Omnitrans Fare and Service Changes Approved
Public input gathered at meetings last month helped to shape final plan

SAN BERNARDINO, CA, March 7, 2007 – The Omnitrans Board moved to secure the transit Agency’s primary source of funding Wednesday by approving a fare increase and the reduction of under-utilized bus service.

The fare and service changes are designed to improve productivity levels in terms of passenger trips and passenger revenue per hour of service. Service changes are set for May 7, while fare changes take effect July 1.

The changes are essential to meeting the California’s Transportation Development Act’s (TDA) 20 percent fare recovery ratio requirement, according to agency officials. TDA money, which provides approximately 60 percent of Omnitrans’ operating funds, could be jeopardized if passenger fares do not cover at least 20 percent of operating expenses. The longer term plan is to achieve a 25% fare recovery ratio target by 2013.

“Service cuts will have minimal impact on our customers, since only little-used service will be cut or scaled back,” explained agency spokesperson Wendy Williams. “We’re pleased to be improving our Route 90 express service between San Bernardino and Riverside by increasing frequencies to every 30 minutes in response to growing demand.”

Passenger fares typically are adjusted every two to three years.  A nine percent increase to the one-way cash fare and 1-day pass on buses took effect in September 2006. But bus fares for seniors and disabled passengers, prices for multi-day bus passes and fares on Access and Omnilink services have not gone up since September 2003.

“We encourage our cash customers to save by switching to 7-day and 31-day bus passes, which essentially offsets the cost increase for them,” Williams said.  “For added convenience, we will begin selling 7-day passes on board buses in July and we will also introduce a 7-day pass for students. 10-packs of 1-day passes will be sold at 10 for the price of 9.”

Omnitrans utilized feedback from public meetings and Board workshops held in February to make final service and fare recommendations.  “We did make changes to our original proposals based on public comments,” said Planning Director Rohan Kuruppu.  “For instance, planned elimination of a segment of Route 8 between Redlands and Yucaipa was reinstated after talking with our customers.”

Further information regarding Omnitrans’ service and fare changes will be posted at www.omnitrans.org.

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Founded in 1976, Omnitrans is the public transit agency serving fifteen cities and the unincorporated areas of the Inland Valley of San Bernardino County in Southern California. Omnitrans currently operates 32 fixed bus routes in a
480-square-mile area. Omnitrans also provides OmniLink and Access
demand-response service, and is a partner in the Inland Empire Connection express bus service. The American Public Transportation Association has named Omnitrans the Outstanding Transit System of its size in both 1995
and 1999. Omnitrans also has received twelve safety awards from the
National Safety Council.