San Bernardino County Transportation Authority

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San Bernardino County Transportation Authority
Logo San Bernardino County Transportation Authority.svg
Overview
Headquarters San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot
San Bernardino, California
Operation
Began operation1973;51 years ago (1973) as San Bernardino Associated Governments [1]

The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) is the successor to San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG). [2] They are responsible for administering the Measure I half-cent tax which voters in San Bernardino County, California, passed most recently in 2004. The SBCTA conducts transportation planning, construction, and operation in San Bernardino County. The SBCTA is a joint powers authority comprising the entire county and its cities. Every city and county supervisor is provided one seat on the board, and it also includes a nonvoting member from the California Department of Transportation's (Caltrans) District 8.

Contents

History

In 2016, Senate bill 1305, consolidated five different transit agencies into SBCTA. Those agencies were County Transportation Commission, County Transportation Authority, Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies, Congestion Management Agency, and Subregional Planning Agency. [3]

In 2019, SBCTA mulled direct takeover of Omnitrans due to its 520 million dollar deficit. [4] In response to pressure of county supervisors, SBCTA initiated a study of consolidation of Omnitrans called SBCTA County-wide Transit Efficiency Study. [5] By the end of 2020, SBCTA balked at the idea of consolidating Omnitrans under SBCTA due to pension obligations. [6]

Funding

SBCTA operates with a budget of 1.160 billion dollars as of the 2023 fiscal year [7]

Planning

The SBCTA conducts transportation planning for San Bernardino County, California, as well as aligning with plans from neighboring agencies.

Tollway projects

I-10 Express Lanes

The SBCTA and Caltrans completed the $929.2 million Phase 1 project to add tolled express lanes to Interstate 10 (I-10) from the Los Angeles County line to Interstate 15 (I-15). [8] Under Phase 1, 18 bridges throughout the corridor will either be replaced or widened to accommodate the new toll lanes. [9] It is expected to be completed by 2023. [10] [11]

I-15 Express Lanes

The SBCTA has planned to implement tolled express lanes to I-15 from the Riverside County line to Duncan Canyon Boulevard. Construction is expected to begin in 2023. The project is expected to cost $469.65 million. [12]

Road projects

North First Avenue Bridge

Due to automobile damage sustained to the North First Avenue Bridge in Barstow, the SBCTA took over the replacement of the bridge from the city due to its critical importance, since it passes over the BNSF Southern Transcon rail corridor and yard. The expected cost of the project is $62 million. Currently, it is in the design phase to replace the 1930's bridge. [13] [14] [15]

Transit projects

West Valley Connector (BRT)

The West Valley Connector, also known as the sbX Purple Line, [16] is a 35-mile long (56 km) bus rapid transit project spearheaded by the SBCTA that will connect Pomona with Fontana. [17] The first phase is a 19-mile long (31 km) segment that will run along Holt Boulevard to Ontario International Airport and Metrolink’s Rancho Cucamonga station. [18] Phase 1 will have 21 stations along the route.

Ontario Connector Project

The SBCTA is currently in the process of implementing a 4-mile tunnel (6.4 km) from Metrolink’s Rancho Cucamonga station to Ontario International Airport as a cost-effective solution compared to the Foothill Extension project of the Los Angeles Metro Rail’s A Line. [19] [20] [21] The Ontario Airport Loop was expected to cost around $75 million compared to the Foothill Extension at around $1.5 billion. [22]

The current project planning is being developed by HNTB [23] after The Boring Company dropped out due to their refusal to submit another refined proposal. The estimated costs are around $492 million under the current expanded proposal. [24]

The SBCTA is in the process of double-tracking Metrolink's San Bernardino Line from CP Lilac to Rialto station to increase capacity and frequency within San Bernardino County. [25]

Transit services

Bus

The SBCTA provides transit funding for all the bus transit agencies in San Bernardino County. It is also responsible for the oversight of Omnitrans, Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA), Needles Area Transit (NAT), Mountain Transit, and Basin Transit. [26]

Fare Subsidy

In 2023, SBCTA expanded its Free Fares for School K-12 program to all transit agencies in order to boost transit use with San Bernardino County Youth. [27]

Passenger rail

San Bernardino County is served by and partially funds three of Metrolink's lines. This includes the San Bernardino Line, which has the highest ridership of the entire system, the Inland Empire–Orange County Line, which terminates at the San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot and San Bernardino–Downtown stations, and the Riverside Line, which serves Ontario–East station.

