Dump the pump, ride FREE!

Posted on June 4, 2013 by | 1 Comment

RIDE FREE!
As an incentive to new riders, Omnitrans is offering a coupon redeemable for a free bus ride on June 20th. The coupon can be found in the Sunday, June 16th edition of The Sun/Daily Bulletin. It is also available as a PDF download on the Omnitrans website.  

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE RIDE COUPON!

Last year Omnitrans saw nearly 53,000 boardings on Dump The Pump Day, the highest on record for that day in the past five years.

WIN A DUMP THE PUMP PRIZE PACK!
Have you dumped the pump for public transit? Tell us why in 50 words or less and you will be entered into a drawing to win one of four Dump the Pump prize packs. Each pack includes a $25 grocery gift card, a 7-Day bus pass, an Omnitrans baseball cap, sports tote, flashlight keychain and NexTrip phone pouch! You might also be selected to be a featured rider in a blog article. Contest begins on June 4th and ends on June 20th. Click here to enter.

WHY DUMP THE PUMP?
Thursday, June 20th is national Dump The Pump Day, a day that encourages people to save money by riding public transportation instead of driving a car.

Riding public transit is an economical way to save money, particularly when gas prices are high. The latest APTA Transit Savings Report shows that a two person household that downsizes to one car can save – on the average – more than $9,700 a year.

One person with a 20-mile round trip commute who switches from driving to public transit can reduce his or her daily carbon emissions by 20 pounds, or more than 4,800 pounds in a year.

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Posted in Bus Pass, Promotion

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Life-long love of transit

Posted on May 31, 2013 by | 1 Comment

Paul Castillo has been fascinated by public transit since he was 5-years-old. “As a child it made a big impression on me,” he admits. “Planes, trains, buses–I loved them all. My mom never drove a car, so we took the bus wherever we went. In school when they asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up, I always wanted to be a bus driver.”

Eventually he realized his dream and became a coach operator, driving buses for LA’s Metro Transit. “LA is very different from the Inland Empire. It’s like a jungle. There is tons of traffic which make it challenging to stay on time point. Passengers are generally rushed and often cranky. It’s a busy job. You really have to stay on your toes and be aware of your surroundings. You learn to keep your cool, and remain courteous and professional at all times. What I like best about being a coach operator is that you’re outdoors–not stuck in a cubicle all day. And you get to meet all kinds of interesting people.”

During the past year that he’s lived in San Bernardino, Omnitrans has been Paul’s primary form of transportation. He is currently out of work and is finding it helpful in his job searches. “I ‘m not as familiar with this area, so I go on the trip planner section of the Omnitrans site to do Google Transit searches. This way I can see right away how far away a business is, how long the travel time will be and what routes I would need to take in order to get there.”

His goal is to take a position with another transit agency, eventually working his way up to a trainer or management position. “I’d love the opportunity to work for Omnitrans, actually. I like the buses, and I’ve had good experiences riding the routes here. The passengers are much more laid back than in LA, and the coach operators have been very courteous and helpful.”

Paul is a 10 year member of Southern California Transit Advocates, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, development and improvement of public transportation in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. He likes being around others who share his interests and enjoys the occasional group excursions to various transit agencies to learn firsthand about the ridership, buses and services.

–Juno Kughler Carlson

Do you like this story and want to use it for your blog or newsletter? All our stories may be freely re-posted and shared with others!

Do you have a great Omnitrans story to share? Let us know!
Email juno.carlson@omnitrans.org

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Fontana detours scheduled Saturday

Posted on May 30, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Due to multiple street closures in downtown Fontana for the Fontana Days Marathon celebration on Saturday, June 1st, Omnitrans routes serving areas between Summit and Merrill will detour from Sierra Avenue.

Turn by turn detours for Routes 10, 14, 15, 19, 20, 61, 66, 67 and 82 are listed under the map below. The detours will be in effect from  6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Fontana Transfer Center will be open during the event.  Check NexTrip for live bus arrival prediction times.

