The Local Transit Authority is looking at the possibility of
changing its fixed-route plan.
The Local Transit Authority is looking at the possibility of changing its fixed-route plan.
There were five options for the fixed route changes, according to Lisa Rheinheimer, executive director of council of San Benito County Governments.
The five options were:
keep current system
reverting back to the 2004 system
reducing the fixed route service
expanding the fixed route service
eliminating the fixed route service and have only the Dial-A-Ride
The Short Range Transit Plan recommends going back to the 2004 system with some minor modifications. Some of the changes include an additional stop at the San Benito County Jail, realignment of loops, extension of the business district line and elimination of the Fourth Street line, said Rheinheimer. The fixed route names would be relabeled as colors, which could be less confusing, she said.
Improvements could include the following:
updating all bus stop information units
positioning trash receptacles at most bus stops
installing additional bus benches and shelters throughout the system
replacing at least two of the system’s current bus shelters
“We want to improve our service without raising (the) cost too high,” said Rheinheimer.
Another change the LTA would like to implement is having tokens instead of tickets, she said. During 2006-07, LTA spent nearly $6,900 on printing fees for tickets compared with nearly $5,300 in 2005-06, a difference of almost $1,600, according to the transit plan.
“There were 157,000 rides last year,” said Rheinheimer.
Proposed rates:
Regular rides would increase in price from 75 cents to $1, while discount riders would see a raise from 50 cents to 75 cents.
Monthly passes would go from $20 to $27, with discount passes going from $14 to $18.50.
