September 2004

The following actions were taken by the RTA Board of Directors at their monthly meeting on Thursday, September 23, 2004.

Festival of Lights Downtown Aglow Shuttle Service Returns

Residents outside the City of Riverside will once again be able to enjoy the Festival of Lights Downtown Aglow festivities this year, courtesy of RTA.  The Agency will offer $2 roundtrip shuttle service to the event on each Saturday between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Similar to years past, RTA will work with local cities to sell tickets and designate departure locations and times.  The shuttles will provide service on the following dates, from the following communities:

November 27th:            Calimesa & San Jacinto

December 4th:              Hemet & Temecula

December 11th:            Beaumont & Banning

December 18th:            Mead Valley & Corona

For more information contact RTA's Community Relations Specialist at (951) 565-5174.

Promotional fare draws more riders on CommuterLink Route 202

RTA's Director of Marketing, Jim Kneepkens reported to the Board that CommuterLink Route 202 (Murrieta to Oceanside) has seen nearly double ridership since a $1 each way promotional fare went into effect in June.  When the CommuterLink service launched one year ago, the cost to ride Route 202 was set at $4 each way.  In May, the Board approved a promotional fare to determine if the low ridership on Route 202 is due to the fare structure. 

To kick off the promotion, RTA launched a marketing effort that included newspaper advertising, direct mail, a seatdrop on the North County Transit District Coaster trains, press releases and web site marketing.  The Agency will continue marketing the promotion through December.  

RTA partners with City of Temecula for funding of fifteen new bus shelters

RTA will work with the City of Temecula to finalize a grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to purchase fifteen new bus shelters.  The shelters will allow the City of Temecula and RTA to better serve passengers by offering protection from the outside elements.  RTA currently serves Temecula with six routes, three of which are commuter routes. 

Demonstration project to test emissions reduction system on CNG buses

RTA will team up with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to test a system that is said to further reduce emissions on CNG buses.  The demonstration project is a joint effort between the AQMD and Lubrizol Engine Control Systems to test oxidation catalyst aftertreatment equipment that is said to lessen formaldehyde and non-methane hydrocarbon emissions on heavy-duty CNG buses.  The project calls for one of RTA's CNG buses to be equipped with the system and to be monitored for six months.  

RTA to oversee management of bus shelters in Moreno Valley

The Board authorized RTA to enter an agreement with Clear Channel Communications that will provide a more uniform approach to the management of bus shelters in the City of Moreno Valley.  Because both RTA and Clear Channel, through an exclusive agreement with the City of Moreno Valley, own shelters within the city, it makes it confusing for citizens to know who to call to report problems like trash or graffiti at a shelter.  Therefore, the City of Moreno Valley asked RTA to step in and oversee Clear Channel's 25 shelters.

The agreement with Clear Channel states that RTA will receive a percentage of the adjusted gross advertising revenue, RTA will have monitoring and approval rights on the advertising content and RTA will utilize 10% of the advertising space for public service announcements.  While Clear Channel will provide maintenance and repairs to the stops, RTA will be the main point of contact for such requests. 

RTA Sponsors "A Celebration of Environmental Stewardship & Economic Prosperity"

In August, RTA helped sponsor an event that marked federal and state approval of the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan, and dedication of the Potrero Wildlife Area.  Riverside County's Fifth District Supervisor and RTA Board member Marion Ashley, who acted as Master of Ceremonies at the event, thanked the RTA Board with a framed event program.