Silver Line (Los Angeles Metro)

Metro Silver Line
Metro Silver Line bus at Harbor Freeway station.
Overview
Type	Bus rapid transit
System	Metro Liner
Status	In service
Termini	El Monte Station San Pedro (Pacific/21th Street)
Stations	11 (also makes additional street stops)
Daily ridership	16,884 (February 2016, weekday avg.)[1]
Line number	910 950X (weekday peak-hours only)
Website	Silver Line
Operation
Opened	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 Cal State LA Station begin/end left-side running LA County+USC Medical Center Union Station (under construction) begin/end of El Monte Busway El Monte/Alameda (Union Station)       Metrolink, Amtrak, & FlyAway; begin/end left-side running Spring/1st 1st/Hill (Civic Center)     Olive/Kosciuszko Grand/3rd Olive/5th (Pershing Square)     Flower/5th begin/end left-side running Figueroa Flower /7th (7th/Metro Center)         Figueroa/Olympic Flower/Olympic Figueroa Flower /Pico (Pico)     Figueroa Flower /Washington (Grand/LATTC)   Figueroa Flower /23rd Street (LATTC/Ortho Institute)   Figueroa Way/Adams Flower/Adams begin/end left-side running begin/end of Harbor Transitway 37th Street/USC Slauson Manchester Harbor Freeway   Rosecrans begin/end of Harbor Transitway Harbor Gateway Transit Center Figueroa/Victoria (Northbound) Figueroa/190th (Southbound) begin/end of Harbor Freeway Carson Pacific Coast Highway begin/end of Harbor Freeway Harbor Beacon Park & Ride Harbor/1st (Northbound) Beacon/1st (Southbound) Pacific/1st Pacific/3rd Pacific/7th Pacific/11th Pacific/15th Pacific/17th Pacific/19th (Southbound) Pacific/21st station street stop one-way street stop

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 the Silver Line name:

• The Silver Line (route 910) operates daily with all trips serving all stations on the portion of the route between El Monte station and the Harbor Gateway Transit Center. On weekends and during the off-peak hours some trips are extended to serve San Pedro.
• The Silver Line Express (route 950X) operates only during the weekday peak-hours between San Pedro and El Monte station, skipping some stops along the Harbor Transitway to speed up the trip.

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.

