Los Angeles Department of Transportation

For the Louisiana state agency, see Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

Los Angeles Department of Transportation

Headquarters	100 S. Main Street
Locale	Los Angeles, California, United States
Service type	bus service, paratransit, transportation planning
Routes	36 DASH, 16 Commuter Express, 2 shuttles
Web site	LADOT

Birds-eye view of the Caltrans District 7 Headquarters building, where the department is housed

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation, commonly referred to as LADOT, is an agency created by Los Angeles City Ordinance, and is governed by a citizen commission. The LADOT is best known for providing public transportation to the City of Los Angeles. It currently operates the second largest fleet in Los Angeles County next to LACMTA. It consist of over 300 vehicles, serving nearly 30 million passengers a year and operating over 800,000 hours.

LADOT also develops the traffic signal timing and transportation planning for the city. Actual road maintenance, construction, and operation is provided by the Los Angeles City Department of Public Works. The LADOT performs many different transportation related duties:

This Department is responsible for the development of plans to meet the ground transportation needs of the traveling public and commerce; it has centralized authority over the conceptual planning and operation of the City’s streets and highways system; and it provides a primary interface with the other government agencies on transportation matters. The Department studies traffic problems; analyzes the effect of new development on parking and highway needs; designs, installs and maintains traffic signs, signals, parking meters, street name signs, line striping and other transportation control devices; develops and operates bus transit programs for the general public and the elderly and disabled; coordinates the development of off-street parking; enforces parking regulations; administers the City’s Administrative Adjudication Program for parking citation appeals; collects parking violation revenues; collects parking meter revenue; provides for intersection control; provides crossing guard services at public and parochial schools; provides public utility regulation through investigation of services and rates of the privately owned public utilities, such as taxicabs, ambulances and sightseeing vehicles; and prepares and enforces provisions of franchises. - From pg. 36 "Your Government at a Glance, Facts About the City of Los Angeles" 2006 Edition by Frank T. Martinez, Los Angeles City Clerk.

LADOT is one of the few transportation agencies to have a song sung about it. L.A. Dot, with music by Randy Rogel, tells the story of the Animaniacs character Dot as she watches buses go by with her name.

History

Los Angeles City Department of Traffic officer John K. Dancler was fired in 2009 after appearing in a pornographic video in 2008. He had appealed the firing. Fellow officer Vaughn Dorsey, who appeared in the video, is still employed by the Department of Transportation. Department of Transportation should not be confused with the LAPD as it is a separate department and is non-sworn.

Current LADOT transit services

DASH

DASH (Downtown Area Short Hop) currently operates 30 routes covering Downtown Los Angeles and many outlying communities within the City. Its primary function is to provide localized service and is a feeder into the countywide MTA Metro service.

A typical DASH bus.

DASH Community Routes include:

• Beachwood Canyon (connects with the Metro Red Line) (LADOT community connection #208)

• Boyle Heights/East LA (EX LACMTA #255)

• Chesterfield Square (connects with the Metro Blue Line)

• Crenshaw

• Downtown A: Little Tokyo/City West (connects with Metro Red Line, Metro Gold Line and the Metro Blue Line)

• Downtown B: Chinatown/Financial District (connects with the Metro Red Line, Metro Gold Line, Metro Blue Line, Metrolink Lines: Ventura County, Antelope Valley, San Bernardino, 91, Riverside, and Orange County, and Amtrak lines: Pacific Surfliner, Coast Starlight, Sunset Limited, Southwest Chief, and Texas Eagle

• Downtown D: Union Station/South Park (connects with the Metro Red Line, Metro Gold Line, Metro Blue Line, Metrolink Lines: Ventura County, Antelope Valley, San Bernardino, 91, Riverside, and Orange County, and Amtrak lines: Pacific Surfliner, Coast Starlight, Sunset Limited, Southwest Chief, and Texas Eagle

• Downtown E: City West/Financial District (connects with the Metro Red Line and Metro Blue Line)

• Downtown F: Financial District Exposition Park/USC (connects with the Metro Red Line and Metro Blue Line

• El Sereno/City Terrace

• Fairfax

• Highland Park/Eagle Rock

• Hollywood (connects with the Metro Red Line)

• Hollywood/Wilshire (Larchmont Shuttle) (connects with the Metro Red Line, Metro Purple Line)

