Foothill Transit is a public transport agency serving the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys in eastern Los Angeles County, California. The bus system is funded by 22 member cities and provides fixed-route local transport, express service, the Silver Streak rapid bus route to Downtown Los Angeles, and selected service reaching nearby Orange and San Bernardino counties.
| Key | Information |
|---|---|
| Agency type | Public transit bus operator for local transport and regional transportation in eastern Los Angeles County |
| Service area | San Gabriel Valley, Pomona Valley, parts of eastern Los Angeles County, and selected nearby communities |
| Headquarters | West Covina |
| Operations yards | Pomona and Arcadia |
| Governance | Representatives from 22 member cities, plus three members appointed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors |
| Funding | Mainly local sales tax revenue, with farebox revenue covering the remaining share |
| Fleet | 359 buses |
| Core services | Local routes, express routes, commuter service, school supplementary service, and the Silver Streak |
Foothill Transit Map
The Foothill Transit map shows all available stops. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Foothill Transit map in PDF format.
Foothill Transit Routes
The Foothill Transit route network covers daily local buses, weekday express routes, the Silver Streak, and limited school or event services. As of the draft service information, the system includes 36 bus routes: 30 local routes, 6 express routes, and the Silver Streak bus rapid transit line between Montclair and Downtown Los Angeles.
Riders use the system for city transport across El Monte, Pomona, West Covina, Azusa, Montclair, Claremont, Pasadena, and nearby communities. For planning, the most useful details are the stations list, route timetable, frequency, and whether the line runs daily or only on weekdays.
Local routes
Foothill Transit local routes are fixed-route bus services with set weekday and weekend schedules. They connect major transit centers, colleges, shopping areas, and neighborhood stops throughout the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys.
| Station | Details |
|---|---|
| El Monte Station | Served by local routes including 178, 190, 270, and 492; a major transfer point for trips across the system. |
| Azusa Intermodal Transit Center | Served by Route 188 toward Montclair Transit Center via Route 66 and Foothill Boulevard. |
| Pomona Transit Center | Served by routes including 195, 197, 292, and 480, with connections toward Cal Poly Pomona, Montclair, and Claremont. |
| Montclair Transit Center | Served by routes including 188, 197, 480, 492, Silver Streak, and 699. |
| Claremont Transit Center | Served by routes including 188, 292, 480, and 492, with access to Claremont Colleges and Claremont Metrolink Station. |
| Mt. San Antonio College Transit Center | Served by routes including 190, 295, and 480. |
| Cal Poly Pomona | Served by local routes including 190, 195, 295, and 480, with Silver Streak service on weekdays during specified hours. |
| Duarte/City of Hope Station | Served by Route 861, operated as the Duarte eBus line by contract for the City of Duarte. |
Silver Streak
The Silver Streak is Foothill Transit’s bus rapid transit route between Los Angeles and Montclair. It serves Montclair, Pomona, West Covina, Baldwin Park, El Monte, and Los Angeles, with stops near Montclair Transit Center, Pomona Transit Center, Cal Poly Pomona, Plaza West Covina, Los Angeles City Hall, Grand Park, Little Tokyo, Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA Live, Crypto.com Arena, and the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Between Downtown Los Angeles and El Monte, buses use the El Monte Busway. Between El Monte and Montclair Transit Center, they continue on the San Bernardino Freeway. The route runs 24 hours a day, with hourly service late in the evening. On weekdays, it also serves Cal Poly Pomona from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Silver Streak was introduced in 2007 after overcrowding on Route 480. It uses articulated New Flyer Xcelsior XN60 buses powered by compressed natural gas. Between Downtown Los Angeles and El Monte Station, Foothill Transit and Metro offer a reciprocal fare program, so passengers can use either the Silver Streak or Metro J Line with a valid Foothill Transit pass or Metro pass.
