Notice

Funding Declines Force Omnitrans to Propose Service Cuts

San Bernardino, CA – Faced with cutbacks in state funding and a drastic decline in sales tax revenues, Omnitrans is proposing to implement service reductions along with other internal cost cutting strategies to address a $8.7 million projected budget shortfall for 2010-11. 

• See the action plan and proposed route changes...
• See a summary of the changes...
• See the community meeting schedule...

Community meetings will be held March 29 through April 1 to gather public input on the proposals. Changes are proposed to take effect in September 2010.

“Omnitrans local sales tax-based funding is down 29% compared to 2008,” explained Director of Marketing Wendy Williams. “We implemented wage and hiring freezes, furloughs and other cost controls to forestall impacts to service levels, but now have no choice.”

Proposed changes to local bus service include reducing frequencies and service span on 14 routes, eliminating weekend service on two routes and minor realignments to three routes.  Omnitrans is also proposing changes to Omnilink service. In Yucaipa and Chino Hills, local circulator routes are recommended and, in Grand Terrace, new service is proposed to help offset planned elimination of Route 25, operated by Riverside Transit Agency (RTA).

“Changes are designed to disrupt the fewest number of passengers as possible,” Williams said.
The proposed changes equate to a 3.3% reduction in service, a savings of $1.6 million.  The majority of the budget gap -- $7.1 million -- will be addressed through internal cost controls such as scaling back current programs in every department, staff reductions, reallocating funds and tapping emergency reserves.

Local sales tax funding provides over half of Omnitrans’ operating budget. The drastic drop in sales tax revenues comes at the same time that state transportation funding has been jeopardized by California’s ongoing state budget issues.

Omnitrans is not alone in facing budget challenges. RTA plans to implement a wide range of service cuts in May. Foothill Transit Agency is projecting a $12.5 million gap and the Orange County Transportation Authority recently announced a $30 million budget shortfall.

Detailed information on service proposals will be available at community meetings and on the Omnitrans website: www.omnitrans.org.

Summary of Proposed Changes (Effective September 2010)

Fixed Route Bus Service

• Reduce weekday and/or weekend frequency:
  Routes 5, 11, 15, 20, 22, 63, 65, 80, 83, 215
   
• Reduce evening and/or mid-day frequency:
  Routes 1, 10
   
• Eliminate early morning and/or late evening trips:
  Route  9, 19, 20, 22, 83, 215
   
• Eliminate weekend service:
  Routes 67 and 81 
   
• Route map realignment:
  Routes 7, 82--weekends only

Omnilink

• Yucaipa: Implement circulator routes to serve key destinations, continue to use two vehicles to provide demand response service.
   
• Chino: Implement circulator route to serve key destinations including some currently served by Route 65; continue to use one vehicle to provide demand response service./
   
• Grand Terrace: Implement new service to help offset planned elimination of Riverside Transit Agency’s Route 25.

Access

• Small reduction in service area on weekends due to elimination of weekend service on Routes 67 and 81.

Community Meetings
The public is invited to comment on proposed changes at community meetings:

If you are unable to attend a meeting, but still would like to provide comments, please call (909) 379-7250, or send your comments by email, or regular mail to Omnitrans Planning Dept., 1700 W. 5th St., San Bernardino, CA 92411.

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Founded in 1976, Omnitrans is the public transit agency providing 50,000 passenger trips each weekday across the San Bernardino Valley. Omnitrans is governed by a 20-member board representing the 15 cities served by Omnitrans and San Bernardino County.