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SOME INFORMATION FOR USC STUDENTS
WHO TRAVEL BY BUS

(Last updated sometime in January, 1996)
Hi!

I have spent about 18 months in Los Angeles travelling to various places in MTA/ Dash, etc./ buses and trains. I thought it would be useful to at least some students of USC to have this research output readily available. Hence, this brief attempt, below. Please note, this information could be (1)outdated and (2) inaccurate. Please therefore check with accurate, uptodate stuff before using it. As a first step, it is highly recommended that (i) a visit to ARCO plaza is made and all the bus routes are picked up. These will prove very useful. (ii) Bus tokens may be collected from the office at USC parking structure A. (Now in the 32nd market)

I would obviously be grateful to other members of the student community who could point out errors in this list, plus give suggestions and mail me other useful places which can be visited by students at USC. Ultimately, I hope to make this page useful to various groups of students at USC.

Note 1: "Thomas" refers to the Thomas guide which I have (1994 edn). Hopefully the later editions will have the same page numbers.

Note 2: In most cases, it is easy - and perhaps more accurate - to call the telephone No. of MTA/LADOT, etc., to confirm the following information.

Some of the Bus Companies in LA County:

  1. Carson Circuit
  2. Commuter Express
  3. Culver City transport
  4. Dash
  5. Foothill Transit
  6. Long Beach Transit
  7. MTA
  8. Santa Monica Bus Lines
  9. Torrance Transit

Part I: BASIC LOCATIONS/ PLACES OF COMMON USE (INCLUDING DEPARTMENT STORES)

(A) Utilities around USC:

  1. 37th St. library: (Exposition Park Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Regional Branch): M: 12-8, T:10-5.30, W 12-8, Th: 10-5.30, F: 10-5.30, Sat: 10-5.30 (LONG DAYS MONDAY/ WEDNESDAY).
  2. Airport: See Los Angeles Airport
  3. Bank of America: University Village Branch, 985 W Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007- 3513. Phone: (Customer Service: (213) 730-9140; Other number: 228-2161. Fax: 749- 5561). For foreign exch. branch, see under Foreign Exchange.
  4. Child health 2230, W.Jefferson 1-800-870KIDS
  5. Foreign exchange transfer: (BOA)100, S.Broadway (cross of 1st st). Ph: 213-228-4335. Take Dash.
  6. Los Angeles Airport: Bus: (a) Better option: Take 204 to Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Then take West #42 (service is about 1/2 hour on working days) to LAX City Bus Center. (b) Alternatively - a much poorer option: take 204 to Florence, and then take 111/112. (service is about once in 1 1/2 hours to LAX). Shuttles: See Primetime Shuttle in White Pages.
  7. Post Office: M-F 8-5, Sat 8-1. Sun closed
  8. State Bank of India, 707, Wilshire Blvd. 623-7250. Take Dash.
  9. USC County General Hospital: MTA Redline: Union Station USC Tram info 740-1018. Services to Health Science Campus: AM: 7.30, 8.30, 9.30, 10.30, 11.30, PM: 12.30, 1.30, 3.00, 4.00, 5.05. Metroline services: AM 6.30, 7.30, 7.55, 8.10, 8.55, PM 4.00, 4.30, 5.05, 5.20

(B) Shopping Centers:

  1. Adrays (a) 5575, Wilshire Blvd. (213) 935-8191 (Wilshre x Ridgeley (small cross st.) Bus: Take 204 (North). Then get down at Wilshire take 20/ 21/ 22/ 322, and get down at Hauser Blvd (after La Brea) and walk back a bit to Ridgeley. (b) 11201 West Pico Blvd. (310)479- 0797 (204 to 30/31 to Santa Monica Transit Route 5, 7, 12);
  2. Artesia: S.Pioneer Blvd x 186th (Thomas: 766)[Bus: (a) Dash to Arco Plaza. Take 462 from Flower x 6th St./ or take 38 to Spring x 6th and take 462 from there. The bus goes straight to Artesia + Cerritos Mall. Alternative (b) Dash to Grand. Then take MTA Blue Line to Artesia. Then MTA 130 to Pioneer Blvd. Then walk down South two to three blocks. Closed on Mondays, Open Tuesdays - Sundays, 11 am - 8 pm [Electronics shops: (1)Overseas East West Inc. 18417 1/2 S. Pioneer Blvd. (310) 809-7707. (2) India Appliances, 18624, S.Pioneer Blvd. Ph: (310) 402-3392], Surati Farsan Mart.

