Category Archives: Service Alerts

Major bus detours Saturday night for New Year’s Race half-marathon in downtown Los Angeles

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nyr_coarse_map

Downtown Los Angeles should be quite a scene tomorrow night with the New Year’s Race half-marathon beginning at 9 p.m. As the above map shows, the race goes right through the heart of downtown, which is also the heart of the Metro bus system.

That means that many bus detours will be in effect, beginning Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. It’s a long list. This service alert covers the detours from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturday. And this service alert covers the detours that will be in effect from 9 p.m. Saturday into early Sunday morning, thereby impacting some owl service.

If possible, the best way to avoid detours is to use Metro Rail. The race begins at 7th & Grand, just two blocks from the 7th/Metro Center station serving the Red, Purple, Blue and Expo lines. The race finished at 11th & Hope, which is a two block walk to the Blue and Expo line’s Pico Station and not far from 7th/Metro Center.

Rail maps and timetables can be found here.

Go Metro to the Tournament of Roses and the Rose Bowl

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Click above to see larger.

Click above to see larger.

The Gold Line will be running all night on New Year’s Eve for those who want to view the floats tonight as they line up on Orange Grove Boulevard or those headed to the parade or game on Tuesday.

Four stations in Pasadena (Del Mar, Memorial Park, Lake and Allen) are within a five- to 10-minute walk of the parade route along Colorado Boulevard. Follow the crowds — it’s kind of hard to miss!

As someone who lives very close to the parade route, I’ll say the same thing to motorists that I say every year: driving to Pasadena and parking in residential neighborhoods near the parade route is hypothetically possible — especially for people who arrive before 6 a.m. The problem comes each year after the parade when all the parade-goers gets stuck in long, long, long traffic jams complicated by the fact that a lot of people are trying to drive into Pasadena at the same time to attend the Rose Bowl game. You’ve been warned, people!

Some details:

•From East LA-Atlantic or Downtown LA-Union Station, board the Gold Line toward Pasadena-Sierra Madre Villa, then exit at any of the following stations which are within short walking distance of the parade route: Del Mar, Memorial Park, Lake and Allen.

•From Sierra Madre Villa, customers should board any train, then exit at any of the following stations which are within short walking distance of the parade route: Allen, Lake, Memorial Park and Del Mar.

•Customers are encouraged to purchase an ALL DAY PASS before beginning their trip to avoid long return lines to purchase tickets.

•Longer and more frequent trains will operate between Downtown LA-Union Station & Pasadena-Sierra Madre Villa.  Please use the entire boarding platform when boarding.

•Please click here for more information on Metro’s schedule between December 31 and January 1, including OVERNIGHT 24-hour rail service from December 31 into January 1.

The 99th Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio – 2:10pm

•All customers traveling to the Rose Bowl Game should exit the Gold Line train at Memorial Park. From East LA-Atlantic or Downtown LA-Union Station, board the Gold Line towards Pasadena-Sierra Madre Villa, then exit at Memorial Park.

•From Sierra Madre Villa, customers should board any train, then exit at Memorial Park.
In anticipation of higher ridership, longer and more frequent trains will operate between Downtown LA-Union Station & Pasadena-Sierra Madre Villa. Use the entire boarding platform when boarding.

•After exiting at Memorial Park, walk 3 blocks west on Holly Street (turn right upon exiting station), past Fair Oaks Avenue to the free Rose Bowl shuttle that leaves from the west side of the Parsons parking lot along Pasadena Avenue. Again, it’s hard to miss.

Shuttles run continuously from 10 a.m. until about two hours after the end of the game.
This shuttle is NOT operated by Metro. Shuttle info is provided as a courtesy and subject to change without notice.

•Customers are encouraged to purchase an ALL DAY PASS before beginning their trip to avoid long return lines to purchase tickets.

•Please click here for more information on Metro’s schedule between December 31 and January 1, including OVERNIGHT 24-hour rail service from December 31 into January 1.

Here’s New Year’s schedule for Metro; free rides from 9 p.m. Monday until 2 a.m. Tuesday!

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The rundown on Metro service on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day:

Affected Rail Lines: Metro Blue Line, Metro Red Line, Metro Green Line, Metro Gold Line, Metro Purple Line, Metro Expo Line
Affected Bus Lines: Orange Line (901)
Effective Dates: Monday, Dec. 31, 2012 — Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013

Description

Go Metro to your New Year’s Celebrations. Metro will operate special OVERNIGHT 24-HOUR service from December 31 into January 1 (All Metro Rail Lines & Orange Line).

New Year’s Eve – December 31st into January 1st – ALL RAIL LINES + ORANGE LINE

  • All Rail lines (Red, Purple, Blue, Expo, Green, Gold) & Orange Line will operate every 20 minutes until beginning of service on January 1st.
  • Click Here for Blue Line Modified Service in Long Beach on this night only.
  • This is in addition to bus lines which normally operate late night owl service.
  • Metro is FREE from Dec 31st @ 9pm until Jan 1st @ 2am. Proof of payment will be enforced all other times.
  • Metro Day Pass is valid from date of purchase until 3am the following morning.
  • Click here for more information on traveling to Pasadena for the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game.

