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The following actions were taken during the RTA Board of Directors'monthly meeting on September 18, 2008:
Ridership Continues to Climb
Board members received new data showing ridership continuing to increase. Leading the system in gains for August were CommuterLink and Dial-A-Ride services with increases of roughly 60 percent and 15 percent, compared to the same month last year. Systemwide ridership climbed 11 percent.
La Sierra University Students to Ride Buses for Free
Board members authorized a program with La Sierra University that allows the school's 1,700-plus students to ride RTA buses for free during the current academic year. Modeled after similar programs at UC Riverside and the Riverside Community College District, the free-ride program at La Sierra University enables students to ride any RTA fixed route bus for free with their student identification cards. The program, which takes effect on January 1, 2009, will be paid for through the university.
City Pass Agreement Gets Renewed
Board members renewed an agreement with the City of Riverside that allows all city employees to continue riding RTA buses for free. The agreement also calls for the City of Riverside to continue funding Route 52, or the Green Line Trolley, which is proposed to undergo service modifications that will take effect in January. Public hearings for those proposed modifications are planned in October.
RTA to Seek Bus Advertising Proposals
Board members authorized RTA staff to seek proposals for bus advertising. As part of the process, RTA will issue a request for proposals, or RFP, which would provide the Agency with estimates on potential revenue generated by the advertisements. RTA will return to the Board at a later date with the results and seek direction on whether to proceed with an advertising program.
Board Authorizes Public Hearings for Proposed Fare Modification
Board members have authorized a series of public hearings to solicit community feedback on two proposed fare modification scenarios, which would raise general cash fares by five cents each year for the next five years. The scenarios were the result by a recent fare study that suggests ways for the Agency to sustain current service levels, meet its state-required farebox recovery ratio and continue to provide affordable fares for customers. Times and dates for the hearings will be announced at a later date. Pending the Board's approval, the fares could take effect by late spring 2009.
RTA Taps Private Security Service for Downtown Terminal
In an effort to maintain a safe and secure environment for customers at the Riverside downtown terminal, Board members authorized RTA staff to hire a private security firm to patrol the area. The approved one-year contract calls for Barry's Security Services Inc. to provide security services at the center seven days a week.
The next Board meeting will be held on Thursday, October 23 at 2 p.m.
For more information, contact:
Bradley Weaver, Marketing Manager (951) 565-5172
bweaver@riversidetransit.com |
