Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Podcast

SGV Connect #6 – Early Return on the El Monte Bus Station’s New Parking Fees

This week, Damien talks with Frank Ching, Metro's Senior Director of Parking Management. Ching reviews early feedback on and impacts of the new paid parking program at the El Monte Bus Station. Earlier this week, Metro began charging $2 for car parking at El Monte, as well as requiring driver TAP card validation to make sure folks who park there are actually riding Metro.

So far, feedback shows that the program is working. Metro no longer needs El Monte's overflow parking lot, while, at least anecdotally, there has been little change to ridership. El Monte's experience mirrors what has happened when free parking was converted to paid parking at other high-demand Metro lots.

In today's podcast Ching discusses the Park-and-Ride program in El Monte and at Metro rail stations across the county. He also explains some of what is in store for the future of Metro's Park-and-Ride lots and reveals some near-term tweaks that could be coming to the El Monte Bus Station parking lot.

SGV Connect is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit Foothill Transit. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.”

(While Foothill Transit is mentioned in this podcast, they were not involved in the content for the podcast in any way.)

Catch past episodes of SGV Connect and #DamienTalks on LibSyn, iTunes, Google Play, or Overcast.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

2026 Could Be the Year Everything Changes for California High-Speed Rail

What's being built. The financial plans. Everything short of the route could be different a year from now.

November 13, 2025

Why the $65M Studebaker Road Transformation Project Is important for Long Beach

When construction wraps in late 2026, the Studebaker corridor will no longer be a line of separation but a living connector.

November 13, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines

Just a reminder, SBCAL will not be publishing tomorrow.

November 13, 2025

LA Scrapes Grassroots Koreatown Crosswalks, Plans To Replace

The city will replace guerilla crosswalks with an interim traffic circle and new crosswalks. The delayed permanent traffic circle is expected to installed next year.

November 12, 2025

Call to Action: Tell Supervisor Beya Alcaraz About Your Love for Sunset Dunes

Advocates want to make sure the new District 4 Supervisor knows where you stand.

November 12, 2025
See all posts