Bus Transit

“Maps not only show facts (the locations of towns, rivers, and other socio-natural features), they also provide commentary on where architectural ideas will appear and when. Within a large area, they articulate where the architect’s thoughts will and will not be, where his or her effects will be felt and were not. These maps represent the crisis of authorship that defines the contemporary field, while still demonstrating the capacity of human beings to shape large arenas.”

— David Gissen

Los Angeles’ transit system reflects over a century of evolving urban priorities, from horse-drawn streetcars to electric railways and sprawling bus networks. Yet despite technological advances, the city remains car-dependent, with public transportation often overlooked or underutilized. This project reexamines infrastructure as more than a means of mobility, it’s an opportunity to reshape how communities connect, interact, and thrive. By analyzing the environmental weight, historical patterns, and future possibilities of LA Metro’s bus network, these proposals aim to reimagine transit as a catalyst for cultural, environmental, and spatial transformation.

PRE-METRO TRANSIT

1873

Los Angeles granted operational franchises for horse-drawn streetcar railways, marking the inception of public transportation in the city. (1)

1890s

Electric railways emerge. (5)

1923

The first regularly scheduled bus service in Los Angeles begins with the Los Angeles Motor Bus Company. (3)

1930s

Many streetcar companies convert to bus service. (4)

1951

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority (LAMTA) was established to study a proposed 45-mile monorail system connecting Long Beach to Panorama City. (5)

1958

LAMTA began operating bus and streetcar lines after acquiring Metropolitan Coach Lines and Los Angeles Transit Lines. (1)

METRO ERA

1970s

Planning for rapid transit begins, including dedicated busway line the one along I-10. (1)

1993

The Los Angeles County Transportation Commission and RTD merge to form the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (now Metro). (6)

2003

The Gold Line opens to Pasadena. (1)

2005

The Orange Line opens. (1)

2009

Freeway busways become the Silver Line. (1)

2012

The Expo Line initial segment opens. (1)

2018

Metro initiated the NextGen Bus Study to redesign the bus network for improved efficiency, speed, and reliability, aiming to better meet current travel patterns. (1)

2020

Implementation of the NextGen Bus Plan began, focusing on increasing bus frequency, reducing wait times, and enhancing service during off-peak hours. (1)

INFRASTRUCTURE

WEIGHT OF LA METRO BUS TRANSPORTATION

DATA CALCULATION OF “WEIGHT” IN TONS

Embodied Material in One Bus Stop 2,500 – 3,500 lbs. (1.25 – 1.75 tons)

Typical Materials:

Steel or aluminum frame
Glass or plastic panels (if there is a shelter)
Concrete pad
Bench (metal, wood, or recycled plastic)

Rough Estimate:

Steel/aluminum: 300 – 500 lbs. (structure + bench)
Glass/plastic: 100 – 200 lbs
Concrete pad: ~ 2,000 – 3000 lbs.

EMISSIONS FROM CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE

Greenhouse Gas Emissions (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O) (7)
Concrete production emits large amounts of CO₂ (cement is responsible for ~8% of global CO₂ emissions). (7)
Steel and aluminum smelting consume vast amounts of energy, primarily from fossil fuels.
Asphalt paving releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. (8)

MATERIALS DISPLACED OR EXTRACTED

Metals (Steel & Aluminum) – Extracted from iron ore and bauxite mines, requiring high-energy processing. The shift to lighter aluminum buses has displaced some traditional steel components
Concrete & Asphalt – Used for roads, bus lanes, and transit hubs, displacing large quantities of limestone, sand, and gravel, which are mined for production. (14)
Petroleum-Based Plastics – Found in bus interiors, seating, and signage, contributing to oil extraction and refining. (13)
Glass & Polycarbonate – Used in bus windows and shelters, requiring the extraction of silica sand. (15

AIR POLLUTANTS FROM BUSES

Traditional diesel and natural gas buses have emitted carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO), and particulate matter (PM).
The transition to electric buses has reduced emissions from operations but still involves battery production, which has its own environmental impacts (e.g., lithium and cobalt mining) (16)

