Los Angeles Expands Peak-Hour Bus Lanes on Florence and Alvarado Streets

TITLE: Los Angeles Expands Peak-Hour Bus Lanes on Florence and Alvarado Streets
SLUG: los-angeles-expands-peak-hour-bus-lanes-florence-alvarado
EXCERPT: New dedicated lanes aim to improve bus reliability during morning and evening commutes in South Los Angeles and Westlake.
CATEGORY: transportation
TAGS: Los Angeles, bus lanes, public transport, Florence Avenue, Alvarado Street, LADOT, Metro
SEO_TITLE: Los Angeles Adds New Peak-Hour Bus Lanes to Florence and Alvarado
SEO_DESCRIPTION: Los Angeles has introduced new peak-hour bus-only lanes on Florence Avenue and Alvarado Street, expanding dedicated transit infrastructure.
MEDIA_QUERY: Los Angeles street scene with a bus
IMAGE_ALT: A red-painted bus lane marked on a Los Angeles street.

New dedicated bus lanes have been introduced on Florence Avenue and Alvarado Street in Los Angeles, aimed at improving the speed and reliability of bus services during peak commute hours. These additions represent an expansion of the city’s efforts to prioritize public transportation and reduce travel times for bus riders.

Florence Avenue Corridor

On Florence Avenue, a significant stretch of 4.25 miles of new peak-hour bus lanes has been implemented. These lanes are in effect on weekdays from 7-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. The markings, a bright red “Bus Bike Lane,” extend from Brynhurst Avenue to Figueroa Street, and from Broadway to Central Avenue. This initiative involved collaboration between Metro, the City of Los Angeles, and Los Angeles County, with community outreach beginning as early as 2022. The county installed its portion of the project, half a mile of bus lanes east of Central Avenue, in 2025.

When combined with the county’s segment, Florence Avenue now boasts a total of 4.8 miles of bus lanes, spanning from the K Line to the A Line. These lanes are shared with bicycles and right-turning vehicles, allowing for multi-modal use while prioritizing bus movement. The project aims to enhance transit efficiency in the South Los Angeles area.

Alvarado Street Improvements

In the Westlake neighbourhood, the Los Angeles City Transportation Department (LADOT) has added approximately one-third of a mile of new northbound bus lane on Alvarado Street. This section is situated between Olympic Boulevard and 7th Street. This recent addition extends the existing bus lane infrastructure, which was established between 2021 and 2022 by Metro, the City of Los Angeles, and Caltrans. The combined length of peak-hour bus lanes on Alvarado Street now totals 3.2 lane miles.

Further Expansion Planned

Beyond these immediate implementations, Caltrans is in the process of adding 1.4 miles of new bus lanes on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Los Angeles, between Centinela Avenue and the 405 Freeway. Additionally, Metro has commenced work on its North Hollywood to Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, which is expected to include approximately 20 lane miles of new bus-only lanes across four cities.

Key facts

These developments underscore a growing commitment in Los Angeles to enhance public transportation networks. By creating dedicated bus lanes, the city aims to make bus travel more predictable and less susceptible to general traffic congestion, thereby encouraging greater use of transit services. The inclusion of bike lanes in some segments also reflects an integrated approach to street management.

Source: Streetsblog LA – https://la.streetsblog.org/2026/06/26/new-peak-hour-bus-lanes-on-florence-and-on-alvarado