El Monte Bus Station

Definitely improved since the renovation, parking in the main lots usually fill up by 9 am on most weekdays, usually Wednesday being the busiest in which you’re lucky to even get a spot!
If you’re in a hurry, I recommend heading straight for the overflow parking lot in the next block south of the station. (But you never know, some people do leave!)
The bike hub is a nice added feature, and the staff seem helpful enough. There are maps and screens that can also help you find your bus terminal.
Plenty of security patrolling the area, especially near the back lots since there is a bike path that connects from there.
The only qualms I have is during rush hour and those nasty speed bumps. There is only one way in, and one way out. With foot traffic blocking the intersections it can become a hassle. Those speed bumps, seem like they’re built to ruin your tires and suspension. I understand that it’s for safety, but I know you can also create speed bumps that aren’t as damaging too.

I have been coming to the El Monte Station for over 20 years and it looks completely different now.
Ton of parking ever since they opened up the space they got from the car dealership that used to be next door.
There are two levels so make sure you know what level your bus is on.
A lot more lights and so much more cleaner then it was before.
I did find it hard to find the bus number on the signs though but that might be because I do not come that often.
As an El Monte native, the new looking station is a 100 times better.

Poorly built, designed and managed. Buses take forever in the busy morning forcing you to wait and forming large lines in the cold or the rain. Parking is a pain in busy times because the way they designed the pedestrian crossings make it a nightmare to get in or exit. They post two speed limits which is 15 and 8mph and i dont know how they came up with 8mph. Another joke is the parking structure for compact cars only, doent make sense, who in management thought people would follow that? Also does not look like a 60 million dollar renovation

My first time since I was kiddo taking the Metro to DTLA for jury duty and had a great experience. I needed to meet my person by 6:45am and as usual I was too early. While waiting for him, I went to the kiosk and bought my Metro card. I believe you don’t have to buy a card as you can still drop money on the bus. I didn’t mind buying one for $ 1 as I may need it in the future.
I opted to buy the all day pass for $ 7 (plus $ 1 for card) as I wasn’t quite sure where else I may go. My person finally arrived and we headed to the bottom level and got in line for the Silverline. The buses arrive quite often and boarding and getting a seat was no issue. There are about 3 – 4 stops before you hit DTLA but leaving from the stating at 7am, I was only 5 minutes late for jury duty. The ride is approximately 30 minutes… at least to the courthouses.
There is stop in front of City Hall and another closer to Stanley Mosk. I got off at City Hall and walked to Stanley. Once my day was done, walked back and soon the Silverline arrived and I boarded. I have to say, it’s was very nice not battling traffic today. Just got on, found a seat and relaxed. I definitely enjoyed my Metro ride and if I ever work in DTLA, this may be the way to go!
Note-​of course there are many many different routes, I shall learn others but for now, getting to and from DTLA was a breeze.

Definitely a great way to commute, especially if you are driving into Downtown Los Angeles. I spent a week driving into DTLA for work — paying $ 15 a day for parking, 45 minutes to an hour in traffic, and most importantly, I was killing my patience! So, I finally gave the metro a chance. It was definitely very frightening at first, but people working at the station were kind and gave me directions. A commute from El Monte to DTLA is $ 2.50 one way, so $ 5 for a round trip. It takes approximately 35 – 45 minutes driving into DTLA (there are stops along the way to DTLA). If it is your first time taking the metro, you can buy a tap card for $ 1 and load however much you need to. You can also skip that and just drop exact change at the meter inside the bus.
If you arrive before 9am, you’ll find parking right around the station. If you arrive anytime after that, you’re out of luck and should just park off site. It’s a 5 minute walk, so it’s not bad. I didn’t discover this place until much later. I use to circle the parking lot for 15 minutes trying to find a spot. I eventually gave up and went to park my car on residential streets. However, when you see how shady they are, you’ll want to drive back to the station. The off site parking lot is located between the station and the 10 freeway. It still feels a big sketchy, but it is truly the metro station’s parking lot. Tip for the El Monte Bus Station: spend some money to fix that lot… that would make everyone more comfortable!
When you walk pass the front entrance, you will take some stairs heading down. If you’re going to DTLA, you will have to walk back upstairs to the other side. Very confusing, but it contributes to your 10,000 steps a day!
Overall, a great commute to get into DTLA or anywhere you desire. I plan on using it as much as I can!

Only one restroom stall for whole entire place. A bunch of Wierdo ‘s if you like that type of crowd. A good place to people watch in your spare time. Other than that if u need to catch a metro bus or a greyhound. This would be the spot.

