Montebello Bus Lines

Montebello Bus Lines is a municipal bus operator in Montebello, USA, mainly serving East Los Angeles, Commerce, and Montebello.

History of Montebello Bus Lines

Montebello Bus Lines began on July 28, 1931, with a small lot on the corner of Greenwood Ave. and Olympic Blvd, where the four buses the agency operated were housed. The conception of Montebello Bus Lines came after several other transit services had served the area.

Two years after the City of Montebello was incorporated in 1920, the City launched its first attempt at operating a municipal bus line. But the City then decided to sell its bus operation to the Motor Transit Company in 1928.

Three years later, in 1931, the City purchased the line back from the Motor Transit Company, and Montebello Bus Lines was born.^[1] In the agency’s early days, passengers paid a nickel to ride the bus and bus operators earned $120 per month.

Montebello Bus Lines has grown to be the third largest municipal transit agency in Los Angeles County, operating seven local routes, three express routes and a Dial-a-Ride service. Montebello Bus Lines serves 14 communities, providing transportation to 9.5 million passengers on an annual basis.

Montebello Bus Lines plans to purchase 42 more hybrid buses in the near future. Its peak period fleet of 67 buses was recently enhanced with the addition of five hybrid gasoline-electric buses. Montebello Bus Lines plans to purchase 25 more hybrid buses in the next three years, replacing 15 of its diesel fuel buses^[2]

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has recognized Montebello Bus Line’s service. Montebello Bus Lines is the recipient of APTA's Outstanding Transit System Award in 1999; and has also been recognized for safety practices with APTA's top Silver Safety Award in 1999 and Achievement Award in 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2002.

LINK, which offers a curb-to-curb shuttle to and from the Montebello/Commerce Metrolink station.^[3]

The City of Montebello also operates Montebello Dial-a-Taxi, a program which offers transportation for senior residents and qualified disabled persons of any age and their attendants. 15,000 residents utilize this service.^[4]

Routes

Montebello Bus Lines consists of 10 lines in the Central & West San Gabriel Valley. Montebello Bus Lines fixed route services can broadly be divided into three types: Major Local Services, Minor Local Services, and Peak Express Service. Lines 10, 20, and 40 are the major service lines. Lines 30, 50, 60, and 70 are the minor service lines. Lines 341, 342, and 343 are the express lines.

Local Routes

10 - Whittier Boulevard

Line 10 operates every 5–8 minutes on weekdays. Operates every 10–20 minutes during early morning and late night service. Trips to and from Whittwood Mall operate every 15–30 minutes with early morning and late evening service every 15–40 minutes. Last bus departs from ELAC to Pico Rivera at 12:28 AM and Whittwood Mall to Garfield Ave at 12:45 AM. Operates every 15 minutes on weekends and every 30–40 minutes during early morning and late evening service. Trips to Whittwood Mall operate every 20 minutes; early morning and evening service operates every 30–60 minutes. Last bus departs from ELAC to Whittwood Mall at 11:44 PM and from Whittwood Mall to Garfield Avenue at 12:42 AM. The eastern portion replaced former Metro Express line 470 and Metro Local line 18.

20 - Greenwood Avenue, Montebello Boulevard, San Gabriel Boulevard

Line 20 operates every 15 minutes on weekdays. Trips to and from San Gabriel & Las Tunas operate every 30 minutes. Last bus departs San Gabriel & Las Tunas to Telegraph & Gage at 10:20 PM and from Telegraph Road to San Gabriel & Garvey at 10:00 PM. Operates every 15 minutes on weekends from Telegraph & Gage in Montebello to San Gabriel & Garvey in Rosemead. Service to Las Tunas Drive will not be provided on weekends. Last bus departs from Telegraph Road to San Gabriel & Garvey at 9:30 PM and from San Gabriel & Garvey to Telegraph Road at 10:05 PM. It used to run to Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line Station until January 2009 due to duplication with Metro Express line 487.

30 - Garfield Avenue

Line 30, replacing Metro Local line 262, operates every 45 minutes on weekdays. Late evening service operates every 60 minutes. Last bus departs from Huntington Drive at 9:50 PM and from Firestone Boulevard at 10:45 PM. Operates every 40 minutes on weekends. Early morning and late evening service operates every 60 minutes. Last bus departs from Huntington Drive at 11:10 PM and from Firestone Boulevard at 10:30 PM. On weekends the last bus departs from Huntington Drive at 9:50 PM and from Firestone Boulevard at 10:45 PM.

40 - 3rd/4th Streets, Beverly Boulevard

Line 40 operates every 8–10 minutes on weekdays. Early morning and evening service operates every 15–20 minutes. Selected trips to and from Norwalk Boulevard operate every 20–30 minutes. Last Beverly Hospital bus departs from Downtown LA at 10:13 PM, and westbound from Beverly Hospital at 9:16 PM. Operates every 15 minutes on weekends from Beverly Hospital to Downtown LA, and selected trips to and from Norwalk Boulevard operate every 30 minutes. Last Beverly Hospital bus departs from Downtown LA at 11:22 PM, and westbound from Beverly Hospital at 10:28 PM.

50 - Washington Boulevard

Line 50, replacing Metro Local lines 65 and 104, operates every 30 minutes on weekdays. Operates every 60 minutes during late night service. Last bus departs from Downtown LA at 11:40 PM and from City of La Mirada at 10:50 PM. Operates every 60 minutes on Saturday. Last bus departs from Downtown LA to Montebello at 10:50 PM and from City of La Mirada to Montebello at 9:50 PM.

60 - Passons Avenue

Line 60 operates every 35 minutes on weekdays. Early morning and evening service operates every 70 minutes. Last bus departs from San Gabriel River Parkway at 9:03 PM and from Telegraph Road at 9:40 PM. Operates every 70 minutes on Saturdays. Last bus departs from San Gabriel River Parkway at 9:03 PM and from Telegraph Road at 9:40 PM.

70 - Via Campo, Wilcox Avenue, Mines Avenue

Line 70 operates every 30 minutes. Last bus departs from Town Center at 6:30 PM and from Mines & Greenwood at 6:00 PM. Operates weekdays only.

Express Routes

341 - Taylor Ranch Express

Departs Taylor Ranch to Downtown LA at 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM and every 30 minutes from 3:07 PM – 5:07 PM. Departs Downtown LA every 30 minutes from 6:50 AM – 8:50 AM and at 2:50 PM – 4:20 PM.

342 - Norwalk Boulevard Express

Departs Norwalk Boulevard to Downtown LA at 5:53 AM. Departs from Downtown LA to Norwalk at 4:25 PM and 4:50 PM.

Future Routes

80? - Eastern Avenue

Trip that will take Metro Local line 256

Former Routes

343 Telegraph Road Express

Former Route. Departs Gage Avenue and Telegraph Road to Downtown LA at 6:20 AM and 6:50 AM. Departs from Downtown LA to Gage Avenue and Telegraph Road at 5:20 PM and 5:50 PM.

Fares

Active Bus Fleet

References

External links

1 http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_11222459

• City of Montebello - Bus Lines