Los Angeles Metro Rail System: Lines, Stations, and Expansion Plans
The Los Angeles Metro rail network is one of the most actively expanding urban rail systems in the United States, operating six color-coded lines across Los Angeles County and serving dozens of municipalities from the San Fernando Valley to Long Beach. Overseen by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro), the system carries millions of boardings annually and sits at the center of a multi-decade capital program funded partly by voter-approved local sales taxes. This page covers the structure of the existing rail network, how lines and stations are planned and operated, key expansion corridors, and the distinctions between rail service types within the Metro system.
Definition and scope
The LA Metro rail system encompasses light rail, heavy rail, and bus rapid transit lines operated under a single unified fare structure and network identity. As of 2024, the network spans 6 rail lines, more than 100 stations, and approximately 105 route miles (LA Metro Facts at a Glance). The six lines are color-coded:
- A Line (Blue) — Long Beach to Azusa (light rail)
- B Line (Red) — Downtown Los Angeles to North Hollywood (heavy rail/subway)
- C Line (Green) — Norwalk to Redondo Beach (light rail)
- D Line (Purple) — Downtown Los Angeles to Koreatown, extending westward (heavy rail/subway)
- E Line (Expo) — Downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica (light rail)
- K Line (Crenshaw) — Expo/Crenshaw to LAX-adjacent Inglewood (light rail)
The Los Angeles Metro Transit Authority is the governing agency responsible for planning, constructing, and operating these lines. The Los Angeles Metro Board of Directors provides policy oversight and approves capital programs.
Scope, coverage, and limitations: This page covers rail lines operated directly by LA Metro within Los Angeles County. It does not address Metrolink commuter rail, which is operated by the Southern California Regional Rail Authority under a separate governance structure. Municipal bus services operated by cities such as Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus or the city of Long Beach's Long Beach Transit fall outside LA Metro's direct rail operational scope. Freight rail corridors, Amtrak intercity service, and airport people-mover systems are similarly not covered here.
For the broader context of how Metro fits within Los Angeles County governance, the Los Angeles government in local context page provides structural framing across agencies.
How it works
LA Metro rail operates on a proof-of-payment fare model. Riders are expected to tap a TAP card at platform validators before boarding; fare inspectors conduct periodic verification rather than boarding gates controlling entry at every station. This distinguishes it from fully gated heavy rail systems like those in Washington, D.C. or New York.
Light rail vs. heavy rail — key contrasts:
| Feature | Light Rail (A, C, E, K Lines) | Heavy Rail/Subway (B, D Lines) |
|---|---|---|
| Right-of-way | At-grade, elevated, and tunnel segments | Fully grade-separated, underground |
| Top operating speed | ~65 mph | ~70 mph |
| Platform boarding | Low-floor vehicles | High-platform, level boarding |
| Street crossings | Present on some segments | None |
Capital projects flow through LA Metro's Long Range Transportation Plan, with funding sourced from federal formula grants, federal competitive grants administered by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and local Measure M sales tax revenue. Measure M, approved by Los Angeles County voters in November 2016 with 71.15% support (LA Metro Measure M), generates an estimated $860 million annually for transportation investment and provides the financial backbone for most active expansion projects.
Common scenarios
Several corridors illustrate how the network is used and expanded in practice:
Airport connectivity: The K Line (Crenshaw/LAX) terminates at a station adjacent to — but not directly inside — Los Angeles International Airport. A new Automated People Mover, the LAX Automated People Mover, developed under Los Angeles World Airports, will connect the K Line station to airport terminals once operational.
Westside subway extension: The D Line Extension project is among the largest active rail construction programs in the country. Phase 1 adds 3.92 miles and 3 stations from Wilshire/Western to Wilshire/La Cienaga. Phases 2 and 3 continue westward to Westwood/UCLA and Santa Monica. Phase 1 received $1.6 billion in federal New Starts funding (FTA, D Line Extension).
East San Fernando Valley transit: The East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project would add approximately 9.2 miles of light rail in the Van Nuys and Sylmar corridors, addressing one of the county's most transit-dependent communities.
Olympic Games infrastructure: LA Metro has prioritized several projects for completion before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, including the D Line Phase 2 and a West Santa Ana Branch light rail line connecting downtown Los Angeles to southeast Los Angeles County cities such as Norwalk and South Gate.
Decision boundaries
Not every proposed rail corridor advances at the same pace. LA Metro applies a structured evaluation framework to determine which projects receive environmental review, funding commitments, and construction authorization.
Key decision points include:
- Alternatives Analysis — Metro evaluates modal options (BRT vs. light rail vs. heavy rail) based on ridership projections, cost-effectiveness, and land use compatibility.
- Environmental Review — Projects must complete CEQA and NEPA review; the scope of environmental documentation determines the timeline.
- FTA New Starts or Small Starts classification — Federal capital investment grant eligibility depends on project cost and daily ridership thresholds set by the FTA (FTA Capital Investment Grants).
- Measure M funding tier — Projects are sequenced against the Measure M expenditure plan, which assigns target completion decades to specific corridors.
- Local agency partnerships — Projects crossing multiple jurisdictions, such as segments passing through Inglewood, Gardena, or Alhambra, require coordination agreements that can affect schedule.
The distinction between a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) designation and a light rail designation carries significant funding and land-use implications. BRT projects typically qualify for FTA Small Starts (under $400 million total project cost), while light rail and subway expansions pursue the New Starts pathway, which involves more extensive federal review but unlocks larger grant awards.
For questions about how Metro's budget and capital program are structured, the Los Angeles Metro funding and budget page provides detail on revenue streams and appropriations. The Measure M page covers the ballot measure's provisions and expenditure plan specifics. For an overview of transit and civic services across the region, the site index provides a complete directory of available reference pages.
References
- LA Metro — Facts at a Glance
- LA Metro — Measure M
- Federal Transit Administration — Capital Investment Grants Program
- Federal Transit Administration — D Line Extension Project Page
- Los Angeles World Airports — LAX Automated People Mover
- LA Metro — Long Range Transportation Plan
- U.S. Federal Transit Administration