November 16, 2005 
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Metro Provides Easy Riding to the 2005 Hollywood Christmas Parade

A million people are expected to jam the streets for this year’s Hollywood Christmas Parade Nov. 27 to see stars of the popular television shows “Lost,” “CSI: Miami,” “The West Wing,” “Numb3rs” and “The Shield,” not to mention bands, horses and Santa Claus. That’s a major snarl, even by traffic-soaked Los Angeles standards. To help, parade officials and Metro have assembled a list of ways to see this year’s parade – the 74th – the easy way.

“Our goal is to make life better and easier for the people of Los Angeles and this extends to small things like how families enjoy the many free events our city sponsors,” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is Grand Marshal of this year’s parade – the first elected official to be named Grand Marshal in the parade’s history. “We encourage people planning to attend this year’s parade to use the Metro system.”

A few tips for making the experience easier:

• Plan to arrive in Hollywood an hour or two before the parade begins to capture a great position. The parade will run from 5 to 7 p.m. but crowds begin assembling by 3 p.m.

• Take Metro Rail or Bus to the parade route. A day pass is only $3, which means not only will parade-goers save time and effort by taking Metro, they can avoid high-priced gas and parking. Metro Rail has two subway stops at prime parade viewing locations at Hollywood/Highland and Hollywood/Vine. The opening last month of the 14-mile Metro Orange Line – the region’s first bus-only transitway across the San Fernando Valley – has made travel and parking from the Valley a snap. Orange Line buses cross the Valley from Warner Center in Woodland Hills to North Hollywood, where they meet the Metro Red Line, a 10-minute subway ride to Hollywood. With the addition of 3,200 parking spaces in the Valley – free to Metro riders at five stations between Warner Center and North Hollywood – parade goers can also save money. (Visit www.metro.net for a list of stations and a map.)

• If taking the train to the parade, buy round-trip tickets before the event. Metro Rail ticket vending machines at stations in the Hollywood area are customarily busy following the event.

• Stay a little late for a snack, to do a bit of shopping and to just enjoy Hollywood. By 9 p.m. most people will have departed.

• Buy tickets for seats, if budget allows. These ensure prime positions and comfort. Prices for grandstand seats are $40 for adults and $35 for children 12 and under. (For tickets call 1-866-PARADE-1.)

• If you are visiting with a handicapped child or adult, consider purchasing a grandstand seat or seek out specified reserved handicapped areas. These are located adjacent to the Number 10 Grandstand, just west of Highland on Hollywood Boulevard.

• On Sunday, avoid Hollywood Boulevard, Vine Street and Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, which will close at 3 p.m. in preparation for the parade and remain closed until 10 p.m. The 3.2-mile route starts near the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Orange (in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre), then heads east on Hollywood Boulevard to Vine Street where it turns right (south) on Vine to Sunset Boulevard. It turns right (west) on Sunset and returns west to Orange, ending up in front of Hollywood High School.

A few more details on taking Metro to the parade:

The cash fare is $1.25 one-way and $3 for an all-day pass, which is the best buy for those using a combination of Metro Bus and Metro Rail lines including the Metro Orange Line, the Metro Gold Line from Pasadena, the Metro Blue Line from Long Beach or the Metro Green Line from El Segundo and Norwalk to connect with the Metro Red Line for the trip to Hollywood. As usual, there will be reduced fares for students and seniors.

Metro will add extra train cars to all Metro Red Line trains on parade day. Prior to the parade, trains will operate every 12 minutes to Hollywood from downtown Los Angeles and from the San Fernando Valley. Following the parade, trains will depart the Hollywood area every 12 minutes. Service will begin operating every 20 minutes at approximately 9 p.m.

The last train to the San Fernando Valley will depart Hollywood/Vine at 12:36 a.m. and Hollywood/Highland at 12:38 a.m. It will connect with the last Metro Orange Line bus to leave North Hollywood at 12:56 a.m. The last train to downtown, connecting to the Metro Blue Line, will depart Hollywood/Highland at 12:22 a.m. and Hollywood/Vine at 12:24 a.m. The last train to downtown (no connection with the Metro Blue Line) will depart Hollywood/Highland at 1:02 a.m. and Hollywood/Vine at 1:04 a.m.

Parade attendees using Metro Bus service should plan trips according to Sunday schedules. Additional buses will supplement lines servicing the Hollywood area as needed. Those Metro Bus Lines providing access to this year’s parade route include Metro Lines: 2, 26, 156, 163, 180, 181, 210, 212 and 217.

Due to parade route and street closure, Metro will re-route 10 bus lines in the Hollywood area. The lines to be detoured are 2, 26, 156, 163, 180, 181, 207, 210, 212 and 217. Detours will begin at about 3 p.m. on Sunday and last until the conclusion of the parade. For specific routes and schedules visit www.metro.net or call 1-800-C-O-M-M-U-T-E.

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