Metro Rapid

Metro Rapid is a local express bus service in Los Angeles County, California with bus rapid transit characteristics. It operates in mixed traffic environments and has fewer stops than the Metro Local service. The system is mainly operated by Metro. Two routes are operated by Big Blue Bus, one by Culver CityBus and one by Torrance Transit. The Rapid program speeds up travel time for passengers, complementing the Metro Local bus network operated by the Metro as well as other bus routes operated by smaller agencies.

Metro Rapid

A NABI 60-BRT bus on Line 761 heading to Westwood
Slogan	Go Metro
Founded	June 24, 2000
Locale	Los Angeles County, California
Service type	bus service, bus rapid transit
Operator	Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Big Blue Bus Culver CityBus Torrance Transit

Metro Rapid buses are distinguished by their prominent red color. Based on availability of equipment, units in non-Metro Rapid livery may be placed into service on lines that normally use Metro Rapid buses.

To speed up travel times, buses are equipped with special transmitter devices that send a signal to traffic lights, which cause them to favor the bus by holding green lights longer and shortening red lights. Metro Rapid buses also stop less frequently than Metro Local buses, with Rapid stops located only at major intersections and transfer points. The frequency of Metro Rapid buses is increased as well, as more buses on a line translates to less wait time at each station. All Metro Rapid buses are low-floor CNG buses for faster boarding and alighting.

As a result of a recent federal court consent decree ruling, beginning in June 2006 almost all Rapid routes began operating from at least 5 am to 9 pm, five days a week, with a maximum of 10-minute peak headways and 20-minute midday and evening headways. Some Rapid routes operate on weekends as well.

Overview

Metro bus stop sign for Local line 4 and Rapid line 704 in Santa Monica.

The Metro Rapid Program was implemented in June 2000-December 2002 with the goal of improving bus speeds within urbanized Los Angeles County. Lines 720 (Wilshire), 745 (Broadway), 754 (Vermont) and 750 (Ventura) were the pilot routes of the program. Metro claims travel times were reduced by as much as 29%.

Metro Rapid stop demonstrating the new design and NextBus technology

Metro Rapid buses are distinguished by their red and silver livery. Some Rapid stops are equipped with "NextBus" technology which indicates the wait time before the next bus arrives. NextBus displays were installed mostly at stops on Lines 720 and 750.

Metro Rapid Lines 720, 770 and 780 are the only lines that complement multiple lines (the 720 runs alongside the 18 and 20; 770 runs alongside 68 and 70; and the 780 runs alongside the 180, 181 and 217); Lines 720 and 780 are the longest routes in the Metro Rapid system. They take roughly 2 hours from start to end during rush hours. Also, line 720 is the most frequent of all Rapids. In the morning rush hour, the Rapid 720 ranges from every 2–10 minutes.

Metro Rapid articulated bus in downtown Los Angeles

A year after Metro introduced SmartBus technology on most of their buses, marquees were modified on most Metro Rapid buses in which the "STOP REQUESTED" portion scrolls across the marquee instead of staying in place and "PLEASE USE REAR EXIT" scrolls slowly. Months later, marquees were switched back to their original format.

The fare is the same as other Metro bus and rail service. Routes are numbered in the 700 series (7xx).

On February 2020, Metro announced their NextGen Bus Plan that proposed an elimination of the majority of the Metro Rapid lines and merge them into their Metro Local counterpart. All Metro Rapid routes, except for Lines 720 and 754, will be discontinued, while the remaining Rapid lines will serve as rush hour routes and Line 761 will return with a new terminal to Sylmar Metrolink Station.

Criticism

Critics see the Metro Rapid system as not sufficient to meet Los Angeles' growing transit needs. Limited funds, they say, would be better spent on extending the region's rail network. Rapid buses do not have the capacity or efficiency of light- or heavy-rail technology.

Other critics claim that Metro Rapid is a triumph of marketing over substance. For many years, Metro and its predecessor, the SCRTD, operated limited-stop routes, which were similar to Metro Rapid service in the middle of their routes (serving only transfer points and major stops), but made local stops at each end. Rapid buses do not change traffic signals outside of the City of Los Angeles because only the City has tied the transponders to the signal network. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works is working on rectifying the problem for all the other cities where Rapid buses pass through, but individual signals have to be reprogrammed to give signal priority to Rapid buses. In addition, only Rapid-branded buses have transponders, which causes problems when not enough Rapid buses are available (or conversely, when Rapid-branded buses are used on Local service).

