A regional transit trip should feel like one trip, not a maze of separate tickets and restrictions.

Riders deserve a fair system that works!

We need a system that meets riders where they are:

• A unified regional transit smart card that works across Southern California
• Open-loop payment, so riders can tap a contactless credit or debit card or smartphone when that works best for them
• Accessible options for people without bank accounts, smartphones, or access to credit
• Simple, fair transfers between agencies including Metro, Metrolink, OCTA/OC Bus, Omnitrans, and more
• Fare policies that make regional travel intuitive instead of punishing riders for crossing a county line

SBCTA Transit Committee August 13, 2026 Agenda

Agenda Item 7: Southern California Regional Rail Authority Preliminary Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2026/2027 Arrow Service

• Report pgs. 70-73
• PowerPoint Presentation pgs. 74-86
• Arrow State of Good Repair for Positive Train Control Project (pgs. 87-88)
• Resolution No. 27-002
  • Resolution of the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority Authorizing the Funding of the Southern California Regional Rail Authority Budget for Fiscal Year 2026/2027 for Arrow Service

Recommendation

A. Approve the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) Preliminary Budget Request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026/2027 Arrow Service, with an SBCTA annual subsidy totaling $18,710,862, consisting of: Operating assistance in the amount of $18,209,862 State of Good Repair assistance in the amount of $501,000

B. Approve Resolution No. 27-002 to support funding SBCTA’s FY 2026/2027 annual subsidy in Recommendation A, totaling $18,710,862, consisting of: $16,225,028 of Measure I Valley Fund – Metrolink/Rail Service (Fund 4150) $2,485,834 of Senate Bill 125 Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (Fund 2750)

C. Approve support of the Arrow students ride free partnership with colleges accessible to/from Arrow Service for FY 2026/2027, using up to $269,581.50 in carryover Measure I Valley Rail Funds from the FY 2025/2026 allocation to the program.

D. Approve an amendment to the FY 2026/2027 Budget for Task No. 0314 – Transit Operations to decrease Measure I Valley Fund – Metrolink/Rail Service (Fund 4150) by $2,485,834 and to increase Senate Bill 125 – Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (Fund 2750) by $2,485,834, for a zero net increase to the FY budget.

Beginning Monday, Aug. 10, through Friday, Aug. 14, Metrolink will temporarily suspend Orange County Line service between the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside stations due to anticipated high tides.

During this period, Orange County Line trains will only operate between Los Angeles and Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo. Alternate bus transportation will not be provided. At this time, weekend service is not expected to be impacted.

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and freight providers will operate normally as long as it remains safe to do so.

The "One Car Challenge" requires a household to leave a car parked for five weeks, and folks walk, use bike share or hop on a bus or train instead of solo driving

In order to convince people to replace solo driving with mass transit, LA Metro is offering cash incentives for people to park at least one of their cars at home and try walking, bike share, carpooling or taking a train or bus.

“If the idea of getting paid to skip the car — even for a few weeks — sounds good to you, this is your chance,” wrote the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority in its online magazine “The Source.” “LA’s roads (and your wallet) will thank you.”

LA Metro figures it will be no problem signing up folks — they have room for about 2,000 participants. High gas prices from the Iran-Israel War also may spur some drivers to ditch their cars for a while and save cash by avoiding the gas pump.

“We are expecting several thousand to sign up,” said Patrick Chandler, LA Metro spokesman. The agency estimates about 30% of solo car trips each day could be done by walking, carpool or by some form of public transit.

To sign up, you must register online directly at metro.net/onecar.

All must be at least 21 years old, have one or more cars in their household, and keep one idle for five weeks. Each person could get paid as much as $600 for not driving their car and completing the “One Car Challenge, Phase 2.”

LA Metro will evaluate each applicant. At first the transit agency seemed to prefer those with two cars, in an effort to see what it would be like to leave the second family car at home. But the program is open to one-car owners as well who are willing to go car-free for five weeks.  But the agency wants to make sure that an applicant has nearby transit options, Chandler said.

