Los Angeles (LA) area Public Transportation - Helpful Information for Visitors

 Book: Los Angeles Hop-on Hop-off Double Decker Bus Tour

 

Metro Rail System

 

Metro Rail System in LA :

LA Metro has six lines covering the LA area:

- Two rapid transit subway lines (the Red and Purple lines) and

- Four light rail lines (the Blue, Green, Gold and Expo lines).

Metro in LA connects with the Metro Liner bus rapid transit system (the Orange Line and Silver Line) and also with the Metrolink commuter rail system.

Plan your trip through their online trip planner or call 323-GO-METRO.

Metro’s base fare is $1.75 per ride.

Visit the Metro Website for more information.

- The Metro Expo Line (light rail) 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.

- The Metro Red Line (subway) connects Downtown L.A., the Mid-Wilshire area, Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley, where it meets the Metro Orange Line (bus rapid transit).

- The Metro Purple Line (subway) also serves Downtown L.A., running along Wilshire Boulevard to Western Avenue.

- The Metro Gold Line (light rail) runs between Pasadena and East L.A., connecting with the Red and Purple Lines at Union Station.

- The Metro Blue Line (light rail) runs north and south between Long Beach and Downtown L.A., where it meets the Red and Purple lines.

- The Metro Green Line (light rail) runs east and west between Norwalk and Redondo Beach, crossing the Blue Line.

Metro Local, Rapid, Express and
BRT (Bus rapid transit) Bus services in LA

LA Metro Buses:

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

Metro Express (painted blue) offers reduced stop service along with 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 more info on BRT services visit Metro website

Los Angeles Transportation
(LADOT) DASH

The City of Los Angeles Transportation (LADOT) operates buses in the Downtown Area (DASH)

DASH Downtown

Six quick DASH bus routes through Downtown depart every five to 10 minutes between 6:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays, and every 15 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 C – Financial District to South Park

Route D – Union Station to South Park

Route E – City West to Fashion District

Route F – Financial District to Exposition Park/USC

For more information, visit the DASH website

TAP Cards: All Metro Pass

TAP is a convenient all Metro pass card.

Just load the type of pass and stored value on your TAP card, then tap your card on the bus fare box or rail validator to board.

New TAP cards are $1 and can be purchased at Metro Rail Stations.

You can use TAP To ride from one transit carrier to another: Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) Culver City Bus, Foothill Transit, Gardena Municipal Bus Lines, LADOT, Long Beach Transit, Metro, Metrolink, Montebello Bus Lines, Monterey Park Spirit Bus, Norwalk Transit, Palos Verdes Transit, Pasadena ARTS, Santa Clarita Transit, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, and Torrance Transit.

Visit the Tap Card website for more Information

Hop on Hop Off Tours

Starline CitySightSeeing Tours is a Hop-On/ Hop-Off bus tour.

They offer four primary routes along with two connector lines: 

- The Red Route- Hollywood and Beverly Hills with stops at TCL Chinese Theatre, the Farmers Market/Grove, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, Sunset Strip, Dolby Theater

- The Yellow Route- Beverly Hills with Santa Monica, with stops including Rodeo Drive, 3rd Street Promenade, Fox Studios, Santa Monica Pier

- The Purple Route- Downtown Los Angeles, including Staples Center, Union Station, Olvera Street, Chinatown, Grand Central Market

- The Green Route- Venice Beach and Marina Del Rey, highlighting the world-famous Venice Beach Boardwalk

- The Blue Connector- 1-hour route to Universal Studios and Hollywood

- The Orange Connector- LAX-area hotels to Marina Del Rey

Can purchase a ticket online at Starline's website

Go LA Card by Smart Destination includes the Yellow Route for Starline

Los Angeles Hop-on Hop-off Double Decker Bus Tour - $49.00

Explore Los Angeles at your own pace on an extensive hop-on hop-off bus tour through the heart of Los Angeles. The open-top buses allow you to enjoy 360-degree views as you travel through LA. You have the choice of a 24- or 48-hour ticket that you can use at more then 50 stops in the City of Angels, including Hollywood, Beverly Hills, downtown LA and Santa Monica! The tour operates 365 days a year.