March2003

PublicHearings for May 25th ServiceChange Come to a Close

TheRTA Board has officially closedthe public hearing processfor proposed RTA route-realignmentsand service hour changes.The service change will becomeeffective May 25th.

Throughoutthe months of January andFebruary RTA launched a publicoutreach campaign aimed atsoliciting feedback on proposedservice changes. Through thisoutreach, RTA was able totailor a series of route adjustmentsand service hour changes tothe passenger requests thatreceived the most demand.The public hearings saw participationby 70 people who testifiedand 286 who submitted comments.Onboard surveys were alsodistributed, with over 4,000returned and completed.

Inthe fall, the Board will re-visitrealignments of routes inareas such as Temecula, Murrietaand Corona which are seeingnew growth. All of the routechanges for the May 25th servicechange can be accessed onthe RTA web site at: www.riversidetransit.com/maps/MapChanges
_May2003/proposed_may2003_m.html(This link has been disconnected)

ServiceContract Awarded to LaidlawTransportation Services

TheRTA Board authorized a contractaward to Laidlaw TransportationServices for the Agency’snewest service routes. Ofthe four proposals RTA received,Laidlaw offered the highestquality of service at thelowest possible cost. Theapproved agreement is a fixedprice contract with a two-yearbase period and three one-yearoptions.

Theroutes include three fixedroutes, serving Hemet andTemecula, scheduled to beginin May. Additionally, fourcommuter routes are scheduledto begin in July. The commuterroutes are: Temecula to Oceanside,Temecula to Corona, Riversideto Montclair, and Temeculato Riverside.

RTALaunches "StopWatch",a New Bus Stop Clean UpProgram

OnWednesday, April 30th RTAwill launch "StopWatch",a new bus stop clean up program. "StopWatch" isa fun new community orientedprogram that recruits thepublic to become bus "StopWatchers".When someone sees an RTA busstop that needs to be cleanedup or repaired, they can call1-800-800-7821. By doing so,they will alert RTA to thestop and instantly be enteredinto the "StopWatcher" sweepstakes.

RTAhas invited dignitaries fromaround Riverside County tohelp kick off the programwith a ceremony beginningat 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April30th. The ceremony will takeplace at Riverside’s downtownbus terminal near the cornerof University and Market.If you would like to attend,contact Mari Hernandez at(951) 565-5044.

RTABoard Executive CommitteeAppoints Leaders for T-NOWExecutive Committee

TheRTA Board has enacted an executivecommittee to oversee fourlocal Transportation NOW (T-NOW)chapters. RTA’s Board ExecutiveCommittee appointed SondraBerry, a public representativeto act as Board Chairman,while RTA Board Member andBeaumont City Councilman JeffFox will act as Vice Chair.The RTA Board formed the T-Nowcoalition in 1992 with a goalof advocating and educatingthe public, politicians andbusinesses about transportationalternatives.

RTAReceives Honor from OperationSafe House

Onbehalf of RTA, Chairman ofthe Board Ameal Moore acceptedan award from Safe House,a local non-profit youth shelter.RTA has been an active participantin Operation Safe House forover a decade. The programprovides transportation tothe Safe House shelter forhomeless and runaway teensages 12 to 17. All of RTA’sbuses display a Safe Housesticker, which notifies youthsthat they can request transportationto the shelter, free of charge.In honor of National SafePlace Week, Safe House awardedRTA with a plaque in recognitionof the Agency’s support ofOperation Safe House.

Foradditional information, pleasecontact the RTA MarketingDepartment at (951) 565-5000or visit us online at www.RiversideTransit.com