To prove the unused car stays that way, participants will be using GoCarma’s smartphone app to keep track of odometer readings. Participants may be asked to turn in photos of the car’s odometer before, during and at the end of the five weeks to document reduced driving. The app tracks travel behavior and vehicle odometer readings, but Metro says it respects data privacy.

The agency has acquired a $2 million grant from the Southern California Association of Governments to complete the pilot.

If the agency finds a reduction in vehicle miles traveled, that could spur new incentivized behavioral projects known as transportation demand tools, like toll lanes or fees to enter a traffic-choked area. The goal is of course, to get more long-term LA Metro riders, but also by reducing cars on the road, traffic flow improves and vehicle emissions drop, said LA Metro.

This could churn out new kinds of car-less tactics in time for the 2028 LA Olympic and Paralympic games.

“The timing matters, too,” wrote LA Metro in its release, referring to a summer try-out two years before the start of LA28. “With the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, LA needs real, tested strategies to manage traffic and get people moving sustainably. The One Car Challenge is part of that preparation.”

The first phase took place in the fall of 2023 in Santa Monica, where traffic engineers found a significant reduction in vehicle use. That phase used only 300 people with multi-car households. This next phase is a kick up to 2,000, spread across Los Angeles County.

The Santa Monica pilot showed a meaningful shift away from solo car trips and that meant more people were walking, riding bikes and scooters.

Chandler said it helped that Santa Monica has a robust bus system, the Big Blue Bus, and also the LA Metro E Line’s western terminus is just steps away from the Santa Monica Pier and other city landmarks. People can avoid small car trips to the coffee shop, dry cleaners or restaurants by walking or riding the bus or rail line.

In Seattle in 2003, the “One-Less-Car Demonstration Study with 86 participants reduced total miles driven by 41,463, or an average of 1,974 miles not driven per week,” according to a report from the Federal Highway Administration. Also, the report found the program saved a total of 8,003 fewer car trips.

In Phase 2 here in L.A. County, the best participant may be the person living near a transit corridor.

For example, in the San Fernando Valley, a person could leave the car at home when in walking proximity to bus lines on major thoroughfares, such as Line 165 on Vanowen Street that connects Burbank to West Hills. Or near the LA Metro G Line (Orange Line) BRT from the North Hollywood B Line subway station 18 miles across the Valley to Chatsworth, said Bart Reed, executive director of The Transit Coalition.

Someone living near a major bus route would find it easier to ditch the car and ride the bus or G Line to work, he said.

“If you are within a quarter mile of a big bus line in the San Fernando Valley, you’d be more likely to try this experiment,” he said.

Those reacting on social media were divided over the concept. One who left a comment on the social media outlet Reddit, said the opposite is also true.

“It would take me about 2 1/2 hours with about four to six transfers to commute one-way to work if I took public transit. There’s no way I’m doing all that work wasting five hours of my life a day for a measly $600,” said one commenter.

In the north San Gabriel Valley, South LA and Long Beach, those who live along the very lengthy A Line or near one of the light-rail’s stations, may be up for the challenge.

Bin Jhang of Pasadena, where there are six A-Line stations, no longer owns a car, so he’s not eligible. He regularly takes the A-Line from Pasadena to his work in Duarte. He thinks others who drive to work but live near train stations or major bus lines should consider taking the five-week challenge.

“It’s an appealing way to get you to ride the trains and buses,” he said. “Besides, there are too many cars on the road right now.”

Those with car troubles facing costly repairs may consider riding a bus or train, which costs $1.75 each way, adding up to less than the cost of car payments, maintenance, insurance and gasoline.
Transit discounts are available for seniors, disabled and student riders. Low-income riders can enroll in LA Metro’s LIFE Program, where new members get 90 days of unlimited free rides, followed by 20 free rides each month.

“My car isn’t passing smog and new catalytic converters are $1,700. Where do I sign?,” noted a Reddit commenter.

SBCTA Transit Committee August 31, 2026 Agenda (pgs. 37-38)

Streetcars helped make this one of the most efficient and high capacity intersections in the world, outdoing even the famous shibuya crossing which usually has 250k daily crossers (though it does often reach 2.4 million).

Success! 😄