Tired of being stuck in traffic, I have decided to use public transport for the first time in my life after a decade of driving . This review is more or less information for patrons interested and/or considering using public transportation more so than on the Metrolink station it self, which is nice and clean but does not have real bathrooms (only portable potties), but it makes up for it in parking spaces. It took me a long time to figure out my route with the appropriate and fees, so this is more a public service to my fellow yelpers.
So I started a new job in downtown LA and being that I refused to move I decided to utilize public transport. After a thorough review I realized that coming from Rancho Cucamonga, the most cost effective and efficient way to travel was by way of bus.
If I used the Metrolink my cost would be upwards of $300/month, and I would have to drive to the train, take it all the way to Union station and then transfer to a bus. I am too lazy for all of that, ideally I wanted to use a straight route with no transfers, that way I am not dependent my main bus being on time to catch the appropriate transfers.
So these were my options along with the one way prices:
Route 1: Montclaire Foothill transit (FT) Silver Streak to El Monte FT 481 to Downtown
Route 2: Montclaire FT 699 to El Monte FH 481 to Downtown
Route 3: Montclaire FT 699 straight to Downtown
Route 4. FT Silver Streak straight to Downtown
Cost One way:
Route 1: Silver Streak $2.45 + .50 cent transfer+ $1.50 for FT481= $4.45
Route 2: FT 699 $4.90 + .50 cent transfer + $1.50 for FT 481= $6.90
Route 3: FT 699 $4.90= $4.90
Route 4: FT Silver Streak $2.45=$2.45
The first week, I tried all routes not really paying too much attention to the cost. I wanted to see if I could even stand the bus, especially since this was my first time using public transport. The fastest route would include a transfer to the FT481, but that bus due to its' route has a whole different fee. So if you purchase a monthly pass for $170 for the FT Express 699, you cannot just use the FT481, you have to pay full fare ($2.75), or buy a completely different monthly pass for $105 in addition to the $170 to use the FT481. That would make the monthly commute around $275, a little too pricey. That is not worth the extra $105 because I would only save 10 min on my commute and still I had to worry about a transfer.
The Silver streak was very cost effective and with a monthly pass of $105, I could even jump on the FT481, and my commute would only be about an hour in the AM and an hour half on the PM, but the cheap fare is truly reflected also on the condition of the bus (and the passengers). Plus, the Silver Streak has a lot of stops off the freeway which slows the commute down. The FT 699 Express has very few stops until it gets to Downtown, and even then all the stops prior to downtown are right off the freeway.
So the winner for me being that I value, clean environment, fast commute and no transfers, was the FT 699. It's a commuter EXPRESS bus, it drives fast with as few stops as possible. It's clean, the seats recline and the passengers are all professionals. With no transfers I can get to and from Downtown in 1 hour 15 min in the AM and 1 hour and 30 min in the PM. I have not experienced any delay thus far, and monthly pass is $170. Totally worth every penny.
After using the bus, it has become increasingly harder to drive myself again and deal with the traffic, so I totally recommend FT699 to anyone driving to Downtown from Montclaire, you will not regret it. read more