Ever wondered how extensive and large Metro’s bus system is? Here’s a cool interactive we built that shows you all of Metro’s bus stops plotted on a map. It’s amazing to see just how massive the bus system is and how much it covers Los Angeles County and beyond. You can zoom and pan about the map, and click on stops to gain more information.
If you’re interested in the data presented in this interactive, you can visit our Developer’s page where you can find and download tons of data available for free to the public from the agency.
Some additional information about our bus system:
Metro Buses
| Bus Stops | 15,967 |
| Square Miles in Service Area | 1,433 |
| Number of Bus Routes | 170 |
| Total Metro Bus Fleet | 2,228 |
| Buses leased to contractors to provide service on Metro routes (Included in total) | 173 |
Categories: Inside Metro, Technology
While it’s amazing to see that we have over 15,000 bus stops, I can’t help but think how inefficient and outdated this transportation platform is for residents living and visiting LA. No disrespect for who put this interactive chart together, but after traveling to other countries, it’s pretty embarrassing that the public transportation sector is being so neglected.
The freeways aren’t getting any bigger, traffic is essentially rampant all day, and expanding the freeway is also not an overnight phenomenon. Close to a decade for the 405 expansion? Who is in charge of the development and organization of the city infrastructure? How can we help?
That’s the problem right there…too damn much dependence on that horrible import of Hitler’s Autobahn, the freeway system! I’m absolutely sure there are several people who remember the rail-based transit system that once existed here in the Southland and, if it still existed, we’d have no worries about how badly the rubber-tired option is treating us today.
The very fact that billions, and even trillions, of dollars is wasted on the worship of a dead dictator, shows that something is dreadfully wrong here!!!!!!
Look at the TFL (Transport For London) website and you’ll see what an integrated and interactive website can really do.
I have my family traveling to LA and want to use public transportation from the Hlton in San Pedro to the Santa Monica Pier on a sat. pm. Could someone give me the lines I will need and some information that is helpful? Thanks
Hi Sandi;
I hate saying this but I think it’s important to be honest: that is very long transit trip no matter what route you take — as in two to three hours each way. You might be better off renting a car for the day. Here are the directions from Google Transit.
There are some other variations, but they are all long hauls. If any reader knows of a better route, please leave a comment!
Hope that helps. That’s just a tough commute. We have some projects in the works that would improve that transit trip in the future, but honestly at this moment there aren’t great connections between San Pedro and downtown Santa Monica.
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
Unfortunately with all of the rail-based focus this means that circumferential routes, even on busy corridors, are often neglected. The 577 is the only Metro express bus that goes on freeways that don’t go downtown. There are a handful of LADOT Commuter Express routes but those don’t run on middays. The carpool lane network doesn’t help since you have to go in and out past all that traffic. There seems to be enough cars on the 405 on weekends to at least provide bus service in that corridor, but instead you are stuck with the slow bus on PCH making all stops for two hours from Wilmington to Westchester.
This is why a Green line extension down to Willmington and then on to the Blue Line makes sense. Also, maybe a ‘Silver Line Extention’, have it start the ‘Northbound’ trip by heading down to SP, with a stop on Gaffey and one down by Ports O’ Call.
Back in the day I rode the 81 nearly the whole length, both ways, between San Pedro and Highland Park. The Gold and Silver lines did not exist then.
San Pedro is part of the Lesser Los Angeles area. I go from Harbor-Beacon Park/Ride (Very under utilized stop) to UCLA-Westwood (450-Green Line- Culver City 6) for my dental work and it takes me 2 hours one way in the morning. Return is the same. It makes for a long day. Anything into San Pedro after 6p.m. is near impossible.
All the more reason why we need a subway under the Sepulveda Pass!
Awesome, any way to link bus stops to routes?
On Google Maps, Mapquest, Apple Maps, or Metro’s mobile app, just select the icon for each bus stop. The Metro app probably has more accurate schedule information, but the above websites have info on other transit systems like Culver City or Santa Monica buses.
Hi Evan,
Try this demo: http://www.metro.net/interactives/gmaps/bus_routes/
I have ridden the bus for OVER 30 years , why ? Because I am disabled. I have rode the bus back when it was RTD and before trains . My question is this : why do you bus schedules ? Sounds stupid does it not ? I have seen buses ( 115 , 125 , 111 for example ) leave the beginning of there route 10 to 15 min late , then try to make up for it by driving the bus like a sports car . When I ask the diver about this ,I am told to mind on business OR F*** you . I have took down there number , and called your ” 800 ” number . But I guess since the divers are union , Metro will have to wail until there is a major accident involving a bus load of Metro . I hope not .
Daily Rider Mitch Carson
Years ago I was on a line when the driver stopped, ran into a 31 flavors, came out with a cup of ice cream, and proceded to drive with their elbows while eating the ice cream with a spoon. Yeah, I calle in on the driver (back in the day before cell phones.)
Now if we could get some metro bus service into Pomona and Claremont it would be lovely
Nice to know do you guys have brochures about the tranist system that can be order by mail
This maps illustrates that from end to end, one can theoretically go from Thousand Oaks Transit Center to Cal Poly Pomona, a total distance spanning close to 70 miles, for $1.75. Wow, that’s an incredible deal at 2.5 cents per mile! (And who actually does this trip on a frequent day-to-day commuting basis?)
All at the same time, it costs the same $1.75 to go from Wilshire/Western to 7th/Metro a distance of 3.3 miles or 53 cents per mile, something that more people do frequently everyday than to go from Thousand Oaks to Pomona.
That’s a long trip. With all the transfers it might require, which likely wouldn’t all fall within the two hour period, it would cost another fare or two. That’s still cheap, but you’d pay more in lost sanity after sitting on buses for so long. Finding a faster option would be worth it, at least in my opinion.
Thousand Oaks to Pomona would never happen in 2 hours (a single fare). The 161 is sloooooow. From end to end, a trip on 161 is 70-90 minutes. Google Transit thinks I could complete the trip in ~5 hours. 161->orange line->red line->silver line->190. Not $1.75 but you could do it for cheap and yes, it is possible. I’d never take that trip, however.
OTOH, when all the Metro Rail network is complete (Expo Phase II, Regional Connector and the Gold Line Foothill extension), one could go all the way from Santa Monica to Montclair, a 50 mile trip, for only $1.75. And unlike buses, this is perfectly possible to do.
At that point, it’ll be crazy to run on a single flat rate system. Eventually, whether people like it or not, at least Metro Rail will have to move to a distance based fare system.
People are complaining about the distances involved and the time it takes to complete the journey and you brilliantly propose a losing proposition. Good luck with that.