Los Angeles Public Transportation

Where is LA transit headed?

So how good is public transit in Los Angeles? Unfortunately, not as good as it was. At the turn of the century, Los Angeles had one of the most advanced and dedicated transit works not only in the nation, but in the world. Main rail lines came in and out of downtown from all compass directions, and trolley tracks branched out into all the neighborhoods.

Government subsidization of auto and rubber industries

Unfortunately, as a result of the auto industry and the rubber industry's (tires) advancements, and government subsidization of these industries, the rail industry was set back so far it couldn't recover. Roads were paved, rail tracks taken down, and the American consumer was made to rely on the car, and the pump. As a result, consumers were set to grow up in a dispersed infrastructure, with commuters locked behind four glass walls, out of contact with each other and the rest of the world.

Lack of public transportation insulates you from your neighbors

Sound harsh? Ask yourself how well you know your neighbors - the people on your street. Unlike European communities where it's tradition to go around and introduce yourself to all your neighbors, in Los Angeles people build tall fences and keep to themselves. This lifestyle could be a projection of people's daily commuting lives - spending hours behind tinted car windows instead of being amongst people on trains and trolleys, talking and interacting on their way to and from work and their daily activities.

Where is public transportation in Los Angeles headed?

Will public transportation in Los Angeles ever make a comeback? It certainly is trying to - with all the Metro lines being put in over the past decade, rail is making somewhat of a comeback. Unfortunately, the system is not profitable, and the average commuter already owns to cars. So the system is not replacing the auto, as the auto replaced the train over the past century. Instead, a radical shift in infrastructure will need to take place, replacing paved roads with rail once again. That day may never come - as we see visions of flying electric cars being more probable than the return of public transportation to Los Angeles in full force.

The Los Angeles bus network

The bus network, meanwhile, being able to use the paved roads built for the automobiles, is farther reaching than Los Angeles' rail network. However, it is not profitable either, and until recent improvements was unreliable, much slower than a car, and somewhat run down and dirty. Let's hope the improvements in the last couple years will continue, and the revival efforts of downtown Los Angeles will coincide with a renewal of transit infrastructure.

Los Angeles Metro System Resources

Train and Bus Timetables

The Los Angeles Metro System offers nearly 200 bus and rail lines to take you to your destination. Please visit MTA Timetables for detailed train and bus timetables for major stops along all Los Angeles routes.

Los Angeles Bus Map

Visit Metro Bus Maps for a map of bus lines in Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles Rail Map

Visit Metro Rail Maps for maps of rail lines (Metro Blue, Green, Red, and Gold lines) in Los Angeles County.

Carriers Outside Los Angeles

Visit Other Carriers for a list of other carriers providing public transit services in California.