'Take the A Train' to LA/Long Beach

After nearly a year of refurbishments, the Metro Blue Line is set to reopen Saturday, Nov. 2 with new amenities, faster travel times, and a new name.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, more commonly known as LA Metro, has spent nearly a year upgrading and renovating their oldest rail line to decrease travel time from Downtown Long Beach to Downtown Los Angeles. The renovations also help pave the way for the authority’s “Regional Connector” project set for a 2022 opening that will connect Downtown Long Beach to Azusa with a one-ticket trip.

“When the Regional Connector opens, it will connect the Blue Line with the Expo and Gold Lines for a one-seat ride through downtown Los Angeles,” said Jose Ubaldo, Communications Manager of Media Relations with Metro. “People using the Blue Line will be able to travel all the way to Azusa from Long Beach and those traveling from Santa Monica can ride all the way to East Los Angeles and vice-versa.”

The refurbishment was completed in two phases; the southern section was completed from January to June. It affected the line from Long Beach Transit Mall station to Compton Boulevard Station.

The current closure from the Willowbrook/Rosa Parks station to 7th Street//Metro Center will open Nov. 2 and provide free rides all weekend.

The Blue Line will also open with a new name; the A Line.

“Metro’s system is growing and changing with eight rail and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines now in operation – and more to come,” said Ubaldo. “To make it easier for riders to navigate the growing system, the Metro Board approved a new transit line naming convention that will pair letters with the line colors to make it easier for riders to identify Metro’s various rail and BRT lines.”

Riders of the A Line will enjoy shorter travel times when the line reopens.

“The City has completed a signal prioritization project, which will give priority to the A Line so that it is not stopping at red lights in Long Beach,” said Luke Klipp on behalf of Mayor Robert Garcia. “This project is expected to save A Line passengers three-four minutes travel time in each direction.”

Both Mayor Garcia and Klipp hold seats on the Metro board of supervisors.

“Along with the City’s signal prioritization project, additional signal improvements in the city of Los Angeles will help shorten the full end-to-end trip, between downtown Long Beach and downtown Los Angeles, by approximately seven minutes.”

 “The city has also installed new lighting, fencing and landscaping along the train on Long Beach Boulevard,” said Klipp. “Along with the City’s improvements to signals, lighting, and landscaping, the Mayor hopes that this refurbished line will attract new riders and invite people to explore Long Beach using transit.”

Opening in June 1990, the A Line is Metro’s oldest rail line. The original 54 Nippon Sharyo P865 cars that opened with the line have been retired.

Fifteen Nippon Sharyo P2020 cars ordered in 1994 that remain have been refurbished, but the line primarily operates with Kinkisharyo P3010 cars purchased in 2014.

Metro has been using a variety of bus shuttles to bridge the gap of the disrupted rail service.

The most popular shuttle, line 860, provides express service from downtown Long Beach to Downtown Los Angeles via the I-405 and I-110 freeways.

According to Ubaldo, the direct shuttle will remain in service for peak periods after the A Line opening for a six-month pilot program due to public demand.

For more information on the A Line or the Regional Connector you can visit www.metro.net/newblue or www.metro.net/projects/connector

eric@beachcomber.news