Another complaint concerns the placement of Local and Rapid stops at separate locations at the same intersection. This was done to eliminate the backing up of buses at stops, but has resulted in a dangerous move called the "Rapid Bus Shuffle", in which a rider waiting at a Local stop runs to a Rapid stop, or vice versa, if the other bus arrives first. In response, some Rapid stops are placed adjacent to Local bus stops.

In addition, civil rights organizations like the Bus Riders Union complain about cutbacks in Local service required to implement Rapid service. Generally, between 25 and 50% of Local service is cut and replaced by Rapid service. Thus, riders not living or working near a Rapid stop must walk a longer distance to an intersection with both Local and Rapid stops, or wait longer for a Local bus. The Special Master of the consent decree between Metro and the BRU has ordered that no more than 33% of the resources for Rapids come from Local service.

Metro staff has never considered Metro Rapid a substitute for rail service, but is instead a pragmatic interim measure given current budgetary constraints.

Another major complaint is the lack of Saturday, Sunday, and holiday service on several of its high-volume routes like the 705, 710 and 740 where many patrons commute from inner-city suburbs, Downtown LA, or the South Bay to major cities for their jobs and local shopping.

Routes

Current Metro Rapid Routes

Route	Terminals		via	Days of Operation	Notes
704 [1]	Santa Monica 2nd St & Santa Monica Bl	Downtown LA Union Station	Santa Monica Bl	Daily (Mon-Sat: 5:00a-9:00p; Sun: 7:00a-8:00p)	Service began June 2007, replaced Line 304 and operates alongside Line 4
	West LA Santa Monica Bl & Sepulveda Bl
705 [2]	West Hollywood West Hollywood Library	Vernon Vernon Av & Santa Fe Av	La Cienega Bl, Vernon Av	Weekdays (5:00a-9:15p)	Service began June 2004, operates alongside Line 105
710 [3]	Koreatown, Los Angeles Wilshire/Western Station	Redondo Beach South Bay Galleria	Crenshaw Bl	Weekdays, Saturday (M-F: 5:30a-9:30p; S: 6a-8:30p)	Service began February 2004, replaced Line 310 and operates alongside Line 210
720 [4]	Santa Monica Downtown Santa Monica station	Commerce Commerce Center	Wilshire Bl, Whittier Bl	Daily (M-F: 4:30a-1:00a; Sa/Su: 5:00a-1:00a)	Service began June 2000, one of the two original routes, replaced Lines 318, 320 and 322, and operates alongside Lines 18 and 20
	Westwood, Los Angeles Wilshire Bl & Westwood Bl	Downtown LA 6th St & Central Av
		Koreatown, Los Angeles Wilshire/Vermont station
728 [5]	Century City, Los Angeles Constellation Bl & Century Park W	Downtown LA Union Station	Olympic Bl	Weekdays (5:00a-9:00p)	Began December 2007, replaced Line 328 and operates alongside Line 28
733 [6]	Santa Monica Ocean Av & Arizona Av	Downtown LA Union Station	Venice Bl	Daily (5:00a-11:00p)	Began June 2010, replaced Line 333 and operates alongside Line 33 (which replaces service during late evening and early morning hours)
734 [7]	Sylmar, Los Angeles Sylmar/San Fernando station	West LA Expo/Sepulveda station	Sepulveda Bl	Weekdays (5a-10:15p)	Began June 2006, operates alongside Line 234 (which replaces service everyday during late evenings and early mornings and all day on weekends)
740 [8]	Jefferson Park, Los Angeles Expo/Crenshaw station	Redondo Beach South Bay Galleria	Crenshaw Bl, Hawthorne Bl	Weekdays, Saturday (M-F: 5a-9:15p; Sa: 5:45a-9:15p)	Began December 2004, replaced Line 340 and operates alongside Line 40
744 [9]	Pacoima Van Nuys Bl & Glenoaks Bl	Northridge Reseda Bl & Devonshire St (weekdays only)	Van Nuys Bl, Ventura Bl, Reseda Bl	Daily (M-F: 5a-10p; Sa/Su: 5:30a-8p)	Began December 2014, replaced Lines 741 and 761 and operates alongside Lines 233 and 240
		Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles Sherman Oaks Galleria
745 [10]	Downtown LA Union Station	South LA Harbor Freeway station	Broadway	Daily (M-F: 5a-9p; Sa: 5:30a-8p; Su: 6a-8p)	Began December 2002, replaced Line 345 and operates alongside Line 45 Some morning peak service begins at Florence Av
750 [11]	Canoga Park, Los Angeles Canoga station	Studio City, Los Angeles Universal City/Studio City station	Ventura Bl	Weekdays (5a-10:30p)	Began June 2000, one of the two original routes, operates alongside Line 150
751 [12]	Cypress Park, Los Angeles Av 28 & Idell St	Huntington Park Palm Pl & Seville Av	Av 26, Daly St, Soto St	Weekdays (4:30a-8:30p)	Began June 2004, replaced Line 350 and operates alongside Line 251
754 [13]	East Hollywood Vermont Av & Hollywood Bl	Athens Vermont Av & 120th St	Vermont Av	Daily (M-F: 5:00a-9:30p; Sa: 6:00a-9:15p; Su: 6:00a-8:30p)	Began December 2002, replaced Line 354 and operates alongside Line 204
757 [14]	East Hollywood, Los Angeles Hollywood/Western station	Hawthorne Crenshaw station	Western Av	Weekdays (5:00a-9:30p)	Began December 2005, replaced Line 357 and operates alongside Line 207
760 [15]	Downtown LA 5th St & Beaudry Av	Lynwood Long Beach Boulevard station	Santa Fe Av, Pacific Bl, Long Beach Bl	Weekdays, Saturday (M-F: 5:00a-8:45p; Sa: 5:00a-8:40p)	Began June 2007, replaced Line 360 and operates alongside Line 60
762 [16]	Pasadena Fair Oaks Av & Colorado Bl	Compton Artesia station	Fair Oaks Av, Atlantic Bl	Weekdays (5:00a-9:00p)	Began June 2008, replaced Line 361 and operates alongside Line 260
		Lynwood Imperial Hwy & Atlantic Bl
770 [17]	Downtown LA Broadway & Venice Bl	El Monte El Monte Station	Cesar E. Chavez Av, Garvey Av	Weekdays, Saturday (M-F: 5:00a-9:00p; Sa: 6:15a-7:15p)	Began December 2007, replaced Lines 368 and 370 and operates alongside Lines 68 and 70
780 [18]	Pasadena Pasadena City College	Culver City West Los Angeles Transit Center	Colorado Bl, Hollywood Bl, Fairfax Av	Weekdays (5:00a-8:45p)	Began operating in December 2004 Replaced 380 in June 2005 to have a western terminus at Hollywood/Highland Station and combined it with the 717 in June 2006 to extend to its current western terminus at West Los Angeles Transit Center. Operates alongside Lines 180, 181 and 217
788 [19]	Arleta Van Nuys Bl & Woodman Av	West LA Expo/Sepulveda station	Van Nuys Blvd, Interstate 405	Operates on Weekdays during rush hours (4:45-10am; 2:30-8:15pm) as a Rapid Express	Began December 2014 Closed-door along the San Fernando Valley for northbound service and Westwood for southbound service
794 [20]	Sylmar, Los Angeles Sylmar/San Fernando Station	Downtown LA Hill St & Venice Bl	San Fernando Rd	Weekdays (4:45a-9:20p)	Began June 2008, replaced Line 394 and operates alongside Lines 94 and 224