ROUTE 10 Eastbound
  • From the Metrolink
  • Left on Nuevo
  • Left on Valencia
  • Right on Juniper
  • Right on Foothill
  • Left on Mango
  • Right on Baseline
ROUTE 10 Westbound
  • From Baseline
  • Left on Mango
  • Right on Foothill
  • Left on Juniper
  • Left on Orange
  • (layover on Orange)
ROUTE 14 Eastbound
  • From Orange (Metrolink)
  • Left on Nuevo
  • Left on Valencia
  • Right on Juniper
  • Right on Foothill
ROUTE 14 Westbound
  • From Foothill
  • Left on Juniper
  • Left on Orange
  • (layover outside the Metrolink)
ROUTE 15 Eastbound
  • From Orange (Metrolink)
  • Left on Nuevo
  • Left on Valencia
  • Right on Juniper
  • Right on Foothill
  • Right on Mango
  • Left on Arrow
  • Right on Alder
ROUTE 15 Westbound
  • From Arrow
  • Right on Mango
  • Left on Foothill
  • Left on Juniper
  • Left on Orange
  • (layover on Orange)
Route 19 Eastbound
  • From the Metrolink
  • Left on Orange
  • Left on Juniper
  • Left on Randall
  • Right on Sierra
  • Left on Marigold
ROUTE 19 Westbound
  • From Sierra
  • Left on Randall
  • Right on Juniper
  • Right on Orange
  • (Layover on Orange)
ROUTE 20 Northbound
  • From Sierra
  • Left on Randall
  • Continue Route
ROUTE 20 Southbound
  • From the Metrolink
  • Left on Orange
  • Left on Juniper
  • Right on Merrill
ROUTE 61 Eastbound
  • From Sierra
  • Left on Randall
  • Right on Juniper
  • Right on Orange
ROUTE 61 Westbound
  • From the Metrolink
  • Left on Orange
  • Left on Juniper
  • Left on Randall
  • Right on Sierra
ROUTE 66 Eastbound
  • From Foothill
  • Right on Juniper
  • Left on Orange
ROUTE 66 Westbound
  • From the Metrolink
  • Left on Orange
  • Right on Juniper
  • Left on Foothill
ROUTE 67 Eastbound
  • From Walnut
  • Right on Juniper
  • Left on Orange
  • (layover on Orange)
ROUTE 67 Westbound
  • From Themero Link
  • Left on Nuevo
  • Left on Valencia
  • Right on Juniper
  • Left on Walnut
ROUTE 82 Eastbound
  • From Sierra
  • Left on Randall
  • Right on Juniper
  • Right on Orange (into Metrolink)
  • Left on Orange
  • Right on Juniper
  • Left on Foothill
  • Right on Citrus
  • Right on Sierra Lakes
ROUTE 82 Westbound
  • Left on Agusta
  • Right on Murfield
  • Left on Citrus
  • Left on Foothill
  • Right on Juniper
  • Left on Orange (into Metrolink)
  • Left on Orange
  • Left on Juniper
  • Left on Randall
  • Right on Sierra

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Reading, riding & reaching out to others

Posted on May 30, 2013 by | 2 Comments

“Omnitrans is the center of my universe,” says Liz Neal. The 46-year-old San Bernardino retiree has a history of seizures which prevents her from driving. But she doesn’t let that hold her back from enjoying the things she loves. She relies on Routes 2, 5 and 15 to get her where she needs to go.

An active member of her church, Ecclesia Christian Fellowship, Liz’s days are filled with Praise Dance practice, choir rehearsals, Bible study, community service and spiritual counseling.  She hopes to one day return to Bible College to obtain a ministry degree. Liz is also an avid reader, preferring true crime, biographies and computer books, and is a frequent visitor at the local library. She always has a book on her, and finds the 45 minute commute between home and church to be a great time to relax and read.

“I like that the buses are neat and clean–and air conditioned. Always great on those hot days!  I know I can get where I need to go on time, and the bus drivers are all very nice. Whenever I’ve had questions or needed directions, they’ve always been very helpful and informative.”

Because she rides every day, Liz purchases 31-Day disability bus passes in order to save more money. And she’s a huge fan of the new NexTrip bus arrival prediction technology.

“It’s been heaven. Whoever came up with that–I just want to hug them!” she laughs. “I trust it and love it and can’t imagine life without it now. Before I used to have to phone the call center every day or check the bus book to get information to plan my trip.  Now I have the NexTrip app downloaded to my smartphone, and it’s always right on the money. If it says the bus is arriving now, I can look up and actually see it coming down the street!”

Liz says NexTrip also gives her the opportunity to talk to people and help them. “It never fails. Whenever I’m at a bus stop, someone always comes along to ask how long I’ve been waiting and do I know when the next bus is coming.  I just pull out my phone and show them. It’s so much easier than looking at the map at the bus stop or at the bus book. It’s that important.”

