The annual Los Angeles Marathon returns this Sunday. The course travels from “Stadium to the Sea” — from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica. For those planning to participate in this year’s race, we recommend Metro Rail as the best option to get to marathon festivities, as you’ll be able to avoid the extensive bus detours and street closures.
The marathon is offering shuttles to Dodger Stadium from Union Station and Santa Monica. More information is here. Reservations are required. Please note: there is no shuttle transportation from the Finish Line to Union Station after the race. Participants looking to take public transit back to Union Station should catch the Expo Line at the Downtown Santa Monica Station (4th St. & Colorado Ave.) and then transfer to the Red or Purple Line at 7th/Metro Center to complete the trip to Union Station. Put $3.50 of stored value on a TAP card ahead of time to pay for fares.
A number of Metro Rail stations are within walking distance to the route if you’re heading out to cheer on the runners.
- Gold Line: Chinatown Station, Union Station
- Red and Purple Line: Union Station, Civic Center/Grand Park Station
- Red Line: Vermont/Sunset Station, Hollywood/Western Station, Hollywood/Vine Station, Hollywood/Highland Station
- Expo Line: Downtown Santa Monica Station
Metro will run enhanced Expo Line service with longer, three-car trains running every nine minutes from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. to help accommodate the expected crowds. Additionally, the Red Line will also run longer, six-car trains from 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Use the full platform to board. If you have a bicycle or stroller, please use the designated open space on board each train car.
During Sunday’s festivities, numerous Metro bus lines will be disrupted along the marathon route. Lines normally traveling through the area will be on detour. Customers planning to travel via bus should allow extra time in their commute. Here are the Metro buses that will be impacted before and after the marathon: 2, 4, 10, 14, 16, 20, 28, 30, 33, 40, 45, 53, 55, 60, 62, 68, 70, 71, 76, 78/79/378, 81, 83, 90/91, 92, 94, 96, 105, 180/181, 200, 201, 204, 206, 207, 210, 212/312, 217, 218, 222, 234, 237, 487/489, 534, 603, 704, 720, 733, 745, 754 and 910/950. For more details on bus detours, check Metro’s Service Advisories page.
To emphasize: be sure to load your TAP card with $3.50 round-trip fare in Stored Value when you start your trip to avoid long lines later. Each person must have their own TAP card, which can be purchased at Metro Rail stations for $1.
For more details on getting there via Metro, use the Trip Planner at metro.net.
Categories: Go Metro
[…] street closures begin as early as 2 a.m. To accommodate anyone needing to get to and from the race, Metro says it will increase service on the Expo Line Sunday. Metro also said several bus lines will be impacted before and during the […]
Since there are so many detours
that day, bus should be free to ride.
[…] Numerous buses will be affected by the street closures, and many lines that go through the area will be on detour routes for much of the day. Metro has released a list of affected bus lines here. […]
Here’s a link for detoured Santa Monica Big Blue Bus routes:
https://www.bigbluebus.com/Newsroom/Service-Alerts/2018-LA-Marathon-Detours.aspx?type=Alerts
I can’t find one for Culver City Bus. Line 6 will be affected, and 3 won’t be able to stop on Santa Monica Blvd.
[…] Numerous buses will be affected by the street closures, and many lines that go through the area will be on detour routes for much of the day. Metro has released a list of affected bus lines here. […]