Transportation Evolution

From 1887 to 2016, Monrovia’s transportation developed through successive rail systems linking the community with downtown, residential areas, Los Angeles, and nearby cities. The Santa Fe Railway, one of the largest railroads in the United States, first built a wooden depot in 1887; the current building was completed in 1926 and closed in 1972. From 1888 to 1942, the San Gabriel Valley Rapid Transit operated independently until Southern Pacific Railroad purchased it in 1894; after the Pacific Electric railway arrived, it carried only freight. Between 1887 and 1912, two mule-drawn street railways connected the Santa Fe Depot with downtown and residential Monrovia, and on return trips the mule was loaded onto the flatcar while gravity carried it downhill to the station. From 1903 to 1951, the Pacific Electric Railway provided frequent, regular service to Los Angeles, enabling Monrovians to live in the suburbs and work in the city, and helping stimulate recovery from the long depression of the 1890s. In 2016, the Metro Gold Line Extension renewed this transportation role by opening a hub linking Azusa to the east and Los Angeles to the west.

Monrovia, California · United States