Short range transportation. |
Transfer stations in Brawley, Imperial and Calexico, new bus lines, and the use of technologically advanced bus signs are some of the upgrades the Imperial County Transportation Commission is pursuing, an ICTC official said.
These upgrades are also some of the recommendations from the Short Range Transit Plan, a study ICTC develops every three to four years to identify goals and areas of need of the county’s transit system.
The latest SRTP was approved last week and cities “seem to be very much engaged to work together and move forward,” said ICTC executive director Mark Baza.
A transfer station in Brawley and the expansion of services through a new Gold Line are the improvements closer to materializing, ICTC transit planner Kathi Williams said. “It’s possible that the Gold Line could be in operation, I would say, sometime around July of 2014.”
Brawley is only partially served by a fixed route service and outlying areas are served by Brawley Dial-a-Ride, according to the SRTP.
Williams expects to have a consultant developing the Gold Line’s route in about six months.
This consultant is expected to have workshops and meetings with community groups and then present the findings to Brawley City Council, which will ultimately to be asked to adopt the recommendations.
Brawley’s Wal-Mart Supercenter is also not directly served by a fixed route, the SRTP reads. “This will likely be remedied if the Gold Line circulator is implemented,” according to the SRTP.
Depending on the funds available, the Gold Line may be implemented sooner than 2014, Williams said.
For the city of Imperial, the implementation of a Red Line was recommended in the SRTP.
The route would supplement existing services to cover most of the city, according to the report.
In Calexico, an Orange Line could come online around 2015. This would be around the same time Imperial’s line becomes operational, according to Williams.
But all three bus lines are contingent upon funding sources and the completion of their respective transfer terminals, said Williams.
The main idea is to have transfer terminals that feed local circulation, she said.
But it’s unclear how many of the close to 58,000 residents that use the public system every month would benefit from the expansion of services.
Bus signs are also set to be upgraded.
Just like in San Diego, bus signs around the county will have a contact number to text and bar codes that smartphones can scan so riders can get the bus schedule on their phones.
“For a certain segment of our ridership (these) will be very attractive,” Williams said.
But as seen in projects across the country, funding is “definitely” a challenge for the upgrades, said Williams.
So she now has the task to look for grants to expedite the projects, “while staying optimistic that you are going to have the resources to accomplish those goals.”
Staff Writer Alejandro Davila can be reached at 760-337-3445 or adavila@ivpressonline.com
These upgrades are also some of the recommendations from the Short Range Transit Plan, a study ICTC develops every three to four years to identify goals and areas of need of the county’s transit system.
The latest SRTP was approved last week and cities “seem to be very much engaged to work together and move forward,” said ICTC executive director Mark Baza.
A transfer station in Brawley and the expansion of services through a new Gold Line are the improvements closer to materializing, ICTC transit planner Kathi Williams said. “It’s possible that the Gold Line could be in operation, I would say, sometime around July of 2014.”
Brawley is only partially served by a fixed route service and outlying areas are served by Brawley Dial-a-Ride, according to the SRTP.
Williams expects to have a consultant developing the Gold Line’s route in about six months.
This consultant is expected to have workshops and meetings with community groups and then present the findings to Brawley City Council, which will ultimately to be asked to adopt the recommendations.
Brawley’s Wal-Mart Supercenter is also not directly served by a fixed route, the SRTP reads. “This will likely be remedied if the Gold Line circulator is implemented,” according to the SRTP.
Depending on the funds available, the Gold Line may be implemented sooner than 2014, Williams said.
For the city of Imperial, the implementation of a Red Line was recommended in the SRTP.
The route would supplement existing services to cover most of the city, according to the report.
In Calexico, an Orange Line could come online around 2015. This would be around the same time Imperial’s line becomes operational, according to Williams.
But all three bus lines are contingent upon funding sources and the completion of their respective transfer terminals, said Williams.
The main idea is to have transfer terminals that feed local circulation, she said.
But it’s unclear how many of the close to 58,000 residents that use the public system every month would benefit from the expansion of services.
Bus signs are also set to be upgraded.
Just like in San Diego, bus signs around the county will have a contact number to text and bar codes that smartphones can scan so riders can get the bus schedule on their phones.
“For a certain segment of our ridership (these) will be very attractive,” Williams said.
But as seen in projects across the country, funding is “definitely” a challenge for the upgrades, said Williams.
So she now has the task to look for grants to expedite the projects, “while staying optimistic that you are going to have the resources to accomplish those goals.”
Staff Writer Alejandro Davila can be reached at 760-337-3445 or adavila@ivpressonline.com
