Omnitrans Fare Hike, Service Changes Set for September

Omnitrans will raise fares for the first time in five years on Sept. 2. The same day, the transit agency will implement changes designed to improve connectivity and maximize productivity, including realignment of several bus routes, discontinuance of OmniLink service and increased weekend service on the Route 215 freeway express route. A one-way bus trip will increase from $1.50 to $1.75 while the 1-day pass rate will rise from $4 to $5. A 31-day pass goes from $47 to $55 and a 7-day pass is $18, up from $15. Discounted fares apply to persons with disabilities, seniors age 62 and up, and youth age 18 and under. Fare increases also affect Access service which transports persons with disabilities who qualify under Americans with Disability Act (ADA) guidelines. The new Access base fare will be $3.25. With the sbX rapid transit line now in operation, Omnitrans is realigning several local routes to improve connections and streamline service. Route 9, which now serves Yucaipa, Redlands, Loma Linda and San Bernardino, is being eliminated; however, realigned Routes 5, 8 and 19 will cover the majority of Route 9’s path and provide increased service frequency on weekdays. “In many cases, customers can travel faster by connecting with sbX,” explained spokesperson Wendy Williams. “For example, taking new Route 19 and transferring to sbX to get from Yucaipa to San Bernardino will be faster than taking current Route 9.” To keep up with growing demand, Route 215 freeway express service between downtown San Bernardino and Riverside will offer 30 minute frequency on weekends, up from hourly. Meanwhile, frequency on Route 20 in Fontana will change to hourly from 30 minutes due to low ridership demand. OmniLink demand response transportation in Chino Hills and Yucaipa will end after Aug. 29. Ridership on the general public dial-a-ride service has declined by 61 percent in the past four years as customers have shifted to OmniGo community shuttle routes launched in 2010. The Omnitrans Board of Directors approved fare and service changes in May, following public hearings held in March.