Arrow
Logo of Arrow Arrow train logo.svg
Logo of Arrow

Arrow, formerly the Redlands Passenger Rail Project (RPRP or RPR), is a commuter rail line which runs from the San Bernardino Transit Center in Downtown San Bernardino in the west to the University of Redlands in Redlands in the east. Simulated service testing commenced on September 12, 2022. [28] Service commenced on October 24, 2022. [29]

In 2019, SBCTA ordered Zero emissions multiple unit from Stadler for the Arrow line. [30] The trainset is expected to be in operation by 2024 [31]

Van Pool

SBCTA administers the County's van pool Commuter service called SB Loop. Currently the system consists of 72 vehicles, averaging 37,000 trips per quarter. SBCTA also subsidizes Victor Valley Transit Authority's van pool. Averaging 119,400 trips per quarter in 189 vehicles [32]

Freeway Service Patrol

In order to reduce congestion, the SBCTA implemented the Freeway Service Patrol (FSP), whose purpose is to tow stranded motorists within the urbanized area of San Bernardino County. Service operates during peak traffic times. [33]

Active transportation

The SBCTA maintains a countywide active transportation plan. Although San Bernardino County is vast, much of the population is concentrated in the San Bernardino Valley portion in the county's southwest corner. The SBCTA requires complete streets within San Bernardino County when cities apply for roadway expansion grants. [34] [35] [36]

Pacific Electric Trail

The Pacific Electric Trail is a 21-mile (34-kilometer) rail trail that has been constructed along the former San Bernardino Line. [37] The Baldwin Park Subdivision within San Bernardino county is owned by SBCTA. SBCTA currently licenses the railroad right of way as a class one bike trail to the cities within the rail corridor. The city of Rialto has expressed in expanding the bike trail to SBCTA, once Union Pacific abandons the rail service in the eastern 2.5 miles of the subdivision. [38] [39]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ontario International Airport</span> International airport in Ontario, California, United States

Ontario International Airport is an international airport two miles east of downtown Ontario, in San Bernardino County, California, United States, about 38 mi (61 km) east of downtown Los Angeles and 18 mi (29 km) west of downtown San Bernardino. It is owned and operated under a joint-powers agreement with the city of Ontario and San Bernardino County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metrolink (California)</span> Commuter rail system in Southern California

Metrolink is a commuter rail system in Southern California, serving Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties, as well as to Oceanside in San Diego County. The system consists of eight lines and 69 stations operating on 545.6 miles (878.1 km) of track. Arrow is operated under a contract with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Bernardino Line</span> Commuter rail line in Southern California

The San Bernardino Line is a Metrolink line running between Downtown Los Angeles east through the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire to San Bernardino, with limited express service to Redlands. It is one of the three initial lines on the original Metrolink system, along with the Santa Clarita Line and the Ventura County Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omnitrans</span>

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. The agency was established in 1976 through a joint powers agreement 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).

Brightline West is a privately run high-speed rail route, currently under construction, to link the Las Vegas Valley and Rancho Cucamonga in the Greater Los Angeles area through the California high desert. The line will connect with existing rail at Rancho Cucamonga station of Metrolink's San Bernardino Line, a commuter rail line in Southern California. The project is intended to provide an alternative to air and automobile travel between Southern California and Las Vegas, a popular leisure destination. In December 2023, the United States Department of Transportation awarded Brightline West a $3 billion grant as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Construction was initially expected to begin shortly after the grant was announced in 2023 but began on April 22, 2024. Revenue service is planned to start in 2028.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pomona–Downtown station</span> Train station in downtown Pomona, California, US

Pomona–Downtown station, is a train station in Pomona, California, United States. It is primarily served by Metrolink’s Riverside Line commuter rail service. The station is also served by limited Amtrak long-distance inter-city rail service, with the thrice-weekly round trip of the combined Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle. It is owned and operated by the city of Pomona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riverside–Downtown station</span> Train station in Riverside, California, U.S.