Express routes
Foothill Transit express routes run on weekdays only, mainly in the peak direction. These services use the El Monte Busway and Interstate 10, with some routes continuing along I-605, SR 60, or other major corridors. The Silver Streak is separate because it runs 24/7.
| Route | Details |
|---|---|
| 490 | Downtown Los Angeles to Covina Transit Center or Grand Avenue Park & Ride via El Monte Busway, I-10, and Grand Avenue. |
| 493 | Downtown Los Angeles to Rowland Heights via El Monte Busway, I-10, I-605, SR 60, and Colima Road; service may use Valley Boulevard if SR 60 is congested. |
| 495 | Downtown Los Angeles to City of Industry via El Monte Busway, I-10, I-605, SR 60, and Brea Canyon Road; service may use Valley Boulevard if SR 60 is congested. |
| 498 | Downtown Los Angeles to West Covina City Hall Park & Ride via El Monte Busway and I-10. |
| 499 | Downtown Los Angeles to Via Verde Park & Ride via El Monte Busway and I-10. |
| 699 | Downtown Los Angeles to Montclair Transit Center via El Monte Busway and I-10; serves Fairplex Park & Ride. |
School supplementary routes
Foothill Transit also operates limited school supplementary service. These trips are not part of the regular all-day local route plan, so riders should check the schedule today before traveling.
| Route | Details |
|---|---|
| 853 | Diamond Bar Copley Drive and Golden Springs Drive to Diamond Ranch High School via Golden Springs Drive; operates on school days only. |
Tickets & Fares and Discounts
Foothill Transit fares cover local buses, the Silver Streak, Commuter Express routes, students, seniors, persons with disabilities, Medicare riders, Access riders, and children. You can pay with cash, a TAP card, or the TAP LA app. If paying cash, exact fare is required because operators cannot make change.
| Fare type | Single Trip | Day Pass | 10-Trip Pass | 31-Day Pass | EZ Transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Local + Silver Streak | $1.75 USD | $6.00 USD | $14.00 USD | $60.00 USD | $110.00 USD |
| Student Local + Silver Streak | $1.00 USD | $4.00 USD | $8.00 USD | $40.00 USD | Not available |
| Children | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Senior/Persons with Disabilities/Medicare Local | $0.75 USD | $3.00 USD | $6.00 USD | $30.00 USD | $42.00 USD |
| Access | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Commuter Express | $5.50 USD | Not available | $44.00 USD | $180.00 USD | $220.00 USD |
A Single Trip is one ride in one direction. A Day Pass gives unlimited rides on Local and Silver Streak lines until 3 a.m. the next day. A 10-Trip Pass includes ten one-way rides and can be used with free 2-hour transfers. A 31-Day Pass gives unlimited rides for 31 days after first use. EZ Transit Passes are valid for unlimited rides on participating Los Angeles County transit agencies.
Pass sales are final and non-refundable. Foothill Transit is not responsible for lost or stolen passes or TAP cards, and fares may change at any time. For a quick fare calculator, compare your expected rides with the ticket price of a single trip, day pass, 10-trip pass, or 31-day pass.
Transfers
Transfers are easiest with TAP. Between Foothill Transit local buses and the Silver Streak, unlimited transfers within two hours are free when you pay with TAP.
Transfers from Foothill Transit to Metro or other TAP-participating agencies within two and a half hours are handled automatically when your TAP card has Stored Value. Tap when you board, then tap again when you transfer; the transfer fare is deducted from Stored Value.
From another agency to Foothill Transit, transfers cost $0.50 USD for adults and students, and $0.25 USD for seniors, persons with disabilities, and Medicare customers.
Transfers to Commuter Express Lines 490, 493, 495, 498, 499, and 699 use separate fares. Adult fares are $3.75 USD from Foothill Transit and $4.25 USD from other TAP-participating agencies. Student fares are $4.50 USD from Foothill Transit and $5.00 USD from other agencies. Senior, persons with disabilities, and Medicare fares are $4.75 USD from Foothill Transit and $5.00 USD from other agencies.
