Representatives of Los Angeles Metro recently joined a host of elected and community officials to dedicate the state-of-the-art El Monte Bus Station, which underwent a thorough overhaul and expansion.

The upgrade of the El Monte facility, which originally opened in 1973, is part of the Congestion Reduction Demonstration Program known as Metro ExpressLanes, funded by a $210 million DOT grant.

The $60 million station consists of a new two-story building that will house a public bus and terminal station with limited retail space, a customer service center, and surface parking.

It is twice the size of the old facility, equipped with such amenities as variable message signs, intercoms, closed circuit television, solar panels, wayfinding equipment and information displays, new elevators and escalators, a transit store, bike stations, and lockers.

Metro and Caltrans District 7 are partnering with Foothill Transit, Gardena Transit, Los Angeles DOT, and Torrance Transit in a one-year demonstration project during which existing carpool lanes on the I-10 El Monte Busway and the I-110 Harbor Transitway will be converted to high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes called Metro ExpressLanes. The project includes funding to improve transportation facilities in El Monte near the I-10 San Bernardino Freeway and the Harbor Gateway Transit Center in Gardena adjacent to the I-110 Harbor Transitway.

Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metro Board Member Gloria Molina added: “El Monte is the transit hub of the San Gabriel Valley, and this bus station is a major connection point for thousands of daily commuters. We're proud to offer a new, top-quality facility to Metro bus riders.”

Artist Donald Lipski designed “Time Piece” as a contemporary clock tower for the El Monte Station. The work incorporates three functioning clocks, suspended by a cable system within a stainless steel arch.