 26-story high-rise office tower located next toLos Angeles Union Station, a major transportation hub and the maintrain station for the Los Angeles metropolitan area, which it has also owned since purchasing it in 2011.[7]
Metro operates the second-largest public transportation system in theUnited States by ridership with a 1,433 mi2 (3,711 km2) operating area and 2,000 peak hour buses on the street any given business day. Metro also operates 121 miles (195 km) of urban rail service.[1] Metro has 10,290 employees, making it one of the region's largest employers.[1]
Metro also partially funds sixteen municipal bus operators and an array of transportation projects including bikeways and pedestrian facilities, local roads and highway improvements, goods movement,Metrolink regional commuter rail, freeway service patrol, and freeway call boxes within Los Angeles County.
To increase sustainability in transportation services, Metro also provides bike and pedestrian improvements for the over 10.1 million residents ofLos Angeles County.[8]
Security and law enforcement services on Metro property (including buses and trains) are currently provided by theTransit Services Bureau via contract, in conjunction withMetro Transit Enforcement Department and theLos Angeles Police Department (Union Station and all Metro rail services within the City of Los Angeles).
Interactive Metro Rail and Busway map
Metro Rail is a rail mass transit system with two subway and four light rail lines. As of September 2025[update], the system runs a total of 121 miles (195 km), with107 stations.[1]
A Line is alight rail line running betweenPomona andLong Beach viaDowntown Los Angeles.
B Line is asubway line running betweenNorth Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles.
C Line is a light rail line running betweenWestchester andNorwalk, largely in the median of the105 freeway. It provides direct access toLos Angeles International Airport viaLAX/Metro Transit Center.
D Line is a subway line running between theMid-Wilshire district and Downtown Los Angeles. Most of its route is shared with the B Line. As of August 2025, the line iscurrently being extended westward.
E Line is a light rail line running betweenSanta Monica andEast Los Angeles via Downtown Los Angeles.[9]
K Line is a light rail line running betweenExpo/Crenshaw andRedondo Beach.[10] It also provides direct access to Los Angeles International Airport via LAX/Metro Transit Center.[11]
Metro is the primary bus operator in theLos Angeles Basin, theSan Fernando Valley, and the westernSan Gabriel Valley until Arcadia going east. Other regions of Los Angeles County, including theAntelope Valley and the eastern San Gabriel Valley, are served by separate bus operators, which receive some funding from Metro.
As of June 2023[update], the Metro Bus system includes 117 routes, serving over 11,000 bus stops.[12] Most Metro Bus lines are local services, stopping at marked stops approximately every two blocks. Limited-stopMetro Rapid services stop only at major intersections, and Metro Express services utilize the extensiveSouthern California freeways to provide nonstop service between regional destinations.[13]
Metro Busway is abus rapid transit system with two lines operating on dedicated or shared-usebusways. The system runs a total of 55.7 miles (89.6 km), with 29 stations and over 42,000 daily weekday boardings as of May 2016.
The Metro Busway system is meant to mimic the Metro Rail system, both in the vehicle's design and in the operation of the line. Vehicles stop at dedicated stations (except for the portion of the Metro J Line in Downtown Los Angeles), vehicles receive priority at intersections and are painted in a silver livery similar to Metro Rail vehicles.
G Line is abus rapid transit line running betweenChatsworth andNorth Hollywood. Some trips terminate inCanoga Park.
J Line is a bus rapid transit line running betweenEl Monte,Downtown Los Angeles, andHarbor Gateway, with some trips continuing toSan Pedro.The Metro Busway J Line operates over two busways, semi-exclusive roadways built into the Southern California freeway system. These busways are also used by other bus routes to speed up their trips.
