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Blue Line Loyalists Will Have A Chance To Own A Piece Of LA History For As Little As $5
Metro will auction its collection of more than 300 retired Blue Line signs on Oct. 24, 2019. When the Blue Line reopens on Nov. 2, it'll be called the A Line, part of new letter-based naming convention that will be rolled out over the next few years. (Courtesy LA Metro)
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By now you probably know that when the Blue Line makes its comeback on Nov. 2, it'll be called the A Line.
That means Metro had to replace more than 300 signs at its stations from Long Beach to downtown, but Blue Line loyalists bemoaning the name change will have a chance to own a piece of transportation history.
On Thursday, Oct. 24, from 5-7 p.m., Metro will auction off its hundreds of retired Blue Line signs at Union Station Historic Ticketing Hall. The event will also include live music, refreshments, Metro's pop-up shop, and more, said Devon Deming, director of Metro Shop and Commute Services.
The most recent plans (which are still subject to change) to rename Metro's transit system. (Courtesy Los Angeles Metro)
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Those who cannot make it in person can get in on the action online and can opt to get auction updates through text. So, if you're outbid, you can make a counter offer on your phone, Deming said. Winning bidders will be required to pick up their newly purchased items from Union Station by 10 a.m. the next day, or arrange for and pay for the cost of shipping.
You'll be able to browse the estimated 340 signs online next week, when Metro uploads photos of each of them, as well as information, like weight and product materials, on its auction site. Among the relics up for grabs are signs announcing, "tickets required beyond this point," station locations, exit signs with street names, and destination signs for Long Beach and Los Angeles.
The lowest starting bid will be $5, Deming said. The highest starting bid -- for popular items such as the LA Live/Staples Center signs -- will be $150.
Plus, if Metro feels there is enough interest in this auction, it could host similar events as it caps a colorful era in transportation history and rolls out the new letter-based naming convention.
It's a bittersweet change, even for Deming.
"I have a big blue heart," she said. She regularly uses the Blue Line -- err, A Line -- to travel to and from Long Beach. "I couldn't bear to see these Blue Line signs go to waste."
More auction details can be found on Metro's blog, The Source.
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