March 3: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History

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

LAMTA press event

LAMTA press event, March 1958 (Click for more information)

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

The organization had been heavily involved in regional monorail planning for Los Angeles in the 1950s and early 1960s.

On this date in 1958, Los Angeles Transit Lines (successor to Los Angeles Railway) and the lines formerly operated by Pacific Electric and Metropolitan Coach Lines are unified under the public authority.

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

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