MetroRail050

We're a long way from New York's subway system or Chicago's El, but Los Angeles does actually have its own subway, and the system provides surprisingly good access to many parts of the city. The Red Line begins at Union Station, the city's main train depot, and travels through Hollywood (underneath Wilshire Boulevard), ending in North Hollywood in the Valley. The Blue Line runs from downtown to Long Beach, all above-ground. The Green Line runs through south-central, between Redondo Beach and Norwalk. The Gold Line connects with the Red Line at Union Station, and runs northeast to Pasadena. Though not a subway, the Orange Line (which connects to the Red Line at North Hollywood) is a bus-only transitway that bisects Valley communities such as Van Nuys and Reseda en route to the Warner Center. Notably missing from subway service are many Westside communities, including Fairfax, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and Westwood (which is probably why so many overlook the presence of the subway). Still, for accessing downtown, Hollywood, parts of the Valley, and Long Beach, Metro can save users lots of money on parking, and lots of time that would otherwise be spent in traffic. Fares are $1.25 for one segment; an unlimited travel day pass is only $3.