WEST COVINA, CA (May 19, 2010) Foothill Transit will be implementing a fare increase on June 27th and system-wide service reductions on July 18th in response to a fiscal year 2011 budget deficit that originally threatened over $9 million in service cuts.
Declining sales tax revenue and severe budget cuts to transportation funding were initially responsible for Foothill Transit’s $12.5 million deficit figure for fiscal year 2011. As a result, the agency initially proposed significant service reductions, a fare increase, and held public hearings to gather public input.
Since the initial deficit numbers were calculated, a number of events have worked to reduce the amount of the agency’s deficit, including a diesel tax initiative signed by the governor in April, and revised sales tax calculations.
The fare increase was initially proposed to offset some service reductions after public response indicated that people would be willing to pay more for the service if it meant their lines could be salvaged.
The fare increase will raise the local base fare from $1 to $1.25 and would raise all other fares and passes by approximately 10 percent. The original proposal for service reductions included the elimination of 13 lines and significant reductions on others. The revised reductions will now amount to approximately $3 million in cuts, with only two lines being eliminated with some route and schedule frequency alterations.
“Our financial situation looks less bleak but there are still millions of dollars to contend with,” said Roger Chandler, Chair of Foothill Transit’s Governing Board. “Our customers’ input has been so important in this process and we’re happy to be able to secure many of the lines they’ve come to depend on.”
This is the first time in the agency’s 20-year history that it has had to make both service and administrative cuts alongside a fare increase due to a deficit.
The fare increases are as follows:
|
Cash Fares |
Effective June 27th |
|
Adult Local |
$1.25 |
|
Student Local |
$1.25 |
|
Senior/Disabled/Medicare Local |
$0.50 |
|
Silver Streak |
$2.75 |
|
Discount Silver Streak |
$1.35 |
|
Commuter Express |
$4.90 |
|
31-Day Pass Prices |
Effective June 27th |
|
Adult Local |
$70.00 |
|
Student Local |
$33.00 |
|
Senior/Disabled/Medicare Local |
$22.00 |
|
Silver Streak |
$105.00 |
|
Discount Silver Streak |
$52.00 |
|
Commuter Express |
$170.00 |
Transfer prices will remain the same at $0.50 ($0.25 for eligible seniors and disabled). The above proposal is projected to result in an additional $1 million in annual fare revenue.
Service reductions will affect Lines 178, 184, 185, 195, 269, 274, 280, 281, 284, 285, 289, 292, 482, 851, 852, 853, 855, and holiday service on all Commuter Express Lines. These reductions include the cancelation of two lines, down from 13 in the original proposal. The canceled lines are the 184 and 852. Further details about specific schedule or route changes are available online at foothilltransit.org. All service reductions will go into effect on July 18, 2010.
|
Line |
Current Service |
Service Changes effective July 18, 2010 |
|
178 |
Service along Merced, Olive and Main Streets to Los Angeles Streets. 30 – 60 minute service weekends. All service into Baldwin Park Metrolink Station. |
Reroute service from Merced to Los Angeles St. away from the residential area of the route. Hourly service weekends. No weekend Metrolink service. Service will remain along Pacific.
|
|
184 |
Service between Duarte, Monrovia and Arcadia |
Cancel line due to low ridership. The line currently has no weekend service. Some service will still be provided utilizing Foothill Transit’s Line 187. |
|
185 |
All day service into Industry Park & Ride |
Weekday service to the Industry Park and Ride between 5:00 to 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. which will provide service to commuters who utilize the Park and Ride. No weekend service to Industry Park and Ride. |
|
195 |
Hourly service all day |
Peak service only |
|
269 |
Thirty minute service all day. |
Hourly weekday service between 10:00 a.m. to1:00 p.m. Maintain 30 minute service for other trips. There are currently 11 trips within the affected time period. This proposal would reduce the number of trips to eight. |
|
274 |
Travels between Beverly Blvd. & Norwalk Blvd around Crossroads Parkway to West Covina Parkway and California |
Terminate line at Baldwin Park Metrolink & reroute from Crossroads to Workman Ave. Passengers whose destination is West Covina, may utilize Foothill Transit’s Line 178 |
|
280 |
Line travels between Puente Hills Mall to Azusa via Azusa Avenue. Routing includes loop along Azusa Sierra Madre and San Gabriel. |
Terminate Line at Azusa and Foothill Blvd. This reroute will eliminate the current loop the bus makes to prepare for southbound trips and non-productive service between Foothill Blvd. and Sierra Madre Ave. |
|
281 |
Provides service in Glendora through West Covina to the Puente Hills Mall |
Terminate line at Citrus and Foothill Blvd. Foothill Transit Lines 488 and 494 provide service in this area. Service to Citrus College would be maintained at the western portion of campus. |
|
284 |
Service from Glendora to San Dimas, through portion of Covina before proceeding to West Covina Plaza |
Peak Service weekdays and weekends. Reroute service from Cypress to Covina. Terminate Line at Eastland Center |
|
285 |
Service between Puente Hills to Beach and La Habra in La Habra |
Commute Period Peak Service (6:00 to 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 to 7:00 p.m.) Weekday and Weekend |
|
289 |
Service between Puente Hills Mall, Walnut and Pomona |
Commute Period Service Weekdays (6:00 – 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 – 6:00 p.m.) |
|
292 |
Service between the Pomona Transit Center and Claremont Transit |
Provide weekday service at current levels. Cancel weekend service. |
|
482 |
Service between Pomona and the El Monte Transit Center |
Split route as originally proposed. Modify the proposed frequency on the Puente Hills Mall to El Monte Station segment to provide hourly service during non-commute periods. Maintain 30 minute service during commute periods and all day on the Pomona to Puente Hills Mall segment. |
|
493 |
Commuter Service to Downtown Los Angeles from Phillips Ranch and |
All trips originate and terminate at Diamond Bar Park & Ride to improve efficiency of route by having one major boarding location. Currently only eight of 18 morning trips extend beyond the Diamond Bar Park & Ride. |
|
497 |
Service between Chino Transit Center and Downtown Los Angeles |
All trips originate and terminate at Chino Park & Ride. Chino Transit Center is outside of Foothill Transit’s service area |
|
498 |
Service between Azusa and West Covina to downtown Los Angeles. Three of the trips begin at West Covina City Hall Park and Ride |
Reduce number of trips originating at Foothill and Barranca. A large portion of boardings for this line occur at the West Covina City Hall Park & Ride. |
|
699 |
Service between Montclair and downtown Los Angeles |
Consolidate two westbound morning trips and one eastbound afternoon trip into other service to utilize any excess capacity and improve efficiency.
|
|
851 |
Service in Covina and Glendora |
Alternate proposal to provide service during the school peak hours. |
|
852 |
Travels within Pomona for one trip each direction each day. |
Cancel service due to low productivity. |
|
853 |
Service in Diamond Bar with one trip travelling to the Pomona Transit Center |
Cancel the single trip that travels to the Pomona Transit Center. Customers who need to travel to the Pomona Transit Center may utilize Line 482. |
|
855 |
Service in Claremont |
Weekday service to meet demand of students utilizing the line. |
|
Commuter Express |
Express Lines that commuter service to Downtown Los Angeles |
Reduce the number of trips on Lines 481, 493, 497, 498, 499 and 699 during the Holiday Week. Maintain current levels of service on Line 690 |
|