Transfers between Foothill Transit and Omnitrans are free at Pomona Transit Center and Montclair Transit Center when you show the accepted TAP card or Omnitrans pass. OCTA riders can transfer to Foothill Transit at the Beach and La Habra stop or Brea Mall for free with an OCTA monthly pass or day pass. Metrolink monthly passes and tickets are accepted for free transfers to Foothill Transit local lines and the Silver Streak, but not on Commuter Express routes.
Silver Streak to Metro J Line (Metro Silver)
Foothill Transit’s Silver Streak and Metro’s J Line share service between El Monte Station and Downtown Los Angeles. If you have a valid Foothill Transit pass or Metro pass, you can ride either line in the shared service area.
At shared stops, board the first bus that arrives, tap your pass, and continue your trip. Special promotional passes are not eligible for this program.
Discounts
Discounted fare options require a special reduced-fare TAP card. Eligible riders can apply in person at a Foothill Transit Store or online through TAP.
| Pass type | Single Trip | Day Pass | 10-Trip Pass | 31-Day Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K-12 Students | $1.00 USD | $4.00 USD | $8.00 USD | $40.00 USD |
| College and Vocational Students | $1.00 USD | $4.00 USD | $8.00 USD | $40.00 USD |
| Seniors | $0.75 USD | $3.00 USD | $6.00 USD | $30.00 USD |
| Persons with Disabilities/Medicare | $0.75 USD | $3.00 USD | $6.00 USD | $30.00 USD |
K-12 students under 21 enrolled in an accredited elementary, middle, or high school in Los Angeles County may qualify. Accepted documents include a current report card, valid school ID, birth certificate for K-8, class schedule, or a school letter confirming enrollment.
College and vocational students may qualify based on enrollment and course-load requirements. Seniors age 62 or older may qualify with a government-issued photo ID. Persons with disabilities and Medicare card holders may qualify with the required identification and supporting documents.
The Metro LIFE Program may provide a free 90-day pass on participating transit systems, including Foothill Transit, for eligible riders. After the first 90 days, participants may receive 20 free rides each month on one transit agency or apply the LIFE subsidy to a pass.
College Passes
Foothill Transit partners with colleges and universities in the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys to offer passes that reduce the cost of local transport for students, faculty, and staff where eligible.
- University of La Verne: Class Pass for free rides on Foothill Transit Local and Silver Streak lines.
- The Claremont Colleges: Class Pass for faculty, staff, and students at participating Claremont institutions.
- Cal Poly Pomona: Class Pass for eligible students.
- Azusa Pacific University: Class Pass for current students, valid for unlimited rides on Foothill Transit buses during the school year.
- Citrus College: GoPass with unlimited free rides on Foothill Transit local lines and many other Los Angeles County agencies.
- Mt. San Antonio College: GoPass with unlimited free rides on Foothill Transit local lines and many other county agencies.
- U-Pass: Accepted on Foothill Transit local and Silver Streak buses for students from participating schools such as Pasadena City College, Rio Hondo College, Caltech, Cal State LA, UCLA, and USC Graduate School.
- GoPass: Accepted for participating K-12 schools and community colleges on local lines and the Silver Streak.
TAP Cards
The TAP card, or Transit Access Pass, is a reusable electronic card that can hold Foothill Transit passes and cash value. It is the only way to receive free 2-hour transfers between Foothill Transit buses, lower-cost transfers to Metro, and reduced-fare discounts for eligible riders.
You can load Foothill Transit passes, Metro passes, passes from other Los Angeles County transit agencies, and Stored Value between $5.00 USD and $200.00 USD. TAP cards are available for $2.00 USD and are designed to last 10 years.
TAP cards, passes, and Stored Value are available through the TAP LA app, Foothill Transit Stores, the TAP website, by phone, at vendor locations, and at TAP vending machines. Riders can also load up to $20.00 USD on buses.
