For information on transit systems serving the Los Angeles and Orange County coasts, and on specific routes and trips, call 213/922-6235, or within the 213 area code, 800/COMMUTE (800/266-6883); or look on-line at: www.mta.net, which has links to all other systems listed below. Fares for persons with disabilities are 25 cents unless otherwise noted; monthly discount passes are available for most systems. You may need to present special ID to get reduced rates or to buy passes.

Los Angeles County

MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority)/Metro Rail is the main public transit system for Los Angeles. For information, call 213/922-6235, or within the 213 area code, 800/COMMUTE (800/266-6883); or see their website at www.mta.net. Fares are 45 cents plus 10 cents for transfers or 25 cents for express bus transfers. Monthly discount passes for unlimited use of rail and bus lines are $12.

MTA issues a LACTOA (Los Angeles County Transit Operators Association) card that is good for discount fares for people with disabilities on all public transportation in the county. To apply for the card, go to any Metro Customer Center.

The 434 line serves the coast from Topanga County Beach south to Santa Monica State Beach and Pier. Other lines with coast routes are:

304, Will Rogers State Beach

22 and 304, Santa Monica State Beach and Pier

33, 333, and 436, Venice Beach

108, Marina del Rey

125 and 439, Dockweiler State Beach

126 and 439, Manhattan County Beach

232 and 439, Redondo County Beach

445, 446, and 447, Los Angeles Harbor

60, 232 and the Metro Blue Line, Long Beach

LADOT (Los Angeles Department of Transportation)/ DASH (Downtown Area Short Hop) provides CityRide programs, Commuter Express, and summer beach shuttles. For information, call 213/808-2273, or check their website at www.ladottransit.com. For people with disabilities, LADOT offers the Cityride program, which includes discount METRO passes, and discounts on taxi and lift-van services. Group trips are possible. To join, or for general information on CityRide, call (213, 310, or 818) 808-RIDE or contact the nearest Senior Multipurpose Center.

The DASH Venice line runs from the Marina Freeway parking lot to Venice Beach on summer weekends and holidays (Memorial Day through Labor Day). Other lines to beaches include:

LC142 and LC147, Los Angeles Harbor

LX437, Venice and Marina del Rey

LX438, Dockweiler, Hermosa, and Manhattan Beaches

(The “LX” lines are Commuter Express Lines. These make limited stops and run Monday through Friday during peak commute hours only. Fares are 85 cents; interagency transfers for use on other bus systems cost 10 cents.)

Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines (the “Big Blue Bus”) serves the Santa Monica area. Information is available at 310/451-5444 or www.bigbluebus.com on the web. These lines go to beaches:

SM9,Will Rogers State Beach

SM1, SM2, and SM8, Santa Monica State Beach and Pier

SM2 and SM8, Venice Beach

Torrance Transit is the Torrance public transportation system. Information is available at 310/618-6266 or on the web at http://www.ci.torrance.ca.us/92.htm. Transfers for any connecting bus continuing in the same direction cost 15 cents. Reduced fare cards can be bought at the Torrance Transit Store (Torrance City Hall, West Annex, 3031 Torrance Blvd.). The Dial-A-Lift program, which uses vans with wheelchair lifts, offers a book of 10 tickets for $5. Lines to beaches include:

TR3 and TR7, Redondo Beach Pier

TR3, downtown Long Beach

TR4, Torrance County Beach

TR8, Manhattan County Beach and North Redondo Beach

Long Beach Transit provides public transportation for Long Beach. Information is available at 562/591-2301 or on the web at www.lbtransit.com. “Passport” lines (the LBA, LBB, LBC, and LBD) have free fares in downtown Long Beach. Lines serving the area include:

LBA and LBD, Belmont Shore

LBC, Long Beach Harbor

Orange County

Orange County Transportation Authority information is available at 714/ 636-RIDE (714/636-7433) or on the web at www.octa.net. OCTA Reduced Fare ID card, Medicare card, Braille Institute ID card, Service Connected Veteran ID card, other transit agencies’ disabilities card, or DMV Disabled Person Placard ID required for discount fares and discount monthly bus passes ($10.00). Day passes are 50 cents. Lines that serve the coast include:

1, Long Beach

1, 70, and 72, Huntington Beach

1 and 42, Seal Beach

1, Newport Beach

47 and 73, Balboa

1 and 89, Laguna Beach

1, 70, 85, and 191, Dana Point

ACCESS is OCTA’s shared-ride service for people whose disabilities prevent them from using the regular, fixed-route bus service. Eligible for OCTA ACCESS service are people who are unable to board a fixed route bus, cannot reach a bus stop because of physical or environmental barriers, or do not understand how to ride the bus. OCTA has a formal certification process that follows ADA guidelines. For applications, call

877/OCTA-ADA (877/628-2232).