Los Angeles Public Transit

Photo by Mike Chen, Flickr
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Metro Trip Planning: The Basics

The L.A. Metro Trip Planner is a great tool to use when planning your way around Los Angeles. The tool generates detailed instructions on how to get to and from your destination. You can also download the Go Metro Los Angeles mobile app to help you get around the city while you're on the go.

All transit rates start at a base fare of $1.75. In addition to a single-ride fare, options include the Metro Day Pass ($7) and the 7-Day Pass ($25). On the Metro Rail Los Angeles and the Metro Orange Line, single-ride LA Metro fares, passes and stored value must be loaded on a Metro LA TAP card. TAP is a durable plastic card that you can use again and again. Buy and add value to a reusable TAP card from TAP vending machines located at Metro LA Rail or Metro Orange Line stations.The TAP card allows you to add money and/or choose from a daily, weekly, or monthly pass to add to your card. Buying a pass is often less expensive than the base fare price per ride.

For more information on fares, passes and TAP, visit: www.metro.net/riding/fares.

In February 2015, LADOT Transit launched LA Mobile, a mobile ticketing application that our riders a convenient way to purchase, store and use fares. LA Mobile also gives riders access to real time information and trip planning tools within the app. LA Mobile is available for download in Google Play for Android phones and the App Store for iPhones. Fare options for both DASH and Commuter Express services are available on LA Mobile. Only regular fares are offered - no options are available for any form of reduced fare (e.g. Senior, Student, etc.).

Metro Rail System

photo courtesy of Los Angeles Metro, click here to view larger map

Six fast, easy-to-use and environmentally friendly rail lines offer visitors a desirable and efficient way of getting from one destination to the next.  All rail stations are served by Metro bus lines.

  • The Metro Expo Line (light rail) provides service that connects the Westside to Downtown L.A., Hollywood, South Bay, and Long Beach. The Expo Line features 10 new stations including USC, Expo Park, and Culver City. Click Here to Download Metro Expo Line Map & Schedule

For more detailed schedules, fares, interactive maps, multi-language pocket guides and more info, visit www.metro.net.

Metro Bus System

Metro Rapid
Metro Rapid | Photo Courtesy of Metro

Local, Rapid, Express and BRT (bus rapid transit) services are available throughout the Greater Los Angeles area. With nearly 200 different lines, buses travel all over the region to every major destination including state parks, area attractions and shopping districts. Many Metro Bus lines provide connections to Metro Rail stations.

  • Metro Local (painted orange) makes frequent stops along major streets throughout the city.
  • Metro Rapid (painted red) offers fewer stops and expedited travel times on the city’s major streets, with the use of special transponders that cause traffic signals to favor the bus.
  • Metro Express (painted blue) offers reduced stop service along the city’s freeway systems.
  • The Metro Silver Line (bus rapid transit) connects the South Bay and the San Gabriel Valley to Downtown L.A.
  • The Metro Orange Line (bus rapid transit) runs from North Hollywood to Warner Center in Woodland Hills.

For detailed schedules, interactive maps, multi-language pocket guides and more info, visit www.metro.net.

DASH

photo by L.A. Urban Soul, Flickr

The City of Los Angeles Transportation (LADOT) currently operates the second largest fleet in Los Angeles County. LADOT’s transit fleet serves approximately 30 million passenger boardings per year.

DASH Downtown
Six quick bus routes through Downtown depart every five to 15 minutes between 5:50 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays, and every six to 20 minutes between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

    Route A – Little Tokyo to City West
    Route B – Chinatown to Financial District
    Route D – Union Station to South Park
    Route E – City West to Fashion District
    Route F – Financial District to Exposition Park/USC

DASH also Serves:

    Beachwood Canyon
    Boyle Heights/East LA
    Chesterfield Square
    Crenshaw
    Downtown Los Angeles
    El Sereno/City Terrace
    Fairfax
    Highland Park/Eagle Rock
    Hollywood
    Hollywood/West Hollywood
    Hollywood/Wilshire
    King-East
    Leimert/Slauson
    Lincoln Heights/Chinatown
    Los Feliz
    Midtown
    Northridge
    Panorama City/Van Nuys
    Pico Union/Echo Park
    San Pedro
    Southeast Los Angeles
    Van Nuys/Studio City
    Vermont/Main
    Watts
    Wilmington
    Wilshire Center/Koreatown

Commuter Express
LADOT offers stress-free, reliable bus service to Downtown Los Angeles in the morning and back in the afternoon from communities reaching from the beach cities to the San Fernando Valley.

For more information, visit www.ladottransit.com/dash.

FlyAway

FlyAway bus
FlyAway bus | courtesy of LAX, Facebook

There are numerous transportation options available at LAX, including: airport buses, door-to-door shuttle vans, local buses, light rail, taxicabs and rental cars. A free shuttle bus connects LAX with the Metro Rail Green Line light rail, and free shuttle buses transport passengers between airline terminals. The LAX FlyAway® bus service provides frequent non-stop transportation between LAX and several locations throughout the city. For detailed information on ground transportation to and from the airport, visit the LAX Ground Transportation page.

For more information, visit www.lawa.org/flyaway.

Feel free to also check out About.com's 9 steps to visiting Los Angeles without a car, CLICK HERE.

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