Update: Gateway Transit Plaza and underground parking reopens following construction at Metro HQ

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UPDATE 2 p.m.: Patsaouras Transit Plaza and the underground parking structure at the East Portal entrance to Union Station have reopened following a helicopter operation to lift equipment to the high-rise rooftop of Metro Headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. The transit plaza and surrounding streets were closed for safety precautions from 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 29.

All Metro buses have returned to regular routes but the LAX FlyAway, MegaBus, and City of Commerce shuttle will continue to use assigned temporary boarding locations through Sunday or until further notice:

  • Megabus: Board at Line 40 regular stop on Alameda in front of Union Station.
  • LAX FlyAway: Board at one of the Amtrak bus bays on the Cesar Chavez Avenue (north) side of Union Station.
  • City of Commerce shuttle: Board at Line 40 regular stop on Alameda in front of Union Station.

The helicopter operation will complete the maintenance rooftop work on January 26, again requiring the closure of the transit plaza, the underground parking structure and surrounding streets.

Previous post after the jump. Continue reading →

Service advisory: maintenance work on Blue/Expo lines on Saturday night and Sunday morning

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Here’s the advisory from Metro:

Metro work crews will conduct system maintenance on Flower Street in downtown Los Angeles, impacting both the Metro Blue Line and Expo Line. The work will begin at 9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 29, and continue into the morning hours of operation on Sunday, Dec. 30.

Trains will run on one track in the area. Patrons can expect service delays of 20 to 30 minutes during that time and should plan travel time accordingly. Metro apologizes for the inconvenience and strives to minimize delays or disruption of service.

Follow @metroLAalerts on Twitter for frequent updates. Link to updated planned service advisory reports at metro.net. (http://www.metro.net/service/advisories/rail/)

East Portal plaza, parking at Union Station will be closed during daytime hours Dec. 29 but transit will still roll

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The Patsaouras Transit Plaza and undergound parking structure at the East Portal entrance to Union Station is closed to pedestrians and all vehicles during the daytime hours of Saturday, Dec. 29, for maintenance.

The Patsaouras Transit Plaza and undergound parking structure at the East Portal entrance to Union Station is closed to pedestrians and all vehicles during the daytime hours of Saturday, Dec. 29, for maintenance.

Here’s the advisory from Metro:

Construction to restrict daytime access to the Patsaouras Transit Plaza and East Portal parking structure of Union Station on Saturday, Dec. 29.

  • Plaza bus stops will be temporarily relocated nearby. Board Flyaway at Amtrak bus bay; Megabus on Alameda St. in front of Union Station
  • Enter at Alameda Street entrance to park at Union Station.
  • Cars and pedestrians may not enter or exit from the East Portal area underground parking structure during the closure.

Weather permitting: Construction to replace cooling towers on the highrise rooftop of the Metro Headquarters in downtown Los Angeles will restrict access to the Patsaouras Transit Plaza and parking structure at the East Portal entrance to Union Station from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 29. Cesar Chavez Avenue and Vignes Street adjacent to the Metro Headquarters building will be closed during that time.

Pedestrians, buses and other vehicles will not be allowed in or out of Patsaouras Plaza and the parking structure or the surrounding streets. All Metro and Metrolink rail service will run normal operations and schedule. The public is advised to use the Alameda Street entrance of Union Station to access the Metro Red, Purple, and Gold Lines and Metrolink and Amtrak trains between the hours of 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Dec. 29.

Continue reading →

UPDATE: Metro Rail system maintenance on Blue & Expo Lines completed ahead of schedule

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UPDATE: Dec. 22, 2012 at 6 a.m.> System maintenance on Blue, Expo lines completed ahead of schedule. Trains are running normal operations with no residual delays. ^GA

Here’s the service alert and media advisory from Metro — this will impact those returning home from the Clippers game on Friday night:

Metro Rail System Maintenance on Friday Night and Saturday Morning December 21-22.

Metro work crews will conduct system maintenance on Flower St. in downtown Los Angeles, impacting the Metro Blue Line and Expo Line. The work will begin at 9 p.m., Friday, Dec, 21, and continue through 7 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 22.

Trains will run on one track in the area. Patrons can expect service delays of 20 to 30 minutes during that time and should plan travel time accordingly. Metro apologizes for the inconvenience and strives to minimize delays or disruption of service.

Follow @metroLAalerts on Twitter for frequent updates. Link to updated planned service advisory reports at metro.net. (http://www.metro.net/service/advisories/rail/)

Update: Trains back on schedule for morning commute on Red Line

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@metroLAalerts 5:04 a.m.
METRO RED LINE FINAL UPDATE: Signal repairs completed ahead of schedule; trains resume normal operations to all stations. No further delays.