Rapid routes operated by other agencies

Route	Terminals		via	Days of Operation	Notes
Big Blue Bus Rapid 3 [21]	Santa Monica 4th St & Wilshire Bl	Westchester, Los Angeles Aviation/LAX station	Lincoln Bl	Weekday peak hours (6:10a-9a, 2p-6p)	Operates alongside Big Blue Bus Line 3 Operated by Big Blue Bus
Big Blue Bus Rapid 7 [21]	Santa Monica Broadway & 5th St	Koreatown, Los Angeles Wilshire/Western Station	Pico Bl	Weekdays (6a-7:30p)	Operates alongside Big Blue Bus Line 7 Operated by Big Blue Bus
Big Blue Bus Rapid 12 [21]	Westwood, Los Angeles UCLA Charles E Young/P2 Hub	Palms, Los Angeles Overland Av & Venice Bl	Westwood Bl, Overland Av	Daily (M-F: 5:30a-11:00p; Sa/Su: 6:30a-11:00p)	Operated by Big Blue Bus
Culver CityBus Rapid 6 [22]	Westwood, Los Angeles UCLA	Westchester, Los Angeles Aviation/LAX Station	Sepulveda Bl	Weekdays (5:50a-9:57a; 2:20p-7:35p)	Operates alongside Culver CityBus Line 6 Operated by Culver CityBus
Torrance Transit Rapid 3	Redondo Beach South Bay Galleria	Long Beach Downtown Long Beach Station	Carson St, Avalon Bl, Pacific Coast Hwy	Weekdays (6:05a-10:20a; 2:15p-7:40p)	Operates alongside Torrance Transit Line 3 Operated by Torrance Transit

