A new way to travel on public transportation has arrived in the Hemet and San Jacinto areas and officials call it a “game-changer.”
New, 12-seat, vans are serving the San Jacinto Valley and making nearly 300 stops a day, a Riverside Transit Agency news release states. What’s different about the service — called GoMicro — is that residents can arrange in advance a ride to certain locations.
The system, which started Sunday, Jan. 8, brings benefits such as more direct trips and shorter travel times, Linda Molina, RTA’s board chairperson, said in the release.
“This is a game-changer in the way we offer public transportation in Riverside County,” Molina said in the release.
The vans will serve bus stops, including those at Hemet Global Medical Center, Mt. San Jacinto College, Hemet Valley Mall, Hemet High School, Soboba Casino Resort, Walmart Supercenter and San Jacinto High School.
Residents can book a trip to one of these stops the same day or up to a week in advance by using the GoMicro app, the release states. Pick-ups or drop-offs can only be scheduled at existing bus stops in the area, RTA spokesperson Bradley Weaver said.
The vans also have bike racks, free Wi-Fi and seating that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Ac , the RTA website states.
So, why Hemet and San Jacinto?
The cities have a “high ridership” and RTA has several routes in the area, Weaver said.
“That gave us the perfect recipe to introduce” the service.
For now, GoMicro will only be available in areas near Hemet and San Jacinto, but it could be expanded, Weaver said.
The vans have replaced three of the seven routes in the Hemet-San Jacinto area: Routes 32, 33 and 42, the release states.
Routes 31, 74 and 79 were each shortened by about 20% near Mt. San Jacinto College and the Hemet Valley Mall, but a new route, 44, will pick up the stops left by the shortened routes, Weaver said.
Route 44 will take riders between Mt. San Jacinto College and the Hemet Valley Mall, using State Street and San Jacinto and West Oakland avenues.
“These changes were designed to enhance efficiency in the area and give our customers a whole new way to travel,” Weaver said via email.
Similar van services exist elsewhere in the Inland Empire.
Older residents and persons with disabilities in Riverside can use the Riverside Connect van service.
In San Bernardino County, OmniAccess, a curb-to-curb van service, lets older residents and those with disabilities make reservations for trips.
GoMicro fares will be the same as the local bus fare, which is $1.75. Students with a Go-Pass and U-Pass can ride for free.
The new service runs seven days a week. On Monday through Friday, vans operate from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The hours for Saturday and Sunday are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the website states.
Information: 951-633-2629 or riversidetransit.com
