After Weeks of Suspension, Bus Line Will Restart Operations
L.A. Metro will resume service on Line 134, which runs through Malibu to Santa Monica, on Friday, February 28. It had been suspended for weeks due to damage from the Palisades Fire and subsequent mudslides.
The route, which has been out of operation since Jan. 7, will provide closed-door service through a 10-mile work zone along Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) between Temescal Canyon Road and Rambla Vista near the Carbon Beach Terrace checkpoint. Passengers will not be able to board or exit buses within this zone, and no courtesy stops will be available.
To repeat: riders expecting to use a stop in the 10-mile work zone should not use Line 134. Buses will not be stopping to discharge riders or pick them up in the work zone. Line 134 will provide service to its usual stops in Santa Monica, including the E Line station, and to all stops on PCH west of Rambla Vista to Trancas Canyon Road. That includes the usual stops at Malibu Pier, Cross Creek Road, Civic Center Way, and Malibu Canyon Road.
On Friday, Line 134 will follow its usual schedule. The first westbound bus will depart Downtown Santa Monica Station at 5:31 a.m. and the first eastbound bus will depart Trancas Canyon at 6:41 a.m. To help wildfire victims, Metro has modified the eligibility requirements for our reduced fare and discount fare programs, making it easier for riders to access essential resources, recover, and rebuild. Please visit www.metro.net/fireresponse for more information and to apply.
Metro Board Member and L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath emphasized the importance of restoring transit access while acknowledging ongoing recovery efforts.
“Resuming service on Line 134 is a crucial step toward supporting the residents and commuters who depend on this route from Malibu to Santa Monica,” Horvath said. “While there are still challenges ahead, we know how critical reliable transit service is to our communities. We are doing everything we can to safely serve this critical need; however, this is not yet operations as usual.”
Line 134 will serve stops on PCH at Malibu Pier, Cross Creek Road, Civic Center Way, and Malibu Canyon Road between Malibu and Trancas Canyon Road. It will also operate stops in Santa Monica, including Downtown Santa Monica’s E Line Station and Ocean Avenue at Colorado Avenue.
Metro Board Chair and L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn stated the urgency of restoring transit options for residents.“Across the county, hundreds of thousands of people count on Metro to get to work, to school, to family, and everything in between,” Hahn said. “It is important that as we recover from these fires, we get this service back up and running as soon as possible for our riders that need it.”
Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart also welcomed the partial restoration, calling it a necessary step in the city’s recovery. “This modified service strikes a careful balance of safety and ensuring residents, workers, and business patrons have a safe and reliable way to travel through the area,” Stewart said. “While the impact of the Palisades Fire remains, this marks an important milestone in reconnecting our city and supporting those who depend on public transit.”
Due to traffic restrictions in the work zone, including single-lane flows in each direction and a 25-mph speed limit, Metro anticipates potential delays. Schedules may be adjusted in the coming weeks based on traffic conditions and operational experience.
Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said in a press statement, “January’s wildfires devastated the L.A. area and disrupted the connectivity of communities in and around the fire zones, which makes this partial restoration of service an important part of the recovery,” Wiggins said.
For updates on schedules and service changes, riders are encouraged to visit Metro’s website.
