History

Take a look back at the many ways Foothill Transit has been going good places throughout the years.

1988

• In response to service cuts and fare increases announced by the Southern California Rapid Transit District (RTD), 22 member cities in the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys create Foothill Transit to assume control of bus operations in the area.
• The Los Angeles County Transportation Commission (LACTC) approves Foothill Transit’s application to assume operation of 14 lines previously operated by the RTD.
• Fixed-route bus service begins in December 1988 with operation of Lines 495 and 498.
• Foothill Transit assumes administration of the Bus Service Continuation Project and begins providing service on an additional six lines abandoned by the RTD.
• After analyzing the region’s transit needs, Foothill Transit begins modifying existing lines, increasing weekday service, introducing weekend service and creating new service.

1993

• Foothill Transit is named “Outstanding Transit System” of its size by APTA.

1995

• Foothill Transit is named “Outstanding Transit System” of its size by APTA for the 2nd time.
• The National Safety Council, Greater Los Angeles Chapter, recognizes Foothill Transit with first-place awards for its safety programs.

1996

• The National Safety Council, Greater Los Angeles Chapter, recognizes Foothill Transit with first-place awards for its safety programs for the 2nd year in a row.

1997

• The National Safety Council, Greater Los Angeles Chapter, recognizes Foothill Transit with first-place awards for its safety programs for the 3rd year in a row.

1998

• The National Safety Council, Greater Los Angeles Chapter, recognizes Foothill Transit with first-place awards for its safety programs for the 4th year in a row.

2001

• Foothill Transit is recognized as the safest transit agency of its size by APTA, winning their “Bus Safety Gold Award.”
• The National Safety Council, Greater Los Angeles Chapter, recognizes Foothill Transit with first-place awards for its safety programs for the 5th time.

2002

• Foothill Transit enters a cleaner new era by beginning its conversion to a compressed natural gas (CNG) fleet.
• Designed to complement its original operations center in Pomona, Foothill Transit opens its second agency-owned operations and maintenance facility, on the border of Arcadia and Irwindale.

2006

• Foothill Transit’s administrative offices are relocated to the Vincent Avenue building in West Covina.

2007

• Foothill Transit launches the region’s first cross-valley, high occupancy bus service – the Silver Streak. Covering approximately 40 miles from Montclair to downtown Los Angeles, the Silver Streak spends about five percent of its total trip time on surface streets, utilizing freeways and HOV lanes for quick commuting between designated station stops.

2010

• Foothill Transit unveils the all-electric bus – which produces zero tailpipe emissions, runs on a whisper-quiet engine and charges in just 10 minutes – becoming the first transit agency in the United States to bring a revolutionary fast-charge electric bus into service.

2013

• Foothill Transit unveils its first new fleet design in the agency’s 25 year history.
• The Class Pass pilot program begins at two local colleges, a unique program instituted by Foothill Transit that allows students affordable unlimited access to local Foothill Transit lines and the Silver Streak.
• Foothill Transit opens its first Park & Ride facility in the City of Industry, situated next to a busy Metrolink station.

2014

• Foothill Transit begins operating Line 291 between La Verne and Pomona using only electric buses – making it the first fast-charge electric bus line in the United States.
• Foothill Transit is honored as Employer of the Year by the WTS Los Angeles Area Chapter.

2016

• Foothill Transit partners with Metro and the City of Azusa to open the Azusa Intermodal Transit Center.
• Foothill Transit embarks on a bold new vision to fully electrify their bus fleet by 2030 – replacing Foothill Transit’s fleet of over 300 buses.
• Foothill Transit begins operating the discontinued LA Metro Lines 190, 194, and the northern segment of Line 270, between Monrovia and El Monte Station.
• Foothill Transit begins operating Line 196 between the Downtown Azusa Gold Line station and the LA County Fair at the Pomona Fairplex.

2017

• Foothill Transit is the first to operate revenue service with an extended range battery electric bus, the Proterra Catalyst E2. The bus started service on Line 280, between Azusa and the City of Industry.
• The Class Pass program expands to serve students at Citrus College and with a pilot program at The Claremont Colleges.
• Foothill Transit becomes the first bus-only transit system in North America to attain APTA’s Sustainability Commitment Platinum Level.
• The fare structure is updated for the first time in a decade, with the addition of a Day Pass by popular request.

2018

• Foothill Transit is the first in the U.S. to buy zero emission all-electric double deck buses from Alexander Dennis Inc.