Mountain Transit to Introduce Route Improvements

Big Bear, California – November 7, 2017– Mountain Transit is introducing changes to service in an effort to provide additional routes, shorter trips and more frequency on routes throughout the Big Bear Valley starting Monday November 13, 2017.

Sandy Benson, Assistant General Manager of Mountain Transit explained, “These changes come from listening to our customers and monitoring service over the last two years.  Winter service along Big Bear Blvd and into Moonridge gets severely impacted with snow and traffic.   We hope to mitigate some of that by creating shorter routes that connect with each other at the Sandalwood shelter behind Vons, instead of having all the buses traversing the same routes and sitting in the same traffic.” 

With shorter trips and more frequency, Mountain Transit is hoping to save you from chaining up, slipping and sliding or searching for parking this winter.  Highlights of these route revisions include:

• The changes will provide increased (30 minute) frequency on Route 1, the newly created Route 11, and the Weekend Trolley Winter Schedule.
• Revised coverage on Route 3 to the Moonridge Loop and increased service 7 days a week.
• More common transfer points: All three routes will service the hospital, Kmart, Vons and Stater Bros. Free transfers will be available for customers to change from any fixed route (1, 11, 3 and weekend Trolley) to another fixed route for up to one hour.

Benson adds, “We hope these changes will entice more locals and visitors to use Mountain Transit to travel to the ski resorts, village and shopping areas.  The more people we move on the bus, the less cars will be sitting in traffic and sliding around in the snow and ice.”

Mountain Transit Summary of Route Changes Effective November 20, 2017

FIXED ROUTE 1
Will circulate between Boulder Bay and Sandalwood (VONS)
Service to Bear Mountain only between 5:56 am-10:46 am and 5:46 pm-6:46 pm
(See Route 3 below for more service to Bear Mountain)
Will run 7 days a week

FIXED ROUTE 11
Will circulate between Erwin Lake and Sandalwood (VONS)
No service to Bear Mountain (See Route 3 Below)
Will run 7 days a week

FIXED ROUTE 3
Will circulate between Mountain Meadows/Village and Sandalwood (Vons)Will provide service to Bear Mountain
Will run 7 days a week

Off The Mountain-OTM 5 No changes

Weekend Trolley The winter schedule will also support more frequency with a shorter thirty minute “express” loop that circulates between The Lodge at The Lake and the Sandalwood stop behind Vons.  The trolley will service the Moonridge loop as well as several hotels and businesses including The Best Western on Moonridge Road, the Big 5 stop (located near several overnight accommodations), The Copper Q in the Village and several other hotels and motels.  The Trolley does not service the hospital, Stater Bros or Kmart.

Additional information on Mountain Transit:

Mountain Transit services are managed by Mountain Area Regional Transit Authority, a rural transit agency that was formed December of 1993 under a joint powers authority between the City of Big Bear Lake and San Bernardino County.

Mountain Transit provides Dial-a-Ride and Fixed Route service throughout the rural San Bernardino Mountain communities of the Big Bear Valley, Crestline, Lake Arrowhead, and Running Springs.  Mountain Transit also provides Off-the-Mountain commuter service between these communities and the city of San Bernardino, making connections with Omnitrans, Metrolink, Greyhound, and other various stops. Mountain Transit operates Weekend Trolley service providing transportation between local restaurants, hotels, ski resorts, and shopping venues throughout the City of Big Bear Lake.

Reporting Agency: Mountain Transit

Contact: Jordan Zarate, Community Outreach

Phone: 909-963-7416

Email: jzarate@mountaintransit.org

Website: www.mountaintransit.org  #BEDRIVEN