April 2006

The following actions were taken during the RTA’s Board of Directors monthly meeting on Thursday, April 27, 2006:

RTA Exceeds Farebox Recovery Requirements

RTA reported that the farebox recovery ratio (the percentage of operating costs received from fares) was 19.58% for the current fiscal year, 1.85% above the state-required farebox recovery ratio of 17.73%.

RTA Meeting Performance Indicators

The Board approved a report detailing how RTA’s bus system continues to meet a list of key performance indicators on an overall systemwide basis. The program, called the Productivity Improvement Program (PIP), requires the tracking over time of eight key performance indicators such as operating cost, farebox recovery, passenger subsidy and passenger counts. The ongoing analysis will maintain effective service by identifying areas for upgrades and modifications.

WRCOG Reviews I-15 Interregional Partnership

The Western Riverside Council of Governments provided an overview of the I-15 Interregional Partnership whose goals are to reduce demand for long distance commutes and minimize the impacts the area’s growth will have on freeway congestion on the I-15 corridor from Riverside County to San Diego County. The partnership will create a forum for collaboration and planning for solutions through a Policy Committee and a Technical Working Group. The partnership will work to solve the transportations issues through a variety of housing, economic development and transportation strategies.

Riverside Marketplace Redevelopment Plan with New Transit Center Presented

BRE Properties presented an overview of their plans to redevelop 52 acres adjacent to the Metrolink station at the Riverside Marketplace that would include the new Riverside Transit Center. The project would contain mixed use transit-oriented development offering residential and retail space, additional parking and a child care center. The new transit center would serve as a major transfer point between RTA bus routes in downtown Riverside and to Metrolink trains. Construction is planned in several phases over the next several years.

The next board meeting will be held on Thursday, May 25 at 2 p.m. For more information, contact:Scott Richardson, Director of Marketing (951) 565 5170.