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

Eyes on the Street: New Flower Street Bus Lane

10:09 AM PDT on June 5, 2019

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

Eyes on the Station: Metro Fortified Turnstiles at MacArthur Park Station

Metro fortified turnstile entrances at MacArthur Park in order to curb fare-evading riders; sometimes this has adverse impacts on fare-paying riders

September 27, 2023

Streetfilms Tours Emeryville, the Little City that Can

Did somebody say "encore?" Safe streets rock star John Bauters, Mayor of Emeryville, population less-than 13,000, gave Streetfilms producer Clarence Eckerson a tour of his city

September 27, 2023

Guest Opinion: Metro Should Treat Walk and Bike Projects with the Respect They Deserve

Prioritizing true first mile/last mile infrastructure isn’t somehow optional; it’s how your customers get to and from the transit stations.

September 27, 2023

‘I’m Not Grieving Alone’: New Play Explores a Father’s Journey After Losing Two Children to Traffic Violence

Colin Campbell and his wife Gail Lerner lost both their children in a car crash with impaired driver. A new play explores how to talk about similar tragedies.

September 27, 2023
See all posts