We had a post earlier this week about upcoming bus service changes and the addition of new Silver Line bus service between El Monte Station and the Artesia Transit Center via the El Monte Busway and Harbor Freeway Transitway.

A press release on the Silver Line is after the jump and the above map shows the route. Five existing bus lines — the 444, 446/447, 484 and 490 — are being truncated so that they feed into the Silver Line. There was some overlap to those lines and the Silver Line is intended to simplify the bus system and provide more direction service to  and through downtown L.A. destinations.

The timetables haven’t yet been posted on metro.net, but I have an early copy. At rush hour, the travel time between El Monte station and Flower & 7th in downtown is estimated to be 31 minutes. It’s about 26 minutes between the Artesia Transit Center and 7th & Figueroa. The time between El Monte and Artesia Transit Center is about 58 minutes, although not all buses will run all the way through — some will start or terminate in downtown.

So bus riders…what do you think? Will the Silver Line help you better get around? Is it worth the $2.45 fare? As always, feel free to email your comments to thesource@metro.net.

Metro to Debut New Silver Line Bus Service Connecting the San Gabriel Valley with the South Bay effective Sunday, Dec. 13

Metro will begin operating a new bus service connecting the San Gabriel Valley and South Bay via downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, Dec. 13. The new Silver Line will operate every 5 to 15 minutes during weekday rush hours.
The Silver Line will operate between the El Monte Station and the Artesia Transit Center via the Harbor Transitway on the Harbor Freeway and the El Monte Busway on the San Bernardino Freeway. The Silver Line is designed to save commuters time by allowing patrons to take advantage of the Silver Line’s frequent, direct connections to downtown landmarks such as Staples Center, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the LA Convention Center, the Fashion District, Cal State Los Angeles, LA Live, California Science Center, USC, the LA Coliseum as well as various work, school, shopping and dining facilities.
Base cash fare for the new service is $2.45 one way, $1.15 for senior/disabled cash fare during peak times, 85 cents in off-peak times. Metro Day Passes will be honored as base fare and Metro weekly, monthly and EZ transit passes will be accepted with an additional $1.20 charge when boarding.
The Silver Line will operate seven days a week with the first bus leaving the Artesia Transit Center at 5 a.m. and the last bus from the Artesia Transit Center leaving at 12:55 a.m. From the El Monte Station, the first bus leaves at 4:15 a.m. with the last bus leaving at 12:55 a.m. Some trips on the new service will terminate at Flower and 7th Street in downtown Los Angeles. Patrons are asked to check timetables for details or visit Metro’s Trip Planner at metro.net.
Northbound and eastbound trips to the El Monte Station include bus stops at the Artesia Transit Center, Rosecrans Station, Harbor Freeway Station, Manchester Station, Slauson Station, Figueroa/Exposition, Figueroa/Adams, Figueroa/Washington, Figueroa/Pico, Figueroa/Olympic, Figueroa/7th Street, Olive/5th Street, Olive/Kosciuszko, 1st/Hill, Spring Street, Union Station, LAC/USC Medical Center Station, Cal State LA Station and the El Monte Station.
Southbound and westbound trips to the Artesia Transit Center include bus stops at the El Monte Station, Cal State LA, LAC/USC Medical Center Station, Union Station, Spring Street, 1st/Hill, Grand/3rd, Flower/5th, Flower/7th, Flower/Olympic, Figueroa/Pico, Figueroa/Washington, Figueroa/Adams, Figueroa/Exposition, Slauson Station, Manchester Station, Harbor Freeway Station, Rosecrans Station and the Artesia Transit Center.
Bus service to and from each Metro Rail station is available from Metro and community bus lines. Connections to Metro Red, Purple, Gold, Blue and Green Lines provide service to Hollywood, Koreatown, Pasadena, East Los Angeles, Long Beach, Redondo Beach, Norwalk, and LAX (via a connecting free shuttle). In addition, connections can also be made to Metrolink commuter rail service and Amtrak at Union Station. Additional parking is available at both the El Monte Station and the Artesia Transit Center.
Northbound service to El Monte Station will run ever 12 minutes during weekday peak hours, every 15-30 minutes in non-peak times. Evening/night service will operate every 10-15 minutes (every 60 minutes after 10 p.m.) Weekend service operates every 30-60 minutes. Southbound service to the Artesia Transit Center will operate every 5-10 minutes during weekday peak periods and every 15-30 minutes in non peak times. Evening/night service will operate every 20 minutes (every 60 minutes after 9 p.m.) Weekend service will operate every 30-60 minutes.
The Silver Line replaces Metro Express Bus lines 444, 446/447, 484, and 490, which currently operate on the Harbor Transitway and the El Monte Busway. These lines will be rerouted to provide connecting service to the Silver Line and be given new route numbers effective Sunday, Dec. 13.
The Silver Line will undergo several service enhancements along with amenity and station improvements as part of Metro’s Congestion Reduction Demonstration Project that will eventually convert existing carpool lanes on both the San Bernardino Freeway and the Harbor Freeway into ExpressLanes (Tolls). Scheduled for implementation in December 2010, the new ExpressLanes will reduce congestion, and greenhouse gas emissions, increase travel time savings and produce better trip reliability.
For complete schedule information on the Silver Line, call 1-800-C-O-M-M-U-T-E or visit www.metro.net.