Allen Gold Line Station

This station is fine, I have been using it for a few months– don’t forget to keep walking west at the top of the stairs, for some reason the train stops far from the stairs…
I had been able to find some street parking a few blocks from the station, but recently they have changed the parking signs, so I’m not sure I will be able to keep parking and riding here. Aside from the PCC van, there aren’t other ways to get there. Too bad!

Only 3 for 2 main reasons.
#1, there is no way to park your car, I can use this station because it’s in walking distance (30 min) from our house. If you have a car, you have to go to the station in Sierra Madre
#2, the train stops at the end of the station (West, if you go to downtown LA), you better move your a$$ there before the train rolls in, otherwise you have to run. And of course, that’s the only area without a roof, what great engineering. So, in case of rain, bring shampoo, you will be wet enough

I wish I could take the Gold Line from this station regularly but its lack of parking makes it difficult, which is a shame as it’s the closest station to where I live and as I get older I hate the chaotic parking situation at Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line Station. That’s pretty much my only complaint. other than that, this station does the job. It’s clean and has a beautiful entrance underneath the 210 underpass.

This is the station closest to where I currently live. It gets a star for the nice view when you’re on the top platform waiting for the train jn between the 210 freeway. The view of the San Gabriel mountains in the back adds a nice touch.
However I have to ding it major points because I’ve had my bike stolen from here, not once but twice! …from the same spot! One would think that parking your bike right under the 2 security cameras on the bike rack would be a good spot… but NO the cameras are useless… all useless along with the LA County Sheriff, any bike lock you may have, and Metro ‘s security cameras, when it comes to the safety of your bike at Allen Station.

Train is always on time and this station is never too crowded. However, there is nothing around it, so if you want a cup of joe or something, you must come with a to go cup.

This stop is really good to me. There’s a view. You simply have to stop looking down at your phone look up. Day or night. No excuses. Feel many cars and motorcycles ride by. Enjoy and realize that we’re all in a hurry now. At least it may seem that way.

We have had our bicycles vandalized multiple times while parked here. How hard is it to keep a station policed?

Southern Californians love their cars, a fact that will forever challenge any public transportation system here being utilized to its full potential. The Gold Line is arguably the cleanest, and the train on which you’re least likely to get tuberculosis of the rainbow lines. Weekday commuters use the train to get into LA, or to Inion station where the red line, for example, connects with Mid-​Wilshire, etc.
If you live or park near the Allen station (watch the neighborhood signs restricting parking without a permit, or park a block or two away where there are no signs) you can easily catch the train to Old Town Pasadena, the village area of South Pasadena, or go get some Mu Shu pork in Chinatown.
Great for folks who don’t mind walking a bit, or who like to have a few adult beverages and don’t want to risk a DUI.
All riders now must have a TAP card (purchase and reload at the kiosks) or a pass… No more paper tickets.
While chances are you’ll never have an incident on any public transportation vehicle, there are still the occasional weirdos, people with chronic coughs and poorly dressed wounds, the costume people, homeless folks in desperate need of a shower. There’s that loud group of IDGAF teen gangstas from time to time.
Essentially, many of the folks that are too strange for the DMV? They’re going Metro! If you don’t mind the adventure, it’s actually an outstanding people watching venue.
The Allen station is outdoors and you have to make sure you don’t miss the trains when they pull up… They go farther forward on the platform than would seem convenient, so be prepared to run, or move to the end of the platform when you seethe train coming. Try waving at cars going by to pass the time.

A very cool and clean station that puts you at the cross section of N Allen Ave & E Maple St in Pasadena CA right off the 210 Freeway.
Just be aware that this location doesn’t seem to be a park-​n-​ride location so you can’t leave your car here and if you’re trying to meet someone here you might need to get picked up or dropped off curbside under the 210 overpass.

Great time whenever i don’t feel like driving i take the Gold Line at Allen and the train is always so clean and it stops every ten minutes.

Uve got PCC n lots o spits south of hrre. or my neck of the woods to the north :)

I never thought that L.A. could have a feasible public transportation system but I have been proven wrong! Ever since I moved to Pasadena and «discovered» the Metro I have been a strong supporter. Not sure if anyone knows this, but L.A. used to have an amazingly cheap and efficient light rail system that traversed across the entire city. But thanks to big oil and the automobile industries, they bought up all the rail lines and put them out of business back in the 60’s and 70’s. How awesome it would’ve been to keep them in operation and save the BILLIONS of dollars we have to spend in today’s money to recreate what once existed.
History lesson aside, the Allen Ave station is convenient to Pasadena City College and my home. It’s about a ¾ mile walk to school and ½ mile walk to Colorado Blvd. This might sound like a bit of a hike, but seriously, that’s nothing… and can be a good way to get some exercise for the day! If you really can’t walk to school, PCC does have a shuttle.
The thing that always confused me about the Metro is how certain locations don’t have turnstiles… or gates at all! It’s kind of based on an honor system… but don’t even try to use the Metro without buying a Tap card first! You’ll end up paying a $ 250 fine. I’ve definitely seen cops chill at the exit and they’ll scan your Tap card and if you don’t have a valid fare, they can fine you on the spot.
The Gold Line is supposed to work its way all the way to Pomona one day which would be sweet for those who commute downtown from there. I bet that’ll reduce traffic a bit on the 210!
Bottom line: the station is clean and reliable. If you worry about exposure to pollution due to the proximity of being in the middle of a freeway, then maybe you might not like boarding here… but the trains run regularly enough that you don’t have to wait too long.

