Transit Meetings Sparsely Attended

Beach Cities Transit has two more planned public information meetings regarding proposed service changes, despite the fact that the first two community meetings drew only six people.

The Sept. 26 meeting at the attracted four people; besides a Patch reporter and BCT officials, only an official from El Segundo attended the meeting Sept. 27. A second person arrived shortly after the presentation ended.

The two are scheduled for Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the El Segundo City Council Chambers at 350 Main St. in El Segundo and for Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the located at 2000 Artesia Blvd.

The changes involve eliminating BCT Line 104, which goes from Riviera Village to Del Amo mall in Torrance, and using the extra buses and manpower to increase service on Lines 102 and 109. BCT also proposes reducing the hours that WAVE Dial-a-ride is in service.

Currently, BCT shuttles about 1,300 passengers per day during the week, according to a study performed in January. Line 104, on the other hand, only services 46 passengers per weekday and 10 on Saturday. Line 104 buses don't run on Sundays.

According to Transit Operations Manager Joyce Rooney, Line 102, which many students use to travel to and from Redondo Union High School, should adjust its schedule during weekday hours to accommodate refueling and serve the South Bay Galleria in both directions except during peak hours. Currently, the line only serves the Galleria on its southbound route.

For Line 109, BCT would like to adjust its schedule and serve the Douglas Station at the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard in both directions. Despite urging from the city of Manhattan Beach, the transit system determined that it was not feasible to service the Manhattan Village mall.

Adding the mall to Line 109's route would require an additional bus and increase operating costs, Rooney said.

The public can offer input on the proposed changes by attending the meetings, emailing bct@redondo.org or writing to BCT at the following address:

Attn: Transit Division - BCT Proposed Changes
City of Redondo Beach
415 Diamond St.
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Written public comments will be accepted until Nov. 1. The Redondo Beach City Council will host a public hearing during its meeting at 6 p.m. on Nov. 15.

BCT, which is operated by Redondo Beach, has stops in Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and El Segundo.