Transportation Options

The public should not count on the MTA to operate anyof its own bus or rail service today, according to MTAofficials. None of the Red Line subway trains will beoperating from the San Fernando Valley and Mid-City toUnion Station. No service is planned on the Blue Linebetween Long Beach and Los Angeles or the Green Linebet ween Norwalk and El Segundo. Here are some options:

* MTA BUSES: The MTA operated 102 buses along 14 linesMonday under contract with private bus companies. Thelines in operation were: 96, 125, 130, 167, 205, 218,225, 226, 232, 254, 256, 266, 270, 603, 605 throughcontracts with private bus companies. The MTA said itsability to maintain a limited schedule would depend onstrike developments.

In addition to the regular customer servicenumber, (800) COMMUTE, the MTA has added another, (213) 626-4455. Customers can also check the Web siteat https://www.mta.net.

A consumer group set up an all- purpose information Web site to provide information ondifferent bus lines. The Web site is https://www.socaltip.org.

* NON-MTA BUS LINES: Foothill, Long Beach, Torrance and Norwalk Transit, Metrolink, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus and the city of Los Angeles (DASH, Community Connections, Commuter Express and Smart Shuttles) will honor MTA bus passes.

The Los Angeles County Municipal Operators Coalition’s 16 bus agencies will provide additional service: Foothill Transit will add five morning trips to its service to downtown Los Angeles originating from the Pomona Fairplex and four evening trips originating from 9th and Figueroa streets in downtown. With pickets surrounding the entrance to the El Monte bus station, riders can catch a Foothill Transit bus to downtown Los Angeles two blocks east of Santa Anita on the north side of Ramona Boulevard. Call (800) RIDE INFO, or visit Foothill’s Web site at https://www.foothilltransit.org. Torrance Transit will add additional service to and from downtown Los Angeles; Gardena Municipal Bus Line will operate additional services on its Lines 1 and 2 and will accept MTA tokens; Montebello Bus Line will provide additional service to East Los Angeles on Line 10 and will add trips on Lines 40 and 50 to downtown Los Angeles.

* METROLINK: Metrolink, the commuter rail service that runs trains to downtown Los Angeles from Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties, will honor MTA monthly, semimonthly and weekly passes, as well as passes for seniors, disabled riders and students.

“Red Line Special” buses provided by the MTA and Metrolink will operate weekdays from the Metro Bus Plaza at Union Station. The bus stops will be at each Metro Red Line station from Union Station to Westlake/MacArthur Park, with two additional stops at 4th and Hill streets and at 9th and Hill streets, marked with special signs (see map). Shuttles willcontinue from Westlake/MacArthur Park to Wilshire/Vermont, Vermont/Beverly, Vermont/SantaMonica, Vermont/Sunset, Vermont/Hollywood.

Signs and Metrolink personnel will direct passengers to the bus plaza area at Union Station to board the buses.

Metrolink commuters can call (800) COMMUTE for information on ride-sharing options. Commuters can obtain updates by calling (800) 371-LINK, or visitMetrolink’s Web site at https://www.metrolinktrains.com.