Riverside–Downtown station is a train station in Riverside, California, United States. It is served by three Metrolink commuter rail lines – the 91/Perris Valley Line, Inland Empire–Orange County Line, and Riverside Line – and Amtrak intercity rail service on the Southwest Chief. The station is owned by the Riverside County Transportation Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in Greater Los Angeles</span> Complex multimodal regional, national and international hub for passenger and freight traffic

Greater Los Angeles has a complex multimodal transportation infrastructure, which serves as a regional, national and international hub for passenger and freight traffic. The transportation system of Greater Los Angeles includes the United States' largest port complex, seven commuter rail lines, Amtrak service, a subway system within the city of Los Angeles, and numerous highways. Los Angeles is integrated into the Interstate Highway System by Interstate 5, Interstate 10, and Interstate 15, along with numerous auxiliary highways and state routes. Bus service is also included locally within the area by numerous local government agencies. Subways and light commuter rail lines are present within Los Angeles proper, allowing mass transportation within the city. Commuter railroads are run by Metrolink. Amtrak has numerous railroad lines that connect Los Angeles to the rest of the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fontana station (California)</span>

Fontana station is a train station served by Metrolink San Bernardino Line commuter rail, located in the city of Fontana, California. It is immediately adjacent to Fontana's Downtown District. The station opened on November 22, 1993, and is owned by the City of Fontana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rancho Cucamonga station</span> Commuter rail station in California

Rancho Cucamonga station in Rancho Cucamonga, in San Bernardino County, California, serves the Metrolink San Bernardino Line commuter rail. With the proposed Brightline high-speed rail and a potential underground tunnel project to Ontario International Airport, local officials expect increased tourism and economic growth for the Inland Empire. The station is owned by the City of Rancho Cucamonga and is near the former Empire Lakes Golf Club. It is located just west of Milliken Avenue and has 330 parking spaces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montclair Transcenter</span> Intermodal transit center

Montclair Transcenter is an intermodal transit center located at 5091 Richton Street in Montclair, California. It is located between Central and Monte Vista Avenues on Richton Street just north of the Montclair Plaza shopping center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Bernardino Associated Governments</span> Government agency in San Bernardino County, California, United States

San Bernardino Associated Governments was an association of the San Bernardino County local governments and the regional transportation planning agency and regional planning organization for the county, with policy makers consisting of mayors, councilmembers, and county supervisors. It was also the funding agency for the county's transit systems, which include Omnitrans, Victor Valley Transit Authority, Morongo Basin Transit Authority, Mountain Area Regional Transit Authority, Barstow Area Transport, and Needles Area Transit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in the Inland Empire</span>

Many of the existing freeways in Southern California's Inland Empire were completed in the late 1970s. The only exception is the segment of the Foothill Freeway, State Route 210 between San Dimas and San Bernardino, completed in July 2007. In general, most of the higher paying jobs are located in Los Angeles and Orange County. Thus, workers must commute daily up to two hours in each direction on the existing network. As the population increases, traffic congestion is also projected to increase. In 2007, Forbes magazine ranked the area first in its list of America's most unhealthy commutes, beating every other major metropolitan area in the country, as Inland area drivers breathe the unhealthiest air and have the highest rate of fatal auto accidents per capita.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foothill Extension</span> Light rail extension project in Los Angeles County, California

The Foothill Extension Project, formerly known as the Gold Line Foothill Extension Project, is an extension of the Los Angeles Metro Rail A Line light rail line from the former Gold Line terminus in Pasadena, California, at Sierra Madre Villa station, east through the "Foothill Cities" of Los Angeles County. The plan's first stage, Phase 2A, extended the then-Gold Line from Pasadena to Azusa; it opened on March 5, 2016. Phase 2B, which will extend the now A Line a further four stations to Pomona–North station, broke ground in December 2017. A further two–station extension to Montclair Transcenter is planned for completion in 2028, but is currently unfunded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arrow (rail service)</span> Commuter rail service in San Bernardino County, California

Arrow is a rail service in San Bernardino County, California, United States. Opened on October 24, 2022, the line runs from the San Bernardino Transit Center in Downtown San Bernardino in the west to the University of Redlands in Redlands in the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Bernardino Transit Center</span> Transit hub in San Bernardino, California, US

The San Bernardino Transit Center is an intermodal transit center in downtown San Bernardino, California, United States. It is owned and operated by Omnitrans, the area's public transportation agency. Opened in September 2015, the center consolidates three Metrolink commuter rail services and more than a dozen local bus services, including the sbX bus rapid transit service into one central location.

sbX Bus rapid transit service in San Bernardino County, California

sbX is a bus rapid transit (BRT) service in San Bernardino and Loma Linda, California, United States. It is operated by Omnitrans, a public transportation agency in southwestern San Bernardino County. The route is internally named by Omnitrans as the Green Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inland Empire</span> Metropolitan area in California, United States

The Inland Empire is a metropolitan area or region inland of and adjacent to coastal Southern California, centering around the cities of San Bernardino and Riverside, and bordering Los Angeles County to the east. The bulk of the population is centered in the cities of northwestern Riverside County and southwestern San Bernardino County, and is sometimes considered to include the desert communities of the Coachella and Victor Valleys, respectively on the other sides of the San Gorgonio Pass and San Bernardino Mountains from the Santa Ana River watershed that forms the bulk of the Inland Empire; a much broader definition includes all of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The combined land area of the counties of the Inland Empire is larger than ten U.S. states—West Virginia, Maryland, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island.

