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Go Metro to USC Football this season

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The first USC home game is this Saturday and Metro and USC are hoping lots of potential drivers abandon their cars and take the new Expo Line (via other Metro bus and rail) to this game and others. Not only is it the green way to travel, it will take the pressure off hunting for a parking space since Saturday's game is already sold out. Here's a release from this morning's press event at USC.

Steve Lopes, USC Senior Associate Athletic Director, and Metro CEO Art Leahy were joined today by members of the USC Song Girls and the Spirit of Troy band for a pep rally announcing enhanced service to University of Southern California home games this season. The first game — this Saturday, Sept. 1 at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum — is sold out, which means 92,000 fans could be searching for parking.

Unless they Go Metro. The morning pep rally at Pardee Plaza on the USC campus celebrated the first season of Expo Line service to Trojan home games. Metro's new Expo Line is the perfect vehicle for getting to the games since two stations — Expo/Vermont and Expo Park/USC — serve the university. And game day enhanced service, which includes “event guides” to answer questions, has been designed to make it easy for fans to avoid traffic and parking hassles while taking Expo to the games.

“We want potential new riders to know that Metro staff will be on hand to help riders successfully navigate the system on game days,” said Metro CEO and USC graduate Art Leahy. “And we're adding more trains to make sure travel is smooth. Whether riders are carrying a picnic basket or not, we know they'll see that this new way to the games is convenient and enjoyable. And you don't have to worry about driving home after a long day.”

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Take Metrolink to the Los Angeles County Fair

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Here's the news release from Metrolink, the regional commuter rail agency funded in part by Metro:

LOS ANGELES – For the 20th consecutive year, Metrolink will offer safe, affordable service directly to the Los Angeles County Fair. On Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month of September, Metrolink's San Bernardino Line trains will add a special stop at the Pomona Fairplex after 9:30 a.m. A free shuttle will transport passengers to the main entrance.

Metrolink riders with a monthly pass can ride all Metrolink trains at no additional cost on the weekends. Others can take advantage of the $10 Weekend Pass, which allows them to ride Metrolink trains all weekend long for one low fare. Riders can transfer to and from other Metrolink lines, as well as Metro rail and most buses with the $10 Weekend Pass. The Weekend Pass is valid from 7 p.m. on Friday until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday for system-wide travel. The weekend pass can be purchased at Metrolink ticket vending machines after 7 p.m. on Friday.

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If you didn't Go Metro to Jack White at Mariachi Plaza this afternoon, here are a few pics

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[UPDATED Aug 13, 4:00pm] Two videos added after the jump. Enjoy!

Much to everyone’s surprise, Jack White played an impromptu 20-minute show at Mariachi Plaza — above the Gold Line station — on this sweltering Friday afternoon. Here are some pics, courtesy of Mark Clifford:

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Go Metro to live music: Fun.

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Fun – “Some Nights”

Go Metro to see one of the summer’s hottest bands, Fun., performing live at the historic Wiltern Theatre on three consecutive nights beginning Friday, August 17th! It’s the perfect event to use Metro — the Wiltern is across the street from the Wilshire/Western Purple Line station and adjacent to the Metro Rapid 720 stop.

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Date set for Space Shuttle Endeavour arrival at California Science Center … just steps from Expo

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Space Shuttle Endeavour/Kennedy Image Gallery via Flickr

We finally have a date for arrival and transfer of Space Shuttle Endeavour to the California Science Center, just steps from the Expo Park/USC station.

Endeavour will be flown in to LAX Sept. 20, weather permitting, on top of a NASA Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier. It then will be transferred to a United Airlines hangar where it will stay until final preparations are made for its move on the morning of Oct. 12. The move to the Science Center will take two days, as the 58-foot-tall shuttle is transported under raised transmissions lines and across the 405 Freeway to Inglewood City Hall for an official launch ceremony Oct. 13. It then will be transported to the intersection of Martin Luther King and Crenshaw boulevards for a celebration of Mission 26. The shuttle is expected to reach the California Science Center in Exposition Park that evening.

The route can be accessed on the California Science Center’s website.The public is invited to serve as volunteers along the route. Those interested can sign up on the website as well.

Paris to Metro customers: stop acting like animals!

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One of the more common gripes I often hear about Metro isn't directly related to Metro. Rather, it's a complaint about other Metro customers and their sometimes annoying or — let's face it — odd behavior.

Of course, it's hardly a complaint unique to Metro. Take, for example, Paris. As this great post in the Atlantic Cities notes, a recent survey of passengers on the Paris Metro reported seeing behavior that was either in direction violation of transit rules or was, at the best, unseemly and/or rude.

So the folks who run the Paris system have come up with an ad campaign that uses posters to urge their customers not to act like animals. Seriously. The above poster caption translates to “when it's at 86 decibels, it's no longer a secret.” In other words, don't squawk like a chicken.

The rest of the posters are in the Atlantic Cities post. Funny thing is that none of them deal with what I consider the most annoying behavior — the dreaded loud music from MP3 players, sometimes with headphones, sometimes not.

