El Monte Station
El Monte Station | |||||||||||
Location | 3501 Santa Anita Ave., El Monte, CA 91731 | ||||||||||
Coordinates | 34°04′17.94″N 118°02′35.82″W / 34.0716500°N 118.0432833°WCoordinates: 34°04′17.94″N 118°02′35.82″W / 34.0716500°N 118.0432833°W | ||||||||||
Owned by | Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority | ||||||||||
Line(s) | Silver Line | ||||||||||
Platforms | 2 multi-bay island platforms | ||||||||||
Construction | |||||||||||
Parking | 1,760 park & ride spaces | ||||||||||
Bicycle facilities |
26 bike rack spaces 16 locker spaces | ||||||||||
Disabled access | Yes | ||||||||||
History | |||||||||||
Opened | 1973 | ||||||||||
Rebuilt | October 14, 2012 | ||||||||||
Services | |||||||||||
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El Monte Station is large regional bus station in the city of El Monte just off the Interstate 10 (San Bernardino Freeway) serving the Metro Silver Line, Foothill Transit, Greyhound and also El Monte Transit. It is the Metro Silver Line's eastern terminus. According to Metro the station is the largest bus-only transit station west of Chicago.[1]
History
The old transit center was opened in 1973 at the eastern end of the El Monte Busway. Due to increasing bus congestion, a separate lower level station for local buses was constructed in 2006. Both stations were demolished in 2010 to create a new terminal, with a temporary terminal on a portion of the old parking lot as an interim improvement.[2] The new terminal opened on October 14, 2012, and at that time the temporary terminal was closed and returned into a parking lot. This 11 mile busway connects the San Gabriel Valley, through the El Monte Transit Center to Downtown Los Angeles. The transit center also provides timed transfer connections for patrons of local bus services.
Services
With 22,000 passengers and 1,200 bus departures daily the station was doubled in size in a renovation which was completed in October 2012. Of all the 9 Metro Silver Line stations, the El Monte Station is the busiest and most served station by the Metro Silver Line. With the "Silver 2 Silver" program, Cal State LA students who have Metro passes can use the Foothill Transit's Silver Streak bus between Downtown Los Angeles and El Monte Station at no additional charge. Similarly, Foothill Transit Silver Streak riders may use their passes on the Metro Silver Line between El Monte Station and Downtown Los Angeles.
Staffed counters are available for Foothill Transit (operated by Veolia Transportation), Metro Expresslanes (operated by Xerox Business Solutions), and Greyhound.
Layout
■Silver Line | toward Harbor Gateway Transit Center (Cal State LA) |
The entrance to the station is located at the corner of Santa Anita Ave and Ramona Boulevard. The new layout of El Monte Station features 17 new bus berths on the lower level and 12 additional berths on the upper level. The design of the station is such that there are no at grade crossings of passengers and buses. Although the upper level is at existing grade, passengers are required to descend into the lower level and return to the ground level.
Just west of this station the transitway moves off the separate right of way and moves into the middle of Interstate 10. The station has a 1,760 space park and ride lot. There are additional spaces in Downtown El Monte which can be used by commuters. The station also has a connection to the Rio Hondo bicycle trail via Pioneer Park, which is north of the station. Previously the station had a connection through the parking lot, but that was fenced off when construction of the new terminal began.
The Division 9 bus yard is located next to the bus station, and buses coming into, or going out of service, enter and leave from that yard.
Renovation
A $60 million renovation new El Monte Station opened to the public on Sunday, October 14, 2012. [3]The new facility is designed to meet increasing travel demands in the corridor and to promote increased levels of transit use.[4]
The station features a new transit store, where Metro and Foothill Transit fare media can be purchased, a store to purchase transponders for the Metro ExpressLanes pilot project on the I-110 and I-10 freeways and a Greyhound Ticket Office. A sculpture by renowned artist Donald Lipski is incorporated in the new El Monte Station as part of Metro’s public art program. “Time Piece” features three functional clocks suspended from a sweeping stainless steel arch using a web of thin stainless steel cables.
In January 2013 Metro announced that it is in the process of installing four TAP card vending machines for passengers at the El Monte Station, which was completed in June 2013.
Metro Bike Hub
Opening early this year, the El Monte Station will feature a brand new secure bicycle parking room to better serve multi-modal travelers. The Metro Bike Hub will open with parking for 60 bikes, a bike repair stand and bike pump, as well as controlled access and 24-hour security cameras. Users will need to register and pay a small fee to access the area – similar to Metro’s bicycle locker program. Located in the south building near the station entrance, the new Metro Bike Hub is expected to open toward the end of the year and is the first of several similar facilities planned.[5]
Ramona Corridor Access Project
Current joint plans with the City of El Monte also call for the Ramona Corridor Transit Center Access Project. [6]This Ramona Corridor Transit Center Access Project at the Santa Anita Avenue and Ramona Boulevard intersection consists of constructing a new underpass structure with eastern approaches on Ramona and direct access to the new El Monte Bus Station on the west. The underpass is intended as a transit only access to the Transit Center's lower level local platform. Ramona Boulevard (east of Santa Anita Avenue) will continue to be a four lane arterial roadway (separated by the approach to the Santa Anita grade separation), with provisions for pedestrian sidewalks and a Class III bicycle route.
The entire project is 1,645 feet in length, from the beginning of the easterly approach to the westerly limit at the entrance to the El Monte Transit Center. Provision for this entry to the local bus platform at the lower level of the El Monte Transit Center is provided for in the current MTA plans.
The “no-build’ alternative was rejected because the increasing levels of congestion and thus delay for transit vehicles would not be mitigated. The cost impacts of lost time for patrons and lower performance levels for the bus systems supported the rejection of this alternative. This project is scheduled to be completed by early 2015.
Services
The last Metro Silver Line southbound trip towards Downtown Los Angeles & Harbor Gateway Transit departs El Monte Station at 12:44 a.m. on Mondays-Thursdays and Sundays/Holidays. The last Metro Silver Line southbound trip towards Downtown Los Angeles & Harbor Gateway Transit departs El Monte Station at 1:47 a.m. on Fridays & Saturdays.
- Metro Silver Line
- Metro Local: 70, 76, 176, 190, 194, 267, 268, 270
- Metro Express: 487, 577
- Metro Rapid: 770
- Foothill Transit: 178, 282, 289, 486, 488, 492, 494
- Foothill Silver Streak
- El Monte Trolley: Flair, Civic Center
- Greyhound Lines
Nearby Dining and Attractions
- Pioneer Park
- Downtown El Monte (Shops)
- Santa Fe Plaza (Restaurants and Shops)
- El Comalero Pupuseria Restaurant
- Guerrero Produce Market
- Paleteria La Reyna De Michoacan
Station Photos
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A Metro Express bus for Metro Express Line 577.
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Some of Metro's bus bays.
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Paranormal view of the temporary El Monte Station.
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Metro Silver Line at rest.
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Metro Silver Line bus.
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El Monte Metro Silver Line Station- Temporary Pylon Sign.
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Metro bus bays.
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Metro bus bays.
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Metro Express Line 577 using a NABI 40 LFW.
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El Monte Metro Silver Line Station- Wall Sign.
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Metro bus bay 5.
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Metro Silver Line bus at the temporary El Monte Station. Construction ended on 10/23/12.
References
External links
- Metro Silver Line Destinations (English)
- Metro Silver Line Destinations (Spanish)
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