Metro is stepping up its service for two protest rallies that are expected to draw thousands of people to downtown Los Angeles on Saturday and Monday, the agency said.
The Free the People Immigrant March is on Saturday at Pershing Square followed by the Not My President’s Day Rally on Monday at City Hall.
Public transit lines were overwhelmed last month when an estimated 750,000 poured into downtown L.A. for the Women’s March to protest President Donald Trump’s stand on women’s issues.
“We had enhanced service for that march, but the turnout was much greater than expected,” Metro spokeswoman Anna Poem-Ann Chen said Thursday.
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A sizeable, but smaller crowd is expected Saturday.
About 20,000 people have indicated on the event’s Facebook page that they plan to attend the march, with another 60,000 saying they are interested in going.
A big storm is expected to hit the region today, and if it doesn’t clear out by Saturday, the weather could impact turnout, Chen said.
On Saturday, Red Line trains will be running every six minutes and the Purple, Blue, Expo and Gold Lines will be running every nine minutes. Metro said. There will also be extra Orange Line and Silver Line bus service.
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As for Monday’s protest, about 3,500 people have said on the event’s Facebook page that they will attend the Presidents’ Day gathering.
On Monday, additional train cars will be added to each Metro line and security will be increased, Chen added.
TAP cards loaded with the appropriate fare are required to ride the rail lines. There were long lines at the fare card vending machines during the Women’s March.
Metro officials suggest people get the cards before the events if they plan to take the rail service.
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