The transit system in Hollywood is adequate to get you from one place to another in Los Angeles but it becomes practically non-existent after midnight. The MetroRail subway has a station at Hollywood and Highland and another at Hollywood and Vine. The one at Hollywood and Highland is located about 100 feet West of Highland on the North side of Hollywood Blvd. You have to go down an escalator or elevator or staircase to get to the trains. The escalators often do not operate. There are no restroom facilities in the stations or on the trains. The MetroRail at Hollywood and Vine is easier to find. It is an elaborate, half block sized area about 100 feet East of Vine Street on the South side of Hollywood Blvd. directly across the street from The Pantages Theatre.

Buses run on Hollywood Blvd. and Vine Street and Highland and Sunset Blvd. The buses go to different parts of the city. The signs on the street corners where the buses stop tell the destination for each line. Line 217 will take you to Fairfax Ave., for example. You have to know where you are going. If you know that you are going to Farmer's Market and you know that is at 3rd and Fairfax, then you can take the 217 and get there. Line 217 also goes to Wilshire Blvd.. The Tar Pits are just a short walk East from Fairfax and Wilshire. There are some museums in that area also.

The MetroRail goes from Hollywood and Highland North to the San Fernando Valley and North Hollywood. The first stop going North (toward North Hollywood) is Universal City. That is a recommended site to see. The MetroRail is the easiest and fastest way to get there. The MetroRail is underground and it is necessary to walk down about 4 flights of stairs to get to the platform. The escalators and elevators are often not working. If you are going to a particular destination and you need an elevator, you might have to go to the next station and ride back on a bus. MetroRail also goes downtown to many major areas, such as Figueroa Street and Union Station and downtown L.A. at Pershing Square. There are some tough areas of the city where it is best not to visit looking like a wealthy tourist. That includes MacArthur Park, downtown L.A., and Hollywood itself after 10 or 11PM.

The cost for a ride on a bus or the MetroRail is $1.25 at this time but it could change in the near future. You need to have correct change. You can use a one dollar bill with a quarter, but you will not get change for two dollars. Get your correct change before you get on board a bus. There are discount rates for seniors and the disabled. Regular senior fare is 55 cents and a Metro Day Pass for seniors and disabled is $1.80. Weekend fare for seniors and disabled is 25 cents.

MetroRail has machines that accept various coins and bills and you will be watched by various guard type employees to be sure you buy a pass. Sometimes a uniformed L.A. police officer will ride the rails and check for non paying passengers. The fine is about $250. There are places that sell tokens (Check Cashing places, for example, and some other businesses). The tokens cost $12.50 for ten. They are good on buses and MetroRail. There is also a "Day Pass" that will allow the passenger to hop from one bus to another all day long. That costs $5.00. For details check Metro.net for information about bus and rail transit in L.A.