Metro will add service and beef up security for Saturday’s Women’s March in downtown Los Angeles, with organizers expecting up to 150,000 people, including numerous celebrities.
The march from Pershing Square to City Hall is set to begin at 10 a.m.
About 74,000 people indicated they would attend and another 70,000 expressed interest in attending, according to event’s Facebook page.
The event, among the largest local versions across the country of a similar march and rally planned for Saturday in Washington, D.C., will be preceded by about an hour of sign and speech making.
The rally at City Hall — which will feature entertainment, more speakers, informational booths and food trucks – is expected to end at 4 p.m.
“The march is open to everyone who stands for human rights, civil liberties, tolerance of diversity and compassion for our shared humanity,” according to a statement on the event’s website.
Between 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, Metro will run six-car trains on the Red and Purple lines and three-car trains on the Blue, Expo and Gold lines.
Trains will run every 12 minutes on the Red and Purple lines and every nine minutes on the Expo Line.
Trains on the Blue and Gold lines will remain at 12-minute weekend frequencies and trains on the Green Line will remain at their usual 15-minute intervals, according to Metro.
Staff will be on hand to assist patrons at stations in North Hollywood, Santa Monica and Culver City and at Union Station in the morning.
“Metro personnel will move to Pershing Square and Civic Center stations to help riders with afternoon departures,” according to a Metro statement.
“Security will be in place at downtown stations near the event. Metro also is coordinating with law enforcement to ensure resources are in place to assist patrons, if necessary.”
Riders are advised to buy $1 reusable TAP cards and load them with fares in advance.
Round-trip fares are available for $3.50 and day passes good for unlimited travel throughout the day on multiple lines can be purchased for $7.
–City News Service