{"id":213761,"date":"2026-03-10T22:18:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T22:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/213761\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T22:18:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T22:18:09","slug":"ridership-is-increasing-on-the-a-lines-new-eastern-la-county-train-line-extensions-san-gabriel-valley-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/213761\/","title":{"rendered":"\u200bRidership is increasing on the A Line\u2019s new eastern LA County train line extensions \u2013 San Gabriel Valley Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

After just four months, figures show the A Line, the latest train line extension in Los Angeles County, experiencing a double-digit ridership bump, with the increase rippling through the 58-mile long line, the longest light-rail line in the world, according to LA Metro.<\/p>\n

New statistics released Feb. 26 by the transit agency show daily ridership on the A Line has grown overall by 11.5% in January over last January\u2019s numbers, ever since the 9.1-mile extension opened in eastern LA County on Sept. 19<\/a> that added new stations in Glendora, San Dimas, La Verna and Pomona North.<\/p>\n

While adding new stations usually adds more riders, the early numbers show the foothill extension ridership is spreading across the lengthy line, which runs from Long Beach to South Los Angeles, into downtown Los Angeles, Chinatown, Northeast LA, Pasadena and the foothill cities of Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale, Azusa and extends to the eastern terminus in North Pomona.<\/p>\n

Daily ridership increased by about 5% from Long Beach to Grand Avenue in DTLA on the A Line southern end as compared to January 2025, said LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins.<\/p>\n

In the northern foothill portion, where the light-rail line runs roughly between Chinatown and Pomona, Wiggins reported nearly a 13% increase in January 2026 over last January.<\/p>\n

\u201cMeaning, the four new stations are not only new travel markets in eastern LA County, they are also helping increase ridership on other parts of the A Line,\u201d Wiggins said.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Metro A Line light-rail leaves the Glendora Station heading westbound in Glendora on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)<\/p>\n

Glendora Mayor David Fredendall said he\u2019s noticed about 50 to 70 cars parked at the Glendora Station lot every weekday, signaling a good portion of the riders are commuters parking and taking the train southwest toward Long Beach into workplace-heavy spots like Pasadena and Downtown L.A.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat means primarily commuters,\u201d he said on Monday, March 9. He\u2019s talked to riders who said they are going to workplaces in Arcadia, Pasadena and downtown Los Angeles, where the A Line stops. He also said some commuters get dropped off at the Glendora station.<\/p>\n

Glendora resident Sylvia C., who did not give her full name, was waiting for the southwest bound train at the Glendora Station Tuesday morning, after parking her car in the lot. She works for an accounting firm in Pasadena and takes the A Line train to and from her workplace.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love it,\u201d she said. \u201cIt is stress-free. You just sit and read and in about 20 minutes or so you are at work,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Another train-riding commuter, Calvin, who did not give his last name, lives in Covina but drives the short distance to the Glendora Station parking lot. Parking costs $3 a day but he pays monthly and gets a discount. The LA Metro base fare is $1.75, with discounts for seniors, disabled, students and low-income riders who can sign up for LA Metro\u2019s LIFE program (Low-Income Fare is Easy).<\/p>\n

He works as a chemist analyzing food samples at a laboratory in Pasadena.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my daily commute,\u201d he said at the train platform in Glendora. Before the new stations were built, he\u2019d drive to the APU\/Citrus College Station and ride the train from there to his work in Pasadena. Having the station much closer is more convenient, he said.<\/p>\n

When people learn he commutes by train, he said they are often jealous. \u201cThey say, \u2018It must be nice \u2014 you ride a train about 30 minutes to work instead of sitting in freeway traffic for an hour.\u2019 \u201c<\/p>\n

\"AA Metro A Line rider boards the light-rail at the Glendora Station in Glendora on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)<\/p>\n

Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval, an LA Metro board member, who has been waiting for the A Line to reach his city for years, noted that the Pomona North A Line Station also has a station for the San Bernardino-to-LA Metrolink heavy rail passenger line. Many take Metrolink from the Inland Empire, then change to the A Line.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout question, people who are trying to get to work are utilizing the system,\u201d Sandoval said on Monday. \u201cIt is faster than when they were on the 210 Freeway and traffic is backing up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Early ridership numbers show the new extension stations have not reached capacity. Both mayors are supportive of a new 909 Open Market which puts on festivals every third Saturday at the Pomona North Station. Last Saturday evening, a 909 Market was held at the Glendora Station.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw hundreds of people there, plus small businesses and a band playing music from the \u201980s,\u201d said Sandoval regarding the Pomona event. \u201cIt exposes people to the system.\u201d<\/p>\n

