May 2004

The following actions were taken by the RTA Board of Directors at their monthly meeting held on May 27, 2004:
 
Board hopes promotional fare will boost ridership on Murrieta to Oceanside commuter route

In hopes of attracting more riders on CommuterLink Route 202, which travels between Murrieta and Oceanside, the Board approved a promotional fare of $1 each way beginning June 9th.  The promotion will last through December 31, 2004.  Passengers will see the fare drop from $8 roundtrip to just $2 roundtrip.  The lower fare also allows passengers to take advantage of RTA's 31-day, youth, disabled and senior passes on the route. 

The Board hopes the fare promotion will help determine whether or not the current $4 each way fare structure is causing low ridership on the route.  The Board will review ridership after three months to determine the promotion's success.  

Public Hearings Open for RTA's Capital Budget & Short Range Transit Plan

RTA's Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) 2005-2007 and FY 2004-2005 Operating & Capital Budget is now available for public review and comment.  Both documents can be reviewed at RTA's office located at 1825 Third Street in Riverside, until the close of public hearings on June 24th. 

The SRTP includes modest service improvements such as the re-alignment of Routes 17, 36, 38 & 41.  Plus, increased hours on select ADA Intercity services by fifty hours per week.  The improvements are expected to generate a 5.64% increase in ridership in fiscal year 2005.  Capital improvements include the replacement of 31 paratransit vehicles, continued improvement to bus shelter and bus stop amenities and an automatic passenger counting system. 

RTA receives refund from WRCOG for "clean air" efforts

Ruth Anne Taylor Berger, deputy executive director of the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) presented RTA with a $6,000 check for the Agency's "clean air" efforts.  The check is a refund for two alternative fuel trucks that were purchased by RTA in the past year. 

Triennial audits show RTA is operating efficiently

RTA has successfully completed two audits that are required of the Agency every three years.  The first is a performance audit, mandated by California's Transportation Development Act (TDA), and the second is a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) audit.  Reports from both show that RTA is operating effectively and making efficient use of the Agency's funds. 

The FTA looks at 23 areas of focus, ranging from financial to bus maintenance.  Of those 23, the auditors had recommendations in only two of the areas.  The performance audit similarly concluded with few recommendations, the majority of which dealt with broad issues like exploring additional revenue sources. 

RTA's StopWatch kickoff event wins marketing award

Chairman Jon Winningham announced that RTA was the recipient of an award of merit from the Transportation Marketing and Communications Association for the 2004 TRANNY awards.  RTA won for the kickoff event that launched the Agency's bus stop clean up program, StopWatch, in April 2003.  The ceremony, held at Riverside's Downtown Terminal, included free coffee and donuts and guest speakers like Riverside's Mayor, Ron Loveridge and Lieutenant Mark Boyer from the Riverside Police Department.  This is the second year in a row that RTA has won a TRANNY award.

The next RTA Board of Directors Meeting will take place Thursday, June 24th at 2 p.m.