Torrance Transit

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Torrance Transit
Torrance Transit logo (2010).svg
Founded1940; 82 years ago (1940)
Service areaSouth Bay
Service typebus service
Routes12
Fuel typeDiesel, Gasoline, CNG
Chief executiveKim Turner
WebsiteOfficial site

Torrance Transit is a transit agency primarily serving the South Bay region of Los Angeles County.

History[]

Torrance Transit inaugurated service on January 15, 1940 using three leased 1931 Mack-33 buses.[1] The new agency provided primarily municipal transit and maintained a bus terminal in downtown Los Angeles until 1959, when the City Council voted to discontinue bus service entirely. Mayor Albert Isen vetoed the council's action, arguing that "every first-class city has its own bus system."[2]

Fleet[]

In the early 21st century, Torrance Transit's fleet was made up of Gillig Phantom (delivered in 1992, 1996, and 1997) and Gillig Advantage (delivered in 2000 and 2002) buses.[3] Each bus is numbered 4--. The fleet is maintained at the facilities department on Madrona Avenue, constructed in 1986.

Gillig Phantom (left, red and white livery) and New Flyer C40LFR (right, new livery) buses for Torrance Transit (2012)
Torrance Transit 2012 New Flyer Xcelsior on Route 3 in Downtown Long Beach

In 2010 Torrance Transit began replacing its bus fleet with a purchase of 10 gasoline-electric hybrid New Flyer (NFI) GE40LFRs; 20 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered NFI C40LFRs were delivered in 2011, joined by 9 more CNG NFI XN40s in 2012.[3] The new buses were delivered with a new paint scheme which marked the start of a rebranding effort by the agency.[4]

ZEST[]

In 1993, Torrance Transit rolled out the Zero Emissions Surface Transit (ZEST) bus, a 25-seat, 29-foot coach which was the largest battery-powered transit vehicle in the United States at the time. ZEST was built by Specialty Vehicle Manufacturing Corporation (SVMC) using a Hughes Aircraft Company-developed powertrain, at a cost of US$300,000 (equivalent to $537,000 in 2020).[5] SVMC in turn had subcontracted the assembly of ZEST to the ACL Technologies division of AAI Corporation, a defense contractor.[6][7] ZEST had a claimed range of 75 miles (121 km) or 10 hours of operation, and the battery pack was designed to be easily replaceable to minimize the time spent out of service while charging.[8]

After several years in operation, service was trimmed back from the morning and afternoon peak commutes to just a lunchtime shuttle from employers to restaurants in order to extend its life.[9] In an interview, John Hall with Torrance Transit stated "[The battery technology] is a long way from where it needs to be. Its useful hours [of service] are not enough. We have learned a lot making this a worthwhile investment. It has a ways to go before it gets to an everyday transit application."[10]

Hybrids[]

In 2000, Torrance Transit took delivery of two Orion VI hybrid buses equipped with Lockheed-developed HybriDrive series hybrid powertrains. One of the buses, fleet no. 401, was damaged beyond repair in a fire that occurred on September 25, 2002; nearly four years later in June 2016, Orion Bus Industries agreed to buy back the burned hulk from Torrance for $80,000.[11] The remaining Orion VI continued to serve through at least 2010,[12] but was dropped from the fleet by 2014.[3]

The ten gasoline-electric hybrid New Flyer GE40LFR buses delivered in 2010 were procured as part of a joint purchase with other California transit agencies, with Montebello Bus Lines serving as the lead agency. Under the terms of the pilot program, the federal government subsidy was increased from 80% to 90% of the cost of each hybrid bus.[13][14]

Routes and operations[]

Torrance Transit does not operate on Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's Day. Service on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day operates on Sunday schedule.

Route Terminals via Notes Refs.
1
 Torrance
Del Amo Fashion Center 		South LA
Harbor Freeway station 		Figueroa St, Vermont Av, Torrance Bl
2
 Torrance
Del Amo Fashion Center 		South LA
Harbor Freeway station 		El Segundo Bl, Crenshaw Bl, Artesia Bl, Inglewood Av, Anza Av
3
 Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach Pier 		Long Beach
Long Beach Transit Mall 		Carson St, Main St, Pacific Coast Hwy
  • Operates daily
  • Operates alongside Rapid 3
Rapid 3
 Redondo Beach
South Bay Galleria 		Long Beach
Long Beach Transit Mall 		Hawthorne Bl, Carson St, Avalon Bl, Pacific Coast Hwy
  • Operates weekday rush hours only
4X
 Downtown LA
Union Station 		Torrance
Hawthorne Bl & Pacific Coast Hwy 		In Downtown LA: Grand Av, Olive St
Express Portion: Harbor Transitway
In the South Bay: Vermont Av, Torrance Bl, Hawthorne Bl
  • Operates weekday rush hours in the peak direction (northbound in the AM, southbound in the PM)
  • On Saturdays in both directions
 [15]
5
 Hawthorne
Crenshaw station 		Torrance
Torrance Airport 		Van Ness Av, Arlington Av, Narbonne Av
  • Operates weekdays and Saturdays
6
 Torrance
Del Amo Fashion Center 		Compton
Artesia station 		190th St
7
 Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach Pier 		Carson
Sepulveda Bl & Avalon Bl 		Sepulveda Bl
  • Operates weekdays and Saturdays
8
 Westchester
LAX City Bus Center 		Torrance
Pacific Coast Hwy & Hawthorne Bl 		Aviation Bl, Hawthorne Bl
9
 Torrance
Del Amo Fashion Center 		Carson
Lomita Bl & Avalon Bl 		Lomita Bl
  • Operates weekdays and Saturdays
10
 Hawthorne
Crenshaw station 		Torrance
Pacific Coast Hwy & Crenshaw Bl 		Crenshaw Bl
  • Operates weekdays and Saturdays
13
 Compton
Artesia station 		Redondo Beach
Torrance Bl & Broadway 		Catalina Ave, Hermosa Ave, Artesia Bl, Victoria Ave, Central Ave

