Foothill Transit, West Covina, CA, recently opened its first agency-owned park-and-ride, located at the Metrolink commuter rail station in the City of Industry, just south of West Covina. All previous agency-used park-and-ride structures or lots were owned by either Caltrans or private businesses.

The agency will reroute one of its buses to serve the new facility, which provides 200 dedicated park-and-ride spaces. Other amenities include bike racks, security cameras, and emergency boxes on every floor; bright, energy-efficient LED lighting throughout the structure; and eventually, 18 electric vehicle charging stations and rooftop solar panels.

“It’s no secret that real estate comes at a premium price here in Southern California,” said Foothill Transit Executive Director Doran Barnes. “With demand for public transportation on the rise, having spaces advantageously located near an L.A.-bound freeway with spaces dedicated specifically to our customers enables us to remove one variable of uncertainty and increase reliability and convenience. ‘We’ll drive. We’ve got you and your car covered.’”

The parking structure also houses “Vibrant Hills,” an original piece of art by California-based artist Hannah Daly designed to evoke the seasonal local landscape as viewed through the windows of a bus. The work sits above the north side of the parking structure, facing the hills it mimics. She will create a smaller replica for the south side, facing the lower foothills and the freeway.

Foothill Transit’s park-and-ride in the City of Industry features an original artwork, “Vibrant Hills,” above the north side of the structure.