After thumping and humiliating the Giants last Wednesday night, the Dodgers are National League West champions and owners of the second seed in the NL. They’ll open the playoffs at home this Friday, Oct. 3, at 3:37 p.m. against the St. Louis Cardinals followed by Game 2 on Saturday night at 6:37 p.m.
Game 1 features a match of the very best pitcher in the majors, the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw, versus a top-five pitcher in Adam Wainwright. Should be a great game.
With huge crowds expected for the playoffs, the Dodger Stadium Express will be running to the ballpark from two locations: Union Station and Harbor Gateway Transit Center (731 W. 182nd Street, Gardena, CA) along with stops at Rosecrans Station, Harbor Freeway Station (for those transferring to/from the Green Line), Manchester Station and Slauson Station — all in the median of the 110 freeway (see above map). Those with tickets to the game ride for free. The new Harbor Gateway service is funded with revenues from the Metro ExpressLanes on the 110 freeway.
Please note that service from Harbor Gateway begins for the playoffs. For this weekend’s home games against the Colorado Rockies, Dodger Stadium Express service will only be from Union Station.
Union Station is served by many Metro and municipal bus lines and Metro Rail’s Red, Purple and Gold lines, as well as Metrolink and Amtrak. Parking is available for $6.
Harbor Gateway Transit Center is also served by several Metro bus lines, the Metro Silver Line and Torrance Transit. Free parking is available although may be limited if the lot fills.
Dodger Stadium Express details for the playoffs:
From Union Station:
- Board at Bus Bay 3 of the Patsaouras Bus Plaza.
- Service leaves Union Station every 10 minutes, starting 90 minutes before game time through the 3rd inning for all home games.
- You can exit inside Dodger Stadium at one of two stops – behind Center Field and at the Top Deck. Service will pick up at the same stops after the game.
- Return service runs until 45 minutes after the final out.
From Harbor Gateway Transit Center:
- Board at Bay 9.
- Buses run every 15 minutes starting 2 hours before game time, with the last bus leaving at game time.
- You’ll be dropped off behind Right Field. Service back to Harbor Gateway Transit Center will pick up at the same stop after the game.
- Return service ends 45 minutes after the final out.
Game Day Tips:
- Your Dodger ticket is good for the Dodger Stadium Express fare*; otherwise, regular Metro fares apply.
- Arrive early; crowds are heaviest near game time.
Categories: Go Metro, Go Metro Weekends, Metro Lifestyle
What was the ridership numbers for Friday and Saturday games? Did it draw more or less than what Metro estimated?
Hi Warren;
Not sure yet. Will try to find the numbers.
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
What is the total travel time on the Dodger Stadium Express from the Harbor Gateway Station to Dodgers Stadium?
Hi Jane;
Depends on traffic. I would count on at least an hour.
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
I rode the DS Express from the Harbor Gateway Station to DS on Friday. We left at 1:35pm, and got off the bus in Right Field at 2:30pm. Traffic on the 110 ExpressLanes was light, but we did hit traffic once we got downtown.
Will it stop at the 37th/USC Station on the Harbor Transitway? It stops at all the stops but this one? And since it’s on Figueroa already, why not 7th St/Metro Center?
Hi Brad;
It’s stopping only at the stations on the map — the idea is to serve riders who are far from downtown. From 7th/Metro, the best bet is to hop on the Red/Purple Line for the five minute ride to Union Station. Exit on the Vignes Street end of the platform and that will put you a short walk to the transit plaza where the Dodger Stadium Express leaves.
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
Hmm. We could have a Southern California World Series.
Of course, the Dodgers may be NL-West champions, and may have the second seed, but the Angels have The Best Record In Baseball, and all the post-season rights and privileges that go with that status. ;-p
Hi James;
There definitely seems to be a good chance of a So Cal World Series. Which would be great, even for those who may have grown up in the Midwest and have other allegiances 🙂 I don’t think the Royals’ small-ball approach will get them past the Angels and either the Orioles or Tigers, so I suspect it will come down to which AL division winner can muster the better starting pitching. As for the Dodgers, I think if Kershaw remains dominant, they are a very tough team to beat in a best-of-five or best-seven series.
