Metro Rapid
Metro Rapid is a local express bus service in Los Angeles County, California with bus rapid transit characteristics. It has fewer stops than the Metro Local service; the system is operated by Metro. Two routes are operated by 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 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 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 stop less 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 alighting. As a result of a recent federal court consent decree ruling, beginning in June 2006 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. 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, 745, 754 and 750 were the pilot routes of the program. Metro claims travel times were reduced by as much as 29%. Metro Rapid buses are distinguished by their silver livery; some Rapid stops are equipped with "NextBus" technology which indicates the wait time before the next bus arrives. NextBus displays were installed at stops on Lines 720 and 750. Metro Rapid Lines 720, 770 and 780 are the only lines, they take 2 hours from start to end during rush hours. Line 720 is the most frequent of all Rapids.
In the morning rush hour, the Rapid 720 ranges from every 2–10 minutes. 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 marquees were switched back to their original format; the fare is the same as other Metro rail service. Routes are numbered in the 700 series. Critics see the Metro Rapid system as not sufficient to meet Los Angeles' growing transit needs. Limited funds, would be better spent on extending the region's rail network. Rapid buses do not have efficiency of light - or heavy-rail technology. Other critics claim. For many years and its predecessor, the SCRTD, operated limited-stop routes, which were similar to Metro Rapid service in the middle of their routes, 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. 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. 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. It should be noted that 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 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; the Metro Rapid fleet consists of low-floor buses manufactured by both North American Bus Industries, New Flyer. 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. Metro Rapid Homepage Metro Rapid timetable page Rapid Bus increa
Beverly Drive
Beverly Drive is a major north-south roadway in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. South Beverly Drive begins northbound at Harlow Avenue, a small street just north of the Santa Monica Freeway in the city of Los Angeles, it passes through the residential neighborhood of Beverlywood and intersects with Pico Boulevard before entering the city of Beverly Hills at Whitworth Avenue. Between Olympic and Wilshire Boulevards, it becomes markedly commercial, with dining and shopping establishments throughout; this street is the location of the original California Pizza Kitchen. North Beverly Drive begins northbound after Wilshire, with a continuation of luxury stores and restaurants. North of Santa Monica Boulevard it crosses Beverly Gardens Park and enters one of the city's more lavish residential neighborhoods. Before crossing Sunset Boulevard it approaches a broad and notoriously congested three-way intersection with Canon Drive and Lomitas Avenue, with Will Rogers Memorial Park at its northwest corner.
At the intersection of Beverly and Sunset lies the historic Beverly Hills Hotel, one of the city's most notable landmarks. It continues northbound to Coldwater Canyon Park and Beverly Hills Fire Station #2, where arterial traffic merges onto Coldwater Canyon Drive and crosses the Santa Monica Mountains to connect with the eastern San Fernando Valley, it is possible to continue north on Beverly by turning left at the merger with Coldwater Canyon and passing west of the park. The terrain becomes noticeably hillier and mountainous as the street enters the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Franklin Canyon Reservoir is directly to the east, Franklin Canyon Park with its Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir; the road ends just north of Desford Drive in Beverly Hills at a private residence
Mid-City, Los Angeles
Mid-City is a neighborhood in Central Los Angeles, California. Attractions include restaurants and a post office named for singer Ray Charles, who had his recording studio in Mid-City; the neighborhood hosts eleven private schools. The Crenshaw/LAX Line from north-south is proposed to serve this area; the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation has posted Mid-City signage to mark the area. City installed signs are at the following intersections: Hoover Street and Washington Boulevard, Vermont Avenue and Pico Boulevard, Western Avenue and Pico Boulevard, Normandie Avenue and the Santa Monica Freeway, La Brea Avenue and the Santa Monica Freeway. Google Maps outlines an area labeled “Mid-City” that runs from Hoover Street on the East to La Cienega Boulevard & Robertson Boulevard on the West; the North is bordered by Olympic Boulevard and the Santa Monica Freeway is on the South. The Mapping L. A. project of the Los Angeles Times states as follows: Mid-City is bounded on the north by Pico Boulevard, on the east by Crenshaw Boulevard, on the south by the Santa Monica Freeway, on the southwest by Washington and National boulevards, on the west by Robertson Boulevard and on the northwest by Cadillac Avenue and La Cienega Boulevard.