• King-East

• Leimert/Slauson

• Lincoln Heights /Chinatown (connects with the Metro Gold Line)

• Los Feliz (connects with the Metro Red Line) (LADOT community connection #203)

• Midtown

• Northridge (connects with Metrolink Line: Ventura County)

• Panorama City/Van Nuys

• Pico Union/Echo Park (connects with the Metro Red Line)

• San Pedro(LADOT community connection #147)

• Southeast/Pueblo Del Rio (connects with the Metro Blue Line)

• Van Nuys/Studio City (connects with the Metro Orange Line)

• Vermont/Main

• Watts (connects with the Metro Blue Line, Metro Green Line)

• Wilmington

• Wilshire Center/Koreatown (connects with the Metro Red Line, Metro Purple Line )

Most DASH buses are El Dorado EZ-Rider vehicles powered by clean propane fuel. The first two digits of DASH bus numbers denote which year the bus came into service. For instance, 98001 denotes 1998 and 06301 denotes 2006. All DASH buses are 30 feet (9.1 m) long, making it easier for dense neighborhoods where there are narrower streets and tighter turns.

In August 2010, LADOT instituted the first fare hike in the history of the DASH system, raising fares from $0.25 to $0.35. In 2011, DASH fares will be $0.50.

LADOT DASH Current Bus fleet

Make and Model	Picture	Year	Numbers (Quantity Ordered)	Engine and Transmission	Fuel Type	Assigned Divisions	Notes
30 feet in length
Gillig Phantom	87031	1987	87029-87032 (4 buses)		Diesel	MV Transportation DASH5B	These buses run on San Pedro route.
ElDorado National E-Z Rider [1]	98017 98029	1998	98015-98030 (16 buses)	Cummins Westport B LPG Plus Allison B300R	Propane	98015-98019 operate at Veolia-Dash1&2 98020-98030 operate at Veolia-Dash6	98015-98019 are retired.
ElDorado National E-Z Rider	99018 99059	1999–2000	99006-99037, 99040-99070 (63 buses)	Cummins Westport B LPG Plus Allison B300R	Propane	99006 operate at Veolia-Dash1&2 99007 operated at Veolia-Dash3 99008-99019 operate at Veolia-Dash1&2 99020-99035 operate at Veolia-Dash6 99036-99037 operate at Veolia-Dash1&2 99040-99046 operate at Veolia-Dash1&2 99047-99048 operate at Veolia-Dash3 99049-99060 operate at Veolia-Dash1&2 99061-99069 operate at Veolia-Dash3 99070 operate at Veolia-Dash1&2	99006, 99007, 99009, 99013, 99014, 99048, 99063 and 99064 retired
ElDorado National E-Z Rider	01041	2001	01041 (1 bus)	Cummins Westport B LPG Plus Allison B300R	Propane	Veolia Dash 1&2	Ex Orange County Transportation Authority This bus has Digital Recorders Inc Annunciator.
ElDorado National E-Z Rider II	02003 02077	2002	02001-02078 (78 buses)	Cummins Westport B LPG Plus Allison B300R	Propane	02001-02033 operate at Veolia-Dash6 02034-02040 operate at Veolia-Dash1&2 02041-02043 02044 operate at Veolia-Dash5A 02045-02066 operate at MV-Dash4 02067 02068-02074 operate at Veolia-Dash5A 02075-02078 operate at Veolia-Dash1&2
ElDorado National E-Z Rider II	03001 03006	2003	03001-03008 (8 buses)	Cummins Westport B LPG Plus Allison B300R	Propane	Veolia Dash 1&2
ElDorado National E-Z Rider II MAX	06301 06315 06318	2006	06301-06319 (19 buses)	Cummins Westport B LPG Plus Allison B300R	Propane	06301-06307 operate at Veolia-Dash1&2 06308-06314 operate at Veolia-Dash3 06315-06317 operate at Veolia-Dash6 06318-06319 operate at MV Transportation-Dash4
ElDorado National E-Z Rider II MAX	07302 07302	2007	07301-07305 (5 buses)	Cummins Westport B LPG Plus Allison B300R	Propane	MV Transportation DASH4
ElDorado National E-Z Rider II MAX	09301 09302 09321	2009	09301-09324 (24 buses)	Cummins Westport B LPG Plus Allison B300R	Propane	09301-09302 operate at Veolia-Dash6 09303-09319 09320-09324 operate at Veolia-Dash5A	These buses are first ones to feature Automated Announcements.
StarTrans Classic American Trolley	[2]	2011	11201-11203 (3 buses)	?	Propane	Veolia-Dash1&2	Mainly runs on Lincoln Heights/Chinatown route.

