Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Bus-only lanes

Eyes on the Street: New Flower Street Bus Lane

Invest in bus-only lanes, stuff that will help people drive less, says the Clean Air Act. If only the federal EPA wasn’t so anti-transit.

This morning Investing in Place tweeted a short video of downtown L.A.'s newest bus-only lane. Metro's articulated bus zips quickly past a dozen drivers.

The new Flower Street bus-only lane debuted last week - as part of the Metro's "New Blue" project which temporarily closes portions of the Blue Line while rehabilitation work is underway. The upper half of the Blue Line is currently closed through late September. Shared downtown L.A. Expo Line stations will be closed from June 22 through late August.

During construction, Metro is operating replacement bus service, including additional southbound buses on Flower Street through downtown L.A. where the right lane is bus-only from 3-7 p.m. on weekdays. The southbound Flower lane is half of a couplet, paired with the existing northbound bus-only lane on Figueroa Street.

There are already calls to make this bus lane permanent - and to implement more bus lanes right away. Metro has been studying more bus lanes, and looking to implement at least one new bus lane this year, but that plan is facing some resistance. Perhaps the new Flower Street bus lane can provide another worthwhile example to help move other bus lane projects forward.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

Wednesday’s Headlines

Updates on stories we covered over the past week on quick build, speed cameras, VTA strike and more...

March 26, 2025

Survey: Americans Still Want Police To Cut Traffic Stops That Don’t Make Anyone Safer

Americans never lost their appetite for police reform in the traffic safety realm – and their leaders are starting to listen, a new study suggests.

March 25, 2025

Volunteers Repaint and Repair Mural as Progress Continues on Converting Great Highway

Advocate/volunteers erase graffiti as the project to remake San Francisco's oceanfront moves steadily forward.

March 25, 2025

Is the City’s Approach to Measure HLA Resulting in Worse Pavement Conditions on Some Streets?

The city says "Measure HLA has not affected overall citywide [pavement condition]" but some streets - ones the city put repaving on hold for HLA - seem to have a lot of potholes.

March 25, 2025
See all posts