It is flanked by Carthay and Mid-Wilshire to the north, Arlington Heights to the east, Culver City and West Adams to the south, Palms to the southwest, Beverlywood to the west and Pico-Robertson to the northwest. The 2000 U. S. census counted 52,197 residents in the 3.47-square-mile neighborhood—an average of 15,051 people per square mile, among the highest population densities in Los Angeles County. In 2008, the city estimated that the population had increased to 55,016; the median age for residents was 31, about average for the county. Mid-City was said to be "highly diverse" when compared to the city at large, with a diversity index of 0.637. The ethnic breakdown in 2000 was: Latinos, 45.2%. Mexico and El Salvador were the most common places of birth for the 35.1% of the residents who were born abroad, a figure, considered average for the city and county. The median household income in 2008 dollars was $43,711, considered average for the city; the percentage of households earning $20,000 or less was high, compared to the county at large.
The average household size of 2.8 people was just about average for Los Angeles. Renters occupied 68.9% of the housing units, home- or apartment owners the rest. The percentages of never-married men and never-married women were among the county's highest; the census found 2,748 families headed by single parents, the 23.4% rate being considered high for both the city and the county. Smaller neighborhoods within Mid-City include: Reynier Village. Rocha House, the 13th Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, is located in the village. Lafayette Square, it was designated by the city as a Los Angeles Historic Preservation Overlay Zone in 2000. Brookside Crestview Little Ethiopia Picfair Village Wellington Square Victoria Park Arlington Heights As part of their long-range plans, the Los Angeles County MTA has proposed the Metro Crenshaw/LAX Line, which would place a rail transit station in Mid-City; the proposed rail stop is at the intersection of Pico and San Vicente Boulevards—site of the old Vineyard Junction.
That same intersection was a former rail stop of the Pacific Electric Red Car lines more than 50 years ago. The Pacific Electric Red Car lines heading west from downtown Los Angeles diverged at Vineyard Junction. One line continued on to Beverly Hills; the old Vineyard Junction site is now occupied by the end terminal for the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus. The Crenshaw Light Rail Line would allow Mid-City residents to easy access to the city's east/west rail lines: the Purple Line along Wilshire Boulevard, the Expo Line from Downtown Los Angeles to Downtown Santa Monica, the Green Line from Norwalk to Redondo Beach and soon near LAX; the Mid-City alignment is unfunded, part of the Crenshaw Corridor's "Northern Feasibility Study". DASH Midtown serves the Mid-City area. Nate Holden Performing Arts Center - Located at 4718 West Washington Boulevard, the center is the home of the Ebony Repertory Theater Company; the Del Mar Theater - Located at 5036 W. Pico Boulevard, the theater's blue and yellow neon facade was re-lit in 2003 as part of the non-profit "Pico Revitalization Project".
The Comedy Union - Located at 5040 W. Pico Boulevard, The Comedy Union is a comedy club that showcases black comedians; the Mint - Located at 6010 W. Pico Boulevard, The Mint is a music club, established in 1937. Past performers include Macy Gray, The Wallflowers, Natalie Cole. Beth Chayim Chadashim - recognized by the Los Angeles Conservancy for its "cultural significance" as the world's first lesbian and gay synagogue Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles - Local branch of the restaurant chain. United States Post Office, Ray Charles Station - An existing post office at 4960 West Washington Boulevard was renamed in honor of singer Ray Charles in 2005. Gladys Jean Wesson Park, 2508 S W Blvd Vineyard Recreation Center, 2942 Vineyard Ave Mascot Park, Mascot Street and Pickford Street Washington Irving Pocket Park, 4103 W. Washington Blvd Mid-City has an aquatic gym in the name of Eleanor Green Roberts Aquatic Center located on 4526 W Pico Blvd Mid-city residents aged 25 and older holding a four-year degree amounted to 16.8% of the population in 2000, about average for both the city and the county.
