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Federal funding for the East L.A. extension of the Metro Gold Line is in jeopardy, because of the State of California's financial position. The Federal Government has provided $490 million, which must be matched by the state's $190 million this year. The California Transportation Commission is to vote on this project, as well as others throughout the state, in April. Due to a bus driver shortage (e.g. drivers staying with Coach USA when the contract went to TCT-Connex), several LADOT Commuter Express lines have reduced service as of February 7. Until further notice, the following trips will not run:
- #413 - the 6:20 a.m. from Van Nuys and the 4:45 p.m. from LA
- #422 - the 9 a.m. trip from LA and the 3:50 and 5:34 p.m trips from Ventura/Topanga.
- #423- the 6:15 a.m. from Magnolia and Havenhurst, the 6:32 a.m from Calabasas and the 3:55 p.m. from LA
- #431 - the 7:15 a.m. from Westwood an d the 5 p.m. from LA
- #549 - the 7:45 a.m. from Encino and the 7:15 a.m and 5:30 p.m. from Pasadena
- #574 - the 6:14 a.m. from Sylmar and the 4 p.m from El Segundo.
LADOT #430, which was to be cancelled due to low ridership (11 daily passengers!), has been given a reprieve until June. A marketing campaign is being developed. And finally, LADOT's "Community Connection" routes are now DASH routes:
- #147 is now "DASH San Pedro"
- #203 is "DASH Los Feliz"
- #208 is "DASH Beachwood Canyon".
DASH fares (25-cents) apply to these routes.
New Foothill Transit Fares effective March 1:
- Local fare is $1.10 (regular) or $.55
(senior/disabled)
- Local passes are $45 (regular), $10 (senior/disabled), $18 (K-12) or $21 (College). These are all "rolling passes", good for a period of 31 days, and can be bought anytime during the month.
- There are only two express zones: 3 and 5. Most express routes run express only between LA and El Monte Station, so they are in Zone 3. (#690, between Claremont and Pasadena is also Zone 3). Zone 5 routes are the longer distance express routes #493, 495, 498, 499 and 699.
Fares are as follows:
Zone 3: $2.75 or $95 for a pass
Zone 5: $3.35 or $115 for a pass.
Senior/disabled and K-12 passes are valid
on express routes, but college students pay $30 for an express pass.The Eastland Park/Ride is finally closed, and #498 no longer stops there. Instead it makes an additional stop at the West Covina Civic Center; commuters may park on the top of the parking structure there. All Santa Monica bus routes have been modified near UCLA. Every day, before 7 a.m. and after 10 p.m. buses will no longer use the Hilgard bus turnaround but will board/deboard passengers on campus (Charles E. Young Drive between Manning and Westholme).
The County of Los Angeles is operating two new demonstration routes in the Santa Clarita area:
- Acton-Agua Dulce: Runs two round trips on Monday and Wednesday only. Connects with Santa Clarita Transit at Soledad/Sierra.
- Gorman Route: Runs one round trip on Fridays only. Connects with both Santa Clarita Transit (at McBean Transfer Center) and Kern Regional Transit (Flying J)
General public passengers can board at selected fixed stops, while seniors and disabled can get limited curb-to-curb service. During this one year demonstration period, these services are free. For more information: 661-259-9444.Omnitrans plans the following route changes, to go into effect January 2004:
- #1 - The #1A branch (Gilbert and Pacific) would be handled by a rerouted #5.
- #3 would be combined with #14
- #6 would be combined with #11, making a new Route 11 (no longer serving Muscoy)
- #8 would be rerouted from Rialto, to 3rd/4th, covering the former route of #5.
- #10 would be combined with #12, making a new route #10 between Fontana and Redlands.
- #22 would operate in both directions along the loop in North Rialto.
- A new #28 would replace the current #71 in South Fontana. #29 would operate in South Fontana only (no more service on Cedar).
- #30 and #31 would be replaced by a new "Redlands Trolley" in September.
- #60 would be rerouted to serve Ontario Airport and the new Rancho Cucamonga Town Center.
- #61 will serve Ontario Mills via the bus stop at Milliken and/or 4th (no longer entering the Ontario Mills bus stop area)
- #62 would run between Ontario and Montclair via the route of current #70, then go to Chino via Mountain.
- #63 would serve Central instead of Mountain south of Walnut.
- #64 (New Route) would operate between Chaffey College and Montclair, principally via 19th St and north Mountain.
- #65 would run every 30 minutes along Central and break up into two loops (60-minute service) serving different parts of Chino Hills.
- #67 would be routed out of Chaffey College to run straight along Baseline. It would also serve Euclid north of Holt.
- #68 would run south of Holt via Ramona to Chino.
- #70 would be cancelled, and replaced by portions of rerouted #62 and #71. Also a new "Flex Route" running on various routings south of the Airport between Ontario Transcenter and Ontario Mills.
- #72 (school tripper service in Chino Hills) would be cancelled.
- #90, 100 would be combined into new route 90. This service will run every 40 minutes and charge a regular Omnitrans fare. This change would also occur this September.
The transfer centers in downtown Ontario and Chino will be improved. Omnitrans also plans to increase basic fares from $1 to $1.15 in September, $1.30 in July 2005, and $1.40 in July 2007. The current 10-trip pass would also be replaced with a weekly pass. SCAT (Ventura/Oxnard local bus) fares could rise to $1.35, or as high as $1.50 this July.
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![[The Transit Advocate]](mh.gif){kind=small}