Safety First — but Fun a Close Second — for USC Trojan Home Games via Metro

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Metro has just sent out a release on USC game day service. The release follows:

As the USC Trojans gear up for their first home game Sept. 1, Metro is preparing to carry thousands of new customers to assist the estimated 80,000 fans who crowd the games. The new Expo Line and Silver Line that stop just a short walk from L.A. Memorial Coliseum and USC, are the perfect transit to help Trojan fans avoid what can be massive parking and traffic issues before and after the games.

Metro is, of course, ramping up service and information distribution for the home games but of greatest importance is safety.

“It’s essential that Trojan fans have an easy and safe time making Metro part of their game and tail-gate party experience,” said Metro CEO and USC graduate Art Leahy. “But what we want most on game days is safety for our customers, for the students and for the fans who will be attending the games. We are doing everything we can to underscore that message.”  

More than 100 Metro event guides will be deployed to hub locations on USC home game days to answer questions, assist students and direct passengers to correct trains and stations. They will be dressed in T-shirts and baseball caps in USC colors. They also will be handing out maps and travel information and walking the route with Metro customers between the two nearest Expo stations (Expo/Vermont and Expo Park/USC) and the Coliseum, as well as between the Silver Line Station at 37th Street/USC Station and the Coliseum. Signage will also be set up in Exposition Park on game days, directing fans to the nearest stations.

Students and other Trojan fans are cautioned to look both ways when crossing the tracks; to avoid walking or riding bikes while wearing earphones near the tracks and to obey electronic crossing signals and directions issued by Metro and L.A. County Sheriff’s personnel.

The Metro website metro.net/usctrojans now includes travel tips and directions for getting to the game easily, particularly on the Expo Line to the Coliseum and the Metro Silver Line. It includes a printable map. It also links to Metro Destination Discounts to restaurants and food purveyors that can pack picnics or provide snacks for tail-gate parties at exclusive discounts to Metro riders.

Expo trains will run every 6 minutes before and after game time. Additional trains will be added to the Expo Line, as well as to the Red, Purple and Gold lines to make transfer connections efficient system-wide. There also will be additional service on the Silver Line on game days.

Passengers traveling to the games should purchase $5 Metro Day Passes at the stations where they are starting out. Or if they are riding only the Expo Line to the game (with no transfers), they can purchase a one-way fare when boarding. When they arrive at either Expo/Vermont or Expo Park/USC Station before the game, they should purchase the return trip fare, to avoid having to stand in line after the game.

For more information on USC Trojan games go to USC Trojans website. For more information on the easiest ways to get there via Metro, go to the Metro website.

13 thoughts on “Safety First — but Fun a Close Second — for USC Trojan Home Games via Metro”

  1. This is the big problem about the Silver Line: BASE FARE IS $2.45, while the Expo Line is: $1.50!!!!! Why would customers use the Silver Line instead of the Expo Line when the Silver Fare is much higher!!!! I DOUBT anyone will use the Silver Line because of the silly base fare!! Why would it cost MORE to right a “BRT looking line” than a LRT???????? It makes NO SENSE!!! Metro please lower the fare on the Silver Line!!!!!!

  2. Hey calwatch, thanks for answering that question about the amounts… I knew it has $1 and then skipped to $1, but since I have a pass that autoloads, I don’t use the TVMs enough to know the rest.

    It seems strange that all of the Expo stations except for Expo/Vermont will be TAP only by the time the seasons starts. With TAP-only, I think it’s important to get a $3 option on the TVMs because that will be a very popular amount that riders want to add — a single round trip.

    Also, you make a great point about 7th/Metro… I think the sheer volume of people is a problem. There are traffic jams as everyone criss-crosses each other exiting a train and trying to TAP before heading down the stairs. The fact that they’re placed parallel to the flow of people does not help, because as soon as someone stops at the first one, everyone gets stuck behind them. This isn’t necessarily a reason why people don’t tap, but absolutely causes some confusion and makes transferring hectic there.

  3. Yo Steve and Calwatch;

    Thanks for your comments about the TAP amounts and USC football — very helpful observations. I forwarded them to the powers-that-be. I can’t promise anything will come of it, but I’m glad to serve as a clearinghouse for good suggestions.

    Steve Hymon
    Editor, The Source

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