Urbanism
1990 and the Blue Line Revival: LA Takes a Risk on Rail
After nearly 30 years without rail, LA made a bold move in 1990. The Blue Line wasn’t just a train — it was a statement.
Last Updated on July 27, 2025 by Daily News Staff
Image: LACMTA
The Blue Line
On July 14, 1990, something remarkable happened in Los Angeles: a train rolled out of Downtown and headed south to Long Beach. It wasn’t a bus, and it wasn’t a subway. It was light rail — the first in LA in nearly three decades.
The Blue Line (now called the A Line) retraced part of the old Red Car route, symbolically reconnecting past and future. This wasn’t just about transportation. It was about identity.
The project faced skepticism. Many doubted Angelenos would ride a train. Some called it a waste of money. But the line quickly proved them wrong — by the end of its first full year, ridership soared beyond expectations.
The Blue Line wasn’t perfect. It had its share of accidents and growing pains. But it marked a turning point: LA was serious about building a modern transit system.
That first step laid the tracks — literally and figuratively — for the LA Metro system we know today.
Next Up: Growing Pains: Metro’s Expansion and Its Critics
Related link: https://www.metro.net/
The A Line Light-Rail Extension from Azusa to Pomona: A Significant Milestone for Public Transportation