  3. Best Buy 11301, W. Pico Blvd. (204 then 30/31 Santa Monica Transit Route 5, 7, 12)
  4. Broadway Plaza Two telephone nos. Houseware: 893-3015; Lost and Found: 628-9311 Ext. 2210
  5. California Plaza at Pershing Square Station near Central Library (DownTown)
  6. Circuit City (a) at Compton (by Blue Line) ; (b) 4400 Sunset Blvd. (Hollywood) (213) 663-6033 (Thomas: 594) Bus: 204 to Sunset Blvd. Walk up beyond the Children’s Hospital to Virgil Cross Virgil; go behind Blockbuster; (c) 1839 La Cienega Blvd. (310)280-0700 (in Ward Plaza: see Montgomery Ward).
  7. Computer City: 337, La Cienega at San Vincente, Just South of Beverley Center, Ph: (310) 289- 1330 (Thomas Guide: 632). Bus: 204 to 3rd St. Then take #16 Westward to La Cienega. Walk South a little bit till you reach San Vincente (near the 4th St.)
  8. Cerritos Mall (on way to Artesia: see Artesia)
  9. Crenshaw Plaza (Thomas: 673). Take 204 (South) to Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Then®take 42, get down at Crenshaw Blvd. (x Stocker St.).
  10. Food4Less: One of the nearest and biggest ones is at Sunset x Western. Take 204 and then 2/3 at Sunset blvd. Frequency is pretty good.
  11. Fedco:3535, S.La Cienega Blvd. (x Jefferson). 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. all seven days. (310) 4494481; (310) 837-4481
  12. Fry: 3600, Sepulvada Blvd. (310)-364-3797; (Thomas: 732) At cross of Rosecrans Av x Sepulvada Blvd. in Manhattan Beach. Bus/Train:Take Dash to Grand (Blue Line) - near Olympic Auditorium. Then take Blue Line to Imperial; then take Green Line to Douglas/ Rosecrans and walk West to Sepulvada (about 17-20 minutes)
  13. Good Guys (a) 10831, W.Pico Blvd. Ph: (310)441-4600. (b) Another one is behind Cerritos Mall (on way to Artesia).
  14. Indian shop (Sardar'’s shop) New India Sweets and Spices. 9-9pm. Tue: 2-9 p.m. 5994, W.Pico Blvd. (213) 931-4871. (Pico x Fairfax) (Thomas guide: 633). Take 204 to Olympic, and take 217 Southward, get down at Pico.
  15. India Sweets and Spices: 9:30 am - 9:30 pm (7 days a week) 9407, Venice Blvd (Venice x Bagley). (Thomas: 632 bottom or 672). Bus: 204 to Venice. Then take 33/ 333. Get down after National Blvd (if possible after Robertson Blvd. but definitely before Hughes)
  16. Indian shop: New India Video and Spices: 3305, W.6th St. (213)365-1163. Take 204, get down at 6th St., go West (left) one street. This is a very small shop.
  17. JC Penny 6420, Pacific Blvd. Huntington Park (Ph: 213- 587-3261) (Thomas: 674). Bus: Take 204; if perfect timing, then get down at Gage Av. and take 110; if timing is not perfect, go ahead and get down at Florence, and take 111, 112: these have excellent bus service). Walk up Pacific towards Gage. JC Penny is on corner of Gage and Pacific.
  18. K-Mart a) South by 204; b) at Compton (By Blue Line) Montgomery Ward 1833, S. La Cienega Blvd (310) Lots of phone nos. see white pages (p.250) Thomas Guide p. 632. Bus: Route 1: Take 204; then get down at Olympic. Take 27/ 28/ 328; take 105 going South (get down at Ward Plaza (on W.18th); Route 2: Go to FEDCO (take a transfer); then within 2 hrs. take 105 and go North on La Cienega (10 mins from Fedco).
  19. Office Depot: on Figueroa; take Dash then walk from Adams, Or take 81.
  20. Price Club: Century x Ingelwood [Thomas 703 B4]
  21. Ranch Market: Fresh fruits etc., next to Food4Less.
  22. Ralphs (i)(along with K-Mart) 5824 S.Vermont: Bus No. 204; also at Compton (via Blue Line) (Also one on Western by Bus 38).
  23. Robinson May Downtown; another, big one is at Cerritos Mall (see Artesia)
  24. Salvation Army Store:8601, S.Vermont Av. 213-759-7681. Take 204, get down at Manchester Av. Thomas: 704: A2. M-Sat 9-6p.m. Sunday Closed.
  25. Savon drugs: at Sunset x Western.
  26. Sears: In the Crenshaw Plaza (Thomas: 673). Take 204 (South) to Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; Take 42, get down at Crenshaw Blvd. (x Stocker St.). There is another - rather big one, at Cerritos Mall on Artesia Blvd on way to S.Pioneer Blvd. (see Artesia).
  27. Seventh Market Place: 7th /Metro Centre Station
  28. Smart & Final: M-Sat 7-8, Sun: 8-7
  29. TargetAt Jefferson x Cota, between Overland and Sepulveda. Bus: 204 to Olympic; then go west (left) --> take 28/328 (not 27). Service is excellent --> get down at Robertson --> take 220 (very limited service) --> get down at Overland and walk South East on Overland to Jefferson and then down to Target (walk will take about 25 minutes)
  30. Thrift shop (near Children’s Hospital on Sunset): Sun/ Mon. closed T-F 10-3.45, Sat 11-3.15
  31. Thrifty: (a) On Vermont (near 3rd st). Bus: 204 (b) On Figuereoa x 29th or something
  32. Vons (1) Vermont x 3rd st. Bus: 204; (b) Compton (via Blue Line) (3) Sunset x Virgil (behind Children’s Hospital) Take 204 to Sunset.
  33. Woolworth: Downtown (8th x Broadway); Hollywood (on route of 204)

