Exploring L.A.’s Cultural Heartbeat

Metro A Line does not just connect cities—it connects experiences.

Since its opening on Sept. 19, 2025, the LA Metro A Line provides budget-friendly transportation to neighboring and far-flung cities. When the A Line expanded with four new stations in Pomona, La Verne, Glendora and San Dimas, it increased its span to nearly 60 miles. Starting in Pomona, the A Line travels west through the San Gabriel Valley, then turns south in Pasadena and continues on to its Long Beach terminus. / photo by Ronald Banks

by Sabin Gabra
photography by Ronald Banks

Nothing tests the patience like the 210 at 8 a.m. Not alarms. Not midterms. Not even finding campus parking — and that is saying something. The hours I have spent staring at brain melting red brake lights while changing the radio station every five seconds—just to fight off boredom—or stressing about whether I will make it to class on time all add up. The 210 Freeway at rush hour can suck the joy out of going west or east. But no more.

When I first heard about the A Line extension opening a stop in La Verne, I could not believe it. A one-way ride for $1.75! It felt like a solution was finally arriving not just for Pasadena but beyond to Long Beach. Think about it. No more sitting bumper-to-bumper on the freeway, starring in your own dangerous video game while you are just trying to get to school or work in the morning. For students coming from the west, they can hop off the train and head straight to campus with their backpacks on. Business owners in downtown La Verne can welcome new faces to their shops. Families can make weekend plans, free of thinking about freeway traffic conditions. Plus, riding the train is an adventure in itself. It allows you to explore somewhere new. The simple choice to leave your car at home makes everything feel calmer, like your day is already off to a better start.

This is a huge deal. Many people commute from nearby cities, and the daily drive is not easy. Between traffic, gas prices and the stress of parking, it adds up fast. Having a station in La Verne means there is finally another travel option. Money is saved, personal schedules run on train schedules, and time can be spent on the train to get homework done, listen to music, or just breathe for a bit before the day starts.

I wanted to see for myself what it felt like to ride the train, so I decided to launch out toward Los Angeles. The ride from the La Verne train station was smooth and quiet. First stop: San Dimas, with a station a block from the main downtown. San Dimas offers multiple antique stores, the Walker House with the San Dimas Historical Society Museum, and yes, even an Ace Hardware store. Each stop on the extension has its own experience to offer. In Glendora, the station is adjacent to the main post office, which is a quarter mile to the unique old town. Ambitious students can even escape into the nearby foothills for a weekend hike.

In Azusa, I came upon a little coffee shop called San Fernando Coffee Company. It felt like a hidden gem, the kind of place you would never find if you were just driving past on the freeway. With an iced latte in hand, I walked along downtown Azusa, exploring the small businesses and restaurants that give the area old town charm.

The train does not just connect you to where you need to be; it takes you to places you never expected to find. One student I met on board, Rylee Fournier, a fourth-year photography major at the University of La Verne, told me, “I didn’t realize how many cool spots were just sitting along the line. Now I have weekend plans without even trying.” It reminded me of how much the A Line reveals when you let it be in charge of your itinerary.

Keep riding, and you reach the City of Hope Hospital, then the Arcadia station with the famous recreational store REI next to the train station. Now comes Pasadena, where internships, nightlife and shopping open doors for students. One problem is that for three Pasadena stops, the stations are in the middle of the 210 Freeway, with elevators or stairs to ground level. The Memorial Park station is an exception. It leads to Old Town Pasadena. The Del Mar exit holds the Pasadena Incycle Bicycles shop close by.

On my ride, I met Jonathan Vergara, who lives in Rialto. Every morning, he drives to La Verne to catch the train to Pasadena, where he works at Porsche. “The traffic used to eat up almost two hours of my day,” Vergara told me. “Now I just park in La Verne, hop on the train, and I am at work in about half the time. It has changed everything for me.” This train line is not just about convenience; it is about reshaping how people move through their daily lives.

Quickly, you are at the South Pasadena train station, with a museum filling the train window and beckoning you to visit on Thursdays, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., the same hours as the South Pasadena farmer’s market. The museum features Native American, Spanish and Mexican and agricultural artifacts. The next stop is the Southwest Museum on Mt. Washington. Unfortunately, the museum is partially closed because of on-going structural issues. Parts of the museum are open on Saturdays with eclectic hours.

And then comes the Chinatown Station. Exit here for wonderful food: I had lunch at Yang Chow in Chinatown. The second I walked in, it felt welcoming — warm lights, old celebrity photos on the walls, and that cozy, lived-in charm that makes you feel like you have been coming here for years. The air smelled like soy, garlic and comfort. I ordered the famous slippery shrimp — crispy, tangy, and just the right amount of peppery — and paired it with the fried rice. The food was simple, classic and ridiculously good. Sitting in that old-school dining room, surrounded by chatter and steaming plates, it hit me: this is not just a meal; it is one of those stops the train is made for — the kind that makes the ride worth it.

