Los Angeles has expanded its transit infrastructure in the communities of South Los Angeles and Westlake through the installation of new bus-only lanes on Florence Avenue and Alvarado Street. These improvements include 4.25 miles of new peak-hour lanes on Florence Avenue, which feature bright red “Bus Bike Lane” markings to assist commuters during specific weekday windows.
What new bus lane improvements were made to Florence Avenue?
L.A. City has implemented new peak-hour bus lanes on Florence Avenue, totaling 4.25 miles (8.5 lane-miles). The bright red markings are located from Brynhurst Avenue, near the L.A./Inglewood city limits, to Figueroa Street, and from Broadway to Central Avenue.
These lanes are in effect on weekdays from 7-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. According to the project details, bicycles and right-turning vehicles are permitted to share these lanes with buses.
How much total bus lane mileage is now on Florence Avenue?
When combining the L.A. City lanes with the half-mile of bus lanes installed by the county east of Central Avenue in 2025, Florence Avenue now has 4.8 miles of bus lanes (9.6 lane miles). This continuous stretch spans from the K Line to the A Line.
What changes occurred on Alvarado Street?
As part of its Peak Hour Lane Removal Program, the L.A. City Transportation Department (LADOT) recently added approximately one-third of a mile of new northbound bus lanes on Alvarado Street. This section is located between Olympic Boulevard and 7th Street.
This project extends the roughly 1.5 miles of Alvarado bus lanes that were installed by Metro, L.A. City, and Caltrans during 2021 and 2022. Alvarado Street now contains a total of 3.2 lane miles of peak-hour bus lanes.
What transit projects are currently under construction?
Caltrans is currently adding 1.4 miles (2.8 lane-miles) of new bus lanes on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Los Angeles. This construction spans from Centinela Avenue to the 405 Freeway.
Additionally, Metro has broken ground on a four-city Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project connecting North Hollywood to Pasadena. This project is expected to include approximately 20 lane miles of new bus-only lanes.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the Florence Avenue bus lanes active?
The Florence Avenue lanes are in effect on weekdays during the morning from 7-9 a.m. and in the afternoon from 4-7 p.m.
Who is allowed to use the new Florence Avenue lanes?
Buses, bicycles, and right-turning vehicles can share the new Florence Avenue lanes.
Where is the new Santa Monica Boulevard bus lane project located?
Caltrans is adding 1.4 miles of new bus lanes on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Los Angeles, running from Centinela Avenue to the 405 Freeway.
How will these new transit lanes affect daily travel times for commuters in South Los Angeles?
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