Harbor Transitway
| Company type | Transportation facility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transit, Toll road |
| Founded | June 26, 1996 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | Los Angeles metropolitan area |
| Products | Express bus corridor, High occupancy toll lanes (HOT lanes) |
The Harbor Transitway, also referred to as the I-110 Express Lanes, is a combined express bus corridor and high occupancy toll (HOT) lane facility situated within the median of Interstate 110 (Harbor Freeway) stretching from Downtown Los Angeles to the Harbor Gateway Transit Center located in Gardena, California. Key transit stops along this corridor include stations at 37th Street/USC, Slauson, Manchester, Harbor Freeway, and Rosecrans. The lanes initially opened to two-person carpool vehicles on June 26, 1996, began serving buses on August 1, 1996, and were later converted into HOT lanes as part of the Metro ExpressLanes initiative on November 10, 2012.
This transitway accommodates the J Line, a bus rapid transit system managed by Los Angeles Metro, alongside additional services operated by Los Angeles Metro Bus, Dodger Stadium Express, GTrans, LADOT Commuter Express, and Torrance Transit, primarily during weekday peak periods.
Beyond the southern end of the transitway, the Harbor Freeway features two more stations positioned on the highway shoulder—Carson station and Pacific Coast Highway station—which commenced operations on November 18, 2000.
Construction
The Harbor Transitway project introduced new lanes totaling , consisting of two lanes in each direction reserved for buses and two-person carpools (high-occupancy vehicle lane) between Downtown Los Angeles and a newly established transit center in Gardena. A distinctive component is a 2.6-mile elevated viaduct segment constructed above the general traffic lanes. The development included median stations at strategic locations along the route as well as the Harbor Gateway Transit Center (previously known as Artesia Transit Center), which is accessible via a dedicated flyover ramp.
From State Route 91 extending southward to San Pedro, the freeway was expanded from six to eight lanes. In this stretch, buses operate within standard traffic lanes with stops located at shoulder stations in Carson and Pacific Coast Highway. Additionally, the project established the Harbor Beacon Park & Ride facility in San Pedro to serve as a transit hub outside the freeway corridor.
Conceived alongside the contentious Interstate 105 (Century Freeway) project—which mandated HOV lanes and a transitway that evolved into the C Line—the Harbor Transitway officially opened on June 26, 1996, at an expenditure of $498 million. Bus service commenced on August 1, 1996. The final elevated section spanning from 39th Street to Adams Boulevard, including the 37th Street/USC station, was inaugurated on July 28, 1997. The shoulder stations became operational on November 18, 2000.
Despite substantial investment, initial passenger volumes were considerably lower than anticipated, leading to fare reductions aimed at increasing ridership.
Early operations
Prior to its opening, Los Angeles Metro recognized potential benefits in connecting the Harbor Transitway with the similarly functioning El Monte Busway located east of Downtown Los Angeles.
During planning stages, Metro proposed extending the transitway northward beyond its terminal at 37th Street to establish a direct link with Downtown or connect to the El Monte Busway. Although Caltrans did not proceed with this extension, it constructed a stub designed to facilitate future expansion. A study conducted by Metro in 1998 concluded that such an extension would be costly and technically challenging; consequently, no further progress has been made.
In 1993, Metro reviewed three operational strategies: maintaining existing service patterns; implementing a hub-and-spoke model featuring a mainline route along the Harbor Transitway; or adopting a "dual hub" approach serving both the Harbor Transitway and El Monte Busway corridors. Given that no additional operating funds were allocated for Caltrans’ project, Metro staff recommended pursuing the dual hub system for greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, the Metro Board opted mostly to retain previous routing schemes. Service frequency was high during weekday peak times but remained limited during off-peak periods.
Ridership levels on the Harbor Transitway fell significantly short of projections: while Caltrans had estimated daily patronage of approximately 65,200 passengers, by 2004 average weekday boardings were only around 3,000—far below forecasts and substantially less than the El Monte Busway’s reported daily ridership of 32,000 in 2000.
Transition to bus rapid transit and high occupancy toll lanes
After the Orange Line busway's successful debut in the San Fernando Valley, Metro undertook a rebranding effort for its other busways to enhance public recognition. In March 2006, the Harbor Transitway was designated with a bronze color, while the El Monte Busway received silver on transit maps. Both were promoted collectively as "Combined Transitway Service," though no operational modifications accompanied this change. This rebranding faced criticism for causing confusion among occasional and new passengers.
By 2009, Metro reinstated its dual-hub concept by introducing a new bus rapid transit line—the Silver Line (now known as the J Line)—serving both corridors. This service offered increased frequency and was supported financially by converting the routes into high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes under the Metro ExpressLanes program. The Silver Line began operations on December 13, 2009, followed by station renovations. Electronic toll collection commenced on the Harbor Transitway HOT lanes on November 10, 2012, with the El Monte Busway HOT lanes starting on February 22, 2013.
From early 2011 through late 2012, upgrades were made to Harbor Transitway stations, including installation of real-time arrival displays, improved signage for navigation, enhanced lighting, and noise reduction measures. The Harbor Gateway Transit Center also gained new restroom facilities and a dedicated law enforcement substation.
