Omnitrans

Omnitrans

Parent	Omnitrans Joint Powers Authority
Founded	1976[1]
Headquarters	1700 West Fifth Street San Bernardino, California
Locale	San Bernardino Valley
Service area	San Bernardino Valley
Service type	Bus, Bus rapid transit, Paratransit
Routes	30 Fixed Route[2] 5 OmniGo[2]
Stations	16 BRT[3]
Fleet	178 Local & Express Buses[4] 106 Demand Response/Shuttles[4]
Daily ridership	21,300 (weekdays, Q4 2023)[5]
Annual ridership	6,429,000 (2023)[6]
Fuel type	CNG, diesel
Operator	First Transit (paratransit only)
Chief executive	Erin Rogers[7][8]
Website	omnitrans.org

Omnitrans, stylized as "OmniTrans," is a public transportation agency in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The largest transit operator within San Bernardino County, it serves the San Bernardino Valley.^[1] The agency was established in 1976 through a joint powers agreement^[1] and today includes 15 cities and portions of the unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County. In addition to the southwestern corner of San Bernardino County, Omnitrans provides service to parts of Riverside and Los Angeles Counties. Omnitrans currently carries about 11 million passengers per year. Omnitrans currently operates fixed route bus service, bus rapid transit and a paratransit service for the disabled, “Access.” Omnitrans operates throughout the urbanized area of southwestern San Bernardino County: south of the San Bernardino Mountains, from Upland, Montclair, and Chino in the west to Redlands, California and Yucaipa in the east. The Omnitrans service area covers approximately 480 square miles (1,200 km²).^[1]

In 2023, the system had a ridership of 6,429,000, or about 21,300 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2023.

History

In October 2019, Omnitrans faced increasing deficits and reduced service. They plan to cut service by 11 percent. They were the operator for the Arrow commuter rail service between San Bernardino and Redlands. the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority Transit Committee voted to transfer the operation and construction duties to the Southern California Regional Rail Authority.^[9]

The Transit Committee, announced that it would launch a study considering “complete consolidation” of Omnitrans under the SBCTA due to a $520 million fiscal deficit over the next 20 years.^[10][11] However, in 2021, SBCTA decided against the consolidation of omnitrans due to a study that it commissioned. That indicated, that due to state law, SBCTA was required to pay off the agency’s unfunded pension liability, at a one-time cost of between $100 million to $174 million.^[12] Instead SBCTA opted to provide $100 million to Omnitrans to keep it viable through 2040^[13]

Former Services

OmniLink

Omnitrans formerly operated OmniLink, a demand-response service that operated in Yucaipa and Chino Hills. OmniLink ceased operation 29 August 2014.^[14]

Future

On February 27, 2020 it was announced that Omnitrans placed a new order for four forty-foot, battery-electric Xcelsior CHARGE™ heavy-duty transit buses.^[15]

On March 1, 2023 the Omnitrans Board of Directors approved the purchase of four new flyer Fuel Cell buses^[16]

Routes

Fixed route

The fixed-route services consist of 28 local fixed routes including one peak-hour only service, two peak-hour trippers, and one regional express route. Routes are operated with 40-foot (12.19 m) buses (and 12 30-foot or 9.1-metre buses) running primarily along major east-west and north-south corridors. Headways vary from 15-minute to hourly service, with approximately 18 hours of service on weekdays, 13 hours on Saturdays, and 12 hours on Sundays. Omnitrans recently had major changes in the West Valley by adjusting routes to run more North to South (80s) and East to West (60s).

Bus rapid transit

Omnitrans developed a bus rapid transit route titled sbX that traverses the San Bernardino Valley from north to south.^[3]

OmniGo

OmniGo is a general-public circular fixed route service for the low density/low demand cities of Yucaipa, and Grand Terrace.

Omni Ride

Omni Ride does served as Bloomington, Chino, Chino Hills, and Upland area.^[17]

Access ADA Service

Access provides public transportation services for persons who are physically or cognitively unable to use regular bus service (ADA certified and/or Omnitrans Disability Identification Card holders). Access operates curb to- curb service with minibuses or vans, complementing the Omnitrans fixed-route bus system. The Access service area is defined as up to 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) on either side of an existing fixed route. Service is available on the same days and at the same times that fixed-route services operate.^[3]

Bus fleet

References

External links

• Official website