The Length Of Metro Buses Explained: Standard Sizes And Variations

The Los Angeles Metro Bus is the transit bus service in Los Angeles County, California, operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). As of 2019, Metro has the third-largest bus fleet in North America, with 2,320 buses. The Metro Bus brand was founded in 1993, but many of the routes in the system are derived from the bus routes of the prior Southern California Rapid Transit District (RTD) or the streetcar routes operated by the Pacific Electric Red Cars or the Los Angeles Railway Yellow Cars. The Metro Bus fleet offers different types of services, including local buses, rapid buses, and express buses, each with distinct colours and line numbers to indicate the type of service offered.

The length of a metro bus in the Los Angeles Metro Bus fleet

The Los Angeles Metro Bus fleet is the third-largest in North America, with 2,320 buses as of 2019. The fleet is operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (also known as Metro, MTA, or LACMTA).

The standard length for a single-decker metro bus is 40 feet (12 m), and this is true of the majority of the LACMTA fleet. However, some of the buses in the fleet are longer, at 60 feet (18.3 m).

The LACMTA operates a variety of bus types, including local buses, rapid buses, express buses, and bus rapid transit (BRT) lines. Local buses, painted orange, are the most common type, with over 18,000 bus stops on 189 local lines. They are supplemented by rapid buses, which make limited stops at major intersections, and express buses, which travel longer distances with fewer stops. The BRT lines, known as the G and J Lines, operate on dedicated busways and require payment by TAP card.

The LACMTA has committed to transitioning to a zero-emissions fleet by 2032, and has already fully electrified the G Line, which was using a fleet of 40 New Flyer Xcelsior XE60 Charge NG buses as of October 2021. However, as of June 2024, the G Line has been supplemented with compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered buses due to issues with the on-route charging equipment.

The length of a metro bus in the LA Metro Rapid fleet

The Los Angeles Metro Bus is the transit bus service in Los Angeles County, California, operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). The Metro Bus brand was established in 1993, but many of the routes in the system are derived from the bus routes of the prior Southern California Rapid Transit District (RTD) or the streetcar routes operated by the Pacific Electric Red Cars or the Los Angeles Railway Yellow Cars.

In 2003, Metro operated its bus network under three different brands: orange Metro Local buses for traditional routes, red Metro Rapid buses for limited-stop routes, and blue Metro Express buses for minimal-stop services along the region's freeway network. The separate brands were retired in 2020 as part of Metro's NextGen Bus Plan, which restructured the agencies' routes. Most of the Metro Rapid routes were replaced with more frequent service on the former Metro Local routes, which now make fewer stops.

As of June 2023, there are 117 routes in the system (excluding Metro Busway routes). The Los Angeles Metro bus has the third-largest fleet in North America, with 2,320 buses as of 2019. The majority of Metro Bus lines are operated by Metro directly, with select services operated by private contractors.

Metro buses are given line numbers that indicate the type of service offered. This method was originally devised by the Southern California Rapid Transit District, Metro's predecessor.

Line numbers lower than 100 are local routes to/from Downtown Los Angeles. Line numbers in the 100s are local east/west routes in other areas, and line numbers in the 200s are local north/south routes in other areas.

The LA Metro Rapid buses are painted in a distinctive red color, making them easily identifiable to passengers and distinguishing them from the other bus services offered by Metro.

The length of a metro bus in the LA Metro Express fleet

The Los Angeles Metro Bus is the transit bus service in Los Angeles County, California, operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). As of 2019, the Metro Bus fleet is the third-largest in North America, with 2,320 buses.

The Metro Bus fleet offers different types of services, including local buses, rapid buses, and express buses. Local buses, painted orange, are the most frequent service, stopping every two blocks. Rapid buses, painted red, are faster, with fewer stops only at major intersections. Express buses, painted blue, travel longer distances on freeways with minimal stops and a higher premium.

The length of a standard metropolitan bus is typically around 40 feet (12 meters). This length provides ample space for passenger seating and standing areas, with some buses also accommodating wheelchairs and bicycles.

