Metro tested all-door boarding on some key stops on the 720 Rapid Bus last summer on Wilshire Boulevard. The above study provides the official results: the boarding of buses was quicker, helping buses better stick to their schedules.

The next step: Metro staff are recommending testing all-door boarding along the entire Silver Line, with a planned date to begin this summer. The decision to go forward with the test program will be made by the Metro Board of Directors.

Why the Silver Line? Based on last summer’s testing, Metro thinks the time savings benefits will be greatest on a high-frequency, high-ridership line that already has a bus lane and/or traffic signal priority. The Silver Line runs between El Monte Station, downtown Los Angeles and San Pedro, using the ExpressLanes on the 10 and 110 freeways for part of its journey. Its ridership was estimated at about 16,800 average weekday boardings in February, the highest ever for the line.

The Silver Line meets those criteria. As part of the test, Metro staff are also proposing that all customers use TAP, with plans already in place to put TAP vending machines at key Silver Line stations, including Harbor-Gateway. TAP validators would also be installed at the front and rear doors of buses. Having all riders use TAP will make fare enforcement easier.

As part of the test, Metro staff are also proposing that all customers use TAP, with plans already in place to put TAP vending machines at key Silver Line stations, including Harbor-Gateway.

We’ll see what action the Board takes. But it’s certainly an interesting program that potentially could shave a few minutes off travel times. Your thoughts, riders and readers?

Here’s video of the all-door boarding on the 720 last year:

And here’s the full Metro staff report evaluating last year’s all-door boarding pilot on the 720:

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