These are the elementary or secondary schools within the neighborhood's boundaries: The Los Angeles Unified School District operates public schools: Hamilton High School, 2955 Robertson Boulevard Saturn Stre
Metro Local
Metro Local is a bus service type in Los Angeles County operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. This retronym designation was placed to differentiate it from the Metro Rapid service. Metro Local buses cover both local, limited-stop, shuttle bus services. Metro Local buses are distinguished by their prominent orange color. Based on availability of equipment, units in non-Metro Local livery may be placed into service on lines that use Metro Local buses. There are bus lines that are operated under contract with MV Transportation, Southland Transit, Transdev. Metro Local buses can be found on 400-series and 500-series routes, which are Metro Express routes with different fare structures and routing. Metro buses are given line numbers; this method was devised by the SCRTD, Metro's predecessor. All service operated by Metro as of 28 June 2018. Local bus service to/from other areas; the line numbering begins at line 2 and proceeds counterclockwise around Downtown Los Angeles, ending at line 96 East/west service, not serving Downtown Los Angeles.
North/south service, not serving Downtown Los Angeles. Limited-stop versions of traditional local routes, which make fewer stops and operate during peak times. Most limited-stop routes are designated by placing a 3 before a main line number. Most limited-stop routes have been replaced by Metro Rapid routes. Shuttles, special routes and local service within one or two adjacent neighborhoods and/or jurisdictions. Former Metro Local Routes
Lafayette Square, Los Angeles
LaFayette Square is a historic semi-gated neighborhood in the central region of Los Angeles, California. Although founded in 1913 by real estate developer George L. Crenshaw, it is named after the French marquis who fought alongside Colonists in the American Revolution, it sits just off of Crenshaw Boulevard in the Mid-City area. It was designated by the city as a Los Angeles Historic Preservation Overlay Zone in 2000 for its significant residential architecture and history. LaFayette Square is regarded for large homes; the neighborhood is notable for its central location to the entire city—an important incentive for many residents. According to the Los Angeles Conservancy, "LaFayette Square was the last and greatest of banker George L. Crenshaw's ten residential developments in the City of Los Angeles." Around the turn of the twentieth century, there was a large oil boom in southern California: Between the extraordinary climate that California had to offer and the rich resources that provided jobs to the oil and agricultural industries, the state experienced great population booms.
In Los Angeles, Crenshaw invested in and oversaw the development of ten residential real estate ventures to help satiate the population growth. LaFayette Square was developed during the early 20th century. Wrought-iron gates surrounding the district are a recent addition, coming only in 1989; the addition of the iron gates eliminated cut-through commuter traffic. LaFayette Square is situated about 7 miles west of Downtown Los Angeles, 2 miles east of Beverly Hills, 4 miles south of Hollywood; the nearest beach is Santa Monica Beach, about 9 miles away. It consists of eight blocks, centered on St. Charles Place, situated between Venice Boulevard on the north, Washington Boulevard on the south, Crenshaw Boulevard on the east and West Blvd on the west. There are 236 homes in the neighborhood, it is south of Victoria Park, southeast of the Crestview and Pico-Robertson neighborhoods in West Los Angeles and north of Wellington Square. The central region of Los Angeles experiences warm and dry summers, with average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F.
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, this area has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps. Crenshaw wanted this development to have a European flair so it was designed as an elegant residential park centered on St. Charles Place—a broad palm tree-lined avenue with a landscaped median; the houses in Lafayette Square reflect residential styles popular during the 1910s and 1920s such as Tudor Revival architecture, Mediterranean Revival, Neo-Federalist, American Craftsman, Spanish Colonial Revival, American Colonial Revival. Several houses, such as architect Paul Williams’ own home, were designed in the Modern style, exemplifying an important trend in Los Angeles’ architectural development; the neighborhood was designed for wealthy families and now-historic houses have 5,000 to 6,000 square feet floor plans, although the average home size is 3,600 square feet. According to a Los Angeles Times real-estate section article on the district, "Most of the properties have period details: Juliet balconies, mahogany staircases and libraries, sitting rooms, stained glass windows, triple crown molding, soaring ceilings—even four-car garages."
Lafayette Square has shifted between white-only homeownership during the 1920s through the 1940s to nearly all African American homeownership in the 1950s after restrictive deed covenants preventing African Americans from buying homes there, as well as in other well-to-do Los Angeles neighborhoods, were lifted in the 1940s. The community is more racially mixed now as more white families began moving back into the neighborhood over a decade ago. Most of the families in the neighborhood do not send their children to public school, and those that do use public schools tend to use Charter schools outside of the district. Some nearby private schools used by families in the neighborhood are: Marlborough School, private high for young women, 250 South Rossmore Avenue Loyola High School, Jesuit preparatory school for young men The neighborhood is zoned to schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District; the neighborhood is zoned to the following schools: Alta Loma Elementary School Johnnie L. Cochran Jr.
