LA Metro Launches Silver Line Express

In the shadow of the regal WWII battleship USS Iowa, Metro Board Chair and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Member Eric Garcetti, L.A. City Councilman Joe Buscaino and Metro Board Chair Phil Washington today celebrated the launch of the Metro Silver Line Express – the newest way for commuters from San Pedro to reach downtown Los Angeles and for tourists to access one of L.A. County’s most important and historic war museums: the USS Iowa.

As a special welcome to Metro patrons, the USS Iowa is offering free admission to the Battleship Iowa Museum until Jan. 31. (Beginning Feb. 1, the discount will be $2 off regular price of admission at the ticket booth.) Show your valid TAP card, Metro employee ID, or LA County employee ID to the cashier at the ticket booth and receive the discount.

"Today, we unveil a new and improved Silver Line" said Ridley-Thomas. "With increased frequency and service now extending all the way into San Pedro, the Silver Line provides a premiere path for Angelenos to access all of the unique destinations in the South Bay and  beyond that is easy, convenient and affordable.”

The new service is actually two lines in one: a week-day, rush-hour, express-stop Silver Line Express — called 950X — that will save commuters approximately 15 to 20 minutes per trip, as it travels along the I-110 Harbor Freeway ExpressLanes between San Pedro and downtown Los Angeles. The other line is the Silver Line 910, which will run the same route daily, with a few more stops than the 950X. It also will run during off-peak hours and evenings, as well as on weekends. Together these great new lines will provide much improved service for San Pedro and the South Bay, as they replace the outgoing Line 450 service.

Among the benefits, service will be more frequent. The Silver Line Express 950X will run every 20 minutes during weekday rush hours. (The 450 was every 30 to 60 minutes.) Off-peak and evenings, the Silver Line 910 will provide service every 30 minutes. (The 450 was every 60 minutes). On weekends and holidays the Silver Line 950 will provide service every 40 minutes. (The 450 line was every 60 minutes.) Neither the 950X nor the 910 requires a transfer to another bus at the Harbor Gateway Transit Center. (The 450 line did.) And both lines carry passengers from San Pedro to business centers in downtown Los Angeles and beyond to El Monte for a single $2.50 fare.

“Expanding the Silver Line saves time for commuters, connects people to communities and links workers to jobs,” said Garcetti. "Frequent service between San Pedro and the heart of Downtown means fewer people in cars — getting them to their work, family and fun more quickly, while reducing carbon emissions and easing congestion.”

What are some of the other benefits for the residents of San Pedro?

• A one-seat ride to downtown L.A.
• A one-seat ride to Cal State – L.A. County-USC Medical Center
• Elimination of a transfer at Harbor Gateway Transit Center
• A shorter wait time for buses
• More frequent express service to downtown L.A.
• An extension of the Express service route through downtown L.A. to provide access to more job locations, including Civic Center, Bunker Hill, county and federal courthouses, county offices and Union Station
• Additional afternoon weekday trips from downtown L.A. to San Pedro have been added to relieve crowding
• The Silver Line Express 950X will begin service earlier in the afternoon and run later than Line 450

“The Silver Line Express is a great example of how Metro is exploring new  ways to make service better for our customers,” said Washington. “We had two popular lines – the Silver Line and the 450 – and we combined them to improve service, convenience and reach for our patrons. The new line is also taking advantage of the speed offered by another of our projects: the Harbor Freeway ExpressLanes. We know the Silver Line Express is going to be a great benefit to residents of the San Pedro area.”