TO: ADAM PIRRIE, CITY MANAGER
FROM: JEREMY SWAN, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: MARCH 10, 2026
Reviewed by:
City Manager: AP
SUBJECT:
Title
CLAREMONT DIAL-A-RIDE SHORT-RANGE TRANSIT PLAN (FUNDING SOURCE: TRANSPORTATION FUND)
Body
SUMMARY
The City of Claremont’s general public Dial-a-Ride (DAR) program is funded by Federal, State, County, and local funding sources, including fares. To receive transportation grants and operating subsidies, the City is required to complete a Short-Range Transit Plan (SRTP) every three years. This report provides an overview of Claremont DAR, including funding information, as presented in the SRTP document.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council approve the 2025-27 Short-Range Transit Plan.
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ALTERNATIVE TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Request additional information.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Revenues
In 2025-26, Claremont Dial-a-Ride is eligible to receive approximately $618,000 in Federal, State, and local funds, and PVTA anticipates receiving approximately $50,000 in fare revenue. These combined funding sources total $668,000 and represent the total anticipated revenue to fund the DAR program in 2025-26.
Reserves
In addition to the annual transit funding allocations, the City currently has $2,310,858 in reserved, unallocated Federal, State, and local transportation funds that may be used to support the Claremont Dial-a-Ride Program. Reserve funds are available due to a temporary funding surplus during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, ridership decreased significantly. Concurrently with reduced ridership and lower expenditures, the City received stimulus funding from the Federal Transit Administration to support operations.
Program Costs
Since July 2025, program ridership has experienced a significant increase, resulting in higher than anticipated program costs. PVTA anticipates that the program could be on track to expend $1,033,000 in 2025-26. At its February 10, 2026 meeting, the City Council increased the Dial-a-Ride budget to $1,033,000 in 2025-26. The difference between anticipated revenues and expenditures will be covered utilizing reserved transportation funds. While the City of Claremont has reserved Transportation Funds and can cover this cost in 2025-26, this funding level is not sustainable long-term. Therefore, a cost-containment strategy is required and will be analyzed in Spring 2026.
The staff cost to prepare this report and administer this program is estimated at $4,300 and is included in the operating budget of the Community Services Department.
ANALYSIS
Background
The City of Claremont began its general public DAR service in 1975. In 1996, Claremont DAR was reorganized into two parts: a taxi/Uber component and a group service component. The group service is for groups of six or more individuals traveling to the same destination, and groups typically ride in one of the City-owned paratransit buses. Claremont DAR is operated by private contractors and managed by the Pomona Valley Transportation Authority (PVTA). PVTA is a joint powers authority comprised of the cities of Claremont, La Verne, Pomona, and San Dimas. The Board consists of two Councilmembers from each city; Councilmembers Corey Calaycay and Ed Reece currently represent Claremont on the PVTA Board.
SRTP Requirement
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) administers local, State, and Federal revenues using the information contained in the SRTP prepared by each regionally-funded operator. For the City of Claremont to receive funding from Metro, it is required to prepare and submit an SRTP every three years. A copy of the City’s current SRTP is included as Attachment A. This planning document contains both service and financial information for the Claremont DAR program. The SRTP applies only to Claremont DAR and does not include any other transportation services the City may provide.
Recent and Planned Actions
The City of Claremont, in partnership with Pomona Valley Transportation Authority, has developed the following work plan for 2024-25 through 2026-27.
Recent Actions for 2024-2025
• Prepared for a transit feasibility study to update all PVTA programs, with an emphasis on Claremont transit programs
• Solicited proposals for a transit operator mid-year
• Maintained transition of Claremont DAR from a cab operator to a Transportation Network Company (TNC) (currently Uber)
• Transitioned outreach and marketing to TNC for transportation, including education and assistance for all riders
• Implemented a new PVTA app which includes all programs in one universal application
• Introduced Stripe software, a new form of payment through credit card
Current Work Plan Actions for 2025-2026
• Complete the transit feasibility study for all programs within PVTA, with an additional emphasis on Claremont Dial-a-Ride
• Evaluate ridership trends to ensure the program remains within budget while meeting community transportation needs
• Update the Claremont DAR capital expenditure plan
• Conduct the annual rider survey and service evaluation through the transit study
• Develop an implementation plan for the introduction of additional customer service features including web-based and smartphone reservations and paperless fare payment
• Continue the management and monitoring of the contractor services
• Consider cost-containment strategies to ensure fiscal sustainability, including:
o Increasing fares for General Public riders
o Reducing hours of operations, including potentially eliminating overnight trips
o Capping General Public trips at 16 one-way trips per month
o Eliminating destinations outside of Los Angeles County
Planned Work Plan Actions for 2026-2027
• Ensure new PVTA app implementation is successful operationally and with registered riders
• Ensure new credit card payment system is successful
• Conduct safety checks of TNC trips and riders
• Explore more methods and different forms of TNCs, ensuring there are multiple options for riders available
• Implement recommendations from the feasibility study, once completed
• Prepare a Request for Proposals for a new operations and maintenance contract that will begin in 2027-2028 (This is dependent on completion of the transit feasibility study and its recommendations.)
• Develop fleet configuration recommendations and an updated fleet replacement
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated the agenda item in relationship to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds that it applies to the following City Planning Documents: Council Priorities, Sustainable City Plan, Economic Sustainability Plan, General Plan, 2024-26 Budget, and the Youth and Family Master Plan.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
COMMISSION REVIEW
At its February 26, 2026 meeting, the Traffic and Transportation Commission accepted the 2025-27 Short-Range Transit Plan and forwarded it to the City Council for final review and approval. An excerpt from the draft Commission meeting minutes is included as Attachment B.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact the City Clerk’s Office.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Jeremy Swan Kristin Mikula
Community Services Director Community Services Manager
Attachments:
A - Short-Range Transit Plan 2025-27
B - Excerpt from the Draft 02-26-26 Traffic and Transportation Commission Meeting Minutes