Short Range Transit Plan 2008-2013 - Omnitrans

IBI GROUP
SHORT RANGE TRANSIT PLAN REPORT
OMNITRANS COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENT
& SHORT RANGE TRANSIT PLAN
travel time requirements. Fixed route transit can effectively serve high-density corridors or connect highdensity
residential concentrations with activity centers, where ridership is sufficient to meet the minimum
farebox recovery requirements. While productivity can be less for lower cost demand-response transit
services, the density of demand must still be sufficient to meet minimum farebox recovery requirements;
albeit that the farebox recovery goal for such services can be lower than the systemwide goal, providing
that the higher-productivity fixed route services achieve more than the systemwide goal, bringing the
entire system into compliance.
In a truly mature regional transportation mix, each mode should complement the others and be focused
on serving those needs that it can most effectively and efficiently serve. A mature transportation system
and plan attempts to balance those modes through the coordinated mix of public resources and private
alternatives.
1.4 Benefits of Public Transit
Social Well-Being and Quality of Life
Access to goods, services and activities located throughout the developed environment is critical to
individual well-being and the richness of one’s life experience. Important destinations include health
facilities, employment opportunities, educational institutions, social service programs, government
services, entertainment centers, recreational activities, and retail outlets. Transportation connects the
individual to these resources. For transit-dependent seniors, youth, low-income, persons with disabilities
and members of single car households, public transit is often the only means of accessing the goods,
services and activities that impact their well-being. For those who own and can operate a private vehicle,
public transit provides an alternative means of accessing what they need and want in their environment.
Community Land Use Goals
Public transit can support transit-oriented development (TOD) that concentrates compact, pedestrianfriendly
housing, jobs and activities at locations easily served by transit. TOD developments reduce lowdensity
urban sprawl, single occupancy vehicle (SOV) dependency, and traffic congestion; they also
enhance air quality through the reduction of vehicular emissions. TOD and its attendant transit services
also support more livable communities through the reduction of vehicular circulation within residential and
multi-use activity centers.
Transit-friendly urban design is better facilitated if transit agencies such as Omnitrans are formally
involved in the development approval process where transit operational issues are incorporated into the
decision-making process.
Transit’s Potential Impact on Traffic Congestion
Traffic congestion continues to be a critical issue in the Inland Empire. Enhanced public transit services
can attract choice riders, reducing the concentration of SOVs on key corridors or at peak travel times.
The example often used to illustrate this point is the potential of a fully loaded transit coach taking 40
private vehicles off the road. The sbX project and enhanced Route 90 services are Omnitrans’ most
promising initiatives to attract choice ridership, and possibly effect a mode shift to transit.
Transit’s Potential Impact on Air Quality
Transportation emissions have a significant impact on regional air quality and respiratory disease, and
upper atmosphere ozone depletion and global warming. By attracting persons away from SOV use,
public transit can have a positive impact on air quality and respiratory health. A fully loaded bus produces
fewer emissions per passenger trip than a SOV per passenger trip. This impact is further enhanced by
Omnitrans’ compressed natural gas (CNG) alternative fuel policy and electric/gasoline hybrid bus
program.
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