Manchester station (Los Angeles Metro)
| Company type | Bus rapid transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | August 1, 1996 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | Los Angeles, California |
| Products | Bus rapid transit services (J Line and other bus routes) |
Manchester station is a busway bus station situated in Los Angeles, California. It lies on the J Line between the Slauson and Harbor Freeway stops. This bus rapid transit corridor connects the communities of El Monte, Downtown Los Angeles, and San Pedro as part of the broader Los Angeles Metro Busway network. The station consists of two side platforms positioned in the center median of Interstate 110, elevated above Manchester Avenue. It serves the neighborhoods of Vermont Knolls, Vermont Vista, Florence, and Broadway-Manchester.
Built during the period from 1989 to 1996 as a component of the Harbor Transitway, Manchester station commenced operations on August 1, 1996. The J Line offers continuous service throughout the day and night, with headways around four minutes during peak hours and reduced frequency at other times. In addition to the J Line, several routes operated by Los Angeles Metro Bus and Torrance Transit serve this station, mainly concentrated during weekday peak travel times.
Station layout
Positioned along the Harbor Transitway, Manchester station features two side platforms located within the median of Interstate 110. It provides access to passengers from the adjacent neighborhoods including Vermont Knolls, Vermont Vista, Florence, and Broadway-Manchester.
Entry to the platforms is available via two ground-level plazas flanking East Manchester Avenue, situated between South Figueroa Street and South Broadway. Alternatively, a pedestrian bridge connects passengers from the park-and-ride lot on the east side. Each plaza is equipped with a TAP card ticket vending machine installed in early 2017 to facilitate all-door boarding on the J Line. The station accommodates a total of 247 park-and-ride spaces distributed across two parking areas integrated within the partial cloverleaf interchange at Manchester Avenue and Interstate 110.
Services
Manchester station functions as a stop for the Metro J Line, a bus rapid transit service linking the El Monte station in El Monte, Downtown Los Angeles, and the Harbor Gateway Transit Center in Gardena, California. Some trips continue onward to San Pedro. This line forms part of the wider Los Angeles Metro Busway system.
Besides the J Line, Manchester’s busway platforms handle continuous service from LA Metro Bus route traveling to Disneyland. During weekday peak periods, several commuter-focused routes operate inbound toward Los Angeles in the mornings and outbound in the evenings: LA Metro Bus route to San Pedro and Torrance Transit route 4X serving Torrance, which also runs throughout Saturdays. The station additionally supports the seasonal Dodger Stadium Express shuttle on home game days during baseball season.
Nearby surface street stops provide access to other routes: LA Metro Bus route connecting Lincoln Heights and Rosewood via Broadway; route linking Eagle Rock with South Los Angeles via Figueroa; and route running between Playa del Rey and Norwalk along Manchester Avenue.