LADOT DASH Retired bus fleet

Make and Model	Picture	Year	Numbers (Quantity Ordered)	Engine and Transmission	Fuel Type	Ex-Assigned Divisions	Retired	Notes
ElDorado National Escort RE	92093	1992	92093 (1 bus)			First Transit 6
Bluebird CSFE 3703	96004	1996				Veolia DASH5A
ElDorado National Escort RE	20002	199?	20001-?????,			First Transit 6
El Dorado Transmark	98014	1998	98001-98014 (14 buses)	Cummins Westport B LPG Plus Allison B300R	Propane	Veolia DASH5A
El Dorado Transmark	98031	1999	98031 (1 bus)		Propane
ElDorado National Escort RE	99002	1999	99002 (1 bus)		Electric	MV Transportation 1&2 to Veolia Dash 1&2	2010
Freightliner Supreme Classic Trolley	01002	2001	01001-01004 (4 buses)		Diesel	Veolia Dash 1 & 2	2011	These are trolleys that run on Propane. They use these vehicles for the Observatory Shuttle (shuttle to the Griffith Observatory) and Lincoln Heights/Chinatown route.

Commuter Express

Commuter Express is an express bus service, consisting of 13 routes, all but one running during rush hours only. Most routes were former Metro lines that were cancelled. Fares are based on a flat rate for travel on streets plus an extra charge based on the distance traveled on freeways.

Services

Unless otherwise noted, all service operates weekdays rush hours only in the peak direction: towards Downtown LA during the AM rush and from Downtown LA during the PM rush.
Boarding Restrictions: For the purposes of this chart, closed-door means that customers are not allowed to use buses for local trips and open-door means that customers are allowed to use buses for local trips.

Route	Terminals		via	Notes
142	San Pedro Ports O' Call	Long Beach Long Beach Transit Mall	Seventh Street, Ocean Boulevard	Daily service Open-door along the entire route
409	Sylmar Foothill Boulevard and Glenoaks Boulevard	Downtown LA Hill Street and 12th Street	San Fernando Valley: Foothill Boulevard Downtown LA: Flower & Figueroa Streets, Seventh Street	Closed-door within Sunland, Tujunga and Downtown LA, open-door elsewhere.
419	Chatsworth Station	Downtown LA University of Southern California	San Fernando Valley: Devonshire Street Downtown LA: Hill Street, Figueroa Street	Closed-door between Alpine and Eighth Streets in Downtown LA, open-door elsewhere.
422	Thousand Oaks The Oaks Shopping Center	Downtown LA University of Southern California	Ventura County: Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Agora Road Downtown LA: Figueroa & Flower Streets	Service operates towards Thousand Oaks in the AM rush and towards Downtown LA in the PM rush. Closed-door within Downtown LA, open-door elsewhere.
423	Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks Transit Center	Downtown LA University of Southern California	Ventura County: Agora Road, Ventura Boulevard Downtown LA: Figueroa & Flower Streets	Closed-door within Downtown LA, open-door elsewhere.
431	Westwood VA Medical Center Park and Ride	Downtown LA Union Station	Westside: Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Glen Boulevard Downtown LA: Venice Boulevard, Figueroa & Flower Streets, Grand & Olive Streets	Closed-door along the entire route
437	Venice Pacific Avenue and Washington Boulevard	Downtown LA Temple Street and Los Angeles Street	Westside: Culver Boulevard Downtown LA: Figueroa & Flower Streets, Grand & Olive Streets	Closed-door along the entire route
438	Downtown LA Temple Street and Los Angeles Street	Redondo Beach Palos Verdes Boulevard and Via Valencia	Downtown LA Figueroa & Flower Streets Beach Cities: Highland Avenue, Hermosa Avenue	Closed-door along the entire route
448	Downtown LA Temple Street and Los Angeles Street	Rancho Palos Verdes Crest Road and Crenshaw Boulevard	Downtown LA: Figueroa & Flower Streets South Bay: Hawthorne Boulevard, Pacific Coast Highway	Closed-door along the entire route.
534	Westwood Wilshire Boulevard and Veteran Avenue	Downtown LA Union Station	Westside: Wilshire Boulevard, Olympic Boulevard Downtown LA: Figueroa & Flower Streets, First Street	Operates towards Westwood in the AM rush and towards Downtown in the PM rush. Open-door along the entire route
549	Encino Encino Park and Ride	Pasadena Lake Gold Line station	Burbank Boulevard, Ventura Freeway	Service is provided in both directions during peak hours. Open-door along the entire route
573	Mission Hills Chatsworth Street and Orion Street	Century City Constellation Boulevard and Century Park West	San Fernando Valley: Balboa Boulevard Westwood: Gayley Avenue, Wilshire Boulevard	Service is provided in both directions during peak hours. Closed-door along the entire route, except at the Encino Park and Ride.
574	Sylmar Metrolink station	El Segundo Space Park Drive and Aviation Boulevard	San Fernando Valley: Balboa Boulevard, Chatsworth Street South Bay: Sepulveda Boulevard, Aviation Boulevard	Service operates towards the South Bay in the AM rush and towards Sylmar in the PM rush. Closed-door within the San Fernando Valley and south of Century Boulevard.
Metrolink Shuttle	Downtown LA Union Station	Bunker Hill Hope Street and Fourth Street	Grand Avenue	Operates towards Bunker Hill in the AM rush and towards Union Station in the PM rush. Open-door along the entire route

