RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

DATE: June 14, 2006 TO: Riverside County Transportation Commission Plans and Programs Committee, Citizens’ Advisory FROM: Committee/Social Services Transportation Advisory Council and Tanya Love, Program Manager THROUGH Eric Haley, Executive Director SUBJECT: Fiscal Years 2006/07 – 2008/09 Short Range Transit Plans

PLANS AND PROGRAMS COMMITTEE, CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE/SOCIAL SERVICES TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COUNCIL AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION:

This item is for the Commission to review and approve, in concept, the FY 2006/07 – FY 2008/09 Short Range Transit Plans for the cities of Banning, Beaumont (collectively Pass Transit System), Corona, Riverside, Palo Verde Valley Transit Agency, , SunLine Transit Agency and RCTC’s Regional Rail Program.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The Riverside County FY 2006/07 – FY 2008/09 Short Range Transit Plans (SRTP) cover the three apportionment areas of the county and are comprised of plans for the municipal operators, the Palo Verde Valley Transit Agency, the Riverside Transit Agency, SunLine Transit Agency, and RCTC’s Regional Commuter Rail Program. The SRTPs were prepared by the transit operators (bus and commuter rail) using the Commission’s Productivity Improvement Program which established mandatory and discretionary performance targets for the operators to meet in order to ensure that transit services in Riverside County are maximized.

Although the SRTPs provide the basis for allocation of funds for both operating and capital costs, staff is requesting that the plans be approved in concept only as requests for financial allocations for FY 2006/07 will be made at the July Commission meeting.

The following provides a summary of the SRTP service highlights proposed in the FY 2006/07 through FY 2008/09 SRTPs:

Agenda Item 8L City of Banning and City of Beaumont (Pass Transit System)

Previously, the Commission approved funds to evaluate the development of a regionalized transit system in the Pass Area based on geographic rather than city boundaries. The concept was based on the idea that the Banning Municipal Transit System and the Beaumont Municipal Transit Agency (two independent transit systems) would be coordinated to present the appearance of a single transit system to customers and the public.

The coordinated service area of Pass Transit includes the cities of Banning and Beaumont, the unincorporated areas of Cabazon and Cherry Valley, and the commercial area of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians Reservation. Both fixed route and dial-a-ride services are provided throughout the Pass Area.

A result of the Pass Area Transit Study is the closer coordination of service between the Banning Municipal Transit System and the Beaumont Municipal Transit Agency. As the Pass Transit System continues to evolve, it is anticipated that adjustments intended to improve service will continue and be reflected in future plans. While the new Pass Transit System is a single seamless transit system to the public, it is two independent transit systems operated by two different administrators and overseen by two different policy boards. When the Pass Area Transit Plan was adopted it was anticipated that at some future date, the two systems would combine into a single system (single administrator and single policy board). During FY 2006/07, transit staff will continue researching and developing the proposal to combine the two transit agencies into a single agency. Proposed changes will be presented to the Commission for final review.

In addition to the potential merger, following are the highlights of the SRTP for the Pass Transit System:

• Both dial-a-ride and fixed route services will continue to be provided seven days a week. Service will be provided from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. which reflects an increase in service hours; • Implementation of the Commercial Trunk Line in the Pass Area connects the two fixed route systems together and provides services from Beaumont/Cherry Valley to Banning/Cabazon; • Implementation of new Pass Transit Guide; • Completion of the implementation of the new Pass Transit Graphics on buses in order to provide branding of the bus fleets for the cities of Banning and Beaumont Transit System; • An outreach to major employers in the Pass Area was initiated in March 2006 with the opening of Wal-Mart in Beaumont. This program offers free passes to encourage employees to try taking the transit system to work.

Agenda Item 8L The outreach to Wal-Mart employees was successful with roughly 20% of the free passes being used. This outreach program will continue in FY 2006/07; • The city of Beaumont has continued its outreach program to schools; Banning will begin a similar outreach program in FY 2006/07; and • In an attempt to make the transit system easier to use in FY 2006/07 the city of Banning will post route schedules and system maps at bus stops throughout the city.

City of Corona

The city of Corona (Corona) operates a general public dial-a-ride program as well as fixed route services known as the “Corona Cruiser.” Corona closely coordinates all transfers with both RTA and RCTC’s Commuter Rail services.

Following are highlights of Corona’s services for FY 2006/07:

• Corona will continue to maintain current levels of service, but considering route changes if necessary, to better serve the transportation needs of riders; and • A systemwide on-board transit survey will be conducted to determine if there is an existing demand for Sunday service.

City of Riverside – Special Services

Riverside Special Services (RSS) operates a Seniors and Persons with Disabilities dial-a-ride program. Service is provided within the Riverside city limits. The special services program functions as an alternative to RTA’s fixed route system for seniors and persons with disabilities unable to use fixed route service. All services operated by RSS are closely coordinated with RTA.

Following are the highlights of services planned for FY 2006/07:

• Effective July 1, 2006, a passenger fare increase will be made as follows: • $2.00 for senior/disabled; and • $175.00 monthly fare for subscription service The fare increase is necessary to keep up with rising fuel costs as well as to meet the state-mandated farebox recovery ratio of 10%; • A new scheduling/dispatching software will be fully implemented in FY 2006/07. The new software and technology will increase passenger ridership and improve efficiencies of service; and • A marketing outreach campaign to educate and promote service to senior centers and complexes will continue during the fiscal year.