- Fare bought online, in the app, or by phone may take up to 1 hour before it can be used on the bus.
- Each TAP card can hold 7 fare items at once.
- Stored Value counts as a fare item.
- Valid Foothill Transit passes are used before Stored Value.
- Balance Protection helps protect your pass and cash balance if your registered card is lost or stolen.
Schedules
Foothill Transit schedules, route timetables, operating hours, opening times, service frequency, and real-time updates are available through the Moovit app and website. Riders can check schedule today details, delays, route changes, stop changes, and service alerts before traveling.
| Service detail | Timings |
|---|---|
| Silver Streak operating hours | Runs 24 hours a day; late evening service is hourly. |
| Silver Streak to Cal Poly Pomona | Weekdays from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Express route working hours | Weekdays only, mainly in the peak direction; check the train schedule-style route timetable in the app before travel. |
| School supplementary route 853 | School days only. |
| Day Pass running time | Valid on Local and Silver Streak lines until 3 a.m. the next day. |
| Holiday opening hours | Bus and store opening hours may change during the winter holiday period. |
| Christmas Day and New Year’s Day service | All bus lines run according to weekend or Sunday schedules on Thursday, December 25, and Thursday, January 1. |
| New Year’s Eve free rides | Free rides from 4 a.m. on Wednesday, December 31, to 3 a.m. on Thursday, January 1, 2026. |
Major lines shown in the service materials include 178, 185, 187, 188, 190, 194, 269, 270, 272, 274, 280, 281, 284, 295, 480, 493, 498, 707 Silver Streak, and 861. For timings today, last train-style bus departures, starting time, closing time, and whether a line is close to your stop, check the live route plan before you go.
Holiday Schedules
During the winter holiday period, Foothill Transit bus service and store opening hours may change. Rider Alerts can send text or email notifications about detours, schedule changes, and service adjustments on the lines you ride.
| Service detail | Timings |
|---|---|
| Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24 | All stores closed; 800-RIDE-INFO open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25 | All stores and 800-RIDE-INFO closed; bus lines run on weekend or Sunday schedules. |
| New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31 | El Monte Transit Store open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; West Covina Transit Store open 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 800-RIDE-INFO open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| New Year’s Day, Thursday, January 1 | All stores closed; 800-RIDE-INFO open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; selected lines run on weekend or Sunday schedules. |
For New Year’s Day, the weekend or Sunday schedule applies to lines 178, 185, 187, 188, 190, 194, 195, 197, 269, 270, 272, 274, 280, 281, 282, 284, 285, 286, 289, 291, 480, 482, 486, 488, 492, and Silver Streak.
Park & Ride
Foothill Transit serves several Park & Ride and transit center locations across the San Gabriel Valley and nearby communities. These sites give riders convenient boarding points for local buses, express service, and connections with other public transportation.
| Station | Details |
|---|---|
| Arcadia Station | 200 N First Ave, Arcadia, CA 91105; part of the Metro A Line and served by Metro buses and Foothill Transit Line 270. |
| Industry Park and Ride | Located at City of Industry Metrolink Station, 500 S. Brea Canyon Road; includes a 200-space structure, bike racks, security cameras, and emergency boxes on every floor. |
| West Covina City Hall Park and Ride | Served by Foothill Transit Line 498. |
| Via Verde Park & Ride | Served by Foothill Transit Line 499. |
| Montclair Transit Center | Served by Foothill Transit Line 699 and other regional service. |
| Fairplex Park & Ride | 1810 & 19 Gillette Road, Pomona, CA 91768; 553 parking spaces; served by Foothill Transit Lines 197 and 699 and OCTA Line 757. |
Station parking rules and amenities vary by location. At Fairplex Park & Ride, parking is first come, first served, overnight parking is not permitted, and riders park at their own risk. The site includes a port-a-potty and a security guard. Parking charges and parking charges per day are not listed in the provided service information.
