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Torrance Transit

Charting the Course of Community Mobility: An in-depth exploration of the public transportation network serving Torrance and the South Bay region of Los Angeles County.

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Overview

Service Area

Torrance Transit is a vital public transportation agency primarily serving the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California. It connects communities and facilitates daily commutes for thousands of residents.

Ridership Statistics

As of the second quarter of 2025, the system records approximately 7,500 weekday riders. In 2024, the annual ridership reached 2,370,700 passengers, underscoring its significant role in regional mobility.

Agency Structure

Operating under the umbrella of the City of Torrance, Torrance Transit functions as a municipal transit system, dedicated to providing accessible and reliable public transportation services to its constituents and the surrounding areas.

Historical Trajectory

Inaugural Service

Torrance Transit commenced operations on January 15, 1940, initially utilizing three leased Mack-33 buses. For many years, it provided essential municipal transit services and maintained a bus terminal in downtown Los Angeles.

A Mayor's Vision

In 1959, the City Council voted to discontinue bus service entirely. However, Mayor Albert Isen exercised his veto power, famously arguing that "every first-class city has its own bus system," thereby preserving the agency's future and its commitment to public transit.

Route Network

Local Routes

Torrance Transit operates a comprehensive network of local routes designed to serve key destinations within the city and adjacent communities. Service schedules are adjusted for major holidays, with specific operations on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day mirroring Sunday service, and reduced service on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Rapid & Express Routes

For enhanced efficiency and speed, Torrance Transit offers Rapid and Express services connecting key transit hubs and major destinations, particularly during peak hours and special events.

Fleet & Technology

Active Fleet Composition

Torrance Transit maintains a modern fleet, transitioning towards more environmentally friendly options. The fleet comprises a mix of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and gasoline-electric hybrid buses, reflecting a commitment to sustainability and operational efficiency.

Fleet Inventory
Make/Model Fleet Numbers Year Engines Transmission
New Flyer GE40LFR 300–309 2010 Ford Triton V10 ISE ThunderVolt TB40-HG
New Flyer C40LFR 310–329 2011 Cummins Westport ISL G Allison B400R
New Flyer XN40 330–338 2012
339 2015
340–350 2016
351–362 2017 Cummins Westport L9N

Pioneering Electric Transit (ZEST)

In 1993, Torrance Transit introduced the Zero Emissions Surface Transit (ZEST) bus, a 25-seat, 29-foot coach developed by Specialty Vehicle Manufacturing Corporation (SVMC) with a Hughes Aircraft Company powertrain. This represented a significant early effort in battery-powered transit, boasting a claimed range of 75 miles. Despite its innovative nature, operational limitations due to battery technology necessitated scaling back its service to a lunchtime shuttle, providing valuable lessons for future electric vehicle development in public transit.

Hybrid Technology Adoption

The agency embraced hybrid technology, taking delivery of two Orion VI buses in 2000 equipped with Lockheed's HybriDrive series hybrid powertrains. Later, in 2010, Torrance Transit procured ten gasoline-electric hybrid New Flyer GE40LFR buses as part of a multi-agency pilot program, which increased federal subsidies for hybrid vehicles. This initiative marked a strategic shift towards more fuel-efficient and environmentally conscious fleet management.

References

Source Citations

The information presented on this page is derived from the following sources:

  1. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2025" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. August 27, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. February 19, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  3. ^ "Torrance Transit marks 70 years with new gasoline-electric fleet". Metro Magazine. August 10, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  4. ^ Shanahan, Dennis F.; Elliot Jr., Charles (1984). Historic Torrance: A Pictorial History of Torrance, California. Legends Press. ISBN 978-0-9608808-1-2. as quoted in the In motion newsletter, volume 1, issue 1
  5. ^ "Holiday Schedule 2024 | City of Torrance". transit.torranceca.gov. Archived from the original on 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
  6. ^ a b "Table L-2: Fleet Inventory as of June 30, 2014". Short Range Transit Plan, FY2015-2017 (Report). City of Torrance. October 2014. p. 29. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  7. ^ Green, Nick (December 10, 2009). "Torrance buses going green inside and outside". Daily Breeze. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016.
  8. ^ "Torrance Transit About Us".
  9. ^ "Torrance: 25-Seat Electric Bus Joins Public Transit Fleet". Los Angeles Times. September 21, 1993. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  10. ^ "AAI Transportation Systems: Electric Vehicles". AAI Corporation. Archived from the original on 23 October 1996.
  11. ^ White, David Allen (May 1997). Networks and Business Development: Analyzing the efforts to Start an Electric Bus Manufacturing Plant in South Boston (PDF) (Master in City Planning thesis). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. p. 38. ACL/AAI, located in California, was hired by SVMC to assemble several electric buses. Unable to pay ACL/AAI for their work, ACL/AAI never completed all of the buses.
  12. ^ "Zero Emissions Surface Transit" (PDF). The Transit Advocate. Southern California Transit Advocates. October 1993. p. 6. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  13. ^ Looper, Mark (24 May 1999). "[Alternative fuel vehicles] at the Torrance City Yards Open House". altfuels.org. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  14. ^ Realizing Electric Bus Deployment for Transit Service (Report). University of South Florida, Center for Urban Transportation Research. April 1998. p. 30. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  15. ^ Turner, Kim (June 13, 2006). Sale of Bus #401 to Orion Bus Industries (Report). City of Torrance. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  16. ^ "Table L-2: Fleet Inventory as of June 30, 2010". Short Range Transit Plan, FY2010-2012 (Report). City of Torrance. October 2010. p. 15. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  17. ^ Transit – Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to participate in a Cooperative Procurement Pilot Program (Report). City of Torrance. October 17, 2006. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  18. ^ "City of Montebello adds to hybrid bus fleet". Los Angeles Daily News. December 12, 2008. Retrieved June 25, 2019.

About This Resource

External Links

For further information and official updates, please refer to the following resources:

  • Official Torrance Transit Website
  • Wikimedia Commons Media: Contains various media related to Torrance Transit.
  • CPTDB Wiki Entry: Additional transit-related information.

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Torrance Transit Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on publicly available data from Wikipedia and related sources, and while efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and completeness, it may not be entirely up-to-date or reflect the most current operational details.

This is not official transit information. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for consulting the official Torrance Transit website or contacting the agency directly for the most accurate and current schedules, route information, service alerts, or fare details. Reliance on this information for travel planning is at your own risk.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein. Always verify critical information with official sources.