On weekends, LADOT also operates the Observatory Shuttle, which provides access for tourists from the Vermont/Sunset rapid transit station to Griffith Observatory.

Commuter Express services are provided by a variety of suburban vehicles, including Gillig Phantoms, Neoplan Metroliners, and Stewart & Stevenson Apollo T-40s. Also part of the fleet are a small number of CNG powered Orion V coaches.

LADOT DASH Commuter Express Current Bus fleet

Make and Model	Picture	Year	Numbers (Quantity Ordered)	Engine and Transmission	Fuel Type	Notes
Neoplan AN340/3	92002	1992	92001-92038, 92060-92065 (44 buses)	Detroit Detroit Diesel Series 60 Allison HT-747	Diesel	Operated by MV Transportation Inc (lines 409,419,422,423,549,573,574) 92060 is an Ex-Antelope Valley Transit Authority 92061-92062 is an Ex-Santa Clarita Transit Originally had Detroit Diesel 8V-92 powered 92063 is retired. Currently being retired
Orion 05.505 CNG		1994	94401 (1 bus)	?  ?	CNG	Operated by Coach USA (lines 573, 574)
Gillig Phantom	96401	1994	96401 (1 bus)	Cummins ISL Allison B400R	Diesel	Ex- Foothill Transit. Originally had Detroit Diesel Series 50 engines. Operated by MV Transportation (lines 142,431,437,438,448,534,Metrolink Shuttle)
Gillig Phantom	96002	1996	96001-96005 (5 buses)	Detroit Diesel Series 50 Allison B400R	Diesel	96001-96005 are Ex-Veolia Transportation or Hertz airport shuttle units. Opeated by MV Transportation Inc (lines 409,419,422,423,549,573)
Orion 05.505 CNG		1996	96501 (1 bus)	Cummins L10G ? ZF?	CNG	Ex-Sacramento RT 9656
Neoplan USA AN345/3	024505	2002	024501-024505 (5 buses)	Detroit Detroit Diesel Series 60G Allison B500R	CNG	Ex-Victor Valley Transit Authority 1001-1005 Operated by MV Transportation Inc (lines 438, 448, 534, Metrolink Shuttle)
Orion V	04403	2004	04400-04403 (4 buses)	Detroit Detroit Diesel Series 50G Allison B400R	CNG	Operated by MV Transportation Inc (lines 142, 438, 448, Metrolink Shuttle)
Motor Coach Industries D4000CT	[3]	2011-2012	11401-11402, 12401-12494(?) (95 buses)	Cummins ISL-G TBA (Transmission)	CNG	Currently being delivered Operated by MV Transportation Inc (lines 437, 438, 448, Metrolink Shuttle) Operated by Coach America (lines 409,419,422,423,549,573,574)