Nothing works and the it has useless overpaid metro people and sheriffs deputies that must have gotten this job because they suck at being real cops. The handicap spots are filled with fakers (seriously would a 20 –something «handicapped» be able to sprint from the car? I’ve complained constantly to verify these people with placards but the lazy-​ass metro and sheriffs wont do their jobs. Not only that the escalators break once a week. The machines to add money to your tap card breaks… then they’re always fixing something because it wasn’t done right the first time (lowest bidder?). Now metro has to waterproof the top level. Why it didn’t occurred to the bozos to do this when you first constructed this? The remodeled station is 3 years old and is already falling apart. I just can’t wait till i retire!

I like that the station has more MTA bus pass machines now available. The station almost rivals Los Angeles’ Union Station itself. A very great help.

The El Monte Bus station is located right off the 10 freeway in El Monte. I came by here and transferred from the Silver Streak onto the 481. Very convenient, and the station was very clean and well kept. It’s quite large and many buses run through there to exchange the passengers.
Fortunately for me both buses were on time which made the travel easy for me, not sure if this is the case with all of the bus lines, but the Silver streak and 481 transfers seemed very seamless last week.
Anyone have a different experience? If, so please let me know.
Cheers fellow Unilocalers :)

Much safer than what it used to be that I have no problems arriving here at night. There’s security all around and plenty of parking. The outdoor lots right outside the station are the first to fill up, so drive near the parking garages in the back and you’ll find more parking.
I usually take the Silver Line or the Silver Streak which stops at Union Station and from there you can connect to the Metro Rail System. I do wish there was some walkway that connected street level to the upper level of bus stops. It just seems a waste to have to go down a bunch of stairs or the escalator, then take the stairs or escalator up to get to the same level.
Otherwise, safe and great way to connect to SoCal’s public transit system!

The El Monte Bus Station is quite convenient for me to travel the Metro Transits. It’s so easy, and I wish more L.A. people would take advantage of this transit system whether it’s for work or leisure… at least do it sometime to save yourself some gas, and it’s a great way to go green!
You first need to buy a one time bus card which resembles a gift card before you can charge the card. They have one day passes for $ 5.00, and monthly ones for a specific amount which I don’t believe is expensive. The $ 5.00 all day pass gives you unlimited MTA bus rides, and Metro Line rail rides around the county. Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles is the midpoint of every destination since all the Metro Lines, buses, and Silver Line Buses meet at this location.
Going back to the El Monte Bus Station, it is about a ten minutes drive there. The bus station has a huge parking structure for you to park your car before going on the Metros. Each metro ride is around $ 1.25, but a day pass for five bucks is well worth it.
You will then take the Silver Line Bus to Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles. The Silver Lines runs every 15 minutes during the day, and probably once every 30 to 40 minutes at nights.
If you simply want to go on a bus from El Monte, that will work too. You need to read the signs on the buses and figure out which bus stop they will be stopping. I found this to be a bit confusing because there are so many buses coming in and out. But I guess if the you are a regular bus rider, it should be a breeze.
The bus station is still quite new from the style of it. It seems very modern with a nice parking structure, and self service pay kiosks. The station is huge and accommodating. However, it’s not used to capacity from the empty offices observed while there. But at least it’s well lit, and there are always people there.
Go Green! :)

After planning my trip the MTA website recommended I get a DAY PASS. From looking at the methodology if you already have an MTA card its only $ 5 to load the DAY PASS. If you don’t have an MTA card, you have two options: 1) buy the DAY PASS and card from the bus driver for $ 6, or you can get the DAY PASS and card from the station for $ 7. That’s a no-​brainer.

The security staff were very nice. The escalators were broken down, the elevator was broken down.. . Glad I had two legs made for walking! I was here in passing. It was pretty for a bus station but a lot of things were broken today.

This is the 2^nd time in 3 hours that I have seen people hit up other passengers and ask if they could get transfers for them. People finding ways not to pay full price when they have to take more than 2 buses. Yes I was one of the suckers, and yes I even have her the change to get it. Not sure if I felt bad or maybe she is broke and really needs to be somewhere. Like I said before, it’s between her and her God.

I have a huge complaint about the MTA bus drivers in EL MONTE especially at night! They are OFTEN driving way too fast. But this conplaint is for the idiot driver of a MTA bus with turning into the el monte station that went around me on Santa Anita then merging directly INTO my car at least 40MPH!!! This is a 35mph zone and this driver assumed i had enough space to avoid him/​her completely side railing my car!!! Not to mention he was less than half a mile before he had to make a right turn!!! I merged in at Valley headed south on santa anita and this driver went around me from the fire station to the first light (Ramona). That is not enought distance to SAFELY pass a vehicle in city streets!!! MTA MGMT NEEDS TO REALLY SEE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THEIR DRIVERS AND STOP THE RECKLESS DRIVING THAT WILL CAUSE A HUGE ACCIDENT!!!

LA/​Sgv public transportation