Vermont Transit Corridor Project - Frequently Asked Questions
Project OverviewWhat is the Vermont Transit Corridor Project?
The Vermont Transit Corridor Project is a multi-year initiative that examines a medium-term Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) solution and a longer-term rail project. The goal is to provide faster, more reliable, and more enjoyable travel for riders.
What is BRT?
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a high-quality bus service designed to be fast, reliable, safe, and cost-efficient. Key features of BRT may include: dedicated bus lanes, transit signal priority, off-board fare collection, all-door boarding, elevated platforms, and enhanced stations with amenities such as shelters, benches, trash receptacles, lighting, and next-bus information.
With features similar to light rail, BRT offers greater reliability, convenience, and speed compared to regular bus services.
What area does the study cover?
The corridor extends approximately 12.4 miles, from Sunset Boulevard in the north to 120th Street in the south.
Is the Vermont Transit Corridor Project funded?
Yes, $425 million has been allocated to the project.
What types of improvements are being considered?
In the last phase of community engagement, the community requested near-term, mid-term, and long-term improvements for Vermont:
Near-term: Immediate enhancements to existing bus service, such as increased frequency, transit signal priority (TSP), and curb-running bus lanes (peak hours only from Sunset Blvd to Wilshire Blvd and all day from Gage Ave to the Vermont/Athens C Line Station). These are expected to be completed in 2025.
Mid-term: Implementation of a BRT system with dedicated bus lanes, enhanced stations offering amenities such as shelters, benches, lighting, all-door boarding, real-time bus arrival information, and fewer stops.
Long-term: Potential for future light rail or subway, pending funding availability and ridership demand.
What is TSP?
Transit Signal Priority (TSP) refers to a technology that improves transit service by reducing the amount of time that buses sit waiting at red lights. It makes green lights a little linger and red lights a little shorter for transit vehicles.
Project Phases and TimelineWhat is the current stage of the project?
As of February 2025, the project is nearing completion of the environmental review phase and has officially kicked off the Preliminary Engineering (PE) phase (30% design). This involves engineers examining a concept’s feasibility and potential risks to ensure the project is technically sound before moving into further detailed design phases.
What is the difference between median, side, and curb-running BRT?
Median/Center-running BRT: Bus lanes that operate the center of the roadway.
Side-running BRT: Dedicated bus lanes that operate in the right most travel lanes.
Curb-running BRT: Dedicated bus lanes that operate in the curbside lanes.
When can we expect to see improvements?
Near-term improvements: Anticipated in 2025.
BRT project completion: Anticipated opening by 2028.
Rail conversion: The timeline is uncertain and depends on funding availability and further study.
Project BenefitsHow will the Vermont Transit Corridor Project benefit riders?
More predictable travel times, leading to improved reliability and faster trips.
Better connections to the regional transportation system.
Improved pedestrian and bicycle access.
Enhanced access to jobs, education, healthcare, and essential services.
Improved air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by providing alternatives to driving.
Support for economic development, job creation, and community revitalization in a historically underserved area of Los Angeles County.
Increased safety due to the separation of buses from other vehicles, enhanced lighting, and improved crosswalks.
Community EngagementHow can I get involved in the project?
Attend community meetings and workshops.
Submit comments and feedback via the Metro website or during public meetings.
Where can I find more information about the project?
Visit the LA Metro Vermont Transit Corridor website: https://www.metro.net/projects/vermont-corridor/
Sign up for email updates and project news.
Contact Metro via phone, email, or social media.
What are Equity Focus Communities (EFCs)?
Equity Focus Communities (EFCs) is a tool adopted by Metro in 2022 to help identify communities for targeted programs. EFCs are defined as census tracts where:
At least 40% of households are low-income ($35,000 or less), and
At least 80% of households are people of color, or
At least 10% of households have zero cars.
The Vermont Corridor is largely within EFC communities.
Project ImpactsHow will this project impact traffic and parking?
A traffic and parking analysis was conducted for this project to assess potential traffic and parking impacts. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate changes in roadway capacity, possible intersection delays, and parking spaces that may be affected, including utilization and capacity.
What will happen to the trees along Vermont?
Metro will work closely with the City of Los Angeles and adhere to city policies for any new or replacement landscaping. The landscaping plan has not yet been determined.
Why isn’t Metro building the BRT south of 120th Street?
G Trans, City of Gardena, serves the area south of 120th Street with their Line 2, which operates every 15 minutes. More information can be found here: https://ridegtrans.com/
Healthy Streets LA Initiative (HLA)How does HLA affect the Vermont Transit Corridor Project?
In March 2024, voters of the City of Los Angeles (City) passed the Healthy Streets LA (HLA) initiative. Measure HLA requires the City, when doing work on a City-owned street (e.g. street repaving), to implement street enhancements described in its Mobility Plan 2035. The Mobility Plan 2035 is an element of the City’s General Plan that aims to create a balanced transportation system that accommodates all road users.
Although the HLA ordinance does not specifically apply to Metro projects, the Vermont Transit Corridor Project (VTC) helps achieve partial build-out of the Transit Enhanced Network (TEN) called for in the City’s Mobility Plan 2035. The Vermont Transit Corridor project also complements the City’s goals of achieving a safer, more sustainable, and inclusive transportation network. The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service and associated street improvements proposed for Vermont do not preclude the City of LA from implementing additional street improvements included in the Mobility Plan 2035. |