Getting people to ditch their cars and ride a train goes against the LA-car-centric mode. Just making people aware of the new stations in the eastern LA County suburbs is a tall order. But that may be an easier lift with gas prices rising due to the Iran War.<\/p>\n

\"EveningEvening commuters approach to the parking structure after arriving at the APU\/Citrus College Gold Line station in Azusa on Monday, March 7, 2016. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda\/ San Gabriel Valley Tribune)<\/p>\n

One group that may be using the A Line and new stations more often are students, since the line is described by LA Metro as \u201crich in colleges.\u201d Taking the A Line, students can reach Pasadena City College, Caltech, Citrus College, Azusa Pacific University, Cal Poly Pomona, Mt. San Antonio College, University of La Verne, Art Center College of Design and the Claremont Colleges. Some require a connecting bus or shuttle, as the line doesn\u2019t directly connect to every college or university listed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know students from Pomona attend Citrus College,\u201d said Sandoval. \u201cSome are attending colleges downtown like USC.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fredendall said riders from Glendora also includes students attending classes at Citrus College and PCC.<\/p>\n

While neither mayor reports problems with loitering or crime at the two stations, Fredendall has heard reports from some riders that the trains are not always clean.<\/p>\n

\"AA broad look showing the long, A Line light-rail, including the future station in Claremont, on the eastern edge of Los Angeles County. (image courtesy of the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority).<\/p>\n

Wiggins said LA Metro has responded by adding more cleaning crews at the line\u2019s midpoint at Union Station in L.A. \u201cDuring the stop at Union Station, service attendants sweep trash and mop up spills,\u201d she said. Wiggins reported on the L.A. portion of the line from Pico Station to Highland Park Station, reports to staff or on their transit watch app of dirty train cars have dropped 63%.<\/p>\n

\"AA Line light rail now runs between Pomona and Long Beach after the service was extended through Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona last fall. Here a train awaits passengers on Monday morning at the Pomona North station. (Photo by David Allen, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin\/SCNG)<\/p>\n

The Pomona North Station has a feature that requires riders to tap as you board, but also as you leave the platform. The tap-to-exit program<\/a> usually requires Metro Transit Officers to hand out citations for those who can\u2019t exit because they never tapped or paid to enter.<\/p>\n

Fredendall wants to see that activated at the Glendora Station.<\/p>\n

City managers from Glendora, San Dimas, Pomona and La Verne are discussing the issues with Metro. Sandoval said studies are being conducted on the need for tap-to-exit at these stations. He also said there is an added cost.<\/p>\n

The program aims to stop riders, often homeless or drug users, from riding the trains without paying and either sleeping on the trains or committing crimes. \u201cA less than quality ridership comes from people getting on at 4 a.m. and homesteading it the whole day,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

At the San Dimas Station Tuesday, a man with a satchel of snacks and lunchable boxes was handing out some to riders; he said they were gratis. But when an L.A. County Sheriff deputy asked him to drop the large bag, he refused, saying he had done nothing wrong. He was handcuffed and placed into a squad car.<\/p>\n

\"AA Metro A Line rider waits to board the light-rail at the San Dimas station in San Dimas on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)<\/p>\n

Calvin, the regular A Line rider, said he believes the safety and cleanliness of trains have improved in the past year or so.<\/p>\n

\u201cI tell people I don\u2019t think they should be scared of riding public transportation,\u201d he said. He does come across what appears to be unhoused people on the trains or platforms. \u201cThe general consensus is if they don\u2019t bother me, I don\u2019t bother them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He uses the Metro Transit Watch App to report any incident. One time he reported a problem to a Metro Transit Security Officer.<\/p>\n

Fredendall said Glendorans are still getting used to the traffic signals and at-grade crossing gates when the train comes by. He said Metro has adjusted traffic signals whenever there was a problem. Glendora\u2019s last passenger train left the city 74 years ago \u2014 that was the defunct Pacific Electric Railway or \u201cRed Cars.\u201d<\/p>\n

What does he think of the newest electric-powered passenger train in his city?<\/p>\n

\u201cSo far, it is a positive,\u201d Fredendall said.<\/p>\n

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