The
following actions were taken
by the RTA Board of Directors
at their monthly meeting on
Thursday, January 26, 2006:
RTA’s
Buddy Fare Program Keeps Growing
A
new report for Board Members
concluded that RTA’s Buddy
Fare program has tripled
in ridership since its inception
last spring. The program,
which offers reduced fares
to senior citizens and disabled
passengers who travel to
the same destination together,
went from 453 riders during
its fi rst month in April
to 1,374 riders in December.
The latest fi gures indicate
that Buddy Fare riders account
for roughly 9 percent of
paratransit passengers, compared
to 2 percent during the program’s
fi rst month. RTA offi cials
attribute the growth to outreach
efforts at senior centers
and with representatives
for the region’s disabled
residents. RTA recently created
new Buddy Fare groups by linking
together disabled passengers
headed to the Braille Institute
in Hemet, and seniors traveling
to senior centers in Lake
Elsinore and Moreno Valley.
Efforts are also underway
to serve dialysis and chemotherapy
treatment patients travelling
to medical appointments.
The program not only benefi
ts passengers, but it also
makes RTA’s transportation
services more effi cient and
reduces costs.
Board
Member Ameal Moore says goodbye
to RTA
Ameal
Moore, who joined the board
in 1999, served his last meeting
for the RTA Board of Directors.
During Moore’s tenure as chairman
in 2002 and 2003, the Agency
underwent a productive period
when it purchased new and
more effi cient fare boxes
and launched the most expansive
service change in its history.
RTA’s current Chairman Jeff
Fox applauded Moore’s contributions,
calling the former board
member a “true statesman”
who played a vital role in
the Agency’s success.
Funds
requested of RCTC for transit
study
RTA
Board Members supported a
plan for the Western Riverside
Council of Governments to
survey approximately 1,000
residents to determine public
views on growth, land use
and development. The $50,000
survey is designed to identify
and evaluate opportunities
for transit-oriented development
in the region. In their approval,
RTA Board Members requested
that the Riverside County
Transportation Commission
fund RTA’s portion of the
study. If approved, RCTC’s
funding on behalf of the
Agency would come from local
transportation funds and would
not adversely impact RTA’s
budget nor would it deplete
RTA’s reserves held at RCTC.
The
next board meeting will be
held on Thursday, February
23 at 2 p.m. For more information,
contact: Bradley Weaver, Communications
Specialist (951) 565-5172
bweaver@riversidetransit.com |