References

  1. ↑ "About SBCTA". SBCTA. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  2. ↑ De La Cruz, Rene Ray (October 6, 2023). "San Bernardino County Transportation Authority celebrates 50th anniversary". Victorville Daily Press. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  3. ↑ "SBCTA Fiscal Year 2023/2024" (PDF). SBCTA. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  4. ↑ "$520 million deficit has Omnitrans eyeing layoffs and bus-line reductions, but is it enough?". San Bernardino Sun. October 21, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Consolidation Study and Innovative Transit Review" (PDF). Omnitrans. San Bernardino County Transportation Authority. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Omnitrans dodges takeover, but endures service cuts and layoffs". San Bernardino Sun. January 16, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Annual 2023/2024 Budget" (PDF). SBCTA. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  8. ↑ "I-10 Corridor Project" (PDF). GOSBCTA. July 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  9. ↑ "I-10 Express Lanes".
  10. ↑ "I-10 Corridor Project Final Findings" (PDF). GOSBCTA. September 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Final project report" (PDF). GOSBCTA. September 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  12. ↑ "-15 CORRIDOR PROJECT PA/ED" (PDF). SBCTA. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  13. ↑ "North First Avenue Bridge Over BNSF Railroad Project". SBCTA. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  14. ↑ "'Deficient' bridge may finally be replaced with $3.2M more than planned from Barstow taxpayers". Daily Press. gannett. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  15. ↑ McGee, Charlie. "Barstow declares emergency, enlists $250K to fix 'extreme peril' on First Street Bridge". Victorville Daily Press. Gannett. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  16. ↑ "west valley connector O&M agreements". omnitrans.primegov.com. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  17. ↑ Authority, San Bernardino County Transportation (June 20, 2019). "West Valley Connector Project". ceqanet.opr.ca.gov.
  18. ↑ "West Valley Connector (BRT)".
  19. ↑ "Ontario airport tunnel project by Elon Musk moves to next phase". February 5, 2021.
  20. ↑ "SBCTA Board accepts Boring Co.'s qualifications, authorizes next steps in the development of the Ontario Loop project". February 3, 2021.
  21. ↑ "SBCTA Board accepts Boring Co.'s qualifications, authorizes next steps in the development of the Ontario Loop project". February 3, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Elon Musk-backed tunnel to California airport gets go-ahead". June 4, 2020.
  23. ↑ "selected by SBCTA for Ontario Airport tunnel project". HNTB. January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  24. ↑ John, Darryn (July 20, 2022). "The Boring Company abandons plans for Ontario Airport loop in California". Drive Tesla. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Metrolink San Bernardino Line Double Track Project (Lilac to Rancho)". SBCTA. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Public Transit and Rail". SBCTA. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Popular Omnitrans Free Fares for School Program to Expand Countywide in 2023-2024 School Year". www.citynewsgroup.com. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Redlands rail line to begin simulated service Monday". SB Sun. San Bernardino Sun. September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Arrow | San Bernardino Redlands Train | Metrolink". www.metrolinktrains.com. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  30. ↑ "San Bernardino County agency orders its first zero-emission train for Redlands rail service". Redlands Daily Facts. November 16, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  31. ↑ "North America's first hydrogen-powered train coming to SBCTA". www.masstransitmag.com. Mass Transit Magazine. September 22, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Agenda - Thursday, August 10, 2023" (PDF). Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Freeway Service Patrol". SBCTA. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  34. ↑ "Non - Motorized Transportation Plan (2018)". SBCTA. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  35. ↑ "Active San Bernardino Data". sbcta. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  36. ↑ "Complete Streets". SBCTA. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  37. ↑ "Trail Features". City of Rancho Cucamonga. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Board of Directors Meeting July 5, 2023" (PDF). San Bernardino County Transportation Authority. SBCTA. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Pacific Electric Trail Extension". City of Rialto. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
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