Jackson Memorial Street Closures

Los Angeles - Streets around Staples Center are closed at various times for today's memorial tribute to Michael Jackson, and people who rely on the bus for transportation will have to plan for delays in the downtown area.

Sections of Flower Street, Olympic Boulevard, Blaine Street and Pico Boulevard will be closed, and entry to the area will be limited to people with tickets to the event, the Los Angeles Police Department reported.

An online lottery was held over the weekend for 11,000 free tickets for the memorial at Staples Center and 6,500 tickets for the Nokia Theatre, where the event will be simulcast on large video screens.

But police were bracing for the possibility that hundreds of thousands of mourners could show up anyway for the 10 a.m. event, and some 1,400 LAPD officers have been assigned to crowd control.

In addition to the street closures, the southbound Olympic Boulevard offramp and northbound Pico Boulevard offramp from the Harbor (110) Freeway will be closed.

Due to the expected private funeral service at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Caltrans will also close the eastbound Riverside Drive offramp from the Ventura (134) Freeway, along with the eastbound and westbound Forest Lawn Drive offramps.

Forest Lawn Drive will be closed between the freeway and Barham Boulevard from 6 to 10 a.m.

Metrolink plans to bolster some of its midday train service to accommodate crowds leaving downtown Los Angeles. Metrolink will add a 2:15 p.m. departure from Los Angeles on Ventura County Line, with that train traveling only as far as the Chatsworth Station.

A 2:30 p.m. departure from Los Angeles will be added to the Antelope Valley Line, with the train going only to the Via Princessa Station. A 3 p.m. departure will be added on the Riverside Line, with the train traveling as far as the Industry Station.

Metrolink also plans to add an additional passenger car to already- crowded morning trains bound for downtown Los Angeles. An additional car will be added to Orange County Line trains 603 and 605, which arrive in Los Angeles at 7:20 and 7:50 a.m., respectively, and to Antelope Valley Line trains 204 and 206, which arrive at 7:45 and 8:16 a.m., respectively.

Metrolink officials also recommended that passengers avoid bringing their bicycles on trains to save space.

In addition to the street closures and Metrolink adjustments, Metro buses that normally pass through the area will be diverted.

The following lines are affected:

• 28, 728 - via Alvarado and 6th/5th (no service on Olympic/Hill/Spring between Alvarado and 6th/5th);
• 30, 31 - via Vermont, Santa Monica Freeway to Broadway (no service on Pico between Vermont and Broadway);
• 81 - via Washington, Alvarado, 6th/5th (no service on Figueroa between Washington/8th/9th and 6th/5th);
• 439 - via Santa Monica Freeway to Main, 6th/5th, Figueroa (no service on Figueroa/Flower/Grand or Olive between 6th/5th and Santa Monica Freeway);
• 442, 444, 446, 447, 460 - via Harbor Freeway, Adams, Main, 6th/5th (no service on Figueroa/Flower between Adams and 6th/5th);
• 450X - via Harbor Freeway, Adams, Main, 6th/5th (no service on Figueroa/Flower between Adams and 6th/5th); and
• 485, 490 - westbound only via Grand, 9th, Hill, 18th (no service on Grand between 9th and 18th).

The following lines will be impacted beginning at 3 a.m.:

• 2, 4, 302 - via 6th/5th, Main/Spring, 16th (no service on Hill/Broadway south of 6th/5th);
• 10, 48 - via Washington, Main/Spring, 6th/5th (no service on Hill/8th/9th between 6th /5th and Main);
• 14,37 - via Washington, Main/Spring, 6th/5th (no service on Olive/Grand between Washington and 6th/5th);
• 28, 728 - via Alvarado, 6th/5th (no service on Olympic/Hill/Spring between Alvarado and 6th/5th);
• 30, 31, 730 - via Hoover, Washington, Main/Spring (no service on Pico/Broadway between Hoover and 1st);
• 33, 333 - via Hoover, Washington, Main (no service on Venice between Hoover and Main);
• 66, 366 - via Alvarado, 6th/5th, Main/Spring (no service on 8th/9th between Alvarado and Main/Spring);
• 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, 96, 378, 484, 485, 490, 714, 770 - via 6th/5th, Main/Spring, 16th/Venice (no service on Grand/Olive south of 6th/5th);
• 81 - via Washington, Main/Spring, 6th/5th (no service on Figueroa/8th /9th Hill between Washington and 6th/5th);
• 83, 90, 91, 94, 794 - via 6th/5th, Main/Spring, 16th/Venice (no service on Hill south of 6th/5th);
• 439 - via Venice/16th, Main/Spring, 6th/5th (no service on Figueroa/Flower/Grand or Olive between 6th/5th and Venice/16th);
• 442 - via Washington, Main/Spring, 6th/5th (no service on Figueroa between Washington and 6th/5th);
• 444, 446, 447, 460 - via Washington, Main/Spring, 6th/5th (no service on Figueroa/Flower between Washington and 6th/5th); and
• 40, 42, 45, 740, 745 - via Venice/16th, Main/Spring, 6th/5th (no service on Broadway between 6th/5th and Venice/16th).