Silver Line (Los Angeles Metro)

Metro Silver Line

Metro Silver Line bus on the Harbor Transitway
Overview
Type Bus rapid transit
System Metro Busway
Status In service
Termini El Monte Station
San Pedro (Pacific/21th Street)
Stations 11 (also makes additional street stops)
Daily ridership 14,194 (July 2016, weekday avg.)[1]
Line number

910

950X (weekday peak-hours only)
Website Silver Line
Operation
Opened December 13, 2009 (December 13, 2009)
Operator(s) Metro (LACMTA)
Character Shared-use busways with some city streets
Depot(s) Division 9 (El Monte) & Division 18 (Carson)
Rolling stock 35 NABI 45C-LFW buses
Technical
Line length 38 mi (61.2 km)
Route map
Legend
 El Monte Station
 begin/end of El Monte Busway
 I-10
 SR 19
 I-710
 Cal State LA Station Metrolink (Southern California)
 begin/end left-side running
 LA County+USC Medical Center
 I-5
 Union Station (under construction)
 begin/end of El Monte Busway
 El Monte/Alameda (Union Station)
  Red Line  Purple Line  Gold Line Metrolink (Southern California)AmtrakFlyAway Bus
 begin/end of El Monte Busway and left-side running
 US 101
 Spring/1st
 1st/Hill (Civic Center) Red Line  Purple Line 
Olive/Kosciuszko
 Grand/3rd
Grand
Olive
/5th (Pershing Square) Red Line  Purple Line 
 begin/end left-side running
 6th/Flower
Figueroa
Flower
/7th (7th/Metro Center)  Red Line  Purple Line  Blue Line  Expo Line 
Figueroa
Flower
/Olympic
Figueroa
Flower
/Pico (Pico) Blue Line  Expo Line 
 I-10
Figueroa
Flower
/Washington (Grand/LATTC) Blue Line 
Figueroa
Flower
/23rd Street (LATTC/Ortho Institute) Expo Line 
 Figueroa Way/Adams
 Flower/Adams
 begin/end left-side running
begin/end of Harbor Transitway
 I-110
 37th Street/USC
 Slauson
 Manchester
Harbor Freeway  Green Line  I-105
 Rosecrans
 begin/end of Harbor Transitway
 SR 91
 Harbor Gateway Transit Center
 I-405
 Figueroa/Victoria (northbound)
 Figueroa/190th (southbound)
 begin/end of Harbor Freeway
 Carson
Pacific Coast Highway SR 1
 begin/end of Harbor Freeway
 Harbor Beacon Park & Ride Catalina Express
 Beacon/1st
 Pacific/1st
 Pacific/3rd
 Pacific/7th
 Pacific/11th
 Pacific/15th
 Pacific/17th
 Pacific/19th (southbound)
Pacific/21st
station and interchange
street stop and interchange
 one-way street stop and interchange

The Silver Line is a limited-stop bus route with some bus rapid transit features operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). The Silver Line route runs between the El Monte Station, Downtown Los Angeles, the Harbor Gateway Transit Center in Gardena and San Pedro.

The Silver Line offers frequent, all-stops service along the El Monte Busway and the Harbor Transitway, two grade-separated transit facilities built into the Los Angeles freeway system. The Silver Line was created as part of the conversion of the El Monte Busway and the Harbor Transitway from lanes reserved for buses and high occupancy vehicles into the Metro ExpressLanes that allow solo drivers to pay a toll to use lanes. The tolls collected have been used to operate the Silver Line and to improve amenities at stops.

As Silver Line buses travel along the El Monte Busway and the Harbor Transitway they serve stations built into the center or side of the roadway, allowing passengers to board or exit. There is a 3.5 mile gap between the eastern end of El Monte Busway and the northern end of the Harbor Transitway in Downtown Los Angeles, where Silver Line buses travel on surface streets, making a limited amount of stops.

Service description

Two services are operated under the Silver Line name:

Metro Silver Line route 910 in San Pedro
Metro Silver Line Express route 950X in San Pedro

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 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. Some Silver Line 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 near off and on ramps. In San Pedro, Silver Line buses serve the Harbor/Beacon Park and Ride and make frequent stops along Pacific Avenue.

Headways

Time Weekdays Weekends/

Holidays

5:00A – 10:00A 4-10 20
10:00A – 3:00P 15
3:00P – 6:00P 4-10
6:00P – 8:00P 10-20
8:00P – 9:00P 20 40-60
9:00P – 1:00A 40-60

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. Since TAP vending machines are not available at all Silver Line stations and street stops, passengers who need to purchase or revalue their cards can do so at the farebox on board the bus. Metro's fare inspectors randomly inspect buses to ensure passengers have a valid fare product on their TAP card.

