City of Lompoc Transit (COLT) is introducing a slate of service enhancements, starting Tuesday, Sept. 2, designed to improve access to public transit while making the service more attractive to a greater share of Lompoc Valley residents.
To support the service enhancements, COLT will implement a modest fare adjustment, the city said. Also effective Sept. 2, the one-way adult and student fare will be $1.50.
The one-way fare for seniors, people with disabilities, and Medicare cardholders will be 75 cents. Children ages six and younger continue to ride free when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.
The city will also introduce a day pass offering unlimited rides on the fixed-route service. Pricing for the day pass is $3.75 for adults, $3.20 for students, and $1.85 for seniors.
COLT will continue to offer its popular 10-ride punch passes and monthly passes, providing convenience and savings versus individual fare payments.
Route upgrades start with COLT’s new H Street Shuttle, which will travel along H Street between Mission Plaza and the Transit Plaza at Cypress Avenue and I Street. The H Street Shuttle will offer timed connections with each of COLT’s four local routes:
- Route 1 – South Lompoc
- Route 2 – Central Lompoc
- Route 3 – North Lompoc
- Route 4 – Vandenberg Village
Next, the city will debut COLT RIDE, an on-demand service offering flexible, shared rides within Lompoc city limits as well as Mission Hills and Vandenberg Village.
COLT RIDE eliminates the need to travel to a traditional bus stop. Instead, RIDE customers will simply request a pick-up by using the Ride Pingo app and searching for COLT RIDE. Ride Pingo is available for download in the Apple App Store and Google Play, or by calling 805-736-7666.
COLT RIDE will operate 5-10 p.m. Monday through Friday with the last trip request time being 9 p.m. Saturday operations will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m., with the last trip request time at 4 p.m.
Fares for the on-demand COLT RIDE are $2 for trips beginning and ending within Lompoc city limits, $4 for trips to or from Mission Hills or Vandenberg Village.
All COLT RIDE vehicles are ADA accessible, ensuring safe and inclusive service for all passengers. COLT RIDE will expand COLT’S ADA Paratransit offerings, providing a complementary service for riders who qualify through ADA certification.
ADA Paratransit is a shared, origin-to-destination ride service available to persons with disabilities. Eligible riders can schedule a pickup by calling 805-736-7666. A personal aide may accompany a fare-paying qualified rider at no charge. Eligibility certification is required to use this service.
“These improvements reflect the city’s continued commitment to address the evolving mobility needs of our community,” said Richard Fernbaugh, city transit and airport administrator.
“By expanding COLT’s local bus service and introducing a new on-demand service, the city is offering a local transit service that is both easier to use as well as designed to address the mobility needs of a greater number of Lompoc Valley residents,” he said.
For more about the new H Street Shuttle, COLT RIDE, updated fares, and free trip planning assistance, visit City of Lompoc Transit | Lompoc, CA, or call 805-736-7666.