J Line (Los Angeles Metro)

The J Line (formerly the Silver Line) is a 38 mi (61 km) bus rapid transit route that runs between El Monte, Downtown Los Angeles and Gardena, with some trips continuing to San Pedro. It is one of the two lines in the Metro Busway system and is operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro).

J Line
Metro J Line bus on the Harbor Transitway
Overview
Other name(s)Silver Line (2009–2020)
StatusIn service
Line number910 & 950
TerminiEl Monte Station
Harbor Gateway Transit Center (route 910)
San Pedro (route 950)
Stations12 (also makes additional street stops)
WebsiteMetro J Line
Service
TypeBus rapid transit
SystemLos Angeles Metro Busway
Operator(s) Metro (LACMTA)
Depot(s)Division 9 (El Monte) & Division 18 (Carson)
Rolling stockNABI 45C-LFW & 60-BRT buses
Daily ridership19,277 (February 2020, weekdays)[1]
History
OpenedDecember 13, 2009 (December 13, 2009)
Technical
Line length38 mi (61.2 km)
CharacterShared-use busways with some city streets
Route map

 El Monte
↓ El Monte Busway ( I-10)
I-710
 Cal State LA
↓ left-side running
 LA County+USC Medical Center
I-5
 Union Station
    
↑ El Monte Busway (left-side running)
 Los Angeles St
 Spring St/1st St
 1st St/Hill St (Civic Ctr/Grand Park)
   
↓ Grand │ Olive ↑
 Kosciuszko Wy
 3rd St
 5th St (Pershing Square)
   
↓ Grand │ Olive ↑
 6th St/Flower St
↑ Figueroa │ Flower ↓
 7th St (7th St/Metro Ctr)
     
 Olympic Bl
 Pico Bl (Pico)
   
I-10
 Washington Bl (Grand/LATTC)
 
 23rd St (LATTC/Ortho Institute)
 
 Adams Bl
↑ Figueroa │ Flower ↓
↓ Harbor Transitway ( I-110)
 37th Street/USC
 Slauson
 Manchester
 Harbor Freeway ( I-105)
 
 Rosecrans
SR 91
↑ Harbor Transitway
 Harbor Gateway
 Figueroa St/
Victoria St (northbound)
190th St (southbound)
I-405
↓ Harbor Freeway ( I-110)
 Carson
 Pacific Coast Highway
( SR 1)
↑ Harbor Freeway
 Harbor Beacon Park & Ride
Beacon St/1st St
 Pacific Av/1st St
 Pacific Av/3rd St
 Pacific Av/7th St
 Pacific Av/11th St
 Pacific Av/15th St
 Pacific Av/17th St
 Pacific Av/19th St
Pacific Av/21st St
all stations accessible
busway station
busway transfer station
on-street stop
on-street transfer stop
one-way on-street stop
one-way on-street
transfer stop

The J Line offers frequent, all-stops service along the El Monte Busway and the Harbor Transitway, two grade-separated transit facilities built into the Southern California freeway system. The line was created on December 13, 2009, as part of the conversion of the facilities from high-occupancy vehicle lanes into high-occupancy toll lanes (branded as Metro ExpressLanes) that allow solo drivers to pay a toll to use lanes. The tolls collected have been used to operate the J Line and to refurbish the aging stations along the line

As J Line buses travel along the El Monte Busway and the Harbor Transitway they serve stations built into the center or side of the roadway. There is a 3.6 mi (5.8 km) gap between the western end of El Monte Busway and the northern end of the Harbor Transitway in Downtown Los Angeles, where J Line buses travel on surface streets, making a limited number of stops. Along the route, buses serve several of the region's major transportation hubs including El Monte Station, Union Station, 7th Street/Metro Center station, and the Harbor Gateway Transit Center.

In 2020, the line was renamed from Silver Line to the J Line while retaining its route numbers and the color silver in its square icon as part of a renaming of all Metro lines.

Service description

Two services are operated under the J Line name:

  • Route 910 operates with daily 24-hour service serving only the portion of the route between El Monte Station, Downtown Los Angeles, and the Harbor Gateway Transit Center.
  • Route 950 operates with daily service serving the entire route between El Monte Station, Downtown Los Angeles, and San Pedro.

Routing

The eastern section of the J 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 sections along 3.6 mi (5.8 km) of surface streets in Downtown Los Angeles where J Line buses make a limited number of stops near major employment centers, tourist destinations and Metro Rail stations. Buses utilize about 2.5 mi (4.0 km) of bus-only lanes in each direction to speed trips across Downtown Los Angeles.

