Southern Calif. Amtrak, transit agencies launch free transfer program
The Pacific Surfliner transit transfer program provides free connections between 23 daily Pacific Surfliner trains and 12 local transit providers along a 351-mile route in the counties of San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.
Passengers on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service in Southern California can now make free transfers to 12 connecting public transit providers thanks to a new program introduced by the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency.
The Pacific Surfliner transit transfer program provides free connections between 23 daily Pacific Surfliner trains and 12 local transit providers along a 351-mile route in the counties of San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.
Ad Loading...
The program is being launched as a one-year pilot project and is funded by a $1.7 million cap and trade grant received from the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) through the state’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program.
“The cost and inconvenience of having to purchase a separate fare to use connecting bus services are deterrents to choosing public transit,” said CalSTA Secretary Brian Kelly. “People want more convenient travel options. This program makes using transit an easier alternative, resulting in fewer cars on the road and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.”
Public transit providers participating in the free transfer program include (north to south): San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority, City of San Luis Obispo Transit, South County Transit (San Luis Obispo County), Guadalupe Flyer, Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District, Ventura County Transportation Commission Intercity Bus, Gold Coast Transit (Ventura County), Glendale Beeline, Anaheim Resort Transportation, Orange County Transportation Authority, iShuttle (Irvine) and North County Transit District.
In addition, beginning June 22, Pacific Surfliner passengers can purchase discounted one-day transit passes for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, which will be sold onboard the train in the café car.
The Pacific Surfliner is the second busiest Amtrak corridor in the nation, serving 2.8 million annual passengers. The LOSSAN Agency is a joint powers authority composed of rail owners, operators and planning agencies along the entire LOSSAN rail corridor. The LOSSAN Agency assumed management responsibility for the Pacific Surfliner service in July 2015, following the execution of an interagency transfer agreement with the state of California.
The new center serves as the central hub for monitoring and managing PATCO train operations, communications, customer service coordination, incident response, and overall operational oversight across the transit system.
Despite these pressures, VIA Rail is reporting that total revenues increased to $514.8 million as more travelers took advantage of the wide range of options available through the corporation’s new reservation system.
Created in partnership with Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners, the contractor for CTA’s historic $5.7 billion RLE project, the new $250,000 scholarship program will provide three students a year from 2026 to 2030 with $3,000 scholarships.
Operation Lifesaver awarded $220,200 in grants to 12 states to support rail safety campaigns focused on grade crossing awareness and trespass prevention.
The survey showed that commute trips still make up the majority of ridership, with most riders boarding 2 to 3 days a week, reflecting hybrid work schedules. Two-thirds of Caltrain riders have access to a car, while 37% of Caltrain riders are considered low-income.
Advances in data and analytics are giving transit agencies new opportunities to refine maintenance practices, improve efficiency and make more informed decisions about asset performance.
In this Consultant Roundtable, Carmen C. Cham shares insights on how agencies can create spaces that are intuitive, connected and built for long-term impact.
