Our nine-mile extension of the A Line opens this Friday, September 19 at noon with new stations in Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona. This is a project that San Gabriel Valley cities and residents have supported for decades and we’re very pleased to welcome everyone on board.
The extension between Azusa and Pomona, we believe, will make the A Line a great alternative to the oft-congested 10 and 210 freeways — which suffer traffic jams well beyond the usual rush hours. By contrast, the A Line will be a fast, convenient and a very affordable way to travel between the Foothill Cities and beyond, with easy connections to the growing Metro system. See the map below.
To celebrate the opening, we’re offering free rides across the Metro rail, bus, bike and Micro system from 4 a.m. Friday, Sept. 19, though 3 a.m. Monday, Sept. 22. The code for free rides on Metro Bike is 091925 and the code for Micro is ALINEEXT.
We’ll also have deejays, live bands and food trucks at the four new stations between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. on opening day, as well as seven bands playing at Pomona North.
The A Line extension also provides another key link in the local transit system. In Pomona, riders can transfer to and from Metrolink’s San Bernardino Line, making it possible for the first time since the era of the streetcars to take trains between the San Gabriel Valley’s Foothill Cities and the Inland Empire. More below on this vital connection.
Another huge benefit of this project: the San Gabriel Valley is rich in colleges that can be reached via the A Line. Among them are Pasadena City College, Caltech, Citrus College, Azusa Pacific University, Cal Poly Pomona, Mt. San Antonio College, the University of La Verne and the Claremont Colleges. Details are below on how to ride the A Line to school and back.
The opening of the A Line Extension is the ninth project completed that is part of Metro’s 28 by 28 Initiative to enhance our region’s transit infrastructure for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Fairplex — next to La Verne Station — is hosting Cricket in 2028 while the A Line will be busy during the Games with service to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for soccer and diving at the adjacent aquatics center, several venues in downtown L.A. (including gymnastics at Crypto.com Arena) and a variety of events along the Long Beach waterfront.
As some of you know, the A Line between Azusa and Long Beach is already the longest light rail line in the world at 48.5 miles. It’s now growing to nearly 58 miles that you can ride from end-to-end for a mere $1.75 regular fare. That, friends, is a bargain.
Getting to and from the new stations
Each of the A Line’s four new stations can be reached via foot, bike, transit or car. Stations are also conveniently located near key destinations.
•Glendora Station is a short stroll from Glendora Village and is served by Foothill Transit Line 284.
•San Dimas Station is in downtown San Dimas and is served by Foothill Transit Line 295 (which begins service on Sept. 15) and Line 492.
•La Verne/Fairplex Station is located across Arrow Highway from the Fairplex and is adjacent to University of La Verne and Old Town La Verne. The station is served by Foothill Transit Lines 197, 291 and 492.
•Pomona North Station offers easy transfers to Metrolink. Foothill Transit’s Line 291 on Garey Avenue can be used to connect to destinations such as Pomona Valley Medical Center and busy downtown Pomona. Foothill Transit’s Line 492 also serves the station.
•There will be paid parking at each of the four new stations — $3 per 24 hours for Metro riders with a valid TAP card. The daily fee can be made via the Metro Parking mobile app, available for download at the Google Play and Apple App Stores. Please note: parking will be free at the four stations on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20-21.
•Each of the four new stations also has bike parking and charging stations for electric vehicles.
•If you’re curious about travel times, from Pomona North Station it’s about a 12-minute ride to Glendora, 40 minutes to Old Pasadena and 64 minutes to Union Station in downtown L.A.
•The A Line runs every day of the year from about 4 a.m. to 1 a.m. The A Line’s new schedule is here.
•Please note that the last train to Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne/Fairplex and Pomona North every night departs Long Beach at 11:07 p.m., departs Union Station at 12:12 a.m. and departs from Memorial Park in Pasadena at 12:36 a.m.
•Schedules for every A Line station are here.
•The reason for the difference is to give our maintenance crews time to perform any needed work between San Dimas and Pomona before southbound service resumes at 3:48 a.m.