Back on the train for one more stop: Union Station. L.A. is right there, filled with concerts, games and adventures, all accessible without the stress of traffic. I ventured across the street to the famous Olvera Street, where Los Angeles began. The moment you step onto the street, it feels like time slows down. Bright papel picado hang overhead, moving gently in the breeze. Vendors greet you with smiles as you pass by tables stacked with embroidered blouses, handmade leather wallets, painted guitars. Little magnets and keychains beckon. You are a tourist, after all. The train has done that to you. The smell of fresh tortillas hits you before you even see where it comes from. At La Luz del Día, you can watch them pressed by hand — warm, soft and perfect with a little salsa. A few steps down, a vendor is frying churros and rolling them in sugar, and honestly, it is impossible not to stop. Mariachi music floats through the air near the gazebo. Guitars and violins echo through the walkway, giving the whole street this warm, celebratory energy. Then, tucked quietly on the side, is the Avila Adobe — the oldest house in Los Angeles — simple, peaceful and full of history. Standing there, you can literally feel how far the city has come.

On my way back onto the train after Olvera Street, I noticed something that stood out — not dramatic or tense, just different. Two Metro security officers were walking on the platform, talking with riders and checking in on people waiting to board. When they stepped into our car, it didn’t feel like an interruption. If anything, it felt calm, almost routine. They moved through without rushing, just giving the space a quick look, making sure everything felt right before the train rolled on. There was something quietly reassuring about it — like a reminder that even in a huge, busy transit system, someone is paying attention. When they stepped off, and the doors closed, the whole car felt a little more relaxed, like everyone had taken the same silent breath.

Long Beach is about an hour ahead, but first comes Compton Civic Center — and honestly, it is wild how much you can find in just a few blocks. When you step off the train, everything feels close and full of energy. You find families heading to the community center, people grabbing quick bites from food stands, teens skating around like it is their usual hangout, and workers moving in and out of buildings on just another busy day. There is the library, the courthouse, the community college shuttle, and a bunch of small shops that feel like real neighborhood staples. And if you are hungry and craving soul food, you have to stop at Alma’s Place Food for the Soul. It is Black-owned, and the second you walk in, it feels warm and familiar, like someone’s home kitchen. They have everything — fried chicken, mac and cheese, collard greens, cornbread, smothered pork chops — all the comfort food that hits exactly right. These were quickly added to my favorites list.

This is the type of area where you can get things done, grab something good to eat, check out some local art, and still have a moment to sit down on a bench and really take in the vibe. The Compton stop is not just a place you pass by — it feels lived-in and welcoming, with stories and heartbeat. It shows how much one train station can offer when a whole community builds itself around it.

After soaking in Compton’s energy, the ride toward Long Beach felt like a gentle shift — the kind where the train’s rhythm almost turns into background music. The closer we got, the more everything outside changed. Palm trees replaced the tight rows of shops, the light felt different, and there was this slow build of ocean air that made the whole trip feel like it was unfolding into something new. By the time the train reached Downtown Long Beach, it was like stepping into a softer, breezier version of the city.

Following the crowds toward the waterfront, I felt the temperature drop just enough to notice. The marina was buzzing, with little children chasing bubbles, parents pushing strollers, couples taking pictures, and students wandering around just like me. Since I was already there, I headed straight to the Aquarium of the Pacific. The ticket price—$45 for adults—made me pause for a second — not outrageous, but something you feel. Still, after riding all the way down on the A Line, it felt right to go in and make the most of the day.

The aquarium pulled me in immediately. Everything was glowing, moving, alive. The blue lights around the tanks made it feel like another world. Stingrays sliced through the water so smoothly they looked unreal. Sea otters twisted and flipped like they were performing on purpose, and the jellyfish tanks were hypnotic — slow, floating shapes that looked like drifting lanterns. Even with the cost, it felt worth it to stand there in the middle of all that excitement, watching children press their hands against the glass and seeing the way everyone’s face softened when an animal swam by.

When I stepped back outside, the ocean breeze hit me again, and it really sank in how wild it is that one train line can take you from quiet neighborhoods to busy civic centers to an entire waterfront filled with families, food, art and ocean life. It made the whole trip feel less like transportation and more like a small adventure that unfolded one stop at a time.

