Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority (sometimes referred to as LAMTA or MTA I) was a public agency formed in 1951. Originally tasked with planning for rapid transit in Los Angeles, California, the agency would come to operate the vestiges of defunct private transit companies in the city.

This article is about the transit agency which existed from 1951 to 1964. For the present transit agency, see Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority
Overview
LocaleLos Angeles
Transit typeStreetcar
Interurban
Local bus (including trolleybuses)
Bus rapid transit
Number of lines10 Light rail
2 Trolley bus
-- Bus routes
Number of stations-- Rail
Daily ridership-- (Weekdays)
Operation
Began operationJuly 24, 1951 (1951-07-24)
Ended operationNovember 5, 1964 (1964-11-05)
Operator(s)Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority
Technical
System lengthRail – 0 miles (0 km)
Bus – 0 miles (0 km)
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) narrow gauge
Electrification600 V direct current

History

Formed in 1951,[1][2] LAMTA's original mandate was to do a feasibility study for a monorail line which would have connected Long Beach with the Panorama City district in the San Fernando Valley via Downtown Los Angeles.

Streetcar livery under LAMTA

The agency's powers were expanded in 1954, authorizing it to study and propose an extensive regional transit system.[3] In 1957, another expansion of the agency's powers authorized it to operate transit lines, and it subsequently purchased the bus and streetcar lines then being operated by Metropolitan Coach Lines, which had taken over passenger service of the Pacific Electric Railway in 1953, as well as the bus and streetcar lines of the Los Angeles Transit Lines, successor to the Los Angeles Railway.[4] Both companies, as well as MCL subsidiary Asbury Rapid Transit System, were acquired for $34 million (equivalent to $372 million in 2022).[5] The MTA began operating the lines on March 3, 1958,[6] and continued to do so until the agency was taken over by the Southern California Rapid Transit District on November 5, 1964.[7][8][9][10]

During the MTA's tenure, the last remaining rail transit lines in Los Angeles were abandoned and replaced with bus service, the last former Pacific Electric line in April 1961,[11][12][13] and the last former Los Angeles Railway lines in 1963.[14]

Services

Rail lines
NameOriginal companyAbandoned
BellflowerPacific Electric1958
Catalina DockPacific Electric1958
Long BeachPacific Electric1961
San Pedro via DominguezPacific Electric1958
Watts LocalPacific Electric1959
JLos Angeles Railway1963
PLos Angeles Railway1963
RLos Angeles Railway1963
SLos Angeles Railway1963
VLos Angeles Railway1963

Trolley bus
NameOriginal companyConverted to
trolley bus
2Los Angeles Railway1948
3Los Angeles Railway1947

Bus

See also

References
  1. "Here Are Details On Monorail Plan: Group Believes 44-Mile System Can Carry 30,000,000 a Year in Metropolitan Area". Los Angeles Times. July 25, 1951. p. 4. Alternate Link via ProQuest.
  2. "Warren Signs Bill For Monorail Transit". Los Angeles Times. July 25, 1951. p. 1. Alternate Link via ProQuest.
  3. "Extension of Monorail Act Sought in New Bill". Los Angeles Times. January 17, 1953. p. 5. Alternate Link via ProQuest.
  4. "Plan for Public Purchase of Transit Lines Revealed: Legislature Will Get Bill to Legalize Agreements on Sale With Metro and LATL". Los Angeles Times. May 6, 1955. p. 1. Alternate Link via ProQuest.
  5. Hebert, Ray (17 February 1958). "MTA Plans Faster Service, End to Overlapping Routes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  6. "Transit Authority Begins Operating LATL and Metro: Public Now Owns Big Bus Lines". Los Angeles Times. March 4, 1958. p. B1. Alternate Link via ProQuest.
  7. Hebert, Ray (May 14, 1964). "Brown Signs Bill Creating New Rapid Transit District: Steps to Replace MTA Will Start Aug. 18; Board to Study Early Bond lssue". Los Angeles Times. p. A1. Alternate Link via ProQuest.
  8. "MTA Will Reach End of the Line in August: Transit Authority Will Waddle Along as Lame Duck Until New District Takes Over". Los Angeles Times. May 17, 1964. p. B7. Alternate Link via ProQuest.
  9. Hebert, Ray (October 1, 1964). "Pomona Mayor Named Rapid Transit Leader: New District Board Starts Organizational Groundwork Prior to MTA Takeover Nov. 5". Los Angeles Times. p. A12. Alternate Link via ProQuest.
  10. "New Agency Takes Over From MTA: Rapid Transit Planners Pledge Solution to Crisis". Los Angeles Times. November 6, 1964. p. OC1. Alternate Link via ProQuest.
  11. Hillinger, Charles (December 12, 1960). "Big Red Cars to Hoot Final Farewell: Pacific Electric Trains Will Make Last Run April 1". Los Angeles Times. p. B1. Alternate Link via ProQuest.
  12. "Long Beach Loses Plea for Red Cars: Injunction Denied to Halt MTA Bus Substitution". Los Angeles Times. April 6, 1961. p. B1. Alternate Link via ProQuest.
  13. Hale, Bill (April 10, 1961). "Passengers in Last Ride on Red Cars: Saddened Patrons Pay $4 Each for Sentimental Trip". Los Angeles Times. p. B1. Alternate Link via ProQuest.
  14. "Streetcars Go for Last Ride". Los Angeles Times. March 31, 1963. p. N5.
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