Culver City Observer -

USC Trojans football fans planning to attend Thursday night's game at the Coliseum can avoid downtown traffic congestion and get straight to the gridiron action by taking the Metro Expo Line.

Metro's enhanced Expo Line service to the USC area starts three hours before the 7:30 p.m. kickoff and features trains that run every six minutes originating from the 7thStreet/Metro station in downtown Los Angeles and from Culver City. In addition, buses on Metro's Silver Line shuttles fans from the El Monte and Harbor Gateway stations to the 37th Street/USC station. Enhanced service continues until about 75 minutes after the game ends.

"Over the first three home games of the season, the Metro Expo Line has carried about 9,000 fans to each of the games, which is a significant improvement over the 8,000 fans per game the Expo Line carried in its inaugural year in 2012," said Metro's Interim Chief Operations Officer Debra Johnson.

Fans riding Metro are required to have a TAP card with proper fare loaded. TAP can be purchased at TAP vending machines at rail stations or 500 retail locations including Ralphs Markets and many check cashing services.

People who drive cars to the Coliseum can take advantage of a special benefit following all USC home games this season as they may use the I-110 south Metro ExpressLanes entering at 28th Street/Flower or 38th Street and drive all the to Manchester Avenue toll free. Regular ExpressLanes rules apply to motorists remaining in the lanes after Manchester. A FasTrak transponder is not required on that stretch of the I-110 ExpressLanes from the beginning of the fourth quarter until two hours after the games ends. Normally, ExpressLanes on the I-110 require solo drivers and registered carpools to have a transponder that registers tolls along segments of the roadway. Drivers needing a FasTrak transponder can sign up at the bright green van called MEL located just outside the Coliseum on Exposition Park Driver during all home games. Sign up with MEL on game day and receive a $5 credit.

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