Two stations will close completely this weekend on the Metro Blue Line as upgrade work continues. Willowbrook/Rosa Parks and 103rd Street/Watts Towers Station will receive improvements similar to those completed at other Blue Line stations, including new canopies, paint, tile and audio/visual enhancements.
The following service changes will be in affect on the Metro Blue Line as work occurs. Friday, Apr. 17 after 9 p.m. through Sunday, Apr. 19 close of service, bus shuttles will replace rail service between Firestone and Compton Station. This means southbound Blue Line trains will return north to 7th Street/Metro Center at Firestone, and trains originating in Downtown Long Beach Station will travel only as far north as Compton. Customers wishing to travel between Firestone and Compton will need to board Metro bus shuttles (marked as “Blue Line Shuttle”) in order to do so.
If you’re planning on going Metro to the Long Beach Grand Prix this weekend, please allow plenty of extra time if your trip requires travel between Firestone and Compton. For some customers, using a combination of the Green and Silver Line will make for a faster trip between downtown and South L.A.
In addition to the bus shuttles between Firestone and Compton, work this weekend will also require the following changes to Metro Blue and Expo Line service levels. (These changes are also posted on our Planned Service Advisories page.)
To begin, this Friday after 8:30 p.m. through close of service, Blue Line will run every 10 minutes between 7th St/Metro Center and Firestone, and every 15 minutes between Compton and Downtown Long Beach Station. Expo Line will operate every 10 minutes until close, beginning at approximately 8 p.m., but trains will not arrive at their regularly-scheduled times.
Saturday, open to close of service, Blue Line trains will run every 18 minutes between 7th St/Metro Center and Firestone, and every 15 minutes between Compton and Downtown Long Beach Station. Expo Line trains will arrive every 12 minutes throughout the day.
On Sunday, for the entire service day, Blue Line will operate every 18 minutes between 7th Street/Metro Center and Florence, and every 15 minutes between Compton and Downtown Long Beach, with Expo Line again running every 12 minutes from open to close.
Many are already aware that adjustments to Blue Line service this year have been, and will continue to be, necessary for the completion of the Blue Line Upgrades project, a $1.2-billion overhaul including station improvements, track replacement/refurbishment, and even, eventually, new rail cars. Some of the upgrades have already been completed at stations between Compton and the Long Beach Loop, and will continue to move north along the Blue Line throughout 2015. The estimated wrap-up date for the entire project is sometime this fall.
That being said, Metro recognizes that these service changes can be a nuisance, and would like to say thank you to all affected customers. The end goal to keep in mind is a safer, more reliable, and updated Metro Blue Line for years to come.
As construction can be a dynamic process, please check back here at The Source, or follow us @metrolosangeles or @metrolaalerts for the latest Blue Line service updates.
Categories: Service Alerts