I have been using this station and the Gold Line practically every day since gas prices skyrocketed to $ 5.00 a gallon. It was a little strange that the train platform is in the middle of 210 freeway but it is cleaner than the other Metro train stations.

The westbound stop is retarded. The train pulls up at the opposite side of the platform FURTHEST away from the stairs and SHELTER. When you miss the train just because of that, it’s enraging. And while the trains are always late the driver wont even wait half a second when they see you running to catch the train. Forget sitting in the shade on the seat, you won’t make it to where the train actually stops. Also the vending machines take too long to print a ticket and for some reason the debit option doesn’t work either.

One of the great things about the Lake, Allen or Sierra Madre Villa stations is that you are literally watching freeway traffic go by, reminding you why you take the train in the first place. The other day, not once, not twice, but three times I witnessed a near accident in the same exact spot! Yikes!
As for this station, a few things to note:
— I’m not a fan of the stairway up to the station. Seems like a good place to hide late at night. I’m just saying — be careful.
–Although it is a good place to get dropped off and picked up, the signs send mixed messages. The flip side to that is that there is no parking.
–If you are going to PCC, there is a shuttle that will pick you up here
–If you’ve got a serious appetite, Topps is just down the street. Just saying…

I’ve been taking the gold line to work for 2 months now. My first impression was a good one, clean train, fairly open station with no crowds, very relaxing. I am not a huge fan of the open layout of the station (the wind has been quite cold at times in Jan-​Feb. The people riding the train seem to be every day working folks. I’m seeing familiar faces day in day out now. Once in a while there will be a weirdo on there, talking to himself, playing music on a guitar or spilling his coffee all over while falling asleep (you know who I’m talking about). But hey, this is LA metro area, kind of have to get used to it.
To sum it up, if you’re looking to avoid the traffic and actually spend your morning relaxing vs working out your foot accelerating and breaking every 2 seconds — take the gold line. You won’t regret it. I’m saving gas money, and for me the ride is free (I just asked my employer to cover the monthly cost of $ 75. I think it’s $ 75).

This is a clean, well-​maintained, above-​ground Metro station. It never seems to be crowded. When you stand on the platform, it’s a bit jarring to see traffic whiz by you at 80 mph on the 210 fwy on both sides of the station. It’s also quite noisy from the never-​ending onslaught of cars and trucks. But the trains come on time. That’s what counts! And you can always find a seat since you’re near the end of the Gold Line.

In honor of mother earth day and since the family car has been put to major use earlier this week, the family decided it would be a great idea to take the train and venture along the Gold Line.
We were so glad we did with ideal stops on and off the beaten path. We made a stop in Old town followed by Chinatown for sweets and Little Tokyo for a late lunch. $ 6 for a day pass is absolutely worth all the time wasted looking for parking/​dealing with traffic, wear-​and-​tear on your vehicle. Two children under the age of 5 ride for free with each paying adult. My son loved the ride!
Happy earth day!

My «Home Station» for what I consider the «safest» or at least the «least scariest» of all the Lines in the Metro Rail System! Really bizzaro if your up on the platform & there’s been a traffic-​stopping accident on either side of the 210 FWY. where one side traffic is flying or crawling & the other side is empty/​void! Station is fairly well maintained short of «scratch-​tagging» by Loser-​Asshole-​Piece-​of-​Shit-​Creep-​Fucks!

I’m first to review the train station of my Southern Californian life… *wells up with tears*
I have taken this train back and forth nearly every single weekday since September. The Gold Line itself is punctual, clean, comfortable, and efficient. It runs very frequently during rush hours. Everyone I know has felt comfortable on the Gold Line, unlike some other Metro lines out there. The people going Gold are good citizens and friendly folks.
The Allen Station is well maintained, has two (slow) working elevators, a well lit staircase to take you to the freeway-​adjacent station, and a couple of machines to buy your ticket. I’ve never had to wait in line to use them as this station is relatively not too frequented.
It’s a little windy up top since it’s right on the freeway, but there are enough benches and shade to get a respite from the sun or protection during inclement weather. I am a Gold Line loyalist and this is my home station, a couple blocks from my place. =) Very thankful for it. 25 minutes to Union Station beats rush hour on the 110 or 210 any day for $ 1.50. There is ALWAYS an available seat at Allen Station. So sit back and relax… ^_^