San Bernardino County Transportation Service For Disabled Only In GT

San Bernardino County Sun
OmniLink service terminatedAfter Sept. 5, pick-up only available to disabled
By Andrew SilvaStaff Writer

Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - The not-so-popular OmniLink service in South Colton and Grand Terrace will be discontinued, but the disabled will still be able to get rides from a separate program, the Omnitrans board of directors decided Wednesday.

The bus agency started offering OmniLink in January 2002. It allows people to phone ahead to be picked up at their doors and taken to a specific destination within the service area.

OmniLink will end Sept. 5 for that area.

The service never seems to have caught on, with only 177 trips per month in the area, compared with 3,374 trips in Yucaipa and 893 in Chino Hills.
To make sure those with disabilities are still able to get around, the agency decided to expand its Access service a similar curb-to-curb service, but one that is limited to those with disabilities. Normally it operates only within three-quarters of a mile of regular bus routes.

In response to concerns from the public about losing OmniLink, the Access service will be available throughout the south Colton/Grand Terrace area that had been served by OmniLink, even if it's more than three-quarters of a mile away from a regular bus route.

"It is with sadness we're going to agree to this,' said board member Lee Ann Garcia, who also sits on the Grand Terrace City Council.

Expanding Access service was the main concern of the public, she said.
The cost did not justify continuing the service for so few riders, Omnitrans General Manager Durand Rall said.

Access service will be expanded in the middle of this month to give people in the area time to make the adjustment, he said.

For those with disabilities who want information about Access, call Omnitrans at (909) 379-7100.

Grandpaterrace: Hopes that there is some way for the non driving public, non disable public can use public transportation. Hourly service to LLU is great from RTA, but what has our own county or city provided other than reasons not to use public transportation. No park and ride, no real effort to have a convient route to Colton High School, ARMC connecting to the Kaiser Bus, and Wall-mart if you don't Live at the Senior Center. No, there is not a reasonable effort to provide anything but a smoke and mirrors of an attempt to provide public transportation. Early connections for commuters wanting to ride the Metro Link or Express Bus to Orange County or La... no not from Grand Terrace, for get such ideas... We are above the need for public transporation.