Bus stop: Metro to again offer bus service from Union Station to Dodger Stadium

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Last year’s semi-experiment with bus service for Dodgers games is scheduled to return this season.

The Dodgers and Metro announced Friday that a $450,000 grant to Metro from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Review Committee will enable the program to return. That’s up $150,000 from last year’s grant.

The team said in a news release Friday that approximately 122,000 fans took advantage of the bus service last season, with about 60% using public transportation to arrive to Union Station.

In conjunction with the bus service, Metrolink will offer additional late-night rail service for trains leaving at 11 p.m. on weekdays for San Bernardino, Ventura and Antelope Valley, with $180,000 of the grant money intended to offset Metrolink’s added operational costs. L.A. County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich called it a ‘double play’ for Dodgers fans.

Round-trip tickets on Metrolink trains associated with Dodgers home games will cost between $8 and $10 depending on the distance traveled. Regular fares will apply on all bus and rail lines connecting with the Dodger Stadium Express bus service.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said he was happy.

‘The Dodger Stadium Express is good for fans, the environment, and the surrounding neighborhoods,’ Villaraigosa said. ‘Thanks to the MSRC for once again making it possible for passengers to ride from Union Station to Dodger Stadium for free with the purchase of a Dodgers ticket.’

The bus service from Union Station is scheduled to begin 90 minutes before games, and run for up to 45 minutes after the games end.

The service will begin March 28 with exhibition games at Dodger Stadium.

--Steve Dilbeck