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The following actions were taken during the RTA Board of Directors' monthly meeting on December 18, 2008:
Corona's Karen Spiegel Re-elected as New Board Chairman
Board members unanimously re-elected Corona Mayor Pro Tem Karen Spiegel as chairman of the governing board. As chairman, Spiegel will be responsible for leading the Board in setting policy, guiding Agency priorities, conducting the Agency’s monthly Board meetings and representing RTA during public events. Prior to her re-election Thursday, Spiegel had been serving a partial term as RTA chairman after filling a vacancy on the Board. Board members also re-elected both Councilmember Jeff Comerchero of Temecula as fi rst vice chairman and County Supervisor Bob Buster as second vice chairman.
Ridership On Pace to Hit Annual Record
The Riverside Transit Agency experienced another ridership increase during November and remains on pace to reach eight million boardings for the year, which would be the most in the Agency's 31-year history. Board members received a report showing 658,000 boardings in November, a 19 percent increase compared to November of last year. Ridership on CommuterLink express routes was up 69 percent from a year ago and Dial-A-Ride boardings climbed 23 percent.
City of Wildomar Joins RTA Governing Board
A representative from the newly incorporated City of Wildomar has joined the RTA Board of Directors. Board members welcomed Wildomar Councilmember Sheryl Ade as the city's representative on the Board. Councilmember Bridgette Moore will serve as alternate. Wildomar is the second city to join the board in a month's time. Last month, the newly incorporated City of Menifee was welcomed to the group. RTA's Governing Board is now comprised of 20 elected officials from 16 cities and four members of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.
Cost-Saving Measures Approved
Due to current economic conditions, the Board of Directors has approved various cost-savings measures designed to maintain the Agency's fiscal integrity. Effective January 2009, RTA will implement a temporary wage freeze on all administrative employees and a furlough program that requires administrative employees to take off 12 days during the year without pay. RTA will also require employees to pay state disability tax, which is currently paid for by RTA. These measures will affect only administrative staff, and are slated to end Dec. 31, 2009. December 2008
Update Shows TUMF Funding Future Transit Centers
Board members received an update for RTA's list of projects eligible for Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee, or TUMF, funding between fiscal years 2009 and 2013. The projects include transit centers in the cities of Corona, Hemet, Moreno Valley, Perris, Riverside and Temecula, as well as bus-stop enhancements. The total cost of those projects over the five-year period is expected to be $34 million, of which $21 million would be paid for through TUMF, which is collected from developers to pay for transportation projects. The updated list reflects a conservative approach to TUMF funding based on current economic conditions.
RTA to Request Funds to Build Transit Center, Buy New Buses
Board members authorized RTA staff to request $7.2 million from federal lawmakers for the Temecula Transit Center and various passenger amenities. The Agency will also ask for $49 million in funding in the new five-year transportation funding bill for the purchase of 103 replacement buses. Matching funds for the projects are expected to come from the Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee (TUMF).
The next Board meeting will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, January 29 at RTA Headquaters, 1825 Third Street in Riverside. For more information, contact Bradley Weaver at (951) 565-5172
For more information, contact:
Bradley Weaver, Marketing Manager (951) 565-5172
bweaver@riversidetransit.com |
