RNL unveils design for Foothill Transit facility, park-and-ride
Development includes a 372-stall, three-level parking structure, six-bus bay transit center, a 4,400-square-foot retail building and a public plaza design to connect to the future civic component.
Los Angeles-based architecture, design, and planning firm, RNL, announced the completion of schematic design for the new three-acre Covina Transit Center and Park & Ride, retail building and parking structure for Foothill Transit in Covina, Calif. The project is part of the “Covina Forward” public private partnership (P3), consisting of Foothill Transit, the City of Covina and MLC Holdings.
The transit center and park and ride development of the Covina Forward partnership includes four distinct but cohesively designed components, including a 372-stall, three-level parking structure, six-bus bay transit center, a 4,400-square-foot retail building and a public plaza design to connect to the future civic component. The RNL team assisted Foothill Transit, MLC and the City of Covina with the creation of the Covina Forward Specific Plan and provided supporting documentation for the Planning Commission and Fire Department master plan in addition to providing the bridging document bid package for the Foothill Transit component.
RNL worked closely with the City’s public outreach consultant and was diligent in its care and consideration of the surrounding neighborhood to create a design for the parking structure and landscaping that eased concerns, mainly regarding privacy, traffic noise and vagrancy. The parking structure and the transit plaza were sited to minimize the scale of the structure and to activate the transit parcel as much as possible.
“Spending the time to listen to the neighborhood’s concerns was important to us during the design process,” said Will Todd, Project Manager at RNL. “After going through numerous iterations and incorporating feedback from the community, our final design reflects the space that bridges the gap between the residential parcel and the City’s future civic development.”
The final design is both efficient and attractive, featuring connective pathways, a public plaza located between the retail building and parking structure and the transit plaza with bus bays and transit shelters. The plazas are designed to be used by current and future residents to the north as they access the City’s parcel or enjoy Foothill Transit’s retail building and transit center. The retail building is intended to be leased to a tenant that will serve as a benefit to transit users as well as the surrounding community.
In Part 1, Blandon shares his journey from the U.S. Marines to a leadership role in public transit, along with insights on mentorship and professional growth within the industry.
Funded through the 2025 Investment Plan, the new R2 Marine–Willingdon RapidBus is expected to begin service in September, more than three months ahead of schedule.
Complete Parts features new branding with a new logo, a new contact telephone number, a dedicated order desk, enhanced processes and inventory, all designed to provide the parts bus operations need.
Accessible transit isn’t a feature—it’s a responsibility. This whitepaper explores how the Low-Floor Frontrunner is redefining mobility with a breakthrough design that removes barriers, empowers riders, and delivers measurable operational advantages for agencies. Discover why this next generation minibus is setting a new standard for inclusive transportation.
SEPTA was awarded $43 million in competitive grant funding from the FTA's FY25 Low and No Emission and Bus and Bus Facilities grant programs to support this procurement.
In part 1 of a two-part conversation, AC Transit’s director of maintenance joins co-hosts Alex Roman and Mark Hollenbeck to discuss his journey from the U.S. Marines to public transit and the role mentorship plays in developing the next generation of industry leaders.
When construction is complete, battery-electric buses will operate from the Arborway facility on Day One, providing cleaner, quieter, and more reliable service for riders, the MBTA said. After completion, the old facility will be demolished, and the land will be made available for redevelopment.
Nadine S. Lee, who has served as president/CEO since July 2021, said the decision comes after careful reflection on the agency’s progress and its path forward.
In this conversation, TBC’s Executive Director Ed Redfern, President Corey Aldridge, and Washington Representative Joel Rubin outline the coalition’s key policy priorities, the challenges facing transit agencies, and how industry stakeholders can work together to strengthen the voice of bus transit at the federal level.
