ORANGE, Calif. – 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.
“The Pacific Surfliner transit transfer program makes it easier for our passengers to utilize public transit to get to and from Pacific Surfliner stations, encouraging increased ridership on both passenger rail and local transit services,” said LOSSAN Chairman David Golonski.
The program is being introduced on a one-year pilot basis and is funded by a 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 is a deterrent 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, the LOSSAN Agency will offer 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 Pacific Surfliner in the café car.
The Pacific Surfliner is the second busiest Amtrak route 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. For more information, visit PacificSurfliner.com.
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