Many students in South Los Angeles are adjusting to recent changes in public transportation that are reshaping how they commute to school. At Augustus F. Hawkins High School, some say their commute has become more complicated, while others are starting to see improvements.
Local transportation agencies updated several services this year. LADOT expanded its LA Now on-demand shuttle service into South LA, giving students a more flexible way to reach school. Metro also adjusted schedules on key bus lines, including the 210 and 110, which aim to reduce long wait times and improve reliability. These updates help students get to school on time and make it easier for the community to travel safely and predictably. These changes are especially significant in South LA, where many students rely on public transportation.
In addition, a new walking and biking path, called the Rail-to-Rail project, also opened along Slauson Avenue. The path connects neighborhoods and provides a safer and more efficient route for pedestrians and cyclists.
For some Augustus F. Hawkins High School students, the new LA Now shuttle has already made mornings easier. Jason, a senior at Hawkins, shared his experience.
“The LA Now shuttle has helped my commute because it made it more accessible for me to get transportation. Using the LA Now app, I can set up a location with the driver, and it makes it easier for me to get to school when I’m running late or to just get to the location I want to be.”
While some students are fond of the new transportation options, others say infrastructure has had the biggest impact so far. Student Nilson Tobar said the Rail-to-Rail path and updated bus schedules have made his commute faster.
“It’s helped me to commute since I’m coming down from Slauson over there. It makes the commute a lot faster, the traffic signals are a lot faster than they used to be. It’s a good replacement of the space that used to take up the train tracks and it wasn’t doing any good for the community. I feel like it’s good for not only me but for people around here, because it’s hard to get around here. We have the 204 and the 110 over there.”
With new transit options like on-demand rides and safer walking and biking paths, some students are finding a smoother path to school. For others, the commute is still unpredictable. While these improvements help, more reliable transportation is still needed.
Senior Bryan Arellano emphasized the ongoing challenges for students.
“I have to take the bus every day to get to school and home. I see a lot of classmates using buses, but when I walk or skate along the new sidewalk on Slauson, it is easier, and I see a lot of students using it. Older people use it for cycling or walking, but most students are still relying on buses.”
As transportation projects continue to grow across South LA, students say that reliable and affordable transportation remains important to getting to school on time.
