City OK’s Trolley Route Change
Prompted by cuts in bus routes, changes to take effect July 12
By Sondra Murphy
Changes to the Ojai Trolley transit routes were approved Tuesday by the Ojai City Council. Due to Gold Coast Transit changes to Ojai Valley service, the city altered many routes to accommodate budget reductions, as well as the GCT route reconfigurations.
With anticipated cuts to transit funding, the council voted in April to overhaul the trolley system. Public Works director Mike Culver got busy surveying riders and drivers to determine key stops along the trolley routes, which he then used to create the framework for the new itinerary set to begin July 12.
Recent cuts in state funding resulted in a $33,761 deficit in the city’s transit budget for 2008-2009, from total revenues of $1,064,925 against expenses of $1,098,686. Culver kept this in mind when he worked to reconfigure the trolley routes. The route revisions and transit spending reductions are expected to yield a $9,655 surplus in 2009-2010 from anticipated revenues and expenditures totaling $1,039,166 and $1,029,511, respectively.
Culver made efforts to ensure the new system provided adequate service to existing riders while making routes more time and cost efficient.
With GCT reducing the range of its Route 16 into Ojai, as well as eliminating the express routes from the valley into Ventura, Culver looked at ways for the remaining routes to best serve the needs of the community. “Gold Coast has reduced Route 16 to turn around at Vons, so we reconfigured Ojai Trolley to serve as a feeder service for passengers in the unincorporated areas to ride to Vons, connect with GCT and ride down to Ventura from there.”
The new routes will use a continuous figure 8 loop to cover the city so unincorporated routes and passengers will no longer have to change trolleys to travel from one end of the valley to the other. Another advantage is that the new schedule will be able to hit each key stop every 30 minutes. “I believe this increased efficiency will attract riders,” said Culver.
The routes include stops at all key shopping areas, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, all public schools and Oak Grove School. Service will be provided as far south as Woodland Avenue and Highway 33 in Mira Monte and as far north as Topa Topa Elementary School in Ojai. Trolleys will continue serving the Whispering Oaks Senior Community with minor changes in the stop location. New stops will be added to Sarzotti Park and Libbey Park Pergola.
“And at Help of Ojai’s West Campus, they have a back gate that can accommodate a stop,” Culver added.
GCT’s northbound route will arrive at one minute past the hour every hour throughout the day and will have a 24-minute layover before starting the southbound trip at 25 past the hour. Trolleys will be scheduled to arrive at 10 to 15 minutes past the hour for the transfer connection, allowing time for passengers to transfer to or from either system. On weekdays, routes will begin at 6:55 a.m. and the final loop for each route will end at the “Y” shopping center at 5:40 p.m.
On weekends, routes will begin two hours later and end service one hour earlier at the “Y” at 4:40 p.m.
Eliminated from the new schedule are trolley stops in Meiners Oaks north of El Roblar Drive and those south of Woodland Avenue. Of these, Culver said the most significant cancellation was to the Barbara Street area where the maximum walking distance to the GCT stop will be seven-tenths of a mile. In Meiners Oaks, passengers may have to walk nearly half a mile to the nearest trolley stop.
The proposed routes do not currently include regular stops at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, a decision based on low user statistics, but staff is proposing a call-in arrangement to request services as needed by OVIS patrons. OVIS had contributed $3,100 annually to the city’s transit service until 2006 based on a previous agreement. Culver projected the elimination of this route will be a time saver and, since he has built-in time buffers in the routes, said the inn could be easily accommodated when they have guests interested in trolley service.
“I am concerned we don’t have a stop at the Ojai Valley Inn, because I think it’s important to our merchants to bring those guests to town,” said Councilwoman Sue Horgan. “And an issue that has not been brought up is that there is not currently a stop that services Villanova Preparatory School. There are 350 kids and no safe way for those kids to get in and out of town.” She asked if there was a way to add a morning and afternoon stop at VPS.
“I agree with Councilwoman Horgan that we need to get a stop to the Ojai Valley Inn,” said Councilwoman Betsy Clapp, who also voiced support for a Villanova stop.
“One of the beauties of this type of design is, as long as we’re hitting all the key points, Loop A could hit different points, while Loop B is hitting others,” Culver said. “We can make diversions. For example, we don’t necessarily need to stop every 30 minutes up at Topa Topa.” He added that he would meet with OVIS and VPS staff to get input on the system.
Earlier in the meeting, Culver reported that a grant application for federal stimulus funds for the purchase of new trolley buses was approved by Caltrans and forwarded to the Federal Transit Administration for final approval. Anticipating funds to be made available by September, the new vehicles would be delivered in spring of 2010. “The past two trolleys purchased are powered by liquid propane gas,” said Culver addressing noise pollution concerns. He said five out of six active vehicles run on LPG are very quiet and the same types of trolleys would be bought again by the city.