The introduction of the J Line has notably boosted ridership on the Harbor Transitway, reaching an average of 19,277 daily boardings by February 2020.
To facilitate all-door boarding on the J Line, TAP card ticket vending machines were installed at nearly all stations—excluding Carson and Pacific Coast Highway—in early 2017. This system of pre-payment combined with multiple-door boarding helps decrease bus stop dwell times.
Tolls
As of January 2025, high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes operate continuously around the clock, utilizing dynamic congestion pricing that charges single-occupant vehicles according to current traffic conditions. Carpools with two or more passengers as well as motorcycles are exempt from toll fees. Toll collection is conducted via an open road tolling system that eliminates cash transactions. Vehicles must be equipped with a FasTrak Flex transponder configured to reflect the number of occupants (1, 2, or 3+). Clean air vehicles are eligible for a 15% discount after applying. Solo drivers may use a standard FasTrak tag without adjusting occupancy settings. Drivers without any FasTrak device face toll violations regardless of eligibility.
Distinct from the Harbor Transitway policy, two-person carpools are subject to posted toll charges during peak periods on the El Monte Busway.
Bus services
The Metro J Line operates as a bus rapid transit service along the Harbor Transitway between Harbor Gateway Transit Center and Downtown Los Angeles before continuing to El Monte station. It runs daily with frequent departures. Additional transit routes utilizing the Harbor Transitway include Metro Express lines 460 and 550; Dodger Stadium Express; Gardena’s GTrans line 1X; LADOT Commuter Express routes 438, 439, and 448; and Torrance Transit route 4X. Metro line 550 operates exclusively during weekday peak hours; Gardena line 1X and Torrance line 4X also serve commuters on weekdays during rush hours. Metro Express line 460 provides daily service in conjunction with the Metro Silver Line.
These busway routes originate from Downtown Los Angeles and El Monte, connecting riders to destinations such as Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, Knott's Berry Farm, Artesia, Fullerton, Gardena, Hawthorne, San Pedro, and Torrance.
FlyAway buses utilize the transitway corridor between Los Angeles International Airport and Union Station but do not make stops at any of the transitway stations.
Stations
The Harbor Transitway features a total of eight stations, arranged from north to south as follows:
| Station | Busway Services | Station Type | Date opened | City (Neighborhood) | Major connections and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:LAMs |
|
Median of transitway | August 1, 1996 | Los Angeles (Exposition Park) | Template:LACMTA icon at Template:LAMs |
| Slauson |
|
Median of transitway | Los Angeles (South Los Angeles) | Park and ride with 151 spaces | |
| Manchester |
|
Median of transitway | Park and ride offering 247 spaces | ||
| Harbor Freeway |
|
Median of transitway | Template:LACMTA icon Park and ride with 253 spaces | ||
| Rosecrans |
|
Median of transitway | Los Angeles (Harbor Gateway) | Park and ride facility with 338 spaces | |
| Harbor Gateway Transit Center |
|
Transit center located off the freeway | Park and ride accommodating 980 vehicles | ||
| Carson | Template:LACMTA icon: 950 | Freeway shoulder lane | November 17, 2000 | Carson | Park and ride with capacity for 140 vehicles |
| Pacific Coast Highway | Template:LACMTA icon: 950 | Freeway shoulder lane | Park and ride with space for 240 vehicles |
Incidents
On February 22, 2012, an intoxicated motorist mistakenly drove onto the bus-only platform area at the Harbor Freeway station along the Harbor Freeway. Stephen Lubin, aged 51 and a resident of Sun Valley, Los Angeles, was operating a 2009 Honda Fit at a speed exceeding the posted limit when he encountered a stationary bus at the platform. Attempting to avoid the bus, he veered onto the platform area where he struck seven individuals, critically injuring six before colliding with a pole.
In response to this event, Metro CEO Art Leahy initiated a comprehensive safety assessment focusing on busway station designs and signage. Consequently, Metro installed concrete-filled metal bollards at every station along both the Harbor Transitway and El Monte Busway to prevent unauthorized vehicle access. Additionally, roadway markings leading into these stations were enhanced for improved visibility and safety.
Further reading
- Freeway Bus Station Area Development: In-Depth Assessment and Design Recommendations. Case Study of (I-110) Harbor Transitway Stations
- Highway-Oriented Transit System: An Integrated Land Use and Transportation Approach to Enhance Transit Service. Case Study of (I-110) Harbor Transitway Stations
- Dual Hub High Occupancy Vehicle Transitway A 1993 MTA report completed before the transitway’s construction
- Harbor Transitway Route Map and Connections
- Harbor Transitway Timetable
External links
- – offers details on FasTrak and tolls applicable to the HOT lanes
- Articles with short description
- J Line (Los Angeles Metro)
- Los Angeles Metro Busway
- Busways
- Bus rapid transit in California
- Los Angeles Harbor Region
- South Los Angeles
- Southern California freeways
- Toll roads in California
- Transport infrastructure completed in 1996
- 1996 establishments in California
- High-occupancy toll roads