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The following actions were taken during the RTA’s Board of Directors monthly meeting on Thursday, May 22, 2008:
Supervisor Buster Selected as Second Vice Chairman
Board members elected County Supervisor Bob Buster as the group's second vice chairman. Buster, who represents the County of Riverside's District 1, is a senior member of the Board, having served since 1993. He has been an active member of the Administrative and Operations committee, and has served on, and in some cases chaired, various RTA groups, including the Transportation Development Committee, the ADA Committee, Ad-Hoc Committee on RCTC Issues, and the Downtown Terminal Committee. Buster's appointment follows the Board's recent decision to elect Corona's Karen Spiegel as chairman and Temecula's Jeff Comerchero as first vice chairman.
Public Hearing Opens for FY 2009 Budget
Board members opened a month-long public hearing period for the Agency’s Short Range Transit Plan and budget for Fiscal Year 2009. The proposed $55.5 million operating budget was developed to support the Agency’s goals of increased ridership, providing excellent customer service and cost-containment through improved efficiencies. The Short Range Transit Plan reflects an estimated seven percent increase in revenue service hours and a seven percent increase in revenue service miles from fiscal year 2007 projections. The budget and Short Range Transit Plan may be inspected between 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at RTA headquarters or on RTA's website. Comments regarding the budget and Short Range Transit Plan may be submitted by phone at (800) 800-7821, at getonandgo@riversidetransit.com or sent via standard mail to RTA, 1825 Third Street, Riverside, CA 92507. Comments will also be taken at the June 26th Board meeting.
Ridership Continues to Climb
Board members received new data showing ridership continuing to increase. Compared to this time last year, CommuterLink and Dial-A-Ride ridership has climbed roughly 40 percent and 33 percent, respectively. As a whole, the Agency's ridership has climbed 13 percent compared to this time last year.
Grant Applications Ratified for New CommuterLink Routes
Board members approved grant applications that would help pay for the operation of two new express routes in the San Jacinto and Hemet area. RTA staff is in the process of securing two federal grants --- the Federal Job Access and Reverse Commute Program, and the New Freedom Program --- for transit services to employment centers and expanded mobility options for area residents. A portion of the cost to operate the new express buses would come from Measure A, Riverside County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation. The new express routes are expected to start service as early as January 2009.
New Hemet Service Approved
Board members approved the operation of a new service in Hemet designed to assist residents with travel to employment centers. The Hemet Opportunity Project Express Bus, or HOPE Bus, would run seven days a week and provide late evening and early morning service for non-traditional work shifts of Riverside County Department of Public and Social Services (DPSS) customers. The service is expected to begin as early as January 2009. Board members also authorized RTA to negotiate an agreement with the Hemet-based nonprofit Care-A-Van Transit for the operation of the HOPE Bus.
Grant Applications Ratified for Security Projects
Board members approved a state grant application that would help pay for RTA safety and security projects. The funding request from voter-approved Proposition 1B would be used for various security projects at RTA's facilities as well as video cameras mounted on the side of buses to record activity around the bus.
RTA Meeting Performance Standards
New information shows the Agency continuing to meet or exceed all required performance standards identified in the Productivity Improvement Program, or PIP. The program requires the tracking over time of key performance indicators related to revenues, expenses and service measures. The program is designed to help the agency maintain effective and efficient service by identifying areas for upgrades or modifications.
The next Board meeting will be held on Thursday, June 26 at 2 p.m.
For more information, contact:
Bradley Weaver, Marketing Manager (951) 565-5172
bweaver@riversidetransit.com |