Funding mass transit is a complicated process. FTA section 5311 provides Transportation Development Act funding for public transit in non-urbanized areas with a population of fewer than 50,000 and is apportioned to each state annually. The California Department of Transportation is one of the delegated grantees, but 75 percent of total funding is distributed through transportation planning agencies. The Ventura County Transportation Commission acts as a recipient of these funds, with the city of Ojai as a sub-recipient. The city of Ojai is the only agency in the county that currently qualifies to receive these funds.
Culver said the reconfigurations of the trolley and GCT routes has accomplished its goal of balancing the transit budget for 2009-2010, but that he expects increasing costs and decreasing resources in the coming years to create additional challenges. Staff will look into strategies to increase revenues while reducing expenditures for 2010-2011, including the possibility of fare increases, commercial route guarantees, advertising and service adjustments.
The new Ojai Trolley time schedule has not yet been finalized. Updates will soon be posted to ojaitrolley.com, as well as reported in the OVN.
We don’t need the trolley, we didn’t used to have it and we got around fine. It costs toooo much and is a waste of money.
Trolley Tractor
18 Jun 09 at 9:46 am
I saw a little ol’ lady using the trolley recently . She was the only one but it made me happy that the trolley was there to pick her up.
Trolleyho!!!
18 Jun 09 at 12:07 pm
How many riders a year, maybe a FREE taxi would more cost effective? Maybe pay HELP to run the city transportation, why have 2 sets of transportation in such a small town?
Anonymous Ray
23 Jun 09 at 7:39 am
I propose the city of Ojai charge 18 cents instead the usual quarter. A dime, a nickle and three pennies. Or 3 nickels and three pennies. Or eight pennies and a dime. Or even eighteen pennies if you have them. It would open up a whole new demographic of trolley riders, bums and children. I also propose a partition dividing the two groups.
The only downside I can see with my idea is exact change ONLY!!. We can’t be making change for a dollar, or a SAWBUCK.
Larry Foot-Wheelie
23 Jun 09 at 5:46 pm
You can call him Ray. You can call him Jay. But you doesnt have to call him “Trolley.”
Molly Trolley Bannafannafofolly me my mo nolly
23 Jun 09 at 5:47 pm
Here’s an idea, RIDE YOUR BIKE ON THE HORSE TRAIL FOR PETE’S SAKE.
Breezy Snifflepants
23 Jun 09 at 6:29 pm
I propose elinating trolley. Its just a cheap cab for libbey park drunks such as k insano.
Anon.5
23 Jun 09 at 8:08 pm
Eliminating it? You sir are way out of line. I propose you eliminate your posts.
Jeff Koooooper-Jonas-Ricarino
23 Jun 09 at 8:28 pm
The blog was better before imbeciles like you wrote on it.
Anon.5
23 Jun 09 at 9:48 pm
Eliminating it may not be a bad idea at all, even if anon5 suggests it, or one of his alternate personalities.
anonymous
24 Jun 09 at 9:08 am
Thanks anonymous for joining my fan club. My seminars are working. Eliminate radicals like k insano and eliminate the trolley. Old people need to walk more, children need the fresh air and why should we provide free fun to bums? THey just circle around town and never get off. Solutions by Anon.5.INC
Anon. 5
24 Jun 09 at 11:26 am
Anon. 5,
Pretty good imitation, albeit cheap, much like the gold teeth in the front of your mouth.
Anon.5
24 Jun 09 at 5:21 pm
I see ignorant, thoughtless comments made here by those fortunate enough to have no need for Trolley service. I need & use the Trolley 2-3 times/week–to attend church, shop for groceries, & help a few paying clients. I am 64, & support my disabled partner & I on an inadequate fixed income that does not include driving a car. I have an untreated heart condition & spinal scoliosis which make it hard to walk long distances. Yet despite that, I make a substantial contribution to my community. How am I to continue to do that when the Trolley is no longer to serve my Meiners Oaks stop, one of the most popular on the route? I see those responsible for the new routing concerned with taking care of all the school kids. Don’t they have school busses & parents with cars for ride sharing for that? How are you taking care of the elderly without those resources? We do not all live in Whispering Oaks! We are the Wise Ones! Why would you stifle what we can contribute with our loving hearts & experienced minds? And do not speak to me of Help of Ojai. It’s service is inadequate & has too many restrictive rules. Do you get the point? If not, it is not only my loss, but Ojai’s.
Diane KB
27 Jun 09 at 4:50 pm
Diane KB-
Why don’t you by yourself a horseless carriage.
Super Elvis
Jeff VanGunnose
27 Jun 09 at 5:59 pm
Jeff, perhaps you are unaware that a horseless carriage IS a car, which Diane stated she cold not afford. As to the busses Diane, some students have zero period classes that start around 6:30 – before the busses run, and some have after-school activities. There used to be a late bus, but that was scrapped years ago. I know a lot of students who depend on the trolley. I don’t think this should be an either/or issue. We should be able to provide affordable transportation for seniors and students, and everyone in-between.
get real
28 Jun 09 at 10:48 am
Diane, the ignorant thoughtless comments all come from one person who uses different names, so just ignore him. I hope your situation turns around.
support the trolley
28 Jun 09 at 11:31 am
Different names? What a cop out. Whats my name say, cant you read? You didnt even use a name, by the way. I simply believe that the trolley is a polluting, over budgeted eyesore of a piece of garbage that is DESTROYING our cities beauty.