METRO MICRO

Metro Micro is an on-demand ride share service offering trips within eight designated zones within Los Angeles County. Service is provided with small vehicles (seating up to nine passengers) and is intended to provide first-mile, last-mile transportation to rail and bus lines and intra-community travel within LA (17)

SERVICE ZONES

Watts/ Compton
LAX/ Inglewood
North Hollywood / Burbank
El Monte
Highland Park/ Eagle Rock/ Glendale
Altadena/ Pasadena / Sierre Madre
Northwest San Fernando Valley
UCLA/ Westwood/ VA Medical Center

Bus Transit Proposals

The following proposal focuses on the neighborhood scale, examining how small interventions can have a big impact on local mobility and quality of life. It asks how public transportation can be more intimately woven into the everyday lives of residents, fostering accessibility, inclusion, and a stronger sense of place.

PROPOSAL

THE LINK HUB

This proposal introduces a bold redesign of Los Angeles’ bus transportation system through the creation of Link Hubs—multi-functional, accessible, and community-driven transit centers that replace clusters of underused bus stops. These hubs serve as central gathering points for neighborhoods, offering social spaces, transit amenities, and improved connectivity. In tandem, the proposal transitions LA Metro’s fleet to fewer, high-capacity, low-emission double-decker buses, operating along streamlined routes with greater efficiency. By reducing the number of stops and optimizing route design, the Link Hub Network improves travel speed, reduces carbon emissions, lowers maintenance costs, and creates a more enjoyable transit experience. This system especially benefits underserved areas, supporting both environmental justice and sustainable urban growth. Neighborhood connections through design that prioritizes both utility and community.

ISSUE	CURRENT DATA	PROPOSAL RESPONSE	EXPECTIVE QUANTITATIVE IMPACT
Slow Speeds	Avg 12mph	Reduce stops – faster routes	+15-30% speed increase
Stop Inefficency	20% of stops = <5 riders/day	Consolidate into link hubs	25% cut in route dwell time
Emissions	1.3 kg CO2/mile	Fewer electric double-deckers	50-80% emissions reduction
Ridership Decline	Down 25% since 2014	Better design – faster service	20%-40% ridership recovery

Precedence Images

Superkilen / BIG and Topotek, Copenhagen, Denmark

Superkilen is a half a mile long urban space wedging through one of the most ethnically diverse and socially challenged neighborhoods in Denmark. It has one overarching idea that it is conceived as a giant exhibition of urban best practice – a sort of collection of global found objects that come from 60 different nationalities of the people inhabiting the area surrounding it. (21)

Potential Partners

LA Metro (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority)

- Central partner for infrastructure and transit planning.
- Already exploring “NextGen Bus Plan” and mobility hubs.

California Air Resources Board (CARB)

- Possible funding and technical support around emissions goals.

In 2025

Most people in Los Angeles still rely on cars instead of public transportation, leading to heavy traffic, high pollution, and a large carbon footprint.

By 2027

Link Hubs will start reshaping Los Angeles into a more connected and sustainable city. These hubs will speed up bus routes, reduce the number of vehicles on the road, and cut emissions. More people will choose public transit as it becomes faster, cleaner, and more community focused.

By 2045

Link Hubs will reshape Los Angeles with better land use and active public spaces like cafés and mobility docks. While construction and concrete pads may raise short-term CO₂, fewer hybrid or electric double-decker buses will reduce emissions overall. As transit use grows and car trips drop, neighborhoods will see cleaner air, lighter traffic, and more walkable streets, especially along major corridors like Wilshire and Ventura.

By 2125

Los Angeles will become a model post-carbon city, with air quality matching that of Vancouver or Oslo. Clear blue skies will replace decades of smog, transforming the city’s atmosphere. With fewer buses, efficient routes, and compact mobility networks, LA will reduce millions of tons of transport-related emissions. As this model expands globally, it will play a key role in slowing down the impact of urban transportation on climate change.