–Juno Kughler Carlson

Do you like this story and want to use it for your blog or newsletter? All our stories may be freely re-posted and shared with others!

Do you have a great Omnitrans story to share? Let us know!
Email juno.carlson@omnitrans.org

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Changes to Omnitrans Facility Continue

Posted on May 29, 2013 by | Leave a comment

sbX Fleet

Thirteen of the 14 new five-door, 60-foot-long sbX vehicles have arrived from the manufacturer and are being stored in a section of the Omnitrans East Valley maintenance yard in San Bernardino. The lot has been reconfigured to accommodate the coaches while modifications are made to the fueling facility, bus wash and maintenance bays. Crews have begun setting up a temporary fueling station on the east end of the facility on 5th Street and Medical Center Drive. The plan is to complete the temporary station before demolishing the old fueling facility and bus wash to make way for new ones that can accommodate a 60-foot bus.

Temporary fueling facility

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Posted in sbx bus rapid transit, sbX construction

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sbX Loma Linda Station Work Continues

Posted on May 28, 2013 by | Leave a comment

A new concrete bus pad and sbX station low wall have cured at the Anderson Street and Prospect Avenue station.

In May, construction activities focused on the Anderson Street and Redlands Boulevard east sbX station across from the Loma Linda Academy and the Benton Street and Barton Road sbX station at the Loma Linda VA Medical Center.

Other activities included the pouring and curing of concrete bus pads and low walls at the Anderson Street and Prospect Avenue sbX stations. Upcoming work will include electrical at Benton Street and Barton Road as well as slot paving at various station locations.

-Robert Chevez
rchevez@westboundcommunications.com

About sbX
The sbX BRT Project is the first-of-its kind express service to be constructed in the Inland Empire. It is the beginning of an intermodal public transit system in the San Bernardino Valley that will help reduce vehicle congestion while providing the public an environmentally friendly alternative that is sophisticated, cost effective, and time efficient.

The 15.7-mile corridor spans between northern San Bernardino and Loma Linda. It will include 16 art-inspired stations at key university, government, business, entertainment and medical centers as well as four park-and-ride facilities.

Do you like this story and want to use it for your blog or newsletter? All our stories may be freely re-posted and shared with others!

Visit Omnitrans sbX on Facebook
http://facebook.com/omnitrans.sbx

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sbX Work Moves Forward at CSUSB, Downtown

Posted on May 28, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Crews put the finishing touches on irrigation system for the new plant life at the CSUSB sbX station.

In May, the CSUSB sbX station received a landscaping makeover, complete with dozens of evergreen and flowering plants as well as decorative rocks large and small. As part of this work, a water-efficient irrigation system was installed. The steel canopy frame was painted and lighting work continues on the station platform.

On Kendall Drive, work continues on the sbX stations at Palm Avenue, Little Mountain Drive and Shandin Hills Drive. Activities include the installation of decorative platform pavers, electrical lighting and structural-steel painting. Similar work also took place on E Street at the Marshall Boulevard, Highland Avenue and Baseline Street stations.

Work has shifted to the east side of E Street in the Downtown San Bernardino area as crews have removed curbs, gutters and part of the sidewalk.

In Downtown San Bernardino, on E Street in the area between 2nd and 6th streets, work is in full swing to widen the east side of the street. Curbs, gutters and sidewalks have been removed and will be replaced. Diagonal parking has been permanently removed in the area. People can easily park in one of the free structures or lots at City Hall and Carousel Mall. Street parking is available on Court and 4th streets between E and D Streets.

-Robert Chevez
rchevez@westboundcommunications.com

About sbX
The sbX BRT Project is the first-of-its kind express service to be constructed in the Inland Empire. It is the beginning of an intermodal public transit system in the San Bernardino Valley that will help reduce vehicle congestion while providing the public an environmentally friendly alternative that is sophisticated, cost effective, and time efficient.

The 15.7-mile corridor spans between northern San Bernardino and Loma Linda. It will include 16 art-inspired stations at key university, government, business, entertainment and medical centers as well as four park-and-ride facilities.

Do you like this story and want to use it for your blog or newsletter? All our stories may be freely re-posted and shared with others!

Visit Omnitrans sbX on Facebook
http://facebook.com/omnitrans.sbx

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Posted in sbx bus rapid transit, sbX construction

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