Foothill Transit

Overview

The impetus for the formation of the transit agency was Los Angeles County Supervisor Pete Schabarum. Schabarum, annoyed at the cutbacks of bus service by the Southern California Rapid Transit District, wanted to secede from the larger agency and form his own transit agency. Schabarum, who hated the influence of trade unions, chose to use contractors to operate the service, and Foothill executives made the service essentially strike-proof by insisting that two different companies operate the two bus yards, even if it would cost more in the short term. However, due to bus industry consolidation, First Transit had operated both yards from 2001 to mid-2007. Currently, both Foothill Transit yards are represented by unions (Arcadia by the Amalgamated Transit Union and Pomona by the Teamsters Union), but past strikes at the agency have been less than successful due to the ability of one yard to operate the other yards' service. In addition, wages are less at Foothill than at other transit operators in the region.

All of Foothill Transit operations are contracted out. Bus service is operated by First Transit at Pomona and Arcadia/Irwindale. Effective July 1, 2013, due to expiration of the existing management services contract and continuing conflicts of interest between the executive director, staff, and board, Foothill Transit transitioned to in house management. Executive Director Doran Barnes became a direct Foothill employee, as well as planning, procurement, and other administrative functions. Transdev (formerly Veolia) staff continues to operate the transit stores and maintain bus shelters.

In 2002, Foothill Transit began purchasing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered buses. By 2013, Foothill Transit was now a 100 percent CNG fleet.

Foothill Transit provides shuttle service for UCLA Football games at the Rose Bowl from the Parsons Corporation parking lot, located on Walnut St. and Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena.

Funding

Foothill Transit is mainly funded by local sales tax revenue, with 75% coming from Los Angeles County Propositions A and C, California State Transportation Development Act, and the State Transit Assistance Fund. The remaining 25% comes from farebox revenue.

Routes

All service operated as of June 26, 2016 with notes on upcoming service changes where indicated.

Express routes

Express services operate weekdays only in the peak direction, excluding the Silver Streak.

School supplementary routes

Services operate weekdays only. Schedules subject to change June 1st - September 1st & December 22nd - January 3rd for Lines 853, 854, and 855.

Fares

Fares as of October 1, 2012

Cash / TAP Card Fares

Passes

1. There are no discount fares on Line 481 or 690 as they only operate during peak hours.
2. Commuter Express fares apply to Lines 493, 497, 498, 499, and 699. Metrolink Tickets are not accepted; only the full fare of $4.90, the 31-Day Commuter Express pass, or the P5 EZ Transit Pass. Transfers are worth $1.25 toward the full fare. No discounts are given for seniors or the disabled as these routes only operate during peak hours.
3. Transfers can be purchased for $0.50 using cash or a TAP card with a cash purse loaded (a TAP card is required either way for Foothill-to-Foothill connections). The transfer is then loaded onto the TAP card and is good for up to two hours. The transfer on the TAP card can also be counted as base fare for any TAP enabled transit agency as well. Paper transfers may be requested for connections to agencies that do not use TAP. They can be counted as base fare for any transit agency to which Foothill Transit connects that accepts transfers.
4. A 31-Day Pass' lifespan starts when the pass is first used, not necessarily at the beginning of the month, unless the pass was first used at the beginning of the month. For example, if the pass is bought on March 6, but first used on March 12, the expiration date of the pass is April 12 at midnight, 31 days after it was first used.
5. Discount Silver Streak passes can be purchased by students, seniors, the disabled, and Medicare card holders. If the pass is used on Line 481, or Line 690, the difference must be paid in cash.
6. All Foothill Transit passes are now sold on TAP cards only.

Retired

Because Foothill Transit retires most of their buses at the 12-year FTA minimum standard, many of their buses are sold off or leased to other authorities and operate for years afterwards. Notable lessees include Valley Metro, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Arizona State University, Monterey-Salinas Transit, Gold Coast Transit, Glendale Beeline, Santa Cruz Metro, Benicia Breeze, and Amtrak California (operated by SFO Airporter).