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

Fare Type[4]	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.^[5] Passengers who have a Metro 7-Day or 30-Day pass, a 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 Foothill Transit:Silver Streak, 481, 486, 488, 492 & 494 Lower Level Metro Local: 70, 76, 176, 190, 194, 267, 268 & 270 Metro Express: 487 & 577 (M-F Only) Metro Rapid: 770 Foothill Transit: 178, 269 & 282 El Monte Commuter Shuttle Rosemead Explorer	Station	1,153 Spaces	1973	El Monte
Cal State LA		Yes	Yes		Freeway Level Metro Express: 485 (M-F Only), 487 & 489 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM westbound only & PM eastbound only) Foothill Transit: Silver Streak, 481, 493, 497, 498, 499 & 699 Street Level Metro Local: 71, 256 & 665 El Sol City Terrance/ELAC Shuttle Edelman Children's Court Shuttle Alhambra Community Transit: Blue Line Monterey Spirit Park Line 5 Lower Level Metrolink: San Bernardino Line	Station	None		East Los Angeles
Los Angeles County & USC Medical Center		Yes	Yes		Freeway Level Metro Express: 485 (M-F Only), 487 & 489 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM westbound only & PM eastbound only) Foothill Transit: Silver Streak, 481, 493, 497, 498, 499 & 699 Street Level Metro Local: 70, 71, 251, 605 & 620 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 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM westbound only & PM eastbound only) Foothill Transit: Silver Streak, 481, 493, 497, 498 & 499 Nearby Connections   Metro Red Line   Metro Purple Line   Metro Gold Line Metro Local: 33 (Late nights/Owl), 40, 68, 70, 71, 78, 79, 378 (Metro Limited) Metro Express: 442 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only) & 485 (M-F Only) Metro Rapid: 704, 728, 733, 745 & 770 Foothill Transit: 699 Antelope Valley Transit Authority: 785 City of Santa Clarita Transit: 794 LADOT DASH: D (weekdays only), Bunker Hill Shuttle LADOT Commuter Express: 430 & 534 Orange County Transportation Authority: 701 Santa Monica Transit: 10 Torrance Transit: 4 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only) FlyAway Bus: Non-Stop to LAX Int'l Airport Amtrak Metrolink	Street Stop	Nearby Paid Parking (Independent)		Downtown Los Angeles
Spring/1st (Civic Center/Grand Park)		Yes	Yes		Metro Local: 33 Owl, 68, 70, 71, 83, 84, 92 & 96 Metro Rapid: 728, 733 & 770 Metro Express: 487 & 489 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM westbound only & PM eastbound only) 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, 30, 33 Owl, 37, 40, 45, 48, 68, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, 81, 83, 84, 90, 91, 92, 94, 96 & 378 (Metro Limited) Metro Express: 487 & 489 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM westbound only & PM eastbound only), Metro Rapid: 728, 733, 745 & 794 Antelope Valley Transit Authority: 785 City of Santa Clarita Transit: 799 Foothill Transit: 481, 493, 497, 498, 499*, 699* & Silver Streak LADOT Commuter Express: 409, 413, 419, 422, 423, 430, 431, 437, 438, 448 & 534 LADOT DASH: A, B, D & DD (weekends only) Montebello Transit: 341, 342 & 343 (M-F Peak Hour Only) Santa Monica Transit: 10 Torrance Transit: 4 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only)	Street stop
Olive/Kosciuszko	Grand/3rd	Yes	Yes		Grand/3rd Connections: Metro Local: 37, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, 96 & 378 (Metro Limited) Metro Rapid: 770 Metro Express: 442 (Weekdays Rush Hour PM southbound only), 487 & 489 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM westbound only) Olive/Kosciuszko Connections: Metro Local: 14, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, 96 & 378(Metro Limited) Metro Rapid: 770 Metro Express: 442 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only), 487 & 489 (Weekdays Rush Hour PM peak eastbound only) Torrance Transit: 4 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only)	Street stop
Olive/5th (Pershing Square)	Flower/5th	Yes	Yes		Olive St. & 5th St. Connections:   Metro Red Line   Metro Purple Line Metro Local: 14, 16, 18, 37, 53, 55, 62, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, 96, 316 (Metro Limited), 355 (Metro Limited) & 378 (Metro Limited) Metro Rapid: 720, 728, 745, 770 & 794 Metro Express: 442 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only), 487 & 489 (Weekdays Rush Hour PM eastbound only) Foothill Transit: Silver Streak Torrance Transit: 4 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only) Flower St. & 5th St. Connections: Metro Local: 16, 18, 53, 55, 60, 62, 316 (Metro Limited), 355 (Metro Limited) & 378 (Metro Limited) Metro Express: 442 (Weekdays Rush Hour PM southbound only) & 460 Torrance Transit: 4 (Weekdays Rush Hour PM southbound only)	Street stop
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 Rapid: 720, 760 & 770 Metro Local: 51, 52 & 60 Metro Express: 442 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only) & 460 Torrance Transit: 4 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only)	Street stop
