The kickoff of the USC home football schedule on Saturday, September 7 showed that more fans used the Metro Expo Line to travel to the Coliseum than last year, indicating the rail service is a safe and convenient alternative to driving a personal vehicle to the games.

It is estimated that 9,158 passengers used the Expo Line to attend the game, a significant growth from 2012, when about 8,000 fans rode the Expo Line to USC games. The estimate is derived from the difference between the number of boardings the previous non-game Saturday of 6,785 and the total number of Expo Line boardings, 15,943, on September 7.

The paid attendance for USC’s game with Washington State was 77,823, meaning the Metro Expo Line moved nearly 12 percent of the game attendees. In 2012, USC averaged 88,000 for each of six home games with Metro bringing about nine percent of the attendees.

This Saturday’s game against Boston College kicks off at 12 p.m. with Metro’s enhanced rail and bus service to the Coliseum beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting until about 75 minutes after the game ends. In addition to more frequent Metro Rail trains, the Metro Silver Line bus service is augmented to move people from the El Monte and Harbor Gateway Transit Centers to the station at 37th Street/USC. Also, bus lines that normally run through the area are augmented as conditions warrant.

Fans riding Metro are required to buy a TAP card with proper fare loaded. TAP can be purchased at TAP vending machines at rail stations or 500 retail locations including Ralphs Markets and many check cashing services.

Following USC home games, motorists are permitted to use the I-110 south Metro ExpressLanes entering at 28th Street/Flower or 38th Street and drive all the way to Manchester Avenue toll free. Regular ExpressLanes rules apply for any motorist remaining in the lanes after Manchester. A FasTrak transponder is not required on that stretch of the I-110 ExpressLanes from the beginning of the fourth quarter until two hours after the game ends. Normally, ExpressLanes on I-110 require solo drivers and registered carpools to have a transponder that registers tolls along segments of the roadway

If you need a FasTrak transponder, you can sign up at the bright green van called MEL located just outside the Coliseum on Exposition Park Drive during all home games. Sign up with MEL on game day and receive a $5 credit.