1951: The last day of service for Pacific Electric‘s Pasadena Short Line, Monrovia-Glendora Line and Watts-Sierra Vista Line.
Santa Monica Air Line at Jefferson & Main Street during last week of service, September 24, 1953 (Click to enlarge)
1953: The last day of service for Pacific Electric’s Santa Monica Air Line. An extensive history of the Air Line can be found here.
1972: Groundbreaking event is held for the El Monte Busway Terminal.
After opening in 1973, the I-10 El Monte Busway becomes, and continues to be, one of the most efficient HOV facilities in North America.
The $945,000 El Monte Station will serve as the easterly terminal for the El Monte-Los Angeles Busway — the 11-mile, high-speed, grade-separated transit facility under construction.
Representatives of area cities, the county, the state and the federal government join Southern California Rapid Transit District officials for the ceremony.
SCRTD Vice President Thomas G. Neusom; Leonard S. Gleckman, who represents Northeast Corridor cities as a Transit District director, and the agency’s general manager, Jack R. Gilstrap, describe the project for those assembled at the station site near Santa Anita Avenue and Ramona Boulevard.
The location is adjacent to RTD’s El Monte Division.
District officials said that the Busway — and its ultramodern station facilities — will prove to be an initial step in the renaissance in public transportation for Los Angeles County.
1976: Governor Jerry Brown signs legislation creating the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission (1976-1993) as a countywide planning, funding, coordinating and oversight agency.
The Commission is successful in making the case for transportation improvements funded by two half-cent sales tax increases which voters approve in 1980 and 1990, as well as implementing the revival of regional commuter rail and urban light rail systems.