On Order/Future fleet

Make and Model	Picture	Year	Numbers	Engine and Transmission	Fuel Type	Notes

TBA= To be Announced

Retired Bus fleet

Make and Model	Picture	Year	Numbers	Engine and Transmission	Fuel Type	Retired	Notes
Gillig Phantom	85004 [4]	1985	85001-85004 (4 buses)	Detroit Diesel Series 50 Allison HT-747	Diesel	2011	Ex-Laidlaw 5489-5491. Repowered from Detroit Diesel 6V92TA in 2000. Formerly by First Transit (lines 142,431,437,438,448,534,Metrolink Shuttle)
Gillig Phantom	87020 [5]	1987	87001-87028 (28 buses)	Cummins ISC Allison HT-747	Diesel	2011/2012	Repowered from Detroit Diesel 6V92TA in 2003-2004. 87007-87019,87021,87025 was formerly by MV Transportation Inc (lines 422,423,549,573) 87001,87003-87005,87020,87022-87024,87026-87028 was formerly by First Tranit (lines 142,431,437,438,448,534,Metrolink Shuttle)
Gillig Phantom	[6]	1988	88001-88010 (10 buses)	Cummins ISC Allison HT-747	Diesel	2011-2012	Repowered from Detroit Diesel 6V92TA in 2003-2004 88001-88006 is operated by MV Transportation Inc (lines 422,423,549,573) 88007-88010 is operated by First Tansit (lines 142,431,437,438,448,534,Metrolink Shuttle) 88009 is an Ex-OCTA unit. Currently being retired
Gillig Phantom		1988	88011-88013 (3 buses)		Diesel	2011-2012	Ex OCTA 4139 & 4143. Formerly by First Transit (lines 142,431,437,438,448,534,Metrolink Shuttle)
Gillig Phantom		1991	91045 (1 bus)	Detroit Diesel 6V92TA? Allison HT-748?	Diesel		Ex-San Diego MTS 328. Formerly operated by First Transit (lines 142,431,437,438,448,534,Metrolink Shuttle)
Neoplan AN440	[7] [8]	?	?	? ?	Diesel	?
Neoplan Suburban AN440/3 40'	[9]	1987	1128, 1188, ? (? buses)	Detroit Diesel 6V92TA Allison V731	Diesel	?	Ex-LACMTA Leased between years?
TMC RTS-06 (T80-206)	1344	1992	1245, 1344, 1375, ? (5 buses)	Detroit Diesel 6V92TA Allison V731	Diesel	2010	Ex-LACMTA same #. 5 units Leased between 2005 til 2010.
Stewart and Stevenson Apollo T-40	92058	1992	92039-92044, 92046, 92048, 92050, 92052, 92054-92055, 92057-92058 (14 buses)	Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR Allison HT-747	Diesel	December 2011	Repowered from Detroit Diesel 6V92TA in 2000-2001 Formerly operated by First Transit (lines 437,438,534,Metrolink Shuttle).
Gillig Phantom	8079	1994	8079 (1 bus)	Detroit Diesel Series 50 ZF Ecomat 4HP-590	Diesel		Ex-Denver RTD, leased by LADOT in early 2008. This bus previously operated by Veolia Transportation and later sold to LACMTA(another contract to Veolia Transportation) and renumbered as #9980 but retired in 2010.

CityRide

CityRide is a program for individuals in the City of Los Angeles, aged 65 or older and for qualified disabled persons.

LADOT Cityride Current Bus fleet

Make and Model	Picture	Year	Numbers	Engine and Transmission	Fuel Type	Assigned Divisions	Notes
Ford E350/Aerotech	[10]	2003	03101-031??		Diesel	opreated by MV Transportation inc
Ford E350/Aerotech	[11]	2009	09101-091??		Diesel	opreated by MV Transportation inc

References

LADOT DASH Eldorado EZ Rider II MAX #06318 Ladot Dash 06318

LADOT DASH's buses at Echo Park Ladot Dashes at...

LADOT DASH's at Maintenance Yard. Dashes at Maintenance yard

External links

• Los Angeles Department of Transportation
• TrafficInfo