The LA Metro Express fleet, with its blue livery, represents the express bus service within the Metro Bus system. These buses primarily serve commuters travelling longer distances on freeways with minimal stops. The length of a metro bus in the LA Metro Express fleet is consistent with the standard metropolitan bus length of 40 feet.

The LA Metro Express fleet stands out with its blue colour scheme, distinct from the orange and red colours of the local and rapid bus services, respectively. This colour-coding helps commuters easily identify the different bus services offered by the Metro Bus system.

In addition to its length, the LA Metro Express fleet incorporates various features to enhance the commuter experience. These buses are designed with comfortable seating, ample standing room, and storage space for luggage and strollers. They are also equipped with modern amenities, such as digital displays for real-time bus information and route maps, audio and visual stop announcements, and WiFi connectivity.

The LA Metro Express fleet plays a crucial role in providing efficient and convenient transportation for commuters travelling longer distances. By utilizing freeways and minimizing stops, these buses offer a faster and more direct option for commuters, making their travel experience more seamless and time-efficient.

The length of a metro bus in the Metro Rail Shuttle fleet

The Metro Rail Shuttle fleet, also known as the Los Angeles Metro Bus, is an extensive transit bus service in Los Angeles County, California. Operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), the Metro Rail Shuttle fleet had a ridership of 222,919,700 in 2023, averaging about 756,700 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

As of June 2023, the Metro Rail Shuttle fleet comprises 117 routes (excluding Metro Busway routes) and is the third-largest fleet in North America, with 2,320 buses as of 2019. The majority of Metro Bus lines are operated directly by Metro, with select services outsourced to private contractors.

The Metro Bus brand was established in 1993, but many of its routes are similar to those of the prior Southern California Rapid Transit District (RTD) and the streetcar routes operated by the Pacific Electric Red Cars and the Los Angeles Railway Yellow Cars.

In 2003, Metro operated its bus network under three distinct brands: orange Metro Local buses for traditional routes, red Metro Rapid buses for limited-stop routes, and blue Metro Express buses for minimal-stop services along the region's freeway network. However, these separate brands were retired in 2020 as part of Metro's NextGen Bus Plan, which restructured the agencies' routes to provide more frequent service on former Metro Local routes, now with fewer stops.

The Metro Rail Shuttle fleet offers a range of services, including local, rapid, express, and shuttle/circulator routes. These routes are designated by line numbers that indicate the type of service offered. For example, line numbers lower than 100 denote local routes to and from Downtown Los Angeles, while line numbers in the 600s represent shuttle or circulator options.

The length of a metro bus in the Metro Rapid Limited-Stop Routes fleet

The Los Angeles Metro Bus is the transit bus service in Los Angeles County, California. The Metro Bus brand was established in 1993, and the system currently has 117 routes (excluding Metro Busway routes). The Metro Bus fleet is the third largest in North America, with 2,320 buses as of 2019.

From 2003 until 2020, Metro operated its bus network under three distinct brands: orange Metro Local buses for traditional routes, red Metro Rapid buses for limited-stop routes, and blue Metro Express buses for minimal-stop services along the region's freeway network.

The Metro Rapid limited-stop bus service was introduced in the early 2000s to provide faster service on major corridors in Los Angeles, with stops spaced approximately 1/2 mile (800 m) apart. The first Metro Rapid lines included physical infrastructure improvements such as signal priority at intersections in the City of Los Angeles, and enhanced bus shelters.

As of 2024, three Metro Rapid lines remain in operation, serving the Wilshire Boulevard, Vermont Avenue, and Van Nuys Boulevard/Sepulveda Pass corridors. These lines exhibit characteristics of bus rapid transit, including off-board fare payment on some lines, enhanced bus stops that are spaced farther apart than corresponding local services, and signal priority at some intersections.

The Metro Rapid network underwent significant changes as part of the NextGen Bus Plan, a major restructuring of the agency's routes implemented in 2021. The changes included the suspension of most Metro Rapid lines and the merger of many Rapid lines back into their local counterparts. The NextGen plan also included the construction of over 30 miles (48 km) of new bus lanes across Los Angeles, addressing the lack of dedicated bus lanes for Metro Rapid services.

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