Middle School Los Angeles High School George Pepperdine Paul R. Williams, famous architect W. C. Fields Fatty Arbuckle Norton Simon and art collector Joe Louis, American professional boxer and former heavyweight champion Princess Conchita Sepulveda Chapman Pignatelli Alexander Pantages Syd Tha Kyd Taco Bennett of Odd Future Kris Bowers the Crenshaw family Lafayette Square Association
Interstate 110 and State Route 110 (California)
Route 110, consisting of State Route 110 and Interstate 110, is a state highway in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of the U. S. state of California, built to freeway standards. The entire route connects San Pedro and the Port of Los Angeles with Downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena; the southern segment from San Pedro to Interstate 10 in downtown Los Angeles is signed as I-110, while the northern segment to Pasadena is signed as SR 110. The entire length of I-110, as well as SR 110 south of the Four Level Interchange with US 101, is the Harbor Freeway, SR 110 north from US 101 to Pasadena is the historic Arroyo Seco Parkway, the first freeway in the western United States. I-110 is one of two 3-digit interstate designations to appear on opposite coasts; the Harbor Freeway, signed as Interstate 110, begins at Gaffey Street in San Pedro, where it travels due north to the Santa Monica Freeway at a point south of downtown Los Angeles, where it becomes signed as State Route 110. I-110 is within the city limits of Los Angeles, running right the South Los Angeles region and the Harbor Gateway, a two-mile wide north–south corridor, annexed by the city of Los Angeles to connect San Pedro and the Port of Los Angeles with the rest the city.
In addition, the Harbor Transitway, a grade-separated bus and high-occupancy vehicle corridor in the median of the 110, runs between State Route 91 and the south side of Downtown Los Angeles. The Harbor Freeway, along with the Long Beach Freeway, are the principal means for freight from the port of Los Angeles to rail yards and warehouses further inland, its interchange with the Santa Monica Freeway is notoriously busy and congested, the portions bordering Bunker Hill in northwest Downtown Los Angeles are choked with traffic at peak travel times. Notable landmarks and attractions near the Harbor Freeway include the California State University, Dominguez Hills. A. Live, Los Angeles Harbor College. SR 110 continues north on the Arroyo Seco Parkway to Pasadena; the Harbor Freeway is noted for its elaborate high-occupancy toll lane feature, with the HOT lanes elevated above the rest of traffic in many areas, constructed in 1994 by C. C. Myers, Inc. as HOV lanes and converted to HOT lanes in 2012. Of particular note is the Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange, which contains the most elaborate network of direct HOV/HOT connectors in Los Angeles County.
It includes a 7-story ramp that connects the Century Freeway's HOV lanes to the Harbor Freeway's northbound HOT lanes and offers splendid views of the entire Los Angeles Basin and the San Gabriel Mountains. The interchange with State Route 91 is fairly large. Route 110 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System, is part of the National Highway System, a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration. In the 1924 Major Street Traffic Plan for Los Angeles, a widening of Figueroa Street to San Pedro as a good road to the Port of Los Angeles was proposed. Progress was slow, in 1933 the state legislature added the entire length to the state highway system as Route 165, an unsigned designation; this route not only extended from San Pedro north to Los Angeles, but continued through the city-built Figueroa Street Tunnels and along the northern extension of Figueroa Street to Eagle Rock, followed Linda Vista Avenue to Route 9 at the Devil's Gate Reservoir.
The entire length of Route 165 became Sign Route 11 in 1934. U. S. Route 6 was assigned to the portion between SR 1 and Avenue 26 in 1937, at about the same time US 66 was moved from Eagle Rock Boulevard to Figueroa Street, overlapping SR 11 between Sunset Boulevard and Colorado Street; the state completed the Arroyo Seco Parkway, added to the state highway system in 1935 as Route 205, in early 1941, providing a faster route between SR 11 at Avenue 26 and Pasadena. US 66 was moved to the new route, while SR 11 remained on Figueroa Street and Linda Vista Avenue, the former becoming a new U. S. Route 66 Alternate. Construction of a freeway to San Pedro was much slower, despite having been in the earliest plans for an integrated system; the Harbor Parkway was to split at the merge with the Venice Parkway northeast of the University of Southern California, with the East By-Pass and West By-Pass straddling the Los Angeles Central Business District and rejoining at the split between the Arroyo Seco Parkway and Riverside Parkway south of Dodger Stadium.
