October 3: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History

2005:  The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority introduces the Metro Freeway Service Patrol Big Rig Tow Service.

The two year demonstration project will use two Metro-owned heavy-duty tow trucks exclusively along an 18-mile stretch of the I-710 (Long Beach Freeway) from Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach to just north of the I-5 (Santa Ana Freeway) in East Los Angeles.

MyMetro Employee News Article

The program’s goal is much like the successful Metro Freeway Service patrol, assisting heavy-duty vehicles requiring short-term mechanical assistance when feasible, or providing a tow to a designated drop location off of the freeway.  Metro, in partnership with the California Highway Patrol and Caltrans, will work with UC Berkeley in evaluation the demonstration project and will offer recommendations on the feasibility of instituting similar heavy-duty tow truck towing services on other heavily traveled truck routes within Los Angeles County.

More information can be found in the October 3, 2005 issue of the MyMetro employee news digest.