For students, the A Line makes campus feel less isolated and more connected to Southern California. You can take the train to Pasadena for an internship or downtown L.A. for a concert without worrying about traffic or parking. The train is not just about transportation; it is about opportunity. It opens doors for students to explore, to work, and to experience more outside the bubble of La Verne. “A lot of us don’t have cars, so getting around used to feel almost impossible,” said Daniel Santamaria, a third-year ULV studio art major. “Before, it meant asking a friend for a ride or paying for an Uber just to go anywhere. Now, we can take the train and explore — for internships, for fun, for everything. It makes La Verne feel so much more connected.” Fourth-year student Trevor Tedesco, ULV biology major, says, “It makes school feel bigger — like we’re part of Southern California now, not cut off from it.”

This project was talked about for so long that it almost felt like it would never happen. But now it is real. La Verne’s station officially opened on Sept.19, 2025, and it has already begun connecting the city to places like Pomona, San Dimas and Glendora. The nine-mile extension cost about $1.5 billion, funded mostly through voter-approved measures and state programs. People all across the region invested in it, and it feels like more than just tracks and trains; it feels like a community milestone.

The new La Verne/Fairplex Metro Station, at the corner of E Street and Arrow Highway, opened Sept.19, 2025. The Metro A Line, the world’s longest light rail commuter line, holds electric powered trains that leave the La Verne station roughly every seven minutes on their 60-mile journey to Long Beach. / photo by Ronald Banks

The La Verne/Fairplex Station is not just a stop either. With parking, many secure bike racks, EV charging and connections to bus routes, it is built to give commuters options. It is fully ADA accessible, with ramps and elevators for anyone who needs them. On top of that, the expansion adds new bridges, reconstructed crossings, and walls to keep noise down in neighborhoods. Most importantly, it gives students another way to move forward. The A Line cuts the stress of the Interstate 210 and 110 freeways, making Pasadena only about a 30-minute ride and downtown Los Angeles just an hour away. For our campus, it means easier access to internships, jobs and experiences that shape our college years. For students balancing school, work and life, this is not just a train, it is a lifeline.

By the time I headed back toward campus, all the while watching the cities blur past the train windows, the whole day felt bigger than just a ride from point A to point B. Each stop had a different personality — its own heartbeat. And moving through them felt like flipping through different chapters of Los Angeles that most people drive right past without ever noticing.

From the cultural layers of Olvera Street to the everyday rhythm of Compton Civic Center, to the bright, ocean-salt calm of Long Beach and the Aquarium of the Pacific, the A Line became more than transportation. It became a reminder of how much life is happening in places we do not always slow down enough to see.

What surprised me most was not the destinations themselves, but the small human moments threaded between them — students laughing with friends on the train, families juggling strollers and snacks, people heading home from work with tired shoulders but soft eyes, and strangers who somehow felt familiar even though we had never met. Even simple things, like the comfort of being on the train or the quick nods exchanged between passengers, made the ride feel safe, grounded and shared.

The A Line doesn’t just connect cities — it connects experiences. It shows how different communities shape the soul of Los Angeles, and how easy it is to miss that when you are stuck in traffic or rushing through your day.

Riding it made the city feel smaller, kinder and more human. And honestly, it reminded me that sometimes the most meaningful stories are not found in the places we plan to go, but in the unexpected details we notice along the way. By the time I stepped off for the last time, I realized this trip was not just a journey through L.A. — it was a journey into the heart. And it made me want to keep exploring, one stop at a time.

Metro Shows the Easiest Way

Take the train to SoFi Stadium, the Coliseum, even LAX.

The first time I tried getting to some of L.A.’s biggest spots by train — the Coliseum, SoFi Stadium and even LAX — I expected it to be complicated. It was not. In fact, it felt almost too easy. Everything starts on the A Line, and as soon as you get to Union Station in Los Angeles, the whole system suddenly makes sense. People are heading in different directions, some with suitcases, some in team jerseys—all moving with this shared rhythm.

If you are heading to the Coliseum, you just follow the signs to the E Line, hop on, and the city starts unfolding in front of you. The ride feels calm in the way only trains can do—steady, predictable, almost meditative. When you step off near Expo Park, the energy hits you instantly: crowds buzzing before a game, vendors setting up, families weaving through the sidewalks. It feels alive. And you were pulled into the moment without ever touching a freeway.

Getting to SoFi Stadium has the same vibe. The C or K Line takes you right into Inglewood’s orbit, and from there, shuttles and buses scoop up fans heading to the stadium. There is something nice about being part of that little migration — no circling parking garages, no juggling parking apps, no $100 parking fees—just people walking together toward the same destination.

And LAX? Honestly, that might be the biggest surprise. You ride the C or K Line, step off, and the airport shuttle is right there waiting. No traffic, no honking, no stress — just a smooth handoff that feels almost unreal if you are used to the chaos of airport drop-offs.

Once you have done it, you realize L.A. is not as disconnected as everyone says. Sometimes you just need to let the train show you the easier way.