J Line route 950 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 on the side of the freeway near off and on-ramps. In San Pedro, J Line route 950 buses once again travel along surface streets, serving the Harbor Beacon Park & Ride and making frequent stops along Pacific Avenue.

Headways
TimeWeekdaysWeekends/

Holidays

5:00A – 10:00A4–1020
10:00A – 3:00P15
3:00P – 6:00P4–10
6:00P – 8:00P10–20
8:00P – 9:00P2040–60
9:00P – 1:00A40–60
1:00A – 5:00A (910 only)6060

Fares

The J Line charges a premium fare that is higher than 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 an additional "premium charge" at the time of boarding.

Like the other Metro Rail and Metro Busway lines, the J Line operates on a proof-of-payment system.[4] Passengers may board at either the front or rear door of J Line buses and validate their Transit Access Pass (TAP) electronic fare card at readers located onboard the bus, near the door. Metro's fare inspectors randomly inspect buses to ensure passengers have a valid fare product on their TAP card. Pre-payment of fares and all-door boarding reduces the time buses need to remain stopped at stations.[5]

TAP vending machines are available at most stations (except Carson and Pacific Coast Highway, which are expected to be removed from the line in 2021) and are located near most street stops in Downtown Los Angeles. But, because vending machines are not available at all stations and street stops, passengers who need to purchase a card or add funds can do so at the farebox on board the bus. None of the other Metro Rail or Metro Busway lines offer onboard sales.

Metro and Foothill Transit offer a reciprocal fare program where pass holders may ride either J Line or Silver Streak buses between Downtown Los Angeles and the El Monte Station.[6]

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

Fare Type[7] 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 (without Zone 1 or higher)
  • Metrolink tickets and passes
 $0.75 — — —
Premium Charge

Required for:

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

Stations & stops
Station/Street Stop Services Stop type Date opened City/ Neighborhood Major connections and notes[8][9]
Northbound Southbound 910 950
El Monte Station Yes Yes Station July 14, 1973 El Monte Park and ride: 1,287 stalls
Cal State LA Yes Yes Station February 18, 1975 East Los Angeles Connects with Metrolink
Los Angeles County & USC Medical Center Yes Yes Station Boyle Heights
Union Station Yes Yes Station November 1, 2020 Downtown Los Angeles Connects with  B Line,  D Line,  L Line, Amtrak, LAX FlyAway and Metrolink
Paid parking: 3,000 stalls
Aliso/Los Angeles Arcadia/Los Angeles Yes Yes Street Stop
Spring/1st Yes Yes Street stop December 13, 2009
1st/Hill
(Civic Center/Grand Park)		 Yes Yes Street stop Connects with  B Line and  D Line
Olive/Kosciuszko Grand/3rd Yes Yes Street stop
Olive/5th
(Pershing Square)		 Grand/5th
(Pershing Square)		 Yes Yes Street stop Connects with  B Line and  D Line
6th/Flower (none) Yes Yes Street stop
Figueroa/7th
(7th St/Metro Center)		 Flower/7th
(7th St/Metro Center)		 Yes Yes Street stop Connects with  A Line,  B Line,  D Line and  E Line
Figueroa/Olympic Flower/Olympic Yes Yes Street stop
Figueroa/Pico
(Pico)		 Flower/Pico
(Pico)		 Yes Yes Street stop Connects with  A Line and  E Line
Figueroa/Washington
(Grand/LATTC)		 Flower/Washington
(Grand/LATTC)		 Yes Yes Street stop Connects with  A Line
Figueroa/23rd
(LATTC/Ortho Institute)		 Flower/23rd
(LATTC/Ortho Institute)		 Yes Yes Street stop April 30, 2012 (Flower/23rd)
June 23, 2013 (Figueroa/23rd)		 North University Park Connects with  E Line
Figueroa Way/Adams Flower/Adams Yes Yes Street stop June 26, 2011
37th Street/USC Yes Yes Station August 1, 1996 Exposition Park
Slauson Yes Yes Station South Los Angeles Park and ride: 150 stalls
Manchester Yes Yes Station Park and ride: 253 stalls
Harbor Freeway Yes Yes Station Connects with  C Line
Park and ride: 253 stalls
Rosecrans Yes Yes Station Harbor Gateway Park and ride: 202 stalls
Harbor Gateway Transit Center Yes Yes Station Park and ride: 980 stalls
Figueroa/Victoria Figueroa/190th No Yes Street stop December 13, 2015 Carson
Carson No Yes Station November 17, 2000 Park and ride: 143 stalls
Pacific Coast Highway No Yes Station Park and ride: 240 stalls
Harbor Beacon Park & Ride No Yes Street stop December 13, 2015 San Pedro Park and ride: 180 stalls
Beacon/1st No Yes Street stop
Pacific/1st No Yes Street stop
Pacific/3rd No Yes Street stop
Pacific/7th No Yes Street stop
Pacific/11th No Yes Street stop
Pacific/15th No Yes Street stop
Pacific/17th No Yes Street stop
(none) Pacific/19th No Yes Street stop
Pacific/21st Street No Yes Street stop

History
Main article: History of Los Angeles Metro Rail and Busway
This elevated section of the Harbor Transitway carries the Metro J Line and the Metro ExpressLanes over the frequently congested Harbor Freeway.

