Cal Poly Pomona is partnering with Foothill Transit to embark on several transit initiatives to improve transportation to/from and around campus and reduce vehicle trips to campus.
The three initial projects include: 1) introducing a Class Pass program providing free bus rides; 2) piloting a campus stop for the Foothill Transit Silver Streak bus route; and 3) creating a Bronco Mobility Hub.
“There is a new realization that the high cost of car ownership and parking is affecting CSU students throughout the state, and it’s affecting their access and ability to get an education,” said History Professor John Lloyd, who chairs the university’s Transportation Alternatives Committee. “Improving transit and creating more sustainable habits is a game changer. But it’s a challenge that I think we’re up to. If anyone can do it, it’s our campus and our polytechnic approach.”
All three projects align with the university’s strategic goals to enhance student success, maximize campus infrastructure and model environmental responsibility.
Faculty, staff and students recently gathered for a transportation meeting to discuss the three initial projects and next steps, beginning with the Class Pass program is aimed to launch in fall 2020.
- Class Pass Program
The university is preparing to launch a pilot Class Pass program to provide no-cost, unlimited rides to all on all Foothill Transit local lines and Silver Streak. The Class Pass is the first of many partnership agreements with the public transit agency.
It will give students unlimited access to Foothill Transit local lines and the Silver Streak, which is a commuter express service that runs from the Pomona Valley to downtown Los Angeles. (Currently, students can purchase a discounted local 31-Day Pass for $40 or $85 for a Silver Streak 31-Day Pass in the BSC.)
“Buses are the workhorses of alternative transportation,” Lloyd said. “Alternative transportation reduces congestion on our streets and reduces parking demand. The more we use alternative transportation, the better off we all are.”
Details about the Class Pass program will be shared with the campus community later in the spring semester.
- Silver Streak
Cal Poly Pomona and Foothill Transit are exploring the feasibility of re-routing Silver Streak buses to have a direct stop on campus. Currently, the Silver Streak operates on the I-10 Freeway with stops serving downtown Los Angeles, El Monte, West Covina, downtown Pomona and Montclair.
Adding a stop at Cal Poly Pomona would increase the campus’ access to major financial, cultural, and employment destinations along the corridor. The buses operate with frequent service and run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Having a stop for the Silver Streak is a really great possibility for our campus. It could serve students who may want to intern downtown, commute from Los Angeles or visit a museum on the weekends,” Lloyd said. “The Silver Streak takes the HOV lane and has fewer stops than the Gold Line. It connects to Union Station, which connects to trains across the country.”
Over the next couple years, the campus and Foothill Transit will analyze Class Pass ridership levels and propose a potential bus stop location on campus for the Silver Streak.
- Bronco Mobility Hub
With buses, bikes, trains and shuttles — to name a few — an on-campus transit center or mobility hub will be critical to connect riders, drivers and pedestrians.
The proposed Bronco Mobility Hub will provide a focal point for transit services and shared mobility options. It is envisioned to include a sheltered area for those waiting for the bus, shuttle or shared ride (Uber, Lyft). It could provide secure storage areas for bikes, scooters and skateboards. And, it could be a gathering place that has food and shops and serve as a venue for campus events.
Although the planning will take several years, the university has started the process of identifying potential locations on campus as part of the campus master planning efforts, and has opened discussions with Foothill Transit to understand their site requirements and to
In addition, professors and students from the Department of Urban & Regional Planning are actively engaged in coming up with conceptual design options as part of their studio design classes this semester.