Warning, Metro Riders: Blue Line Will Close for Months at Halfway Point Starting in Late January
[dropcap size=big]M[/dropcap]etro Blue Line riders will have to find alternate ways of getting to work next year or face massive delays. The southern half – from Compton to Long Beach – of the Blue Line will shut down for about four months beginning at the end of January, and the northern half – from Compton to downtown L.A. – will be closed for repairs July to September.
Metro on Monday officially confirmed that it will halt rail service between downtown Long Beach and the Willowbrook/Rosa Parks station starting January 26 until an unspecified date in May. Buses will replace train cars as the agency overhauls its oldest rail line.
This means the 62,000 daily riders on the Blue Line — also L.A.’s longest — will now have to disembark from trains halfway to downtown, tap a card to get on a shuttle, and then re-board at 103rd St/Watts Towers Station.
RELATED: The Glory Days of L.A. Public Transit in 1926, Mapped
Metro plans to invest $350 million to modernize its second-most used rail. Metro says the improvements will make the Blue Line more reliable with fewer delays caused by breakdowns.
During the southern closure, riders will have different shuttle options, including the 826 Local, which will run — for free — daily. The local buses will stop at every closed Blue Line station, running every 6 minutes during rush-hour – 5:30 am to 9 am and 3 pm to 7 pm – and every 12 minutes during non-peak hours. And the Express Shuttle Service will run Monday through Friday for $1.75, and take you from downtown Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles during morning and afternoon rush hours with limited stops.
If you rely on the Blue Line for work or school, Metro has a dedicated page for questions about the changes and construction.
RELATED: These TSA-Level Scanners Will Be Checking You For Weapons In L.A. Metro Rail Stations
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from L.A. TACO
Swarm of Police in Riot Gear Destroy Peaceful Pro-Palestine Encampment At UCLA During Early Morning Raid, Over 200 Arrested
At 4 AM, CHP broke through the fencing on the other side of the encampment and set up a police line, consistently firing flash-bang grenades into the air. They also fired on protestors with “less-lethal” munitions and rubber bullets, causing an injury to one protester’s face that required stitches.
Ten Palestinian-Owned Restaurants to Support in L.A. and O.C.
Supporting our local Palestinian restaurants not only allows you to experience excellent cooking and recipes from a culture and people who have been making these dishes for generations, but it also helps to broaden our worldviews on a culture some forces seek to bury and erase.
Where To Find Don Perico, The Mexican-Owned Brand Bringing Tropical Flavors To Dispensaries
The products, with their festive packaging, tropical flavors, and colorful parrot mascot, are relatable and better yet, they taste great, are fast-acting, and strong.
New Date for TACO MADNESS 2024 Event Confirmed: June 15th at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes
After getting rained out, our new date promises to be our biggest and most fun festival to date. Come out and eat all the tacos, drink all the micheladas, dance to the best DJs in L.A., and support our independent journalism! Of course, L.A. TACO members get in for free. Tickets on sale now.
An Update On Our Membership Drive: Some Bad News, and Good News
Some bad news, and some good news on our pledge to survive and stay sustainable.
