March 3

"Another New 'DeLuxe' LAMTA Bus," March 1958 (Click to enlarge)

1958:  The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority becomes a public transit service operator.

LAMTA had been formed by the State of California in 1951 as a publicly-governed mass transit planning agency.

On this date in 1958, Los Angeles Transit Lines and the lines formerly operated by Pacific Electric and Metropolitan Coach Lines were unified under the public authority.

At this time, only five streetcar lines remained in operation throughout Los Angeles County.

Six years later, LAMTA would be dissolved in the creation of the Southern California Rapid Transit District.