Basics of riding Metro
•After this weekend — when we’re offering free fares — a regular adult fare on Metro Rail is $1.75 one-way, which includes two hours of transfers to/from other Metro bus and rail lines. Load your fare on a plastic TAP card, which can be purchased from TAP vending machines at Metro Rail and Busway stations. Another easy option: use the TAP app to pay fare with your smartphone.
•We also have a variety of discounted fare programs to help make transit affordable for low-income riders, those with disabilities, older adults and students. The Metro GoPass provides free rides to students at participating schools. All fare info is here.
•A regular Foothill Transit fare is $1.75 — the same as Metro’s — and a regular transfer is 50 cents between Foothill Transit and Metro. Foothill Transit also uses TAP cards. Please see Foothill Transit’s fare page for more info.
•Plan your transit trips with Google Maps, Apple Maps, the Transit or Moovit apps or the trip planner on metro.net. All work great on phones.
•If you need help finding your way on Metro, please look for our friendly Metro Ambassadors, who wear gray jackets and very bright green shirts. If you need to contact our public safety team to report an issue, call 888.950.7233 or send a text via our Transit Watch app. In an emergency, please call 911.
Connecting to Metrolink
Pomona North Station will have an easy transfer to Metrolink regional rail — which has seven lines that serve our five county region. If you’re new to public transit, Metro runs buses and trains in Los Angeles County whereas Metrolink trains run across the greater L.A. metropolis.
•The new A Line platform is just north of Metrolink’s platform. Metrolink’s San Bernardino serves the station — the line runs between Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and downtown San Bernardino (where you can connect to Metrolink’s Arrow Line serving Redlands). See the Metrolink system map at right.
•A transfer to Metro is free with a Metrolink ticket. More info on Metrolink’s website.
Using the A Line to reach schools and colleges
There are many colleges accessible via the A Line and other public transit in the San Gabriel Valley. Some schools offer discounted or free transit passes through Metro fare programs. Students: if you’re looking to save some bucks for the many expenses in your life, try public transit! Car payments, gas, parking and maintenance can add up to many thousands of dollars each year.
•Claremont Colleges: Use Foothill Transit’s Line 197, which recently added a stop at the A Line’s La Verne Station. Another option: transfer from the A Line to Metrolink at Pomona North Station and ride to Claremont Station. From the station, turn right and walk one block east on 1st Street and turn left on College Avenue to reach campus.
•Cal Poly Pomona (Pomona) and Mt. San Antonio College (Walnut): the new Foothill Transit Line 295 bus will provide direct weekday bus service to both campuses.
•The University of La Verne: campus is one block west of the new La Verne Station.
•Citrus College (Azusa): From the A Line’s APU/Citrus Station, it’s a short walk south on Citrus Avenue to Citrus College (transit info here). Students can get a GoPass to ride free on Metro, Foothill Transit and many other agencies in L.A.
•Azusa Pacific University (Azusa): From the A Line’s APU/Citrus Station, it’s a short walk south on Citrus Avenue (transit info here) to campus.
•Pasadena City College: Use the PCC Shuttle to travel between the Allen Avenue A Line Station and PCC’s Colorado, Foothill and Jefferson Campuses. Students save on fare with Metro’s U-Pass. More info
•Art Center College of Design (Pasadena): Free shuttles connect both campuses with Memorial Park, Del Mar, and Fillmore stations from Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–11:30 p.m. and Saturday, 7:15 a.m.–8:45 p.m. More info
•Caltech (Pasadena): Faculty and students can receive a free Metro pass. More info here. Metro Bus Line 267 on Del Mar Boulevard connects to the A Line’s Del Mar Station and Metro Micro can be used to reach all A Line stations in Pasadena and other destinations.
Final words
We’d also like to extend a big thank you and congratulations to our friends at the Foothill Construction Authority, the independent agency that built this project before handing it over to Metro.
And, of course, we’re very grateful to everyone across L.A. County whose sales taxes contribute to operating Metro and expanding our system. Enjoy your new rides!
