It’s no secret that car culture is practically cemented into the way of life for many people in Los Angeles. But when the Hollywood Bowl was constructed in 1922, it wasn’t exactly built with cars in mind. Driving, sitting in traffic, and waiting in stacked parking at the end of the concert isn’t the most ideal accompaniment to a night out. Fortunately, there are other ways to get here that are eco-friendly and more affordable. One of our longest-running—and increasingly popular—options is the Bowl Shuttle and Park & Ride.
Sparked by the opening of the Hollywood Freeway (now known as the 101) in 1952, the LA Phil partnered with Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority in 1953 to begin bringing concertgoers to the Bowl from various locations across the region.
Seven decades later, the system has grown to become the largest shuttlebus system west of the Mississippi River.
Up to 165 wheelchair-accessible buses circulate four Bowl Shuttle and 15 Park & Ride locations. Nearly 200 bus drivers, dispatchers, parking lot staff, security personnel, and county partners ensure that riding to the Bowl from as far as the West San Fernando Valley, the South Bay, Hacienda Heights, and other locations goes safely and smoothly.
One key person with a hand in just about every aspect of our operations is Steve Arredondo. An LA Phil employee for nearly 20 years, Arredondo got his start as an usher before working his way up to his current role as Transit/Traffic Manager at the Bowl. He oversees the shuttles, ensures Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility, coordinates street closures, finds new routes, and so much more.
If there’s one thing Arredondo has learned, it’s that actually driving out into the community and seeing it firsthand is the best way to determine how the system will all come together. “It might look good on a map, but you know Google Maps isn’t getting updated 24 hours a day,” he says.
When Arredondo goes out to meet with property owners and scope out parking locations, there are many things to note: car capacity, on-site lighting, safety, traffic, accessibility, restrooms, proximity to local businesses, and physical geography (e.g., smooth granite pavement away from steep hills).
“I will ask one of the bus vendors if they’ll go with me or meet me there and make sure that we can maneuver the bus out of there,” Arredondo says. “Can it queue on the street? Which route will it take? Can people easily get in and out?” If we can’t answer those questions, the property is likely no good.
“Each location has its own little personality,” Arredondo says. Santa Monica isn’t Sylmar and Culver City isn’t Pasadena. Some lots are near colleges—usually more vacant while students are away for the summer—and others are by parks. At Metro Station lots, the 9–5 commuters are either heading home or hopping on the first bus to the Bowl.
Convenience is key, but so is affordability. Shuttle tickets are just $6—or free, if you take the Metro and show the attendant your valid TAP card or GoMetro Round-Trip Pass—and Park & Ride tickets start at $8.
In 2022, 26% of the season’s attendees took the Bowl Shuttle or Park & Ride. The next summer, ridership grew to 29%. Last year, it increased again, to 36%. This past June, 52% of concertgoers got on the bus for Opening Night at the Bowl with Hugh Jackman.
With more and more people choosing to ride the shuttle, we’re helping to keep thousands of cars off the streets and improve air quality throughout the neighborhood.
In addition, many of our buses run on CNG (compressed natural gas), an alternative to standard gasoline that reduces smog-related tailpipe emissions and greenhouse gases by about 20%. Eventually, Arredondo wants to go even greener.
“Our next goal is to go fully electric for the Ovation shuttle location,” he says. “We have to put in the infrastructure and chargers, but they’re working on it. It’ll definitely be done this summer.”
Every Drop Counts
For a venue that sits on 88 sprawling acres, conserving water is essential not only for the people who work and visit us at the Bowl but also for the native plants and animals that call our environment home.
Over the years, we’ve made long-term upgrades to ensure that our water use is as low as possible. Outdoors, the Hollywood Bowl has a high-tech, satellite-based irrigation system that responds to rainfall—meaning plants get watered only when they truly need it. The vast majority of trees and plants you’ll find near the Bowl are native to the state or specifically to the Hollywood Hills. Since they’re from here, they have evolved to grow and survive in California’s chaparral ecosystem without excessive water and maintenance.
Whenever there’s runoff water, we make an effort to keep it clean. At each water intake, we’ve installed stainless steel grates and special filters to help catch pollutants before they can affect local waterways and wildlife.
Around the venue, you’ll also find eight water-filling stations. Consider bringing a reusable bottle to refill if you get thirsty.
When nature calls…did you know you’re actually still saving water? Since we made the switch from standard restrooms to ecoconscious ones (waterless urinals and low-flush toilets) in 2007, you’ve been helping us save 3.5 million gallons of water every single year.