Figueroa/Olympic	Flower/Olympic	Yes	Yes		Metro Local: 28 & 81 Metro Express: 442 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only) & 460 Metro Rapid: 728 Torrance Transit: 4 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only)	Street stop
Figueroa/Pico (Pico)	Flower/Pico (Pico)	Yes	Yes		Metro Blue Line   Metro Expo Line Metro Local: 30, 81 & 330 (Metro Limited) Metro Express: 442 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only) & 460 Torrance Transit: 4 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only)	Street stop
Figueroa/Washington (Grand/LATTC)	Flower/Washington (Grand/LATTC)	Yes	Yes		Metro Blue Line Metro Local: 35 & 81 Metro Express: 442 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only) & 460 Torrance Transit: 4 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only)	Street stop
Figueroa/23rd (LATTC/Ortho Institute)	Flower/23rd (LATTC/Ortho Institute)	Yes	Yes		Figueroa/23rd Street Connections:   Metro Expo Line Metro Local: 81 & 603 23rd Street/Flower St. Connections:   Metro Expo Line Metro Local: 37, 81 & 603 Metro Express: 460 Torrance Transit: 4 (Weekdays Rush Hour PM southbound only)	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 (weekdays, peak only) & 460 Torrance Transit: 4 (weekdays, peak only)	Street stop		June 26, 2011
37th Street/USC		Yes	No		Freeway Level Metro Express: 460 LADOT Commuter Express: 438 & 448 Torrance Transit: 4 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only) Street Level Metro Local: 81, 102 & 200 Metro Express: 442 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only) & 550 (M-F Peak Hour Only) LADOT DASH: F, Southeast, King-East	Station		June 1996	Exposition Park
Slauson		Yes	No		Freeway Level Metro Express: 442 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only), 460 & 550 (M-F Peak Hour Only) Torrance Transit: 4 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only) Street Level Metro Local: 45, 81, 108 & 358 (Metro Limited) Metro Rapid: 745 LADOT DASH: Southeast	Station	151 Spaces		South Los Angeles
Manchester		Yes	No		Freeway Level Metro Express: 460 & 550 (M-F Peak Hour Only) Orange County Transportation Authority: 701 & 721 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM & PM peak periods only) Torrance Transit: 4 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only) Street Level Metro Express: 442 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only) Metro Local: 45, 81 & 115 Metro Rapid: 745	Station	247 Spaces
Harbor Freeway		Yes	Yes		Freeway Level Metro Express: 550 (M-F Peak Hour Only) Gardena Transit: 1X LADOT Commuter Express: 448 Orange County Transportation Authority: 721 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM & PM peak periods only) Torrance Transit: 4 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only) Street Level Metro Local: 45, 81 & 120 Metro Rapid: 745 Torrance Transit: 1 & 2 Gardena Transit: 1X (During the non-rush hour weekdays and weekends only) Upper Level   Metro Green Line	Station	253 Spaces
Rosecrans		Yes	No		Freeway Level Metro Express: 550 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM & PM peak periods only) Torrance Transit: 4 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only) Street Level Metro Local: 125	Station	338 Spaces		Harbor Gateway
Harbor Gateway Transit Center		Yes	Yes		Metro Local: 52, 130, 205, 246, 344 (Metro Limited) & 352 (Metro Limited) Metro Express: 550 Torrance Transit: 1, 4 (Weekdays Rush Hour AM northbound only & PM southbound only) & 6 Carson Circuit: North / South Shuttle Gardena Transit: 2 & 4	Station	980 Spaces
Figueroa/Victoria	Figueroa/190th	off-peak	Yes		Metro Local: 52, 130, 205 & 352 (Metro Limited) Torrance Transit: 6	Street stop	None	December 13, 2015	Carson
Carson		off-peak	Yes		Metro Local: 205 Metro Express: 550 Torrance Transit: 1, 3 Carson Circuit: F, S	Station	140 Spaces	June 1996
Pacific Coast Highway		off-peak	Yes		Metro Local: 205 & 232 Metro Express: 550 LADOT Commuter Express: 448 LADOT DASH: Wilmington Torrance Transit: 7	Station	244 Spaces
Harbor Beacon Park & Ride		off-peak	Yes		None	Street stop	None	December 13, 2015	San Pedro
Harbor/1st	Beacon/1st	off-peak	Yes		Metro Local: 205	Street stop
Pacific/1st		off-peak	Yes		Metro Local: 205 & 246 LADOT DASH: San Pedro	Street stop
Pacific/3rd		off-peak	Yes		Metro Local: 246	Street stop
Pacific/7th		off-peak	Yes		Metro Local: 246	Street stop
Pacific/11th		off-peak	Yes		Metro Local: 205 & 246	Street stop
Pacific/15th		off-peak	Yes		Metro Local: 246	Street stop
Pacific/17th		off-peak	Yes		Metro Local: 246	Street stop
(none)	Pacific/19th	off-peak	Yes		Metro Local: 246	Street stop
Pacific/21th Street		off-peak	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 were serve 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.^[6]

