Just a reminder, the Metro Gold Line (LA-Pasadena) opens on July 26. The San Pedro "Red Car" opens on July 19.

Many mistakes have been found in the new MTA schedules dated June 29. Also in some instances MTA bus stop signs have yet to be updated. Pete Serdienis of MTA stops and zones in an e-mail to President Richards explained "[changes were made to] 7,000+ of 18,000 bus stops in order to implement the 6/29/03 shake-up & 7/26/03 Gold Line start up. (This is by far the largest one time change to MTA's bus passenger distribution network that we've ever encountered.) In order to make these changes we needed to order 79 new route, destination, & service qualification decal readings totaling 14,765 new decals. We have been in the process of making these on street changes, as well as placing passenger route change notification hoods at the affected stops, since mid May and hopefully will complete doing so by the start up of the Gold Line. "

Long Beach Transit is adding another limited stop "ZAP" route along Atlantic Blvd. This will be designated Line #66, while the existing ZAP route along 7th St. will be #96. Both ZAP services run peak-hours only. Also, both the Aquabus and Aqualink will run 7-days per week for the summer season. Finally, the special service to the Getty Center has been expanded, serving the Getty on Wednesday and Saturday, the LA County Museum on Thursday and Sunday, and a variety of destinations on Friday: visit www.lbtransit.org/events.html for details.

Effective July 1, Torrance Transit local base fare will be $.50, but transfers will cost $.40. (Senior/disabled fare will be $.25). Service into Downtown LA remains at $.75 ($.25 senior/ disabled). Also, Torrance Transit #3 will detour off PCH via Alameda, Sepulveda, Willow, and Santa Fe, due to construction on a bridge over Alameda Corridor.

More on the Foothill route change, effective June 27: #191/193 will be interlined, as will #190/195. These will change headsign (but not layover) at Valley Bl. and Humane Wy. #289 and #486 will both layover at Valley and Temple, looping via Valley, Ridgeway and South Campus. #482 will serve Devry, but not Cal Poly. #480 will enter the freeway at the Ridgeway onramp, but not serve Devry. The transfer point for all these lines will be at Temple/South Campus. Starting fall quarter, a shuttle will run from Temple/South Campus to the rest of the campus.

This summer, LA County is again providing Beach Bus service from Altadena, Antelope Valley, Charter Oak, La Crescenta and Santa Clarita to Santa Monica. Service is also provided through Topanga Canyon. Visit http://ladpw.org/pdd/BeachBus/index.cfm for details.

The City of Moorpark (in Ventura County) is also offering a beach bus service: buses run to Zuma Beach on Tuesdays and San Buenaventura State Beach on Thursdays, until August 26th. 805-517-6248.

Laguna Beach Transit will be fare-free during the summer art-show season. Also, the buses will run later.

The Mountain Area Regional Transit Authority (MARTA) has reinstated the express service (Hwy 330) between San Bernardino and Big Bear (two round trips, Mon-Sat). Also, new service to Victorville operates Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays, connecting to Victor Valley Transit Authority at Victor Valley College and at St. Mary's Hospital. Fares from Big Bear to either San Bernardino or Victor Valley are $5. 909-584-1111