PART II PLACES TO SEE IN LOS ANGELES AND THEIR CONNECTIONS/ DETAILS

  1. LA info centre: 685 Figuera st. (near BofA): M-F 8-5 Ph:213-689-8822
  2. 103rd St. Imperial MTA Blue line
  3. 6 Flags Magic Mountain: The Metrolink Santa Clarita line takes one about 10 miles from the
  4. Anaheim: MTA Blue Line (not the Disneyland Anaheim)
  5. Arco Plaza: get all the latest time tables (take chart showing list of changes) Children's Museum MTA Redline: Civic Centre Station
  6. Chinatown MTA Redline: Union Station
  7. City Hall: MTA Redline: Civic Centre Station
  8. Compton MTA Blue line
  9. Craft and Folk Art Museum: MTA Redline: Westlake/ MacArthur Station.
  10. Del Amo MTA Blue line
  11. Disneyland: Go to Convention Center or Downtown and take 460:
  12. Echo Park: Take 200 and it ends there.
  13. Farmer’s market:p.29, “Destination Los Angeles” book: Open not very late night each day. Take 204 to 3rd st. Take 16 along 3rd St. Get down before Fairfax.
  14. Farmer's Market: MTA Redline: Westlake/ MacArthur Station
  15. Fine Arts Building MTA Redline: 7th/ Metro Centre Station
  16. Firestone MTA Blue line
  17. Fishermans’s village p.29, “Destination Los Angeles” book: Open not very late night each day. Bus service is also not very frequent. A full day visit will be required. Take Bus #200/204 to Venice. Take 33/333 to Robertson Blvd. From Robertson, take 220 to Fisherman’s village. The service of 220 is rather infrequent (about once per hour). Try to time the trip to catch one such bus.
  18. Florence MTA Blue line
  19. Garment District: Downtown Route A of Dash.
  20. Grand Central Market: MTA Redline: Pershing Square Station. 317 S. Broadway. Go to Pershing Square (5th st.) by Dash. The Grand Central Market is on Broadway and 4th st. crossing.
  21. Hollywood Bowl. Take 38 on Jefferson to La Brea. However, since service of 38 is poor, one might consider going to Venice and taking 33/333 to La Brea. Then take 212 to the pt. nearest to the Hollywood Bowl on Cahuenga Blvd (E: since that is where the bus stops on the way up). There is roughly a one hourly service on route 212 on weekdays/ holidays. The service does continue till late night, however. Worth giving it a try..
  22. Japanese American National Museum
  23. KABC TV 4151, Prospect Av. Take 204 and get down slightly before Sunset Blvd. Then take 175. It operates only on weekdays. with a very poor service. Time the trip in order to catch a bus.
  24. Knott’s Berry Farm: (same as Disney Land)
  25. L.A. County Art Museum: on Wilshire MTA Redline: Westlake/ MacArthur Station (or take 204, then 20/21/22/322 since it is on Wilshire).
  26. La Brea Tar Pits: on Wilshire MTA Redline: Westlake/ MacArthur Station (or take 204, then 20/21/22/322 since it is on Wilshire).
  27. Little Tokyo MTA Redline: Union Station
  28. Long Beach: MTA Blue Line (last station is Anaheim)
  29. Los Angeles Public Library, Central Branch MTA Redline: 7th/ Metro Centre Station.
