Public transportation LA: How to get around Los Angeles

LA is a big city with plenty of traffic, so learning to use public transportation in LA is essential when you live there. Let’s talk about LA public transit.

Ellie

5 minute read

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12 Sep 2024

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Living

Los Angeles is well known for its heavy traffic and sprawling layout. But did you know LA has various public transportation options to help people move around the city? Understanding the public transportation in Los Angeles will give you a headstart in navigating this huge city when you decide to move there. In this article, we’ll give you an insight into how LA public transportation works, how much it costs, and how to pay for it.

Paying for public transportation in Los Angeles is straightforward using a TAP card. A TAP card is a smart card that you can use on most public transportation in LA. You can purchase and top up your TAP card at vending machines in metro stations, online, or at some retail stores around the city.

With a TAP card, you’ll just need to tap it on a reader when you get on and off your transport to register your journey.

TAP cards implement fare capping, meaning after a certain amount of trips, you no longer have to pay for your transport. They offer 1- and 7-day caps with LA metro, which you can only get when you travel with your TAP card or Apple Pay. The daily cap is $5 (or 3 trips), and the weekly cap is $18 (or 11 trips).

There’re discounts available for seniors, children, low-income workers, and students, which can help you manage the high cost of living in LA.

A one-way trip on the metro or bus typically costs $1.75, and paying with a TAP card gives you two hours of free transfers. Some buses will also accept exact change, but for most modes of public transportation in LA, you’ll need to purchase your ticket online or use a TAP card.

The LA Metro app is useful for buying tickets, planning your journey, and checking for real-time updates.

The Metro is a central part of Los Angeles’ public transportation network. It has various train lines and light rail services that connect the city and LA County.

Subway and light rail lines

Los Angeles has 4 light rail lines and 2 subway lines, covering different parts of this vast city and even connecting you to LAX.

Most metros in Los Angeles run between 5 AM and 11:45 PM, with a few lines offering limited services between 12 AM and 5 AM. The light rail lines in Los Angeles run roughly every 10 minutes during the busier daytime hours. The subway lines run roughly every 12 minutes during the busier daytime hours. All metro lines run less frequently in the early morning and late night, roughly every 20 minutes.

The A, C, E, and K lines are light rail lines, while the B and D are subway lines. Here’s an idea of which neighborhoods in LA they cover so you can figure out which you’ll need to take:

• A line: Running from Azusa to Long Beach, this line is the longest light rail line in the world! It connects the busy center of LA to coastal and regional areas.
• B line: This subway line is completely underground and connects North Hollywood to Union Station, Downtown LA. It’s also one of the busiest lines in LA.
• C line: You’ll meet many travelers on this line as it connects to a free airport shuttle bus to LAX at its endpoint in Norwalk. The C line connects South Bay to Norwalk. -D line: Connecting Koreatown to Downtown LA, the D line is another underground subway line in LA.
• E line: Formerly known as the Expo Line, the E line has been expanded to connect Santa Monica Pier to East LA.
• K line: The K line is LA Metro’s newest addition and one of the shortest. It connects Jefferson Park to Westchester.

Los Angeles’ Metrolink system is ideal for commuters who want to live away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but it also has lines to help you navigate LA city. Metrolink doesn’t accept TAP cards, but you can load a digital ticket onto your TAP card or buy a ticket online using their app. Check the schedule online before buying a ticket to ensure your train is running, as Metrolink often faces delays and cancellations.

Metrolink operates 7 lines. They are:

• Antelope Valley Line: Connecting Union Station in LA to Lancaster.
• Inland Empire-Orange County Line: Connecting San Bernardino in Downtown LA to Oceanside in San Diego.
• Orange County Line: Connecting Union Station in LA to Oceanside in San Diego.
• Riverside Line: Connecting Union Station in LA to Riverside in Downtown LA.
• San Bernardino Line: Connecting Union Station in LA to Redlands University, just outside San Bernardino.
• Ventura County Line: Connecting Union Station in LA to Ventura.
• 91/Perris Valley Line: Connection Union Station in LA to Perris.

Metrolink stations are located conveniently to make it easy to connect with other transit services, as you can probably tell by most of the lines starting or ending at the iconic Union Station in LA. The schedules for each Metrolink line will vary greatly depending on how frequently the service is used, so it’s best to check the schedule of your desired line on their website.

Buses are a vital part of LA’s public transportation system. They’re operated by LA Metro and other local transit agencies to provide coverage throughout the city and beyond. Buses are especially useful for connecting areas difficult to reach by rail.

Buses in LA can be divided into two main categories: the Metro Busway and the Metro Bus, but other operators may service your neighborhood.

Metro Busway: rapid transit lines

There’re 2 rapid transit lines (BRT) operating in Los Angeles:

• G line: Connecting Chatsworth and North Hollywood in the San Fernando Valley. There’s a park and ride available in North Hollywood that connects you to the B Line subway. The G line runs 24/7, with 17 bus stops. It runs roughly every 10 minutes but less frequently during off-peak hours.
• J line: Connecting El Monte in the San Gabriel Valley to San Pedro in LA via Downtown LA. The J line also operates 24/7, with 22 stops on the route. It has 2 routes: the 910, which stops at Harbor Gateway, and the 950, which goes further to San Pedro. The 950 runs roughly every 20 minutes. The 910 runs approximately every 10 minutes. The frequency of the buses varies throughout the day, so it’s good to check their schedules online.

Metro bus

This colossal bus system has over 100 routes that connect beyond the city of LA to the Greater Los Angeles Area. The Metro bus system is broken down into:

• Local buses which have a stop roughly every 2 blocks and are painted orange.
• Rapid buses which have fewer stops, mainly at major intersections, and are painted red.
• Express buses which travel on freeways, cover a longer distance with fewer stops, and have a higher premium.

Metro bus tickets cost $1.75 for a one-way ticket, which you can pay with exact change or using your TAP card. The frequency of their runs varies depending on which route, with some running once an hour and others running every 20 or so minutes.

Overall, LA’s public transportation system offers a range of options to meet different needs. Whether you’re using the Metro for quick trips across the city, Metrolink for regional travel, or buses for local connections, there’re plenty of choices to help you get around. Don’t forget to research the best public transportation route while you explore homes for rent in Los Angeles.