Previously: Here is the announcement issued by Metro Rail operations:

Passengers riding the Metro Red Line from the San Fernando Valley into Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles should plan on travel time delays until further notice.

Damage to the train signal system tonight will prevent the trains from running at normal speeds. Expect an additional 10-15 minutes of travel time between Universal City and Sunset/Vermont Station. Board trains 20 minutes earlier than normal. Additional trains will be added to the regular service to keep departure times from stations at approximately every 10 minutes.

Metro will issue periodic updates. Follow @metroLAalerts on Twitter.

Bus service changes take effect Sunday, Dec. 16

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Here is the news release from Metro:

Metro to Enhance Bus Service on Selected Lines Effective Sunday, Dec. 16

Effective Sunday, December 16, Metro will enhance service on selected Metro Bus lines by making some minor changes in an effort to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Metro bus service.

Additional midday and weekend bus service will be added to Line 40 (Downtown LA-South Bay Galleria via MLK Blvd.) along Crenshaw Blvd. and La Brea Avenue serving the Hawthorne/Lennon Metro Green Line Station.

Metro will add service to improve the frequency of bus service on the Metro Silver Line operating along the Harbor Freeway Transitway between the Artesia Transit Center and downtown Los Angeles during weekday morning peak periods. Silver Line service improvements during the morning peak period will operate from every 10 minutes to every 8 minutes. In addition, late night service along the Silver Line will improve from every 60 minutes to every 40 minutes.

Metro Rapid Line 733 (Downtown LA – Santa Monica via Venice Blvd.) in late December will get a new stop added along Venice Blvd. at the Culver City Station of the Metro Expo Line to better serve patrons transferring from bus to rail.

Below is a list of service changes and improvements to begin on Sunday, Dec. 16 or later.

 40 Downtown LA – South Bay Galleria via MLK Bl – Hawthorne Bl (revised timetable)

Additional midday and weekend service on Crenshaw Bl and La Brea Av to the Hawthorne/Lennox Green Line Station.

217 Hollywood/Vine — Culver City TC via Hollywood Bl — Fairfax Av — La Cienega Bl (revised timetable)

Selected weekday trips extended to serve the Howard Hughes Center via Sepulveda Bl and Center Dr.

534 Malibu — Washington/Fairfax Transit Hub via Pacific Coast Hwy (revised timetable)

Rerouted in Downtown Santa Monica to improve on-time performance. New stop added in late December on Venice Bl at Culver City Expo Station.

612 South Gate Shuttle (revised timetable)

Rerouted in Watts to serve Compton Av between 92nd St and 103rd St.

733 Downtown LA – Santa Monica via Venice Bl

New stop added in late December on Venice Bl at Culver City Expo Station. (revised timetable)

740 Jefferson Park – South Bay Galleria via Crenshaw Bl – Hawthorne Bl (revised timetable)

Southbound stop in downtown Inglewood relocated to La Brea Av and Queen St to improve connections with Line 212 (stop on La Brea Av at Manchester Bl no longer served.)

Silver Line – Artesia Transit Center – Downtown LA – El Monte Station (revised timetable)

Additional weekday morning peak service from Artesia Transit Center to Downtown LA will improve from every 10 minutes to every 8 minutes. Late night service has been improved to every 40 minutes.

For complete details, look for revised timetables on metro.net or on buses during December. There are also small changes to many other bus lines.

 

Update, 7:24 p.m.: Normal service resumes on Blue & Expo Lines

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UPDATE, 7:24: Normal service was restored about 20 minutes ago. There are residual delays. Thank you for your patience and patronage. We know this was a tough commute tonight.

UPDATE, 6:40 P.M.: Metro Blue Line and Metro Expo Line are experiencing major service delays in the downtown area of up to 75 minutes during rush hour. Equipment issues involving a routing switch continues at Washington and Flower junction and at the 23rd St. crossover on Expo Line.Two train breakdowns in the Washington area have compounded earlier delays caused by limited use of power that controls switches at Washington and Flower junction. Buses are being used in addition to trains to transport passengers; personnel are assisting. Delays to passengers in the downtown area may extend to 75 minutes. Some trains are being turned back at Washington Station and at 23rd Street Station in order to keep southbound service at a steady pace. Trains are arriving and departing at all stations. Service continues throughout the Blue Line and Expo Line with a 12-to-15-minute delay outside of the downtown area.

UPDATE, 6:18 P.M. Due to a problem with the switches at the junction of the Blue Line and Expo Line at Washington and Flower in downtown L.A. — in addition to two broken down trains — there are serious delays on both lines. Avoid them if you can — it doesn’t look like the issue is going to be cleared up very soon.

A bus bridge is being established.

Service advisories can always be found on the Metro.net homepage and Metro’s regular Twitter feed, as well as Metro’s service alert feed.