Jeff
Jeff VanGunnose
28 Jun 09 at 8:56 pm
We need a free bike program, not a gross polluter.
Cheryl Lynn
29 Jun 09 at 8:57 am
Jeff,
I appreciate your cynicism. It is refreshing. I will count you as one of my minions.
Anon.5
Anon.5
29 Jun 09 at 9:46 am
Jeff VanGunnose, (Support the trolley) said “the ignorant, thoughtless comments are made by one person” unless you consider your comments to come under that catagory, she or he was not talking about you.
Anonymous
29 Jun 09 at 9:55 am
I guess he was referring to you, Anonymous. It’s pretty clear that he supports Anon. 5. Get a life, you idiot!
Anon.5
29 Jun 09 at 4:25 pm
Whether or not I consider my comments to be in one category or another is none of your concern. Mind your own bees wax, support the trolley is able to speak for hermself.
Jeff VanGunnose
29 Jun 09 at 9:45 pm
I think I just discovered another one of Anon.5s personalities! JeffVanGunnose! Sorry Anon.5 I didn’t mean to break up another one of your pleasant conversations with yourself… my bad!
Anonymous
30 Jun 09 at 7:08 am
Sorry, you got it wrong. Anon.5 is an entity separate and apart from any other. VonGoose is a wannabe new comer with limited foresight.
Anon.5
30 Jun 09 at 8:57 am
Well, I happen to know that is B.S.
Anonymous
30 Jun 09 at 12:44 pm
You happen to not know anything. Your pathetic blogs are evidence of that. Anon.5 is a separate and distinct entity that was formerly a colleague of Ret. Lieut. John Doe at the Truth Coalition. As you may recall, the great lieutenant split from the James Hatch movement some months ago. Niether three have any affiliation with Jeff the Goose. Did you know that? No, you did not, because you know nothing.
Anon.5
30 Jun 09 at 1:26 pm
We gonna have a problem now Anon. 5 all of a sudden? I thought we were playing the same 2 necked fiddle…
Jeff VanGunnose
30 Jun 09 at 9:01 pm
Well, I happen to know that is B.S.
Pandora Deux
30 Jun 09 at 9:43 pm
why wasn’t there more of a warning, now I am left with no choice but to cross Highway 33 with my 20 month old son everytime I go to work and to pay twice as much to ride the bus…I live on Barbara St that trolley stop was used more then you think….you just lost my business….
really upset
3 Jul 09 at 6:16 pm
NOW THAT THE SCAT BUS IS CHANGING ITS ROUTE AS WELL DOES THAT MEAN THE TROLLEY WILL START @ 5:30 AM LIKE THE SCAT FOR PARK AND RIDE FOR THOSE WHO NEED TO GET TO WORK EARLY? LETS HOPE SO BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO NEED THE SCAT THAT EARLY AND WELL IT JUST SUCKS THAT THE CITY AND THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF SCAT DON’T THINK OF PEOPLES NEEDS BETTER BEFORE MAKING CHANGES THAT WILL AFFECT SO MANY. WORK TOGETHER AND THEN MAYBE YOU CAN MAKE CHANGES.
ANON
3 Jul 09 at 8:29 pm
Jeff,
I appreciate your support. Your allegiance, though, requires you to sit and learn before taking action. You see, I was a student of Ret. Lieut. John Doe for years before he passed the reigns, just as he was mentored by James Hatch.
If you want to remain in goodstanding and earnestly seek to fill a position in Truth Coalition, I suggest that you put a caveat on all of your posts, something to the effect of a salutation that reads:
“Provided that the following meets the Ret. Lieut. John Doe’s approval, I think the following . . .”
Jeff, I do appreciate your support, and for the record, some of your comments show potential.
Anon.5
4 Jul 09 at 9:14 am
Anon.5 I appreciate your thoughtful comments and I grudgingly have to admit there is a touch of genius. I don’t know if I am ready to be your follower yet. I am still more of a maverick if you know what I mean. Thanks all the same, please continue to post as I find them interesting, if not controversial,
Jeff VanGunnose
Anon.5
4 Jul 09 at 8:01 pm
We definetely need the Villanova stop. Its insane not to. As to the people who are going to suffer from the lack of trolley service , make your voice be heard and not just in this blog. They will listen and you can effect change with persistance. I too think the Barbara St. cut is a mistake however I don’t use the trolley enough to make a case for keeping it other than if the users say its an inconvenience not to have the stop then they should keep it. The trolley is there for convenience sake , thats the point.
Trolley rider
5 Jul 09 at 8:44 am