LA Metro broke ground on the 12.4-mile Vermont Transit Corridor Bus Rapid Transit (Vermont BRT) Project, a major investment along Los Angeles County’s busiest route.

Projected to serve 66,200 daily riders, the Vermont BRT will deliver faster travel times, safer streets, and seamless connections for Angelenos while transforming one of the most heavily traveled transit corridors and creating the nation’s busiest BRT corridor.

“This is more than a bus route. As a former community organizer in South LA, I know personally that this project is a transformational investment that will deliver reliable and affordable transportation for more than 38,000 hardworking people who use this bus every weekday,” said Metro Board Chair Karen Bass. "By connecting South LA with Los Feliz, we’re creating good-paying union jobs, building a greener, more sustainable city, and connecting people to local businesses, healthcare, world-class institutions, and real economic opportunity.”

Unlike subway construction, riders will not have to wait until the entire line is complete to experience time savings. Once BRT bus lanes are ready, Metro riders can experience the system as the lanes are completed, said officials.

Connecting Key Destinations and More

The corridor serves as a critical regional link, directly connecting passengers to four Metro Rail lines, the B, C, D, and E Lines, and more than 13 east-west bus routes. It offers seamless access to major destinations including USC, Exposition Park, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Los Angeles City College, Kaiser Permanente Sunset, 88 local schools and 375 faith-based institutions.

Over 21% of current Vermont Avenue riders rely on Metro’s GoPass program, which provides free transit to K-12 and community college students.

To tackle traffic bottlenecks where right-of-way widths vary from 55 to 160 feet curb-to-curb, the project introduces dedicated side-running bus lanes, transit signal priority, off-board fare payment, and all-door boarding. Together, these enhancements will slash end-to-end travel times by up to 24% and boost bus on-time performance along the corridor.

Beyond travel speed, the project redefines the streetscape across the 26 enhanced stations. Upgrades include brand-new weather and shade shelters, upgraded lighting, real-time arrival displays, emergency call buttons, and ADA-compliant curb ramps.

To improve pedestrian safety and first- and last-mile neighborhood access, Metro is installing traffic-calming bus bulb-outs to shorten street-crossing distances, along with wider sidewalks and protected bike lanes.

Economic and Community Impact

Beyond mobility improvements, the project will serve as a major economic engine, expected to support more than 4,800 construction jobs, generate $95 million in tax revenue, and create roughly 260 permanent operations and maintenance positions.

"Carrying 11 million riders every year, Vermont Avenue is a vital lifeline for students, workers, parents, and seniors across the region," said Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. "We approached this project with urgency and listened closely to the community, making critical adjustments as we are cutting travel times, fortifying our bus network, and building a world-class transit system ready to move LA.”

The project’s design is the direct product of extensive community co-creation.

Traversing federally designated Opportunity Zones, Metro partnered with 38 community and faith-based organizations, starting in 2021. Through multilingual door-to-door canvassing, urban design workshops, and rider surveys, Metro engaged approximately 26,000 residents, whose direct feedback shaped station locations, safety lighting, cleanliness initiatives, and cultural design features.

The project received a financial boost on September 1, when the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded the project $149.9 million through its Capital Investment Grant Small Starts Program, the program's maximum federal grant. Combined with state funds and local voter-approved Measure M sales tax revenue, the project is now fully funded.