Agenda Item 8L Palo Verde Valley Transit Agency

The Palo Verde Valley Transit Agency (PVVTA) provides a multitude of services including fixed route, dial-a-ride, and a transportation reimbursement program (for individuals that cannot ride the public bus system). Service is provided within the city of Blythe and surrounding unincorporated county areas in the Palo Verde Valley.

Following are the highlights of PVVTA’s services:

• PVVTA’s service is known as the Desert Roadrunner and operates three deviated fixed routes and a general public/ADA paratransit service. Transit service continues to be provided by contract with Transportation Concepts; • Growth in ridership is projected at 2%; • To meet farebox requirements, a fare increase will be implemented on both dial-a-ride and fixed route; • Some emphasis will be placed on situating passenger amenities (e.g. benches, shelters, trash receptacles) at strategic locations; • Transit management will focus on system productivity, mindful of Transportation Development Act requirements relative to farebox recovery ratio and operating cost per revenue hour; and • Agency will actively continue to pursue additional funding for a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling station, in partnership with the city of Blythe and county of Riverside.

Riverside Transit Agency

The Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) provides both local and regional transportation services. RTA is the Consolidated Transportation Service Agency for western Riverside County and is responsible for coordinating transit services throughout the approximately 2,500 square mile service area, providing driver training, and assistance with grant applications.

The following are highlights of RTA’s proposed service for FY 2006/07:

• RTA will continue to monitor ridership. From FY 2001/02 to FY 2003/04, RTA experienced a growth in ridership; from FY 2003/04 to FY 2004/05, systemwide ridership declined approximately 3% from 7.5 million to 7.3 million riders. Systemwide ridership in FY 2005/06 is expected to continue its decline, falling by approximately 6%. Various external and internal factors such as a fare increase, weather patterns, employment rates, and service levels are currently being studied by RTA staff.

Agenda Item 8L • For FY 2006/07, RTA is projecting a 3% increase in ridership based on service enhancements. Proposed service changes include: - Due to low productivity, the following routes will be discontinued in January 2007: ƒ Route 36: Beaumont/Banning/Calimesa; ƒ Route 61: Sun City Scooter; and ƒ Route 204: Riverside-Montclair Transcenter commuter route, - Service modifications will be made on the following routes: ƒ Route 1: Magnolia Corridor (service increase - 8 trips during peak periods); ƒ Route 18A: Moreno Valley Mall to RCC/Moreno Valley campus (15% service reduction); ƒ Taxi overflow: 30% reduction due to efficiency improvement by new dial-a-ride contractor (Southland Transit) - Implementation of a new service: the Harveston Community in Temecula will commence January 2007. ƒ Operating budget reflects a 6.9% increase over projected FY 2005/06 year-end actual; and ƒ Capital budget includes the acquisition of 23 paratransit vehicles.

SunLine Transit Agency

The SunLine Transit Agency (SunLine) provides both local and regional transportation services with 12 fixed routes and demand response dial-a-ride services known as SunDial. SunLine is the Consolidated Transportation Service Agency and is responsible for coordinating transit services in the Coachella Valley. SunLine’s service area consists of approximately 1,120 square miles.

Following are the highlights of SunLine’s proposed FY 2006/07 SRTP:

• Resources in FY 2005/06 were dedicated to the completion of a Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA). When feasible, the results of the recently completed study will be implemented in FY 2006/07. Recommended service improvements, as a result of the COA, will be brought forward for review and consideration; • Install more bus shelters at existing bus stops as well as adding new transit amenities such as bus benches to improve and enhance transit services provided in the Coachella Valley; • Work with local jurisdictions to improve existing bus stops as well as to develop new bus stops throughout the valley; • Begin environmental assessment, preliminary and final engineering for new administrative building;

Agenda Item 8L • Evaluate existing plans and determine need to develop new strategies on how best to work with human service agencies to begin working on a coordinated transportation plan; and • Research and explore the possibility of establishing a Pass Program for college and university students in the valley.

SunLine has identified the capital purchase of ten expansion vehicles in their SRTP; however, at the time of writing this agenda item, Commission and SunLine staffs were in the process of identifying the actual dollar amount needed to operate the additional services proposed to be provided on Routes 14, 15, 24, 30, 70, 71 and 111. Commission staff will provide a verbal report as a result of those discussions at the Plans and Programs Committee meeting.

Regional Commuter Rail

The Southern California Regional Rail Authority operates seven commuter rail lines with 39 locomotives and 155 commuter rail cars. Three routes, the Riverside to Los Angeles Line, the Inland Empire to (IEOC), and the Riverside to Los Angeles via Fullerton Line (91 Line) directly serve western Riverside County with connecting service available to destinations on the other four lines.

Following are the highlights of the Commuter Rail’s FY 2006/07 SRTP:

• Continued implementation of the revised fare structure with an average 5.5% fare increase in FY 2006/07; • Preliminary engineering and environmental clearance of the Perris Valley Line (Riverside – Moreno Valley – Perris) extension project; • Implementation of Inland Empire Orange County year-round weekend train; and • A 17.54% ($822,196) increase in RCTC operating subsidy due to service expansion, increases in fuel costs, property liability costs, and maintenance of way costs.

Attachments: Short Range Transit Plans (Note: Plans and Program Commissioners received SRTPs with Plans and Programs Committee Agenda.)

Agenda Item 8L