News Release

Omnitrans Ridership Up 8.1%

SAN BERNARDINO, CA - Omnitrans bus ridership was up an impressive 8.1 percent for the month of July, making it the agency’s best month for ridership in more than a year.

“While high fuel costs undoubtedly have played a role in bringing customers to Omnitrans, it is our convenient, efficient, and environmentally responsible service that keeps them riding,” said CEO/General Manager Durand Rall. “This is a great step toward what we’re confident will be a continuing trend.”

Indeed, ridership numbers for the first two weeks of August also are positive, with average weekday ridership running 11.3 percent ahead of the first half of August 2007.

In order to achieve an 8.1 percent increase in July, Omnitrans provided 1.3 million passenger trips during the month. Ridership showed gains across the board, with regular, fixed route bus service up 8.3 percent and the agency’s demand response service to the public, OmniLink, up 6.9 percent. Access service for qualified persons with disabilities was up nearly two percent. Perhaps most significantly, express Route 215 between downtown San Bernardino and downtown Riverside registered a ridership increase of more than 30 percent.

The agency attributes the increase in ridership to the rising cost of living that has spurred a 3.4 percent increase in transit use nationwide this year, as well as recent marketing promotions.

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.