Transit agencies all over are reducing service in response to declining ridership and declining revenues during the coronavirus pandemic. This post features a run-down of what many L.A. County transit providers are doing now, but the situation is changing quickly, so it may well be out of date by the time you're reading.
Ridership being down is generally a good thing right now. Angelenos are doing their part to shelter in place. This means eliminating non-essential travel. Fewer riders makes social distancing possible for the people who are relying on transit.
Operating transit remains an essential activity, including getting essential workers to jobs, and shuttling others to stores or healthcare facilities. Though nationally a few small transit agencies are temporarily shutting down, right now L.A. transit agencies remain open, albeit mostly - and smartly - operating at reduced levels.
Beyond Metro there are more than two dozen "Munis" - municipal bus operators in L.A. County. Many operators' early responses included quickly trimming transit service directed toward serving closed colleges/schools.
Below are some highlights from prominent L.A. County munis:
Many transit agencies - including Culver City Bus, Foothill Transit, and Santa Monica Big Blue Bus have eliminated fares and mandated rear-door boarding for all riders not in a wheelchair. To learn more, see, for example, Foothill Transit's rider alert.
Long Beach Transit will be operating a modified bus schedule, operating buses from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, starting Sunday, March 22.
Foothill Transit will reduce service starting Monday, March 23: Commuter Express Lines 490, 493, 495, 498, 499, and 699, along with Line 690 and Lines 851-855 will not be running. All other Local lines and the Silver Streak will still be running.
For a much more comprehensive list, see Uong's document. Stay at home to the extent that you can, and when you need to travel via transit, contact agencies to check for service updates.
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