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December 15: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History

  • Written by Kenn Bicknell

2002:  The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority launches Metro Rapid Line 754 along Vermont Avenue, and Metro Rapid Line 745 along South Broadway.

Mayor James Hahn arrives on Metro Rapid bus to a morning news conference.
Mayor James Hahn inaugurates the new Metro Rapid service on a morning news conference.

Mayor James Hahn inaugurated the new Metro Rapid service on Vermont Avenue at a Wednesday morning news conference.

“Metro Rapid has been a huge success story in Los Angeles and has generated considerable interest from other large cities that are trying to grapple with congestion,” Mayor James Hahn said at a Wednesday morning news conference. “These new Metro Rapid lines on Vermont Avenue and South Broadway will take a large bite out of the daily commute time of thousands of bus passengers,” he added. “I’m confident that once again Metro Rapid will attract many new riders to the system.”

The new lines are part of a 24-line expansion of the Metro Rapid system that is slated to be completed by 2008.  They complement the 26-mile Wilshire/Whittier and 16-mile Ventura Boulevard Rapid lines which began service in June 2000.

More information can be found in the December 11, 2000, issue of MyMetro employee news digest.

  • Last Updated June 29, 2026

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