Council Votes to Continue PV Transit

The Palos Verdes Estates City Council voted on Tuesday to continue participating in PV Transit for another year.

The city, which has participated in the peninsula-wide dial-a-van service since 1985, had voted in February to leave the program in June. However, the two councilmen who strongly opposed the program did not seek reelection in April.

The new council, although expressing concern over the size of the city’s subsidy for the system, said it is willing to participate for one more year. During the coming year, the city will hire a consultant to examine alternatives to PV Transit.

The fare for Palos Verdes Estates residents will remain at $2 per ride for the occasional rider and $3.50 per ride for those who buy monthly subscriptions that let them reserve seats for specific times and destinations. Mayor James Nyman said the actual one-way fare on PV Transit is $15, with the difference being covered by the municipal subsidies.

The transit system, which is administered by Rancho Palos Verdes, is funded by special county transportation taxes. Rancho Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills Estates and some unincorporated areas of the county on the Palos Verdes Peninsula pay for their participation with their share of the transportation taxes. Their cost is based on ridership percentages.

Palos Verdes Estates residents represent 7% of the ridership of the system. Based on that figure, the city will pay an estimated $3,800 in transit funds to participate in the system over the next fiscal year, which begins in July.