SB 375 is a housing, land use and air quality bill aimed at implementing Green House Gas (GHG) reduction goals by integrating land use, housing and regional transportation planning. The LRTP identifies premium transit routes and station locations that can help in the development of a sustainable communities strategy (SCS) in the county. The regional approach for implementing SB 375 will be finalized by the end of 2009. A draft SCS will be developed by the State in mid-2010, with final SCS anticipated by mid-2012.

The purpose of the LRTP is to address the county’s current and future travel challenges and create a system that can increase the role of transit in the future. By the year 2030, the San Bernardino Valley will experience explosive growth:

• 36 percent more people
• 42 percent more households
• 77 percent more jobs
• 53 percent more travel trips

The Victor valley also will experience considerable growth; with population and employment being doubled by 2035. Given these growth estimates, mass transit must play a larger role in serving travel demands and lessen the burden on freeways and roads. As future travel demand grows on the existing road network and traffic congestion increases, transit services suffer a decrease in reliability and an increase travel times.

Why LRTP?

Premium transit service, such as rapid buses and rail modes can offer a solution to current and future travel demands by providing competitive travel times and increased reliability, mobility and accessibility. Premium transit will save drive time, reduce dependence on cars and encourage community revitalization. A premium transit system can encourage more balanced “transit-oriented” land use development, as required by SB 375. Mass transit also is a “green solution” for transportation because it attracts car drivers to switch to transit, thereby lessening air pollutants and energy consumption.

The development of LRTP begins with creating and analyzing a wide range of alternatives that address the county’s mobility needs. Coordination with transit agencies, local governments and input from the community led to the development of four alternatives. They are as follows:

• The Baseline Alternative, which includes existing transit service only
   San Bernardino Valley Baseline Alternative map
   Victor Valley Baseline Alternative map
• The Plan Alternative, which includes existing service and currently planned  transit improvements designed to serve the future growth in the region
   San Bernardino Valley Plan Alternative map
   Victor Valley Plan Alternative map
• The Vision Alternative, which includes existing transit, currently planned improvements and rapid bus and rail
   San Bernardino Valley Vision Alternativemap
   Victor Valley Vision Alternative map
• The Sustainable Land Use Alternative (for San Bernardino Valley only), redistributes population and employment growth to transit corridors, created transit oriented development at station areas for implementation of SB 375. This alternative also allows the study of potential ridership benefits of public policy efforts to shape the transit/land use connection in the region.
   San Bernardino Valley Sustainable Land Use Alternative map

The four alternatives are evaluated based on the following factors, of which a final alternative will be chosen:

• Ability to serve key travel markets
• Total ridership
• Cost effectiveness
• Public input
• Economic development potential
• Integration of plan into existing transit systems
• Ability to meet goals set by SB 375

Existing Transit Modes

Metrolink Commuter Rail	Bus Service	Express Bus Service

New Transit Modes

San Bernardino Express (sbX)	Light Rail Transit (Metrol Gold Line)	Redlands Rail Line

 

Transit Oriented Developments (TOD’s) feature compact, mixed-use developments near transit stations.

• TOD’s are within walking distance (five to ten minute walk) from transit stations
• Attract economic development
• Improve transit ridership
• Increase activity and safety
• In sync with SB 375 implementation guidelines

 

We want to hear from you!

Nancy Strickert
Phone: (909) 884-8276
Fax: (909) 885-4407
Email: nstrickert@sanbag.ca.gov