Door-to-Door Van Service to Replace Bus in Fallbrook

A hostile group of Fallbrook senior citizens Thursday eyed North County Transit District board members as if they were snake-oil salesmen when they heard that their town is going to get taxi service for 25 cents a ride.

Despite the seemingly unbeatable bargain, the Fallbrook contingent wanted to keep hourly bus service. But only one board member agreed with them.

The board approved a demand-response van system for Fallbrook for a six-month trial period starting June 3. Board Chairwoman Ann Kulchin commented that “if you are unhappy with it, I am sure you will let us know.”

The rural community currently has hourly bus service on a meandering route around town that carries about 100 passengers a day at a cost of $155,000 per year. Fares pay for about 10% of the cost of operation.

In comparison, the 12-passenger vans will pick up Fallbrook residents at their homes and deliver them to their destinations with an hour’s notice. The cost for senior citizens will be the same as their half-rate bus fares: 25 cents.

Thomas Lichterman, NCTD associate planner, said the door-to-door van service contract, which was awarded to Lifeline Community Services of Vista, will cost about $73,000 to $84,000 a year--roughly half as much as the bus service.

But about 25 Fallbrook residents, mostly elderly women, were unconvinced.

Ann Diamond related “horror stories” about Orange County Dial-a-Ride service that took passengers miles out of their way and took an hour longer than conventional bus service.

Catherine Johnsen asked how she could use the new van service to go grocery shopping, then pop down to the pharmacy eight blocks away before returning home without calling to make reservations at least three times.

Other senior citizens complained that the telephone reservations would be costly for those on limited call or lifeline telephone service.

“With the bus, you knew when it was coming, and you could just get on and get off when you wanted to and then take the next one home. I want my bus!” Johnsen said.

Marilyn Greenwood, Johnsen’s daughter, presented the transit board with a petition bearing 559 signatures in favor of keeping the Fallbrook bus, prompting board member Ted Marioncelli to comment that “if they all rode the bus, we wouldn’t have any problem.”

Marioncelli advised the Fallbrook residents to give the new service a try, predicting that they would come to like it even more than their beloved bus.

Board member Pia Harris was the lone dissenter to the vote, explaining that she was “committed to mass transit through bus service” and saw no reason to change a system that has the support of the community.

The NCTD board also voted unanimously to acquire the Public Utilities Commission permit from Pinetree Service Corp. for $75,000, and to extend its Oceanside to Camp Pendleton bus service northward into San Clemente in Orange County. The NCTD service to San Clemente will operate seven days a week compared to the Friday-through-Sunday service operated by Pinetree’s Yellow Bus.

NCTD General Manager Richard Fifer said that the new San Clemente run is expected to build into a lucrative route as Marines on the base become aware of the additional bus service to San Clemente.