One of Los Angeles County’s busiest bus corridors is about to get a major transformation. Metro’s Vermont Transit Corridor Bus Rapid Transit project is moving closer to construction after securing nearly $150 million in federal funding, paving the way for a new faster, more reliable bus service along one of the city’s most heavily traveled north-south routes.
The project will stretch 12.4 miles along Vermont Avenue, from Sunset Boulevard to 120th Street, replacing much of today’s stop-and-go bus experience with dedicated lanes, upgraded stations and other improvements designed to keep buses moving. Metro currently says construction is expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027, with service targeted to open in time for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
A new way to travel along Vermont Avenue
Vermont Avenue is already one of Metro’s most heavily used bus corridors, carrying roughly 36,000 transit trips a day. Once the dedicated lanes are operating, Metro estimates that daily ridership could rise to about 66,000 passengers, including more than 12,000 new riders. The time savings could be just as noticeable. According to Urbanize L.A., a trip that currently takes around 70 minutes is expected to take about 53 minutes once the BRT is operating — cutting roughly 17 minutes from the journey.
The project is also designed around a more rail-like passenger experience. Riders will get enhanced stations with shelters, seating, lighting and real-time arrival information, while all-door boarding is intended to speed up the process of getting passengers on and off buses.
26 new stations will span the corridor
The project includes 26 BRT stations, with stops serving both northbound and southbound buses. Station improvements will include new platforms and canopies, along with pedestrian upgrades around the intersections.
One of the most important features is how many parts of the existing Metro system the Vermont corridor will connect. The BRT will intersect with the B and D Lines, the E Line, and the C Line, while also connecting with numerous east-west bus routes. That gives riders a north-south connection between several major rail corridors without needing to drive between them. The route also passes major destinations including Los Angeles City College, Exposition Park, USC, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, making the corridor important for both commuters and visitors.
When will the Vermont BRT open?
Metro is currently carrying out preliminary work along Vermont Avenue, including underground utility exploration ahead of the main construction phase. The full BRT construction is expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027, with an opening goal of 2028.
Eventually, Metro envisions a rail option along Vermont Avenue as a longer-term possibility, but the BRT is the project moving forward now. For thousands of Angelenos who already rely on Vermont Avenue buses every day, the bigger change is much closer: 12.4 miles of dedicated bus lanes, 26 upgraded stations and a faster way to cross Los Angeles without getting behind the wheel.