The base fare for Metro services, including local and express buses and Metro Rail, is $1.75. Metro introduced daily and weeklyfare caps in July 2023, replacing daily, weekly, and monthly passes. With fare capping, the cost of each trip is credited towards the cost of a daily or weekly unlimited pass, automatically ensuring that all passengers pay the lowest fare possible.[19] Discounted or free fares are available for seniors, disabled individuals, Medicare recipients, low-income individuals, and students.[20]
The primary method of payment for Metro fares is theTAP card, a contactlessstored-value card. TAP cards are valid on Metro buses and trains, and on 25 other transit agencies in Los Angeles County.[21] TAP cards are required for Metro Rail trips, free bus transfers, and fare capping; however, single-ride bus fares can still be paid in cash. TAP cards can be purchased at stationfare machines, local vendors, online, and at Metro Customer Care Centers.[22]
Fare gates are installed at all B, C, D and K Line stations, along with select A and E Line stations. Fare gates were added after 2007 to reducefare evasion.[23] At the time, the decision was criticized for its cost and perceived ineffectiveness.[24]
K-12 and community college students who attend participating schools within the Los Angeles Area can enroll in the Metro's GoPass program, cutting the already discounted fares to unlimited free rides for such students. The program is not limited to LA Metro services, and is accepted by 15 other transit systems inLos Angeles County. The program began as a two-year pilot program in 2021, was granted a one-year extension then was announced as permanent in April 2024.[25]
| Fare type | Regular | Senior (62+)/ Disabled/ Medicare | Student (K-12/College/ Vocational) (without GoPass) | Student (with GoPass) | Low Income (LIFE) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base fare | $1.75 | $0.35 (off-peak) $0.75 (peak) | $0.75 | Free | 20 free rides, then regular fare |
| 1-day cap | $5 | $2.50 | $2.50 | ||
| 7-day cap | $18 | $5 | $6 | ||
| Metro-to-Muni transfer | $0.50 | $0.25 | $0.50 | — |
Metro contracted security efforts to theLos Angeles Police Department (LAPD),Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, and theLong Beach Police Department.[26] On 27 June 2024, the Metro board voted to form an independent police force for the transit system[27] in order to reduce costs and address increasing violence against bus and rail operators.[26] On 7 May 2025, former San Francisco police chief William "Bill" Scott was announced as chief of Metro's police.[28]
On 7 March 2023, Metro introduced the Ambassador Program. Ambassadors wear bright green and serve to provide information and to report and resolve issues. Ambassadors are positioned on busier rail and bus lines and stations.[29]
TheMetro A Line has the highest ridership of all Metro Rail lines and also the lowest operational cost because of its high ridership. The Metro RailMetro K Line has the lowest ridership of all letter-branded lines. Average daily boardings and passenger miles for all of 2024 are as follows:[30]
| Service | Weekdays | Saturdays | Sundays and Holidays | Average Weekday Passenger Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Rail | ||||
| B Line D Line | 66,638 | 52,855 | 45,934 | 339,154 |
| Light Rail | ||||
| A Line | 66,745 | 50,810 | 44,033 | 535,805 |
| C Line | 20,987 | 13,897 | 12,938 | 139,624 |
| E Line | 46,986 | 38,003 | 31,058 | 312,721 |
| K Line | 3,682 | 2,931 | 2,576 | 12,704 |
| Bus andBRT | ||||
| Metro Bus | 746,464 | 514,720 | 426,598 | 2,569,662 |
| G Line | 13,748 | 9,047 | 7,645 | 80,389 |
| J Line | 15,972 | 8,635 | 7,091 | 139,253 |
| Total Bus and Rail | 951,502 | 673,216 | 563,136 | 3,909,671 |
Day-to-day operations of Metro is overseen by Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Wiggins. Metro is ajoint powers authority governed by a board of directors with 14 members, 13 of whom are voting members.[31] The Board is composed of:
While the Metro board makes decisions on large issues, they rely on Service Councils to advise on smaller decisions, such as on bus stop placement and over bus service changes.[32] To enable this work, the councils call and conduct public hearings, evaluate Metro programs in their area, and meet with management staff. There are five Service Councils, each representing a different region:Gateway Cities,San Fernando Valley,San Gabriel Valley,South Bay, andWestside/Central. Each council is led by a board composed of a political appointees.
Members of Metro staff also sit on the boards of other joint powers authorities across the region, including theLOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, theAlameda Corridor Transportation Authority, theFoothill Gold Line Construction Authority, theSouthern California Regional Rail Authority, the High Desert Corridor Joint Powers Agency,[33] and theInglewood Transit Connector Joint Powers Authority.