Please join us for opening day on Friday, Sept. 19. We have a great lineup of bands at Pomona North Station plus the deejays and food trucks at Glendora, San Dimas and La Verne/Fairplex between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
If you’re posting pics or video to social media, please tag us. We’re @metrolosangeles on Instagram, TikTok, X and Bluesky and @losangelesmetro on Facebook and YouTube.
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The link for the new A line schedule links to the 28 by 2028 not the new schedule.
I know this comment may be unpopular, but Metro needs to stop worrying about San Bernardino County not wanting to pay to extend the line to Montclair.
When the A line first opened and prior to covid, parking lots were full and I believe the thought was with Montclairs huge and half empty parking lot it would help with parking. Times changed and all the parking is not currently needed.
My other opinion is the Pomona North station was heavily overbuilt, lots of new parking that will also not fill. We need the connection between A Line and Metrolink to work and work well, such as adjusting schedules if things are not working right.
And lastly, I would just end the line at Pomona North. The small stretch to Claremont is very expensive and complex with bridges at Garey, Towne and Indian Hill (and Monte Vista if it got that far) plus a cross over from one side of the right of way to the other, all while keeping Metrolink and BNSF freight moving. I do not think it is worth the large cost- a cost that is over Metro bids.
In a time of budget shortages, I would take the money allocated for this small stretch and move it over to the SE Gateway line and jump start that project.
The Gold Line construction authority has done well on the 4 segment of the Gold Line, now A line they built . Maybe take their team over to SE Gateway and get things done well there.
“ The small stretch to Claremont is very expensive and complex with bridges at Garey, Towne and Indian Hill (and Monte Vista if it got that far) plus a cross over from one side of the right of way to the other, all while keeping Metrolink and BNSF freight moving. I do not think it is worth the large cost- a cost that is over Metro bids.”
Claremont wants this, and they also voted for Measure R and M. This ain’t some privately funded or Fed only funded project. You’re slapping the people of Claremont in the face that argued support for both this station and the Metrolink station to stay in place.
Also, have you had a chance to transfer with Metrolink here? Cause I can already tell you from experience this weekend: If you miss that Metrolink connection, you are waiting between 1 hour (weekdays) to even 3 hours (weekends), or be forced to a slow bus. For that reason, at the very least the extension to Claremont is very much needed.
In regards to Montclair, it’s obviously we have dumb and idiotic laws that need to be revised, but for now all Montclair can do as a city is to pass as Tax measure and see if the Montclair residents only want to pay for their station.
I second your suggestion about ending the line at Pomona North… for now.
Does Claremont want a line terminus station and the hassles that come with it? That’s a lot different than an intermediate stop. With a thriving downtown and Metrolink access, Claremont is doing quite okay.
If you’re going to expand into San Bernardino County, go all the way to Ontario Airport. That actually provides both counties with needed connectivity.
How much does it cost to transfer from Metro to Metrolink?
Hi — if your trip starts on Metro, then it’s the $1.75 Metro fare plus the cost of the Metrolink ticket.
Steve Hymon
The Source
The extension mostly works really well; trains move fast (aside from the random Holds) and the stations do their jobs well, although most aren’t particularly pedestrian-friendly, especially Pomona North.
Will be nice when the big groups of super rude Metro employees taking up space on the narrow platforms and yelling at anyone who steps into the Yellow markings for even a second are moved out of the new stations, hopefully to patrol the trains themselves, where they’d be far more useful.
There is always mention of the bike lockers at the new stations, but they do not appear to be accessible, there is nothing telling us when they will be open, nor is there information on how to access them when they are open.
I went on the grand opening weekend to learn more as I bike to the station, but none of the personnel could tell me.
Can someone she’d some light on this?
Hi —
The bike storage at the new stations isn’t open yet — we’re working on it. We’ll let everyone know when they’re ready to open. Appreciate your interest and patience.
Steve Hymon
The Source
This is such exciting news for the San Gabriel Valley! The A Line extension will make it so much easier for students, commuters, and residents to connect across cities without relying on the 210 or 10. I love how Metro continues expanding access to college campuses and regional hubs, especially with the Pomona transfer to Metrolink. Can’t wait to ride the new line one day!