Silver Line express now carrying passengers between San Pedro and downtown LA

The Silver Line just got a little faster — at least on weekdays.

Metro is extending the existing Silver Line bus service, Route 910, and adding an express service, the 950X, that will get passengers to and from downtown Los Angeles and San Pedro with fewer stops.

The regular service runs weekdays during mid-day and late-night hours and all day on the weekends. The express service will run during morning and afternoon rush hours on weekdays only, but with fewer stops.

"The Silver Line Express is two bus lines in one," Metro spokesperson Kim Upton told KPCC. "It's a local bus line that goes seven days a week, morning, noon, night and on weekends and another line on top of it."

 The Silver Line 910 and the Silver Line Express 950x will share the same station and stops along Interstate 10 and in downtown, according to Metro. 

Metro said it estimates that the express line will get passengers from downtown to San Pedro in roughly an hour.

Before the express line, San Pedro passengers wanting to get downtown had to make transfers to other buses. The Silver Line will allow passengers to take one bus and pay one fare.

Upton said passengers in San Pedro won't be limited to ending their trip in downtown, either. The route will continue into El Monte via express lanes from there.

Upton said the line will be convenient for tourists wanting to visit popular destinations downtown, including Staples Center, the new Broad Museum and the California Science Center, among others. But she said it's also good for commuters.

"It's great for commuters because it'll make their lives easier. They'll save time getting downtown and home again," she said.

Local services on the Silver Line began Sunday. The new express services started Monday. The extended route will replace the 450 line. Fares for both the Silver Line 910 and the Silver Line Express 950x will be $2.50.