Foothill Transit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Foothill Transit is a bus transit company serving routes in the San Gabriel Valley of Greater Los Angeles, California.
The impetus for the formation of the transit agency was Los Angeles County Supervisor Pete Schabarum. Schabarum, annoyed at the cutbacks of bus service by the SCRTD, wanted to secede from the larger agency and form his own transit agency. Schabarum, who hated the influence of trade unions, chose to use contractors to operate the service, and Foothill executives made the service essentially strike-proof by insisting that two different companies operate the two bus yards, even if it would cost more in the short term. Currently, both Foothill Transit yards are represented by unions, but past strikes at the agency have been less than successful due to the ability of one yard to operate the other yards' service.
Of note is that Foothill Transit does not directly pay anyone except its board of directors. All of its staff are employees of contractors, and all functions are contracted out. This becomes particularly prominent when Foothill management have to recuse themselves from recommending changes to be made to their contracts; issues like that are usually handled by the legal counsel hired by the board. Currently, bus service is operated by First Transit and management is handled by Veolia.
Contents |
[edit] Silver Streak
Beginning in March 2007, Foothill Transit will operate a Rapid line called the Silver Streak. The Silver Streak will be a rapid version of Line 480, travelling from Montclair TransCenter to Downtown Los Angeles via the San Bernardino Freeway (I-10) for its entire length, and will have the distinction of being the first Rapid route in the Los Angeles area to operate in conjunction with an express route, not replacing one. Planned stops for the Silver Streak are at Montclair TransCenter, Pomona TransCenter, Westfield West Covina, El Monte Bus Station, and Union Station (Alameda St. off-ramp from the 101 Freeway) before going through Downtown Los Angeles and terminating at Grand Ave. & Olympic Blvd. 60-foot NABI buses will be assigned to this route. The planned one-way fare is $2.00, or $80 for a monthly pass.
When the Silver Streak is implemented, Local Plus service on Lines 482, 486, 488, 492, and 494 will be converted to local service only and will have their western terminus at El Monte Bus Station. Passengers would have to transfer to Line 480, Line 481, or the Silver Streak for service into Downtown Los Angeles.
[edit] Wireless Internet Access
On June 26, 2006, Foothill Transit installed wireless Internet hubs on six 1200-series Orion V buses (F1208, F1236, F1237, F1258, F1260, and F1262) that will exclusively be assigned to Line 699. Downstream bandwidth of 300kbps will be available on each bus. The free trial period will last for 60 days; if it proves to be successful and popular, wireless hubs will be installed on other buses for high ridership lines, and an hourly or monthly subscription fee could be implemented.
[edit] Fares
Image:Passes.jpg Image:Passdates.jpg Fares as of July 1, 2006
Cash / Metrocard Fares
| Fare Type | Regular | Senior / Disabled / Medicare |
|---|---|---|
| Base Local Fare: | $1.00 | $0.50 |
| 1Local Plus: | $3.00 | $1.50 |
| 1Commuter Express: | $3.65 | $1.80 |
| 2Transfers: | $0.50 | $0.25 |
Passes
| Pass Type | 31-Day Pass3 | EZ Transit Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Local: | $55.00 | $58.00 |
| Student Local: | $25.00 | $58.00 |
| Senior / Disabled / Medicare Local: | $18.00 | $29.00 |
| Local Plus: | $100.00 | $103.00 |
| Discount Local Plus: | $50.004 | $51.50 |
| Commuter Express: | $130.00 | $133.00 |
| Discount Commuter Express: | $65.004 | $66.50 |
- 1 A Local Plus trip is three zones, and a Commuter Express trip is five zones. Foothill Transit zone fares do not correspond to LACMTA zone fares. The zone numbers are only used to equate the zone numbers with the EZ Pass.
- 1a It is interesting to note that while Foothill Transit charges a Zone 3 fare for their El Monte Busway express services (Lines 480, 481, 482, 486, 488, 492, 494), Metro only charges a Zone 2 fare (Lines 484, 490), a total of $2.25 (Base fare of $1.25 + $1.00 for two zones).
- 2 Transfers must be purchased for $0.50, regardless of whether the customer is paying with cash or is using a pass. Transfers are good for up to three (3) hours, and can be counted as base fare for any transit agency to which Foothill Transit connects.
- 3 A 31-Day Pass' lifespan starts when the pass is first used, not at the beginning of the month, unless the pass was first used at the beginning of the month. For example, if the pass is bought on March 6, but first used on March 12, the expiration date of the pass is April 11 at 11:59pm, 31 days after it was first used.
- 4 Discount Local Plus and Discount Commuter Express 31-Day Passes can be purchased by students, seniors, disabled, and Medicare card holders.
[edit] Active / Future Fleet
Image:1254-1250.jpg Image:1446-1.jpg
| Model | Length | Year | Bus Numbers | No. In Fleet | Fuel Type | Notes |
| Gillig Phantom | 40' | 1996-1998 | F1000-F1063 | 64 | Diesel | F1000-F1029 retired. F1013-F1015, F1040-F1045, F1056-F1063 have suburban seating. |
| Gillig Advantage | 40' | 2000 | F1100-F1176 | 77 | Diesel | |
| Gillig Advantage | 29' | 2000 | F1181-F1187 | 7 | Diesel | |
| Orion V | 40' | 2002 | F1200-F1265 | 66 | CNG | Suburban seating. Used almost exclusively on lines 493, 497, 498, 499, and 699. |
| Orion V | 40' | 2003 | F1300-F1350 | 51 | CNG | |
| NABI 40-LFW | 40' | 2004-2005 | F1400-F1474 | 75 | CNG | F1400-F1452 run from the Pomona Yard. F1453-F1474 run from the Irwindale Yard. |
| NABI 40-LFW | 40' | 2006 | F1500-F1509 | 10 | CNG | |
| NABI 60-BRT | 60' | 2006-2007 | F1600-F1629 | 30 | CNG | These buses will be used for the new Silver Streak service beginning March 2007. |
[edit] External links
