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 Ecoliner – 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 retires its last diesel vehicle, resulting in an environmentally responsible fleet composed entirely of CNG and all-electric vehicles.

2014

• Foothill Transit begins operating Line 291 between La Verne and Pomona using only Ecoliner buses – making it the first fast-charge electric bus line in the United States.