Brief History
Foothill Transit took shape in 1987 and 1988 as a joint powers authority after proposed Southern California Rapid Transit District service cuts and fare increases threatened bus access in the San Gabriel Valley. The original agency had 20 member cities, and Pasadena later voted to join in 1998.
In 1987, the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission approved Foothill Transit to take over 14 SCRTD routes serving the San Gabriel Valley. Service was planned to begin on July 1, 1988, but a lawsuit by SCRTD drivers and mechanics unions delayed the launch.
SCRTD agreed in December 1988 to let Foothill Transit take over the bus lines in exchange for restored funding. Foothill’s first two routes were 495 and 498. The remaining routes were transferred between 1989 and 1992, and Foothill Transit prevailed in a February 1993 court ruling.
The agency later expanded its operations. It opened an agency-owned operations facility in Pomona in 1997, followed by a facility in Arcadia in 2002. Administrative offices moved to West Covina in 2007.
Foothill Transit launched the Silver Streak in 2007 as a cross-valley bus service between Montclair and Downtown Los Angeles. It began converting its fleet to compressed natural gas in 2002, completed that transition in 2013, and introduced battery electric buses in 2010. In 2014, Line 291 became the first all-electric, zero-emissions bus line operating in Los Angeles County.
Nearby Attractions
Foothill Transit connects riders with shopping, dining, colleges, entertainment districts, civic centers, and regional attractions across the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys. Many trips combine Foothill Transit buses with major stations and transfer points on the stations map.
Downtown Los Angeles Attractions
Foothill Transit provides express service to Downtown Los Angeles, including Line 495 from City of Industry. Along the route, riders can reach Los Angeles City Hall, Grand Park, Little Tokyo, Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Museum of Contemporary Art, the Chinese American Museum, and the Japanese American National Museum.
The line also serves areas near Union Station, Pershing Square, Grand Hope Park, and Fig & 7th. For eastbound trips from Downtown Los Angeles, buses only pick up passengers, and beyond Cal State L.A. they only drop off passengers. Traffic may affect the service pattern.
Pomona and Claremont
Foothill Transit Line 197 links Pomona, La Verne, Claremont, and Montclair. It is useful for reaching the School of Arts and Enterprise, Downtown Pomona Farmers Market, North-West College-Pomona, Ganesha High, Pomona Fairplex, Sheraton Fairplex Conference Center, Keck Graduate Institute, Claremont Farmers Market, Claremont Village, Claremont Lincoln University, and Pomona College.
The route also serves La Cachanilla, Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park, Walmart, and City of Pomona Recreation. Line 197 runs between Pomona Transit Center and Claremont-Montclair Transit Center.
West Covina and San Gabriel Valley
West Covina is central to Foothill Transit’s service area and agency structure. The administrative offices are in West Covina, and the city is part of the member-city joint powers authority that guides the system.
For riders in West Covina, Route 480 links Plaza West Covina and Montclair Transcenter, Route 272 connects Mountain Vista Plaza with Plaza West Covina, and Express Route 498 serves West Covina City Hall Park & Ride with weekday service via the El Monte Busway and I-10 to Downtown Los Angeles.
Colleges and Major Transit Centers
Foothill Transit serves several colleges and major transfer points across the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys. Route 188 connects Azusa Intermodal Transit Center with Montclair Transit Center and serves Citrus College, Azusa Pacific University, the Claremont Colleges, Claremont Transit Center, and Claremont Metrolink Station.
Route 190 links El Monte Station with Cal Poly Pomona and also serves Eastland Center and Mt. San Antonio College Transit Center. Other important transfer points include Montclair Transit Center, Pomona Transit Center, Claremont Transit Center, West Covina Transit Store, and Via Verde Park & Ride.
Some locations connect with Omnitrans service, including Indian Hill Boulevard and Holt Avenue, where passes and transfers are accepted. For college trips, check the route timetable and fare before you travel.