BREA : City OKs Bus Shuttle From Anaheim Sites

The City Council has approved a shuttle bus program that it hopes will enable Brea businesses to attract Anaheim conventioneers, business visitors and tourists to the Brea Mall, Brea Marketplace, local restaurants and entertainment facilities.

The program, which is expected to pay for itself, is patterned after similar operations at South Coast Plaza and MainPlace/Santa Ana.

The program is expected to cost an estimated $138,000 per year.

In unanimously approving the proposal last week, the City Council also agreed to underwrite the $11,500 for the first month of operation and to contribute another $2,300 each successive month if program income falls short of expenses.

City Manager Frank Benest said the city will pay its share of the costs from Air Quality Management District entitlement funds.

He said the program would be an appropriate use of these funds because the shuttles would minimize the use of cars for those going to Brea for shopping or entertainment.

The other participants are the Brea Mall, Embassy Suites Hotel, La Vie en Rose, Brea Marketplace and the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace in Yorba Linda.

They would be required to contribute to a pool to make up for any funding shortages, according to Benest.

Benest said the shuttle program will start on a trial basis for four months, beginning Monday.

He said the program could be terminated within 30 days after the first 60 days.

Western Transit Systems Inc., operator of Yellow Cab and the MainPlace/Santa Ana Shopper Shuttle, has been tapped to operate the shuttle program.

Passengers would be charged $4 a piece.

On Monday, the shuttle service will begin at 9 a.m. at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Anaheim.

Guests interested in visiting Disneyland will be taken to the Anaheim Convention Center and the Disneyland Hotel.

The bus driver will pick up passengers at Anaheim area hotels and return to Brea Mall about 10 a.m.

Possible stops include the Embassy Suites Hotel, Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim Marriott, Anaheim Hilton and Towers, Pan Pacific Hotel, Inn at the Park, and Holiday Inn, among others.

From 5 to 9 p.m., the shuttle would make stops at La Vie en Rose.

Those wishing to go to the Nixon Library would be taken from the Embassy and back.

The schedule would be reviewed and changed, as needed, said Susan Thornton, a spokeswoman for the Brea Committee on Tourism.

Tourism studies show that the shuttle would need to transport 2,845 riders per month or 95.83 riders per day to break even.

With a 21-seat bus and 11 trips every day, officials said that they could accommodate as many as 231 riders per day.

If all seats were sold in a given day, the shuttle would take in $924 per day--about $332,640 per year.

Before the program goes into effect, all of the parties must sign an official agreement, Benest said.