El Monte station (Los Angeles Metro)
| Company type | Bus station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | July 14, 1973 |
| Headquarters | El Monte, California , United States |
Area served | Los Angeles County, California |
| Products | Bus transit services |
El Monte station stands as a key regional bus station situated in El Monte, California, positioned next to Interstate 10. It functions as a stop for the Los Angeles Metro Busway's J Line, alongside services from Foothill Transit, Greyhound Lines, and El Monte Transit. This station marks the eastern endpoint of the J Line.
History
Originally envisioned in 1969 to provide an alternative route around traffic congestion on Interstate 10, the El Monte Busway aimed to reduce travel time between El Monte and Downtown Los Angeles to 18 minutes, compared to the usual 35–45 minutes via standard lanes. A $945,000 terminal was constructed, notable for its unique circular "Space Age" architectural style designed for efficient bus access, and was hailed as the world's first bus rapid transit station upon its opening on July 14, 1973.
By 1975, the station accommodated approximately 12,000 daily passengers and featured park-and-ride amenities that were expanded multiple times to satisfy increasing demand. It quickly established itself as a vital transit hub, facilitating express and local bus connections across various regions.
Ridership continued to rise steadily; by 2006, the Busway supported around 40,000 passengers and managed 1,100 bus trips each day. El Monte station had become the busiest bus facility west of Chicago, operating beyond its initial design capacity. To address overcrowding issues, Metro introduced six additional bus bays west of the main terminal in 2006.
On December 13, 2009, Metro inaugurated its second Busway service—the Silver Line (currently known as the J Line)—utilizing both the El Monte Busway and Harbor Transitway corridors. This initiative was financed by converting these routes into high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes under the Metro ExpressLanes program, with toll revenues allocated toward upgrading aging transit stations.
El Monte station was among the earliest facilities to receive enhancements. In 2010, the original terminal was demolished and replaced with a modern $60 million two-story structure nearly twice its previous size. The renovated station features increased bus bays, an expansive public plaza, a dedicated bicycle parking station, and customer service offices. This new facility officially opened on October 14, 2012.
In 2014, an art piece titled "El Monte Legion Stadium Nocturne," created by Vincent Ramos, was installed to pay tribute to prominent local music and sports personalities associated with the former Legion Stadium arena that was demolished in 1974.
Layout
Access to the station is provided at Santa Anita Avenue and Ramona Boulevard. The redesigned El Monte station incorporates 17 new bus bays on its lower level and 12 on the upper level, arranged to eliminate any at-grade crossings between buses and passengers. Travelers descend to the lower floor before returning to street level, although the upper floor aligns with existing ground grade.
Westward from the station, the transitway transitions from a dedicated right-of-way into lanes positioned along the center of Interstate 10. The facility includes a park and ride lot offering 1,760 parking spaces, with supplementary parking available in Downtown El Monte for commuters. The station also connects to the Rio Hondo bicycle trail located north of the site; however, previous direct access through the parking area was closed during terminal redevelopment.
Next to the station lies Division 9 bus yard, which serves as an entry and exit point for buses entering service.
Services
With a daily departure count of approximately 1,200 buses and serving around 22,000 passengers, El Monte station underwent a significant expansion finalized in October 2012. It stands as the most heavily utilized and frequently serviced among the nine stations on the Metro J Line.
The facility features staffed service counters that assist with Foothill Transit, Metro ExpressLanes, and Greyhound operations.
Effective December 15, 2024, the station offers the following transit options:
- El Monte Transit: Civic Center, Flair Park, and Green routes
- Foothill Transit: Silver Streak along with routes 178, 190, 194, 269, 270, 282, 486, 488, and 492
- Greyhound Lines
- Hollywood Bowl Shuttle
- Los Angeles Metro Bus: J Line (routes 910/950), routes 70, 76, 267, 268, 287, Express 577, and Metro Micro El Monte
- Norwalk Transit: route 7