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

Fare Type[5] Regular Senior (62+) / Disabled / Medicare College / Vocational Student
(K-12)
Peak Off-Peak
Base Fare $2.50 $1.35 $0.95 $2.50 $2.50
Metro Day Pass

(Honored as Full Fare)

 $7 $2.50 $7 $7
Metro 30-Day + Zone 1 Pass

(Honored as Full Fare)

 $122 — — —
Metro Discounted 30-Day Pass

(Honored as Full Fare)

 — $20 $43 $24
Premium Charge

Required for:

  • Metro 7-Day Pass
  • Metro 30-Day Pass (without Zone 1)
  • EZ transit pass (including Metrolink tickets and passes)
 $0.75 — — —
Premium Charge

Required for:

  • Foothill Transit 31-Day Pass
 $1.20 — — —

"Silver 2 Silver" fare program

Metro and Foothill Transit offer a reciprocal fare program called "Silver 2 Silver" where pass holders may ride either Silver Line or Silver Streak buses between Downtown Los Angeles and the El Monte Station.[6] Passengers who have a Metro 7-Day or 30-Day pass, an EZ transit pass, or a Foothill Transit Local 31-Day pass are all charged additional when they board a Silver Line or Silver Streak bus.

Stations & stops

Station/Street Stop Services Image Connections Stop type Station Parking Date opened City/ Neighborhood
Northbound Southbound 910 950X
El Monte Station Yes Yes
Upper Level:

Lower Level:

 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:

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 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:  Red Line Metro Red Line
 Purple Line Metro Purple Line
 Gold Line Metro Gold Line

 Street Stop Nearby Paid Parking (Independent) Downtown Los Angeles
Spring/1st
(Civic Center/Grand Park)		 Yes Yes

 Red Line Metro Red Line
 Purple 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

 Red Line Metro Red Line
 Purple 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
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
Olive/5th

(Pershing Square)

 Flower/5th Yes Yes

Olive/5th Connections:
 Red Line Metro Red Line
 Purple 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
Figueroa/7th

(7th St/Metro Center)

 Flower/7th

(7th St/Metro Center)

 Yes Yes

 Red Line Metro Red Line
 Purple Line Metro Purple Line
 Blue Line Metro Blue Line
 Expo 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
Figueroa/Olympic Flower/Olympic Yes Yes
  • Metro Local: 28, 81
  • Metro Express: 442, 460
  • Metro Rapid: 728
  • Torrance Transit: 4
 Street stop
Figueroa/Pico

(Pico)

 Flower/Pico

(Pico)

 Yes Yes

 Blue Line Metro Blue Line
 Expo Line Metro Expo Line

  • Metro Local: 30, 81, 330
  • Metro Express: 442, 460
  • Torrance Transit: 4
 Street stop
Figueroa/Washington

(Grand/LATTC)

 Flower/Washington

(Grand/LATTC)

 Yes Yes

 Blue Line Metro Blue Line

  • Metro Local: 35, 81
  • Metro Express: 442, 460
  • Torrance Transit: 4
 Street stop
Figueroa/23rd

(LATTC/Ortho Institute)

 Flower/23rd

(LATTC/Ortho Institute)

 Yes Yes

 Expo Line Metro Expo Line

  • Metro Local: 37, 81, 603
  • Metro Express: 460
  • Torrance Transit: 4
 Street stop April 30, 2012 (23rd St/Flower St) ; June 23, 2013 (Figueroa/23rd St) North University Park
Figueroa Way/Adams Flower/Adams Yes Yes
  • Metro Local: 37, 81
  • Metro Express: 442, 460
  • Torrance Transit: 4
 Street stop June 26, 2011
37th Street/USC Yes No

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 June 1996 Exposition Park
Slauson Yes No

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 No

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:
 Green Line Metro Green Line
Street Level:

  • Metro Local: 45, 81, 120
  • Metro Rapid: 745
  • GTrans: 1X
  • Torrance Transit: 1, 2
 Station 253 Spaces
Rosecrans Yes No