Former routes

Route	Terminals		via	Notes/History
711 [23]	Inglewood Inglewood Transit Center	Bell Gardens Florence Av & Garfield Av	Florence Av	Began service on June 29, 2003 to replace the Local Limited Line 311. Replaced by Line 311 in December 2010 and 311 was cancelled in 2016.
714 [24]	Beverly Hills Santa Monica Bl & Canon Dr	Grand/LATTC Station	Beverly Bl	Originally operated daily before the service cut to only on weekday peak hours Discontinued in December 2010 due to low ridership
715	Westchester, Los Angeles LAX City Bus Center	Downey Downey Depot Transportation Center	Manchester Bl, Manchester Av, Firestone Bl	Began service in June 2008, replaced the Local Limited Line 315 for weekday services Discontinued in December 2010 due to low ridership
	Inglewood Inglewood Transit Center
717	Hollywood Hollywood/Vine station	Culver City West Los Angeles Transit Center	Hollywood Bl, Fairfax Av	Began operating in June 2005, replacing the Local Limited Line 317, which began in December 2004 Merged with Line 780 in June 2006
724	Sylmar, Los Angeles Sylmar/San Fernando Station	North Hollywood, Los Angeles North Hollywood station	San Fernando Rd, Lankershim Bl	Began service in June 2008, and operated alongside Metro Line 224 Discontinued in June 2009 due to low ridership
730	Mid-City, Los Angeles Pico/Rimpau Transit Center	Little Tokyo Little Tokyo/Arts District station	Pico Bl	Began operating in June 2008, replaced Local Limited Line 330. Reverted to Line 330 in June 2012
741 [25]	Northridge Reseda Blvd & Devonshire St	Tarzana Ventura Bl & Reseda Bl	Reseda Bl	Began operating in December 2005 Replaced by Line 744 in December 2014
753	Downtown LA 5th St & Beaudry Av	Willowbrook Willowbrook/Rosa Parks station	Central Av	Began operating in June 2008, replaced Local Limited Line 350 Discontinued in December 2010 due to low ridership
761 [26]	Pacoima Van Nuys Bl & Glenoaks Bl	Westwood, Los Angeles Federal Building	Van Nuys Bl, Sepulveda Bl	Began operating in June 2003 and replaced the Metro Express Line 561 Replaced by Lines 734 and 744 in December 2014
920 [27]	Santa Monica Colorado Av & Ocean Av	Koreatown, Los Angeles Wilshire/Vermont Station	Wilshire Bl	Began operating in June 2007 Former Rapid Express Line Operated during weekday peak hours Discontinued in December 2010 due to low ridership, although riders have advocated improvements, during the service's short life
	Westwood, Los Angeles Wilshire Bl & Westwood Bl
940 [28]	Downtown LA Union Station	Torrance Del Amo Fashion Center	Martin Luther King Jr. Bl, Crenshaw Bl, La Brea Av, Hawthorne Bl	Began operating in June 2007 Former Rapid Express Line Operated during weekday peak hours in peak directions Discontinued in June 2008 due to low ridership, although riders have advocated improvements , during the service's short life

Fleet

NABI Metro 45C #8084 on the 780 on the way to Hollywood

The Metro Rapid fleet consists exclusively of low-floor buses manufactured by both North American Bus Industries, and New Flyer.

Other Los Angeles-area Rapids

Foothill Transit's Silver Streak made its debut on March 18, 2007, using the El Monte Busway and the San Bernardino Freeway. This route is not part of the official Metro Rapid program.

References

1. "Route Map : 704" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
2. "Route Map : 705" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
3. "Route Map : 710" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
4. "Route Map : 720" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
5. "Route Map : 728" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
6. "Route Map : 733" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
7. "Route Map : 734" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
8. "Route Map : 740" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
9. "Route Map : 744" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
10. "Route Map : 745" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
11. "Route Map : 750" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
12. "Route Map : 751" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
13. "Route Map : 754" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
14. "Route Map : 757" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
15. "Route Map : 760" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
16. "Route Map : 762" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
17. "Route Map : 770" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
18. "Route Map : 780" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
19. "Route Map : 788" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
20. "Route Map : 794" (PDF). Metro.net. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
21. "Big Blue Bus Rapid 3 Schedule" (PDF). June 12, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
22. http://www.culvercity.org/home/showdocument?id=8170
23. "Route Map : 711". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
24. "Route Map : 714". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
25. "Route Map : 741". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
26. "Route Map : 761" (PDF). Metro.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-16. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
27. "Route Map : 920". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
28. "Route Map : 940". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 2016-08-06.

External links

• Metro Rapid Homepage