The idea for the route now known as the J Line came in 1993, as Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) staff studied how to operate buses on the Harbor Transitway, which was under construction and would open three years later in the summer of 1996. Metro staff recommended the creation of a dual hub-and-spoke ("dual hub") system with a trunk route that served both the Harbor Transitway and the operationally similar El Monte Busway which had opened two decades earlier in January 1973.[10] Staff said the dual hub proposal, would be the most efficient and cost less to run, but the Metro Board of Directors decided to continue running bus routes on both the El Monte Busway and Harbor Freeway as they had before.[11]

After the Harbor Transitway opened, ridership was radically lower than expected: Caltrans had projected that 65,200 passengers would travel along the Harbor Transitway each day, but after 10 years, the facility had only attracted 3,000 passengers per weekday.[12] That amount is low compared to the El Monte Busway, which had 32,000 boardings a day in November 2000.[12]

After the very successful launch of the Orange Line busway (now the G Line) in the San Fernando Valley, Metro decided to rebrand the county's other busways in an attempt to increase awareness.[13] In March 2006, Metro decided that the Harbor Transitway would be colored bronze and the El Monte Busway would be colored silver on Metro's maps and the two would be marketed as a "Combined Transitway Service." No changes were made in the operations of the bus routes operated on either facility. The changes were criticized as being difficult to understand for irregular and new riders.[14]

Metro returned to its plan for a dual-hub route in 2009, proposing a new bus rapid transit service called the Silver Line (now J Line) utilizing both the Harbor Transitway and the El Monte Busway. The new higher frequency service would be funded by converting both corridors into high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, to be branded as the Metro ExpressLanes. The bus route began operations on December 13, 2009, the HOT lanes on the Harbor Transitway went into service on November 10, 2012[15] and the El Monte Busway's HOT lanes opened on February 22, 2013.[16]

Since the start of the J Line, Metro has been working to refurbish the aging stations along both the Harbor Transitway and the El Monte Busway. The 1970s-era El Monte Station was demolished and replaced by a new station in October 2012. All of the Harbor Transitway stations were refurbished with real-time arrival signs, new wayfinding signage, improved lighting, and soundproofing by late 2012. The El Monte Busway stations received a similar refurbishment in January 2015. Transit Access Pass (TAP) card ticket vending machines were added to stations in early 2017 to support all-door boarding on J Line buses.[17] Metro has also added a new station on the El Monte Busway at Union Station that opened on November 1, 2020.[18][19]

Efforts have also been made to speed up J Line buses as they cross Downtown Los Angeles on surface streets. LADOT added bus priority to traffic lights in 2012 and over several years about 2.5 mi (4.0 km) of bus-only lanes have been added in each direction, allowing buses to bypass traffic on nearly 70% of the 3.6 mi (5.8 km) surface street portion of the route.

In 2015, Metro integrated the last remaining Metro Express route on the Harbor Transitway, the 450X to San Pedro, into the Silver Line. Originally a new express Silver Line service was added that served San Pedro and skipped many Harbor Transitway stations; but by June 2017, San Pedro-bound buses were serving all stations, the increase in speed deemed not enough to justify increased crowding on other buses.[20]

Future developments

As part of Metro's NextGen Bus Plan, the agency has proposed discontinuing the J Line's route 950 that offers service to San Pedro.[21] Metro says the change would allow the J Line to transition to battery-electric buses and would improve the reliability of buses that operate between El Monte Station and Harbor Gateway Transit Center. Service to San Pedro would be shifted to a new line that would operate between San Pedro and the Harbor Freeway station via I-110, with a peak-hour extension to Downtown Los Angeles. The changes are expected to be implemented in 2021.[22] The city of San Pedro opposes the change with citizens requesting that they also receive electrified bus service.[23]

Ridership and reliability

Ridership has steadily grown on the J Line each year.