Chair
Vice Chair
2nd Vice Chair
Executive Board Members
Ex-officio Board Member
A complex mix of federal, state, county and city tax dollars as well as bonds and fare box revenue funds Metro.
The Metro budget for 2020 is $7.2 billion. Below is the funding breakdown from Metro's fiscal year 2020 budget:
| Revenues | US$ in Millions 2020[34] |
|---|---|
| Proposition A (0.5% sales tax) | 873 |
| Proposition C (0.5% sales tax) | 873 |
| Measure R (0.5% sales tax) | 873 |
| Measure M (0.5% sales tax) | 873 |
| Transportation Development Act (0.25% sales tax) | 436.5 |
| State Transit Assistance ("Diesel Tax") | 215.8 |
| SB 1 State of Good Repair Funding ("Gas Tax") | 30.1 |
| Metro Passenger Fares | 284.5 |
| Metro ExpressLanes Tolls | 58.4 |
| Advertising | 25.6 |
| Other Revenues | 71.2 |
| Grants Reimbursements | 1,184.8 |
| Bond Proceeds & Prior Year Carryover | 1,408.6 |
| Total Resources (US$ millions) | 7,207.6 |
The agency is a public transportation and planning agency that lies under the jurisdiction of the State of California. Although it falls under State regulations, it can also partake in regional and municipal levels of rule during a transportation development project.[35] For example, it can play a role in policies regarding a state's housing policies, since the living situation of one affects the methods of transportation its residents will take.[36]
This transit agency can measure successful projects through key pointers such as low income ridership increase and an increase of favorable environmental and health factors for its public community.[37] Increased low income ridership is a significant factor because that focus group tends to makes up the majority of public transit ridership.[37] Favorable environmental and health factors are also relevant factors because they indicate a positive relationship within the space developed and its residents.[35]
Most of Metro's bus fleet is powered bycompressed natural gas (CNG), the largest such fleet in the United States.[38] Using CNG reduces emissions of particulates by 90%,carbon monoxide by 80%, andgreenhouse gases by 20% compared todiesel powered buses. The agency is also operating a substantial number ofbattery electric buses, notably on the G Line busway which has seen all CNG buses replaced with battery electric ones,[39] and has plans to convert into a fully electric bus system.[40] Buses feature on-board visual displays and automatic voice announcement systems that announce the next stop.
The Metro Rail fleet is broken down into two main types: light rail vehicles and rapid transit cars (commonly called subway cars in Los Angeles). Metro's light rail vehicles, used on theA,C,E, andK lines, are 87-foot (26.52 m)articulated, high-floor double-ended cars, powered byoverhead catenary lines, which typically run in two or three car consists. The light rail lines consist of theKinki Sharyo P3010,Siemens P2000, and theAnsaldobreda P2550. Metro's retired LRV fleet is theNippon Sharyo P865/P2020 fleet. Metro’s subway cars, used on theB andD Lines, are 75-foot (22.86 m) electricmultiple unit,married-pair cars, powered byelectrified third rail consisting of theCRRC HR4000 and theBreda A650 fleet, that typically run in four or six car consists.
Section 1 of the D Line Extension will add three new subway stations to theD Line at Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax, and Wilshire/La Cienega. Construction on Section 1 began in 2014 and is expected to be complete in 2026.[41] Section 2 toCentury City is expected to be completed in 2026, followed by Section 3 toWestwood in 2027.[42]
Metro, in partnership with LA Aerial Rapid Transit Technologies LLC, is currently proposing to construct anaerial gondola system to connectDodger Stadium and the stadium's surrounding communities to Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles. When completed, the approximate 5,000 people per hour, per direction aerial gondola is expected to transport visitors from Union Station to Dodger Stadium in approximately seven minutes. Additionally, the proposed project would also include several improvements to the nearby Los Angeles State Historic Park.[43]
Measure M, passed in November 2016, extends and increases theMeasure R 30-year half-cent sales tax to a permanent one-cent sales tax. This tax is expected to fund $120 billion in highway and transit projects over 40 years.[44] The tax is also expected to support over 778,000 jobs in the Los Angeles area and $79.3 billion in economic output.[45]
Projects to be funded by Measure M, not previously mentioned above, include:[44][46]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Links to related articles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