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 off-peak/
weekend		 Yes
  • Metro Local: 52, 130, 205
  • Torrance Transit: 6
 Street stop None December 13, 2015 Carson
Carson off-peak/
weekend		 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 off-peak/
weekend		 Yes
  • Metro Local: 205, 232
  • Metro Express: 550
  • LADOT Commuter Express: 448
  • LADOT DASH: Wilmington
 Station 244 Spaces
Harbor Beacon Park & Ride off-peak/
weekend		 Yes
Street stop None December 13, 2015 San Pedro
Harbor/1st Beacon/1st off-peak/
weekend		 Yes
  • Metro Local: 205
 Street stop
Pacific/1st off-peak/
weekend		 Yes
  • Metro Local: 205, 246
  • LADOT DASH: San Pedro
 Street stop
Pacific/3rd off-peak/
weekend		 Yes
  • Metro Local: 246
 Street stop
Pacific/7th off-peak/
weekend		 Yes
  • Metro Local: 246
 Street stop
Pacific/11th off-peak/
weekend		 Yes
  • Metro Local: 205, 246
 Street stop
Pacific/15th off-peak/
weekend		 Yes
  • Metro Local: 246
 Street stop
Pacific/17th off-peak/
weekend		 Yes
  • Metro Local: 246
 Street stop
(none) Pacific/19th off-peak/
weekend		 Yes
  • Metro Local: 246
 Street stop
Pacific/21th Street off-peak/
weekend		 Yes
  • Metro Local: 246
 Street stop

History

Early study

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 was 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 was used to service in peak hours was 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

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 travel to San Pedro and during weekday peak periods a Silver Line Express route 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.

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.[15][16] 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.

Current developments

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, MetroRail, Metrolink and Amtrak services. As of October 2015 the project was delayed with no start scheduled.[17]

Ridership and reliability

Ridership has steadily grown on the Silver Line each year.

An estimated 6,612 passengers rode the Silver Line each weekday in January 2010 (the first full month of operation) and ridership has grown steadily each year since.[1] Ridership set a new all-time high in February 2016 with an estimated 16,884 passengers riding the line each weekday.

Silver Line Estimated Ridership
Year Weekdays Saturday Sunday
2010 7,302 2,641 1,795
2011 9,422 3,324 2,148
2012 11,658 4,385 2,941
2013 12,842 5,468 3,661
2014 14,173 5,967 4,390
2015 14,743 6,009 4,378
2016 (YTD) 16,511 6,256 4,660

The on time performance of the Metro Silver Line is currently around 82.4%, defined as being less than 5 minutes behind schedule.[18] That places it far behind the Metro Rail lines (99% on time) and Orange Line (94% on time), but much better than an average Metro bus route (80.6% on time). On time performance benefits from the active traffic management system installed as part of the Metro ExpressLanes project.

Incidents

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.[19] 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.[20] 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.

Fleet

Metro Silver Line 45 foot NABI Compo bus

The Metro Silver Line is operated with a fleet of dedicated NABI Metro 45C coaches. Each 45-foot (14 m) long bus is made of light composite materials and is powered by CNG (Compressed Natural Gas). Coaches are painted or vinyl wrapped with a special grey livery that matches the design of newer Metro Rail vehicles and the coaches used on Metro Orange Line. Most coaches also have a vinyl decal that says "A faster way to Downtown: Metro Silver Line."[21]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Metro Ridership". Metro.net. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Guide to the Metro Silver Line". The Source.
  3. 1 2 "Line 910 fare structure" (PDF). 2009-10-15.
  4. ↑ "Metro Silver Line | All-Door Boarding Pilot". www.metro.net. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  5. ↑ https://www.metro.net/riding/fares/
  6. 1 2 http://foothilltransit.org/lines-and-schedules/silver2silver/
  7. 1 2 Weikel, Dan (December 2, 2014). "A cleaned-up, safer Harbor Transitway puts more commuters on the bus". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Dual Hub Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) El Monte Station to Artesia Transit Center" (PDF). 2008-11-20.
  9. ↑ "SB910 Feb09 public hearing" (PDF). 2009-02-01.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Metro Silver Line Update Report" (PDF). 2012-01-19.
  11. ↑ "Metro Silver Line (service tab)".
  12. ↑ "December 2013 Service Changes". 2013-11-22.
  13. ↑ "Metro Silver Line and Foothill Silver Streak Riders Can Soon Ride Either Line, Using the Same Ticket and Paying the Same Fare". 2012-10-10.
  14. ↑ "Silver 2 Silver Bus Program". 2012-10-12.
  15. ↑ Chen, Anna (March 24, 2016). "All-door boarding pilot program on Silver Line gets green light from Metro Board". The Source - Metro.net. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  16. ↑ Hymon, Steve (March 14, 2016). "Metro staff recommends all-door boarding test for Silver Line". The Source - Metro.net. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  17. ↑ Reicher, Mike (October 10, 2015). "How one Metro bus station could be years late and double the construction cost". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  18. ↑ Mendelson, Aaron (February 19, 2015). "How late are Los Angeles buses and trains? Depends which line you're riding". KPCC - Southern California Public Radio. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  19. ↑ "The Source: Accident on The Harbor Transitway". 2012-02-22.
  20. ↑ "Harbor Freeway Metro Silver Line Station platform improvements" (PDF). 2012-04-20.
  21. ↑ "Silverline bus".

Further reading

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