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

Annual ridership
YearRidership%±
2010 2,108,032  —
2011 2,699,993 28.1%
2012 3,374,257 25%
2013 3,771,474 11.8%
2014 4,178,964 10.8%
2015 4,334,742 3.7%
2016 4,509,983 4%
2017 4,363,651 -3.2%
2018 4,467,409 2.4%
2019 5,209,169 16.6%
2020 2,598,392 -50.1%
Source: Metro[1]

The on time performance of the Metro J Line is currently around 82.4%, defined as being less than 5 minutes behind schedule.[24] That places it far behind the Metro Rail lines (99% on time) and Orange Line (94% on time), but 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
Bollards were installed at Harbor Freeway station and all similar stations after the crash.

On February 22, 2012, a drunk driver on the Harbor Freeway mistakenly entered the bus-only station area of the Harbor Freeway station. The driver, 51-year-old Stephen L. Lubin of Sun Valley, was traveling 80 miles per hour (130 km/h) in his 2009 Honda Fit (15 mph over the freeway's posted speed limit) as he entered the station and encountered a bus stopped at the platform. Lubin swerved to avoid hitting the bus and drove onto the station platform where he hit seven people, critically injuring six, before slamming into a pole on the platform.[25]

After the crash, Metro's CEO Art Leahy asked Metro's safety committee staff to review the layout of busway stations and safety signage on the roadways leading into the station areas.[26] As a result of that investigation, Metro added concrete-filled metal bollards to all stations on the Harbor Transitway and the El Monte Busway to prevent vehicles from entering the platform and additional markings were added on roadways leading into stations.[27]

Fleet
Metro J Line 45-foot NABI CompoBus

The Metro J Line is operated with a fleet of dedicated NABI Metro 45C "CompoBus" coaches. Each 45-foot long (14 m) bus is made of light composite materials and is powered by 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 G Line.

Metro plans to transition the J Line to battery-electric buses by the end of 2021.[28]

As of September 2, 2020, 60-foot long (18 m) NABI 60-BRT buses, previously used on the G Line and also painted in the special Metro Busway grey livery, are operating on the J Line until the switch to battery-electric buses.

See also

References
  1. "Metro Ridership". Metro.net. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. February 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  2. "Guide to the Metro Silver Line". The Source.
  3. "Line 910 fare structure" (PDF). October 15, 2009.
  4. "Metro Silver Line | All-Door Boarding Pilot". www.metro.net. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  5. "All-Door Boarding". Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  6. "Silver Streak to the J Line (Metro Silver)". Foothill Transit. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  7. https://www.metro.net/riding/fares/
  8. "Metro J Line (Silver)". www.metro.net. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  9. "Metro Parking Lots by Line". www.metro.net. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  10. "Dual Hub High Occupancy Vehicle Transitway Report" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Scheduling and Operations Planning Staff. August 1993.
  11. Radcliffe, Jim (June 27, 1996). "Harbor Transitway opens, reducing congestion - Impact felt during evening commute". Daily Breeze. p. A3 – via NewsBank.
  12. Shuit, Douglas P. (November 20, 2000). "Harbor Transitway Has Everything but Riders". Los Angeles Times.
  13. Emsden, Maya (March 16, 2006). "Approve color designations for Metro lines and fixed guideways" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
  14. Freemark, Yonah (December 10, 2009). "Los Angeles Integrates Service on Two Busways, with Plans to Implement Congestion Pricing". The Transport Politic. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  15. Kudler, Adrian Glick (November 6, 2012). "Everything You Need to Know About New 110 and 10 Toll Lanes". Curbed LA. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  16. Pamer, Melissa (February 22, 2013). "Metro ExpressLanes to Open on San Bernardino (10) Freeway". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  17. "Universal Fare System Contract Modification". Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. April 1, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  18. McCarty Carino, Meghan (January 2, 2017). "Metro starts work on pedestrian bridge at LA's Union Station". KPCC. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  19. "Metro announces bus plaza, pedestrian bridge to open Sunday at Union Station". Daily News. October 30, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  20. http://thesource.metro.net/2017/06/19/service-changes-go-into-effect-june-25-orange-line-and-silver-line-to-operate-around-the-clock/
  21. "NextGen Bus Line Proposals" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. July 2020. p. 185. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  22. "NextGen Bus Plan - Update for Metro South Bay Service Council" (PDF). July 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  23. Littlejohn, Donna (November 20, 2020). "LA Metro hits brakes on plan to stop new electric bus line short of San Pedro". Daily Breeze. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  24. 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.
  25. William-Ross, Lindsay (February 24, 2012). "Driver Who Plowed Into Crowded Bus Platform Failed His Sobriety Test". LAist. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  26. "Probe ordered into crash that injured 7 at 110 Freeway bus stop". Los Angeles Times. February 23, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  27. "Harbor Freeway Metro Silver Line Station platform improvements" (PDF). April 20, 2012..
  28. "Electric Bus Program Update" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. September 19, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2020.

Further reading
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