Does LA Have a Subway?

Yes, Los Angeles does have a subway metro system known as the Los Angeles Metro Rail. It operates several subway lines that connect various parts of the city, including Downtown LA, Hollywood, and Koreatown. The LA Metro Rail system is not as extensive as the New York City subway system, but it serves as an important means of public transportation in the city.

The LA subway system is part of a wider LA Metro rail network of six lines, all owned and operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). Each of the six LA Metro lines is colored-coded and lettered. Two of the lines, the B Red Line and the D Purple Line, are entirely underground, serving the city more efficiently. The remaining four lines run on elevated tracks, at street level, or a combination of both.

The LA Metro Rail Network

The Los Angeles Metro Rail network is quite extensive, carrying over 100 million passengers annually. It currently covers a total length of 157 kilometers and is continuously expanding. One of the recently constructed lines is the 14-kilometer line in southwest LA, linking with an existing line in the Jefferson Park area. This line is scheduled to open in stages from 2022 to 2023. Another important project is the regional connector, a 3-kilometer line, which is currently under development.

The main spine routes of the subway system are the B Red Line and the D Purple Line. The B line runs 16.4 miles between North Hollywood and L.A. Union Rail Station, with a 6.4-mile branch that splits off at Wilshire/Vermont and heads west to Western Avenue. An extension of this route out towards the coast is currently under construction. The D line runs 6.4 miles from Union Station to Wilshire/Western Station.

Distinguishing Factors

While the Los Angeles subway system does exist, it differs in several respects from the New York City subway system. Unlike the NYC subway, parts of the LA Metro's lines are partially underground, whereas much of the New York City subway is above ground. The LA Metro system covers a smaller portion of the city compared to the extensive network in New York. Another distinguishing feature is that the LA Metro includes light rail lines as well, which mostly run above ground and at street level, although the 7th Street/Metro Center station is an exception, serving both heavy-rail and light-rail tracks.

Other Public Transportation Options

In addition to the subway, Los Angeles offers other public transportation options through the LA Metro. The light rail lines include four routes: the A Blue Line, L Gold Line, E Expo Line, and the C Green Line. The A Blue Line and L Gold Line serve a significant portion of the city, while the E Expo Line and C Green Line cover a broader area.

For further information, you can refer to the official Los Angeles Metro website.