The West By-Pass was soon incorporated into the Harbor Parkway, the first short piece, by renamed the Harbor Freeway, opened on July 30, 1952 from the Four Level Interchange south to 3rd Street. The Harbor Freeway pushed south, opening to Olympic Boulevard on March 23, 1954 and Washington Boulevard on May 14, 1954. On March 27, 1956, the highway was extended to 42nd Street, on April 24, 1957 it reached temporary ramps at 88th Place. Further extensions were made to Century Boulevard on July 31, 1958, 124th Street on September 24, 1958, Alondra Boulevard on May 2
Vermont Avenue
Vermont Avenue is one of the longest running north/south streets in City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County, California. With a length of 23.3 miles, is the third longest of the north/south thoroughfares in the region. For most of its length between its southern end in San Pedro and south of Downtown Los Angeles, it runs parallel to the west of the Harbor Freeway. Vermont Avenue begins just north of San Pedro at a five-point intersection with Anaheim Street, Gaffey Street and Palos Verdes Drive. After a short distance, Normandie Avenue branches off due north while Vermont turns northeast towards its intersection with Pacific Coast Highway. Afterwards, it travels in a straight line north for 22 miles, parallel to the Harbor Freeway to the east. North of PCH, it passes through the unincorporated area of West Carson before crossing the San Diego Freeway. Between a point south of the intersection with Artesia Boulevard/western end of the Gardena Freeway, El Segundo Boulevard, Vermont marks the eastern boundary of the City of Gardena.
At 164th Street in Gardena, Vermont widens from a four-lane thoroughfare to a six-lane road with a wide median. From 164th Street, an abandoned railway runs through the median to a point just north of Redondo Beach Boulevard, afterwards the median becomes tree-lined. From 88th Street to Gage Avenue, Vermont Avenue includes adjacent frontage roads. Vermont Avenue passes at the western end of the University of Southern California and Exposition Park in South Los Angeles. In August 2012, the City of Los Angeles designated a portion of Vermont Avenue in Pico-Union as the "El Salvador Community Corridor."Between the Santa Monica Freeway and the Hollywood Freeway, Vermont Avenue crosses Wilshire Boulevard and passes through Koreatown. It forms the eastern boundary of the East Hollywood district of Hollywood as it passes through Little Armenia, it intersects Sunset Boulevard, next to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Hollywood Boulevard, to the east of the Barnsdall Art Park. At the intersection with Los Feliz Boulevard, it becomes a divided road with one lane in each direction as it heads to Griffith Park.
Entering the park, it becomes signed as Vermont Canyon Road before it passes by the Greek Theatre. The road ends at the intersection with Observatory Road, the main route to the Griffith Observatory. Vermont Avenue has the most Metro rail stations of any street in the Metro subway and light rail system, that include: Red Line: Vermont/Sunset station at Sunset Boulevard. Vermont/Santa Monica station Santa Monica Boulevard. Vermont/Beverly station at Beverly Boulevard. Wilshire/Vermont station at Wilshire Boulevard. Purple Line: Wilshire/Vermont station at Wilshire Boulevard. Expo Line: Vermont/Expo station at Exposition Boulevard. Green Line: Vermont/Athens station at the Century Freeway/Interstate 105. Metro is exploring an extension of the red line subway down Vermont Avenue at least as far as the neighborhood of Athens as a combination of both underground and elevated heavy rail. Implementation is expected as part of the Twenty-eight by'28 initiative, in anticipation of the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Operations were dubbed the R Line in 2018. Metro Local lines 204 and 205, Gardena Transit line 2, run along Vermont Avenue, as well as Metro Rapid line 754 and Metro Express line 550. Metro lines 204 and 754 run between Sunset Boulevard and Vermont Green Line Station Gardena line 2 between Interstate 105 and the Harbor Gateway Transit Center, Metro lines 205 and 550 to PCH. Metro lines 204 and 754 use 60-foot NABI buses Streets in Los Angeles County, California Public transportation in Los Angeles County, California
