Casa
Blanca residents will see
a return of bus service
along Madison Street beginning
August 4th, courtesy of
a new RTA shuttle. The Madison
Street Shuttle, as it will
be known, will operate on
weekdays, providing service
between the Casa Blanca
Learning Center and the
Janet Goeske Senior Center.
The shuttle will make a
total of 24 trips a day,
in the peak morning and
peak evening hours. The
RTA Board plans to study
the route’s
ridership and farebox recovery
in nine months to determine
the route’s
viability.
The
Board closed the month long
public hearings for Routes
3, 23, 24, the Jefferson
Street Shuttle and the Orange
Blossom Express Trolley.
All proposed changes were
approved, except Corona’s
Route 3, which will have
no changes.
The
public voiced no opposition
to the elimination of the
Orange Blossom Express Trolley,
the Jefferson Street Shuttle
or changes to Routes 23
and 24. Beginning September
21, Route 23 in Murrieta
will expand to serve medical
facilities and government
offices along Hancock and
Los Alamos. Route 24 in
Temecula will extend to
serve the Redhawk, Vail
Ranch and Paseo del Sol
developments. The Orange
Blossom Express Trolley
will cease operations on
August 9, while the Jefferson
Street Shuttle will discontinue
service on September 21.
The
Board heard the results
of RTA’s
2003 On Board Bus Survey,
which measured everything
from rider demographics
to satisfaction with service
levels.
Most
notably, results showed
that today RTA serves the
largest student base in
its history. There was a
seven-percentage point increase
since 1997. Also, the proportion
of male passengers grew
slightly, from 42% to 47%.
Rider longevity increased,
with seven out of ten passengers
riding RTA for at least
one year. Frequency of use
rose, with 60% riding at
least five times per week.
In
regards to rider satisfaction,
the typical RTA rider gives
RTA a "Good" rating
overall. 58% said that greater
service frequency would
increase their likelihood
to ride RTA more often.
32% prefer more weekend
service and 30% would like
shorter wait times at bus
stops.
RTA
buses will soon be equipped
with Automatic Vehicle Location
(AVL) equipment, now that
the Board has approved a
contractor for the Agency’s
Intelligent Transportation
Systems (ITS) project. The
contract was awarded to
Digital Recorders, which
will provide the Agency
with consulting services
to develop the ITS project.
The Agency expects to increase
efficiency by implementing
automated systems like Mobile
Data Terminals (MDT), Computer
Aided Dispatch equipment
(CAD) and Automated Passenger
Counters (APC).
The
AVL equipment allows dispatch
to know where all vehicles
are at all times, thereby
increasing operator and
passenger safety. CAD equipment
enhances communications
from dispatch, allowing
for "canned" text
messages to all vehicles.
APCs allow for enhanced
planning and ridership statistics,
minimizing the need for
outside consultants or on-board
surveys.
For
over a decade, Winfield
and Wanda Campbell have
been loyal RTA riders and
strong advocates of public
transportation. The two
have regularly attended
RTA’s
board meetings for years.
Just shy of his eightieth
birthday, Mr. Campbell still
travels by bus to the local
VA hospital where he is
a chaplain. On July 24,
the RTA Board named Mr.
And Mrs. Campbell, RTA’s
Unique Riders of the Quarter.
RTA
Coach Operator Andy Parsons
received a certificate of
appreciation from Board
Chairman Ameal Moore. On
July 22, on Route 18 from
the Moreno Valley Mall,
Mr. Parsons discovered a
cell phone case that was
left behind on his bus.
When he opened it, he saw
that the case contained
$1,757 in cash. He immediately
called dispatch and had
a supervisor come out to
retrieve it. The owner of
the money called RTA and
claimed it later that day.
Mr. Moore commended Mr.
Parsons for his honesty,
integrity and a job well
done.
The
regularly scheduled Board
meeting for August has
been cancelled. The next
Board meeting is Thursday,
September 25, 2003 at 2
p.m. For
more information contact:
Jim Kneepkens, Director
of Marketing (951) 565-5170
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