USC in action at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum during the 2012 season. Photo by Neon Tommy, via Flickr creative commons.

The 2014 college football season kicks off at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, August 30, when the USC Trojans host the Fresno State Bulldogs and fans are encouraged to avoid snarling traffic delays by riding the Metro Expo Line to the game.

Saturday marks the third year that Metro has offered expanded Expo Line service to USC home football games. More Expo Line trains are assigned to the event and they will run more frequently to get football fans to and from the game safely and efficiently.

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“During the first two years of Expo Line service to USC football, Metro moved between 8,000 and 9,000 fans to each of the home games representing about ten percent of all the people attending,” Metro CEO Art Leahy said. “Metro customers not only get quick, convenient and safe transport, they won’t have to shell out $20 or more for parking near the Coliseum.”

Metro officials encourage football fans to try the Expo Line especially on this Labor Day weekend as tens of thousands of concert goers are expected to fill downtown-area freeways and surface streets to attend the Made in America Festival at Grand Park. Music fans are also encouraged to use the Metro Rail system to avoid congestion and save time.

(More information and the Metro & Metrolink rail map after the jump!)

USC’s first home game of the year is generally a sellout, which puts pressure on transportation systems and law enforcement to make things run smoothly. Metro employs scores of workers, wearing cardinal and gold t-shirts, to help direct travelers to their trains and to help them purchase appropriate fare at ticket machines.

The enhanced, game day service features more frequently- running trains beginning three hours prior to kickoff and lasting until 60 to 75 minutes after the game ends. The Metro Gold, Red/Purple and Blue Lines funnel trains to the 7^th Street/Metro station where fans can take the Expo Line for the short ride to USC. Riders coming from west of USC can leave their cars at the Culver City or La Cienega park-and-ride facilities and board the Expo Line at those stations. USC has Expo Line stops at Jefferson, Exposition Park and Vermont.

There is also considerable off-street parking in downtown Los Angeles near Metro Rail stations.

In addition to more frequent Metro Rail trains, the Metro Silver Line bus service will be augmented to move people from the El Monte and Harbor Gateway Transit Centers to the station at 37^th St/USC. Also, bus lines that normally run through the Coliseum and USC areas will be augmented as conditions warrant.

Fans riding Metro are required to buy a TAP card with the proper fare loaded. TAP cards can be purchased at ticket vending machines at Metro Rail stations or about 500 retail locations including many Ralphs Markets and check cashing services. The cost of a TAP card is $1 with the purchase of a $5 day pass. TAP can be reloaded and reused. Metro fares will increase on September 15, 2014. Click here for more information on TAP.