The J Line (formerly the Silver Line, sometimes listed as line 910/950) is a bus rapid transit line that runs between El Monte, Downtown Los Angeles and the Harbor Gateway, with some trips continuing to San Pedro. It is one of the two lines in the Metro Busway system operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro).
The J Line offers frequent, all-stops service along the El Monte Busway and the Harbor Transitway, two grade-separated transit facilities built into the Southern California freeway system. The line was created on December 13, 2009, as part of the conversion of the facilities from high-occupancy vehicle lanes into high-occupancy toll lanes (branded as Metro ExpressLanes) that allow solo drivers to pay a toll to use lanes. The tolls collected have been used to operate the J Line and refurbish the old stations on the line.
As J Line buses travel along the El Monte Busway and the Harbor Transitway, they serve stations built into the center or side of the roadway. There is a gap between the western end of El Monte Busway and the northern end of the Harbor Transitway in Downtown Los Angeles, where J Line buses travel on surface streets, making a limited number of stops. Along the route, buses serve several of the region's major transportation hubs, including El Monte Station, Union Station, 7th Street/Metro Center station, Harbor Freeway station and the Harbor Gateway Transit Center.
In 2020, the line was renamed from the Silver Line to the J Line while retaining its route numbers and the color silver in its square icon as part of renaming all Metro lines.
Service description
Services
Two services are operated under the J Line name: Line 910 operates with daily 24-hour service serving only the portion of the route between El Monte Station, Downtown Los Angeles, and the Harbor Gateway Transit Center. Line 950 operates daily service serving the entire route between El Monte Station, Downtown Los Angeles, and San Pedro.
Route description
The eastern section of the J Line route runs on the El Monte Busway between the El Monte Station in El Monte and Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles. The southern section of the route runs on the Harbor Transitway between 37th Street/USC station in Downtown Los Angeles and the Harbor Gateway Transit Center near the city of Carson. Buses travel between the western end of the El Monte Busway and the northern end of the Harbor Transitway along of surface streets in Downtown Los Angeles where J Line buses make a limited number of stops near major employment centers, tourist destinations and Metro Rail stations. Buses utilize about of bus-only lanes in each direction to speed trips across Downtown Los Angeles.
Line 950 continues south of the Harbor Gateway Transit Center along the Harbor Freeway to San Pedro traveling in general-purpose freeway lanes and making two stops en route at stations located on the side of the freeway near off and on-ramps. In San Pedro, Line 950 buses once again travel along surface streets, serving the Harbor Beacon Park & Ride and making frequent stops along Pacific Avenue.
Headways
Rates
Like the other Metro Rail and Metro Busway lines, the J Line operates on a proof-of-payment system. Passengers may board at either the front or rear door of J Line buses and validate their Transit Access Pass (TAP) electronic fare card at readers located onboard the bus, near the door. Metro's fare inspectors randomly inspect buses to ensure passengers have a valid fare product on their TAP card. Pre-payment of fares and all-door boarding reduces the time buses need to remain stopped at stations.
TAP vending machines are available at most stations (except Carson and Pacific Coast Highway) and near most street stops in Downtown Los Angeles. But, because vending machines are unavailable at all stations and street stops, passengers who need to purchase a card or add funds can do so at the farebox on board the bus. None of the other Metro Rail or Metro Busway lines offer onboard sales.
Metro and Foothill Transit offer a reciprocal fare program where pass holders may ride either J Line or Silver Streak buses between Downtown Los Angeles and the El Monte Station.