  30. Los Angeles County Art Museum: (LACMA): MTA Redline: Westlake/ MacArthur Station
  31. Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) MTA Redline: Civic Centre Station; (p.44, “Destination Los Angeles”) Fee: $4 (students: ask for discount) Downtown Route B
  32. Music Centre: Downtown. Route B.
  33. Olvera Street MTA Redline: Union Station
  34. Page Museum of Natural History: MTA Redline: Westlake/ MacArthur Station (or take 204, then 20/21/22/322 since it is on Wilshire). Apparently, pedestrians are not allowed into this Museum. Needs to be checked over phone first.
  35. Ripley’s Believe it or not (p.32, “Destination Los Angeles”)
  36. San Fernando MTA's Highway Hummer (express bus from Chatsworth)
  37. Santa Monica Beach and other areas (specially the Santa Monica Pier: Ocean Avenue at Colorado Blvd): Take 200/204 to Venice. Take 33/333 to Samta Monica Blvd. Get down at Main street. Service is excellent on all days.
  38. Slauson: MTA Blue line
  39. Times Mirror Square (LA Times). On Route A. 202, 1st St. at crossing of 1st St. x Broadway. Free tours at 11:15 a.m, 3 p.m. of one of the largest newspaper offices in the world.
  40. UCLA: This can be done together with Farmer’s market.a) From Farmer’s market, walk south to Wilshire Blvd. Catch 21. This one terminates at UCLA; b) Alternatively, take 204/200 to Wilshire. Take 21 from Wilshire and reach UCLA.
  41. Universal City: Bus 212 goes near to the Universal Studios but not close enough. Late visits can be quite complicated/ risky. Better choice is to take 425. For this take a Dash to Arco Plaza or 81 to 4th St. At the crossing of 5th and Broadway there is a stop for 425. This bus takes the Freeway to stop finally at Ventura x Lankershim. This is fairly close to Universal studio (much closer than 212 anyway).
  42. USC: Hancock Memorial Museum; Coliseum: one can take a tour; Fisher Art Gallery and other art galleries; Cinema museum; Libraries
  43. Venice Beach: Take 200/204 to Venice. Take 33/333 to Venice Way Get down at Main street. Service is excellent on all days.
  44. Vernon: MTA Blue Line
  45. Walking tour of LA: See places like Chinatown, El Pueblo, Historical Park, the Theatre district, Union Station and the Museum of Contemporary Art. USC organises this each semester for fresh students. However, one can see independently.
  46. Wardlow MTA Blue line
  47. Warner Brothers Studios: Take 38 on Jefferson to La Brea. However, since service of 38 is poor, one might consider going to Venice and taking 33/333 to La Brea. Then take 212 to Barham Blvd and get down just after the Los Angeles River. There is roughly a one hourly service on route 212 on weekdays/ holidays. The service does continue till late night, however. Worth giving it a try.
  48. Washington: MTA Blue Line
  49. Whale watching from either San Pedro beach or Long Beach.
  50. Willow MTA Blue line

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