If you're curious about the L.A. Metro's code of conduct, here it is. Happy reading!

 

All aboard Expo for the dinosaur train

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Want to take your kids to a fun, educational and air conditioned event? Go to the Natural History Museum this Saturday, August 11 and celebrate BIG BIG Dinosaur Day.

The event kicks off the start of DINOSAUR TRAIN’s BIG BIG Dinosaur Week on PBS Kids. You’ll get to meet Buddy the T. Rex, explore the NHM’s Dinosaur Hall, watch the premiere of a BIG BIG Dinosaurs episode and see series creator Craig Bartlett and his band perform songs from the show live.

The day starts at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. Go Metro and get a discount on admission. The Natural History Museum is right next to the Expo/Vermont Station off the Expo Line, so hop on board and go have an adventure!

Metro offers extended service for HARD Summer Music Festival

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Is everyone ready for the auditory awesomeness that is HARD Summer Music Festival? The event takes place on Friday, August 3 and Saturday, August 4 at the Los Angeles State Historic Park, which is just a short walk from the Gold Line Chinatown Station. The music starts at 6 p.m. each night, with final sets ending around 2 a.m.

With over 60 live performances and world-class DJs (Skrillex, anyone?) on four stages, this event is not to be missed, and Metro’s making it easy for you to get there – and back.

If you don’t already know, parking in the area isn’t exactly convenient or cheap, which is why Metro will run special extended service just for HARD Summer.

  • last Gold Line train to depart Union Station for Sierra Madre Villa at 2:39 a.m.
  • last Red Line train to depart Union Station at 2:42 a.m.
  • last Purple Line train to depart Union Station at 2:47 a.m.
  • last Blue Line train to depart 7th/Metro at 2:57 a.m.
  • last Expo Line train to depart 7th/Metro at 2:54 a.m.
  • last Green Line train to connect with Blue Line at 3:30 a.m.
  • last Orange Line bus departs North Hollywood at 3:18 a.m.

Please note times are subject to change to allow for system maintenance, so check Metro’s service advisory page for the most up-to-date info and the full extended schedule.

Furthermore, all HARD Summer attendees can ride the Metro for free! Just show your printed ticket or concert wristband to ride free to and from the festival.

So what are you waiting for? Get your HARD Summer ticket, load up your TAP card and get ready to have your world rocked.

You wanted it, you got it: Late night Metro Rail and Orange Line service begins tonight!

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Metro Board Chairman and County Supervisor Mike Antonovich talks about Metro’s new late night service at a press event this morning at the Gold Line’s Memorial Park station in Pasadena. Photo: Steve Hymon/Metro.

There was a media event in Pasadena this morning to remind everyone that late night weekend service until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights begins tonight.

“The new late night service on Metro Rail and the Orange Line is a win-win situation for everyone in Los Angeles County,” said Metro Board Chair and County Supervisor Mike Antonovich. “Businesses will be able to reach a new range of clientele. More people can go out to eat, drink and have fun on weekends without worrying about a midnight curfew, and more workers now have the option of taking that later shift and can rest assured they’re going to have a safe, reliable way to make it home. Los Angeles County residents will benefit from the connections to the rail system, and people from the San Fernando Valley will be able to travel to other destinations in the county such as Pasadena, Long Beach, Norwalk or Culver City late at night.”

At the event, Antonovich also added that “long range we do have a vision…we want to continue this momentum.” In particular, he said Metro needs to keep focusing on connecting to popular destinations — such as the region’s airports.

Metro CEO Art Leahy said that ridership will be evaluated after six months to determine whether late night service will be added every night of the week. Metro is currently evaluating the possibility of late night service on the Silver Line and is also working with Metrolink on the possibility of extending their service to connect with Metro Rail and the Orange Line.

Here are the times that the last trains and buses will be leaving stations tonight and here is a link to all Metro timetables:

RED LINE

The last train departing Union Station will be at 2:12 a.m.

The last train departing North Hollywood will be at 1:56 a.m.

PURPLE LINE

The last trains departing Union Station will be at 2:02 a.m.

The last trains departing Wilshire/Western will be at 2:03 a.m.

GOLD LINE

The last train departing Atlantic will be at 1:43 a.m.

The last train departing Sierra Madre Villa will be at 1:39 a.m.

EXPO LINE

The last train departing 7th/Metro Center will be at 2:12 a.m.

The last train departing Culver City will be at 1:49 a.m.

BLUE LINE

The last train departing Long Beach to downtown L.A. will be 12:58 a.m.

The last train departing 7th/Metro will be 2:07 a.m.

Service between the Long Beach Transit Mall and Wardlaw will continue past 12:58 a.m. with the last train leaving the Transit Mall at 3:07 a.m.

GREEN LINE

The last train departing Redondo Beach will be 1:58 a.m.

The last train departing Norwalk will be at 2:09 a.m.

ORANGE LINE

The last bus departing North Hollywood will be at 2:53 a.m.

The last bus departing Chatsworth will be at 1:50 a.m.