MTA Bus Line 487 Express

More like 3.5 stars. This goes from MacArthur Park all the way to the Gold Line’s last station in Pasadena… the Sierra Madre Villa Station. It’s an «Express» bus, though I don’t know why since it’s not any quicker than a normal bus. It’s never crowded which is great. It’s $ 1.25 for an in-​zone ride, or $ 1.85 if you’re going farther.
One thing that’s annoying about it is how long it takes to snake its way through San Gabriel. It goes down Las Tunas, Mission Dr, Valley, and Del Mar and hops on the 10 freeway. It makes a stop at the Cal State LA Station and then gets to downtown by Union Station. Once it’s on the freeway, that part is quick. The ride is always slower or takes longer than the timetable would have you believe, but of course it’s an inexact science.
Apparently they’re extending the route even longer before it heads downtown… I think it’s going to go into El Monte? I’m not sure but then it will definitely not be EXPRESS for me. That and its limited hours are my biggest pet peeves about it. I concede there is probably not enough demand to warrant longer hours, but it doesn’t even run past 8:30 or 9ish. *sigh* Too bad, because it stops just a short walk from my house, whereas to catch the 79 at San Gabriel/​Huntington is almost a mile away. :(And near the end of its schedule, it only comes once an hour. It’s been a few times now that I’ve seen it driving by as I was running to catch it… but that’s the way it goes! If I had just been a minute earlier…
I think if you live in Pasadena, the Gold Line is probably quicker to take in my opinion. And nicer to ride.