Discontinued routes[]

Route Terminals via Notes Refs.
4
 Torrance
Del Amo Fashion Center 		Torrance
Torrance Beach 		Madrona Ave, Sepulveda Bl, Palos Verdes Bl Replaced by Line 4X, which began service on October 2, 2017. [16]
MAX 2
 Rancho Palos Verdes
Palos Verdes Dr. West & Hawthorne 		El Segundo
Imperial Hwy & Douglas 		Hawthorne, Anza, Aviation Bl, El Segundo Bl Municipal Area eXpress (MAX) commuter service was a joint venture of the cities of El Segundo, Lawndale, Lomita (joined 1990), Los Angeles, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach (withdrew 1993), Torrance, and Los Angeles County, with Torrance Transit as the lead agency. MAX Route 1 ('Beach Cities') discontinued in 1993 after withdrawal of Redondo Beach. Operated during peak commuting hours on weekdays only. Service began on April 18, 1990 and was discontinued on June 30, 2013. [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]
MAX 3
 San Pedro/Torrance
Pacific at 36th 		PCH, Crenshaw, Aviation Bl, El Segundo Bl, Sepulveda
MAX 3x
 San Pedro
Pacific Crest 		Pacific Ave, El Segundo Bl, Sepulveda

References[]

  1. ^ "Torrance Transit marks 70 years with new gasoline-electric fleet". Metro Magazine. August 10, 2010. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  2. ^ Shanahan, Dennis F.; Elliot Jr., Charles (1984). Historic Torrance: A Pictorial History of Torrance, California. Legends Press. ISBN 978-0960880812. as quoted in the In motion newsletter, volume 1, issue 1
  3. ^ a b c "Table L-2: Fleet Inventory as of June 30, 2014". Short Range Transit Plan, FY2015-2017 (Report). City of Torrance. October 2014. p. 29. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  4. ^ Green, Nick (December 10, 2009). "Torrance buses going green inside and outside". Daily Breeze. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016.
  5. ^ "Torrance: 25-Seat Electric Bus Joins Public Transit Fleet". Los Angeles Times. September 21, 1993. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  6. ^ "AAI Transportation Systems: Electric Vehicles". AAI Corporation. Archived from the original on 23 October 1996.
  7. ^ White, David Allen (May 1997). Networks and Business Development: Analyzing the efforts to Start an Electric Bus Manufacturing Plant in South Boston (PDF) (Master in City Planning thesis). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. p. 38. ACL/AAI, located in California, was hired by SVMC to assemble several electric buses. Unable to pay ACL/AAI for their work, ACL/AAI never completed all of the buses.
  8. ^ "Zero Emissions Surface Transit" (PDF). The Transit Advocate. Souther California Transit Advocates. October 1993. p. 6. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  9. ^ Looper, Mark (24 May 1999). "[Alternative fuel vehicles] at the Torrance City Yards Open House". altfuels.org. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  10. ^ Realizing Electric Bus Deployment for Transit Service (Report). University of South Florida, Center for Urban Transportation Research. April 1998. p. 30. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  11. ^ Turner, Kim (June 13, 2006). Sale of Bus #401 to Orion Bus Industries (Report). City of Torrance. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  12. ^ "Table L-2: Fleet Inventory as of June 30, 2010". Short Range Transit Plan, FY2010-2012 (Report). City of Torrance. October 2010. p. 15. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  13. ^ Transit - Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to participate in a Cooperative Procurement Pilot Program (Report). City of Torrance. October 17, 2006. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  14. ^ "City of Montebello adds to hybrid bus fleet". Los Angeles Daily News. December 12, 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  15. ^ "Line 4X Kick-Off Ceremony". Torrance Transit. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  16. ^ "Route Four" (PDF). City of Torrance, Torrance Transit. September 19, 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 13, 2003.
  17. ^ "MAX". Torrance Transit. Archived from the original on August 15, 2002.
  18. ^ "MAX Line 2: Palos Verdes Peninsula". MAXbus. Archived from the original on 11 October 2002.
  19. ^ "MAX Line 3: San Pedro/Torrance". MAXbus. Archived from the original on 11 October 2002.
  20. ^ "MAX Line 3x: Freeway Express". MAXbus. Archived from the original on 14 December 2002.
  21. ^ "About MAX: History". MAXbus. Archived from the original on 15 February 2003.
  22. ^ Turner, Kim (August 27, 2013). "Transit - Authorize the sale of surplus/obsolete transit buses and equipment". City of Torrance. Retrieved 10 June 2019.

External links[]

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