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SAN BERNARDINO, CA—-Omnitrans will further reduce transit service on Monday, April 13 and has implemented additional safety procedures in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“Omnitrans has been designated an essential service, and we are committed to providing that service while protecting the safety of our employees and customers,” said Interim CEO/General Manager Erin Rogers. “As we continue to closely monitor this health emergency, the agency will make adjustments as needed to ensure that we achieve both of those goals.”
Under the new reduced service plan, detailed below, six routes will be eliminated, service frequency or trips will be reduced on four routes, and two routes will be operated with smaller minibuses. This plan is in addition to Omnitrans’ initial service reduction, which saw routes that regularly operate every 15 minutes operate every 30 minutes, and routes that typically operate every 30 minutes operate every hour. Since the inception of COVID-19 and the state of California “Stay at Home” order, Omnitrans ridership has decreased by approximately 65 percent.
Since last month, the agency has asked customers to board and exit buses through the rear doors to encourage social distancing and has stopped collecting fares (customers with disabilities continue to board via the front doors of the bus). Additionally, the agency has implemented a policy of 20 customers maximum per bus and requires face masks onboard in conjunction with the San Bernardino County health order mandating face coverings when leaving home.
| Route | Areas Served | Change | Reason/Explanation |
| 5 | San Bernardino | Changed to 45-minute frequency | This schedule is being changed in conjunction with Route 7’s cancellation. |
| 7 | San Bernardino | Permanently Eliminated | This route was scheduled to be eliminated in September and is being implemented early due to low ridership and CSUSB closure. |
| 12 | San Bernardino, Rialto, Fontana, Muscoy | Use of smaller vehicles operated by contractor | Schedule and route will NOT change, Route will be operated with smaller Access vehicles due to low ridership. |
| 20 | Fontana, Unincorporated County | Permanently Eliminated | This route was scheduled to be eliminated in September and is being implemented early due to low ridership and Fontana HS closure. |
| 29 | Fontana Bloomington | Use of smaller vehicles operated by contractor | Schedule and route will NOT change, Route will be operated with smaller Access vehicles due to low ridership. |
| 67 | Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga | TEMPORARILY Eliminated | This route will be temporarily eliminated due to low ridership and school closures along the route. |
| 80 | Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario | TEMPORARILY Eliminated | This route will be temporarily eliminated due to low ridership, school closures, and decreased hotel and airport activity along the route. |
| 81 | Chino, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga | Weekday short trips to Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center eliminated. | This short trip is being eliminated due to low ridership. |
| 290 | San Bernardino, Colton, Ontario, Montclair | TEMPORARILY Eliminated | Low ridership. This freeway express route has local route alternatives. |
| 308 309 310 | Yucaipa | 308 Permanently Eliminated. 309/310 frequency reduced to 60 minutes | Route 308 was scheduled to be eliminated in September and is being implemented early due to low ridership. Routes 309/310 service frequency is being reduced due to low ridership. |
| 365 | Chino Hills | Saturday service 6 days/week; Sunday service on Sundays. | Route 365 service is being reduced to eliminate school trips due to closures; Sunday service will continue. |
