Transportation Milestones

From the days of mule and buggy in the 19th century… to the present contributions by Omnitrans in the third quarter of the 21st century, the San Bernardino Valley has a rich history of public transportation.

Select a span from our timeline to learn more...

| 1885 - 1917 | 1920 - 1949 | 1951 - 1979 | 1980 - 1997 | 2000 - present |

Transportation: 1885 - 1917

• 1885
  Mule cars were operated as the first mode of public transportation by City Railroad Company from Santa Fe Station to east on 3rd St. and north on E St. to Hooperville (Base Line).

• 1901
  Electric transportation came with the incorporation of the San Bernardino Valley Traction Company (S.B.V.T.)

• 1902
  Actual service started from Base Line and D streets via D, 3rd and Mount Vernon to Colton. A second line opened along 7th St. to Pioneer Cemetery and a third began via E St. and Colton Ave. to the resort called Urbita Springs.

• 1903 S.B.V.T. began the Redlands line. Operations of the Redlands Street Railway Company and the San Bernardino and Highland Electric Railway (successor to Harlem Springs motor road) were acquired. Highland was reached by connecting the Cemetery line to the reconstructed motor road trackage.

• 1904 The City Railroad Co. line quit after several years of marginal operation. Suburban transportation was provided by steam dummy lines or “motor roads” as they were known locally. These radiated to Colton, Riverside, Redlands and the resort at Harlem Springs near Highland.

• 1907 The Huntington interests (Southern Pacific) reached out their easternmost traction tentacle and acquired control of S.B.V.T. The D Street line extended to the Arrowhead Springs Hotel.

• 1911 S.B.V.T. disappeared as a corporate entity by merger into Pacific Electric Railway Co.

• 1912 Independent bus operation of W.D. Lee (Lee’s Auto Stage Line) began running west on 5th St. to Rialto.

• 1917 The first Pacific Electric venture in motor bus transportation began when the 6.6-mile Highland Transportation of H.H. Eastwood was purchased to supplement the electric line between San Bernardino, Highland and Patton.