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
Will the special service stop at the 105 Freeway Green Line Station? Metro should stop there because there are many parking lots along the Green & Blue Lines.
Hi Ivan;
It will only stop at the stations shown on the map.
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
The special service should definitely stop at the 105 Green Line Station. I am a daily commuter on the 450 to downtown L.A. and this is one of the busiest stops for all express buses traveling this route. Parking is very inadequate (or non-existent at the other freeway stops.) Since the parking lot empties after rush hour there will be plenty of available parking spots.
Seriously? The shuttle stops at middle-of-nowhere park-and-rides on the 110, but not for a transfer with a high-capacity rail line?
Coming from Green Line Redondo Beach Station, I need to go to Harbor Transitway, and instead of taking the Dodgers Shuttle which is passing 20ft away from me, I should take the Silver Line north a single stop to Manchester, where I can actually catch the shuttle?
Are you SURE those stops are correct?
I took the Green -> Silver to school today, and was pleased to note that there is now a headsign for “Dodger Express” at the Harbor Transitway / Green Line station. Therefore, I imagine the shuttle will indeed be stopping at that station, which is great news. Can you update the post and graphics to reflect this?
Thank you
I’ll check to see whether it’s definitely stopping there.
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
You are correct. The Dodger Stadium Express is also stopping at the Harbor Transitway Station. We are fixing the map and I’ll to the post later today. I also fixed the original post. Thank you for helping out!
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
Has Metro thought about improving signposting for pedestrians from Chinatown station? 15 minutes isn’t that long a walk, and if it were well-signposted (maybe a Dodger Blue line on the sidewalk?), it might attract a decent share of gamegoers.
I don’t believe so, but I’ll ask. I agree the walk isn’t that bad, but it’s a little on the lengthy side for some people.
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
An improved pedestrian route and signage from Chinatown Station would be a great “active transportation” project. Now if Metrolink could run past 6 p.m. so that people could get home from L.A. events after the streetlights come on !
This would be a fantastic idea. This is my preferred method of reaching Dodger stadium(and taking the shuttle back to Union Station). I want to give more people this advice but I know it’s not that easy because of the lack of signage.
I never knew the walk from Chinatown was so short! Definitely worth a try. I’m looking at Google Maps and I see the pedestrian crossing over the freeway. However I don’t see if there is a walking path up the hill to the stadium. Do you have to circle around to one of the auto entrances to get into the parking lot? It looks like that would add a lot of distance (a half mile?) to the walk.
Why should public and tax payer money be used to support a for profit company? Shouldn’t the Dodgers pick up the tab?
What’s the benefit to the Dodgers? They would rather people pay money to park. The benefit is to those whose traffic problems are exacerbated by the Stadium traffic.
The Dodger Stadium Express is funded by vehicle registration fees to reduce congestion and improve air quality. http://thesource.metro.net/2014/08/01/metrolink-to-offer-special-rail-series-service-as-angels-take-on-the-dodgers/
The expanded service on the 110 is funded by the Expresslanes which also serve the purpose of reducing congestion.
It serves to benefit all drivers – not really the Dodgers, they would prefer you pay to park.
Does the bus only pick up and drop off at Harbor Gateway or does it stop at the other stations shown on the map i.e. Slauson, Manchester, and Rosecrants?
Hi Joshua;
I’m checking that to make sure I give you correct answer. Hold tight a few minutes!
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
If it doesn’t, it should. Very little time loss and a good way to increase the line’s visibility.
Hi Joshua;
Yes, it does stop at Rosecrans, Manchester and Slauson — all the stops shown on the above map.
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source