Valleywide : Commuter Express Bus Fares Lowered

Riders of Los Angeles Department of Transportation’s Commuter Express received a welcome surprise Friday when they boarded the buses: The fares were lower.

Bus fares for the six commuter lines operating between Encino, Glendale and the Burbank Media District dropped between 20% and 50% because of a special rerouting plan that also cuts down on the amount of time it takes to get from one location to another.

The most expensive fare, from Encino to Pasadena, dropped 30% from $2.70 to $1.90. Other fare decreases include: Encino to Burbank Media District and Encino to Glendale, both of which are now $1.10. Prices for the monthly bus passes issued by the Department of Transportation and Metropolitan Transportation Authority also dropped.

“We were finding that the Ventura Freeway was pretty crowded and it would take less time for the buses to run on the surface streets and that speeded up the trip,” said Carolyn Perez Andersen, spokeswoman for the transportation department.

The 4-year-old Commuter Express line runs 26 miles between the San Fernando Valley and Pasadena from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The buses, which begin at Hayvenhurst Avenue in Encino, now travel along Burbank Boulevard instead of the Ventura Freeway. The fares are based on distance and the amount of travel on the freeways, Andersen said. The new fares went into effect Friday morning, Andersen said.