The lower level at the new station. Photo by Steve Hymon/Metro.
Patrons waiting for buses at the new station. Photo by Steve Hymon/Metro.
I was over at the new El Monte Station earlier this morning and a steady trickle of patrons are arriving at the new facility. The ribbon cutting on the station occurred earlier this week but it’s great to see VITs — Very Important Taxpayers — using the new station.
So far, the few folks I talked to seem to like the facility. And it has to be said: patrons definitely seemed interested in checking out the new restroom facilities!
If headed to El Monte Station today or tomorrow and have questions, please see one of the many Metro greeters who are staffing the station — they’re the ones wearing the yellow vests. They’re glad to help you find your bus on either the lower or upper level.
Also, there are plenty of signs around the station showing where to find different buses — the signage and the maps are good. The Silver Line — one of the more popular buses that stops at the station — uses Bay 22 on the Upper Level. Here’s the map of the new facility:
Click above to see larger image.
I agree with Yvonne. I had to wait in a big line just to use one of two stalls they have on the lower level. I mean come on…two bathroom stalls for a bus station that is supposed to be the busiest bus station west of Chicago? Talk about bad facility and design planning.
And then I had to stand there trying to figure out how to get the automatic doors to open. Wait until those automatic doors break and people complain about getting stuck in those bathrooms and end up missing their buses. Hilarious!!
I wish they set up multiple TVMs right beside the customer service counters.
It seems so much an efficient way of handling things considering that the backroom of the customer service counter is directly connected to the backside of the TVMs for Metro service agents to restock, repair, and assist passengers all the while manning the customer service stands.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Wwsiry052FA/UH7kNcLHhyI/AAAAAAAAAMw/DFNJsu7JCYA/s800/TVM%252BCS%2520Counter.jpg
Opening day was really Monday the 15th of October 2012, the first real test of how everything should work on a weekday. Sadly to say it did not! The Metro folks seemed not to be ready with their bus Drivers being familiar with their routes in the new terminal. The 267 heading north to Altadena and Pasadena, had no earlier bus showup until 7:01am, at station 8. Customer Relations said it was a maning shortage/problem why the earilier bus didn’t show up? Well, I understand not everything runs perfect the first real test day, but did the Metro folks in charge prepare their Drivers? So now who takes responsibility for all those folks who were late to work or school, plus unsafe bus conditions of being overcrowed (and I’m sure the bus didn’t count the number of people anymore). Yes, opening day was not a fun way to start the week for some of us. Maybe someone in a responsible position at Metro should try and relate how their week goes when it doesn’t start off smoothly. How about a real response, and not just a letter with an excuse, admit someone “dropped the ball ” here, and do something next time for your Customers! People aren’t interest in how nice and new everything looks when they are worried about getting to work on time, and the service is lacking!