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.^[6]

Introducing the Silver Line

Starting in the early 2000's 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.^[7] 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.^[8]

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.^[9] 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.^[9] 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.^[9]

Metro ExpressLanes improvements

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.^[9] The new station opened in October 2012 with more bus bays, staffed information counters, restrooms, improved lighting and security.

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

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.^[9] The Harbor Gateway Transit Center also received bathrooms and a substation for LA County Sheriff's deputies who now exclusively patrol Silver Line facilities.^[9]

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

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.^[10]

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.^[11]

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.^[12][13] 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.^[5] 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.

Current developments

Fare payment changes

In the summer of 2016 Metro plans to change how passengers pay their fare on the Silver Line in an effort to reduce dwell time and increase on-time performance.^[14][15] Passengers will be 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, near the doors. Like on Metro Rail and the Orange Line, passengers would be 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.

TAP vending machines will be installed at key Silver Line stations to allow customers to purchase or revalue their cards before boarding the bus, but Metro has yet to determine which stations will receive the machines. Passengers boarding at street stops or stations without TAP vending machines will be able to purchase or revalue their cards on board the bus.

This proposed 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, MetroRail, Metrolink and Amtrak services which is expected to be complete by July 2017.

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.^[16] 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

Northbound Metro Silver Line bus departing Manchester Station.

Vehicle strike at the Harbor Freeway Station

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.^[17] 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.^[18] 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."^[19]

See also

• List of Metro Liner stations

References

1. "Metro Ridership". Metro.net. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
2. "Guide to the Metro Silver Line". The Source.
3. "Line 910 fare structure" (PDF). 2009-10-15.
4. https://www.metro.net/riding/fares/
5. http://foothilltransit.org/lines-and-schedules/silver2silver/
6. Weikel, Dan (December 2, 2014). "A cleaned-up, safer Harbor Transitway puts more commuters on the bus". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
7. "Dual Hub Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) El Monte Station to Artesia Transit Center" (PDF). 2008-11-20.
8. "SB910 Feb09 public hearing" (PDF). 2009-02-01.
9. "Metro Silver Line Update Report" (PDF). 2012-01-19.
10. "Metro Silver Line (service tab)".
11. "December 2013 Service Changes". 2013-11-22.
12. "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.
13. "Silver 2 Silver Bus Program". 2012-10-12.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. "The Source: Accident on The Harbor Transitway". 2012-02-22.
18. "Harbor Freeway Metro Silver Line Station platform improvements" (PDF). 2012-04-20.
19. "Silverline bus".

Further reading

• https://www.metro.net/board/Items/2011/10_October/20111020OPItem52.pdf
• https://www.metro.net/board/Items/2011/4_April/20110420AHCPItem1.pdf
• 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

External links

• Metro Silver Line timetable – as of June 2013.
• Silver Line Map – Overall map of the Metro Silver Line.
• Silver Line destinations – Metro Silver Line destinations guide (English)
• Silver Line destinations – Metro Silver Line destinations guide (Spanish)
• A recent report of the Metro Silver Line
• Metro's official release about the New Metro Silver Line Released on December 9, 2009.
• Metro's proposed security for the Metro Silver Line stations
• CBS news article about the Metro Silver Line Accident at Harbor Freeway Station
• NBC news article about the Metro Silver Line Accident at Harbor Freeway Station
• Metro Silver Line and Foothill Silver Streak Coordination