Driving to nearby counties for beach days, concerts, hikes, and other activities can take hours.

Many Southern California residents, however, refuse to miss out and have opted for an alternative form of travel instead.

Last month, Metrolink, the region’s six-county passenger rail provider, recorded the highest number of weekend customer boardings in agency history, according to the transit agency.

The new single-month benchmark of 122,693 boardings eclipsed the previous record of 117,348 set in September 2018. It’s the first time Metrolink ridership has exceeded a pre-pandemic milestone following a steep decline in the spring of 2020 when COVID-19 mitigation measures fundamentally changed how Southern Californians travel and interact with public transportation systems.

“Ridership recovery hasn’t been quick, but we’ve been trending in the right direction thanks to innovative campaigns and promotions, along with improved service, that are expanding Metrolink’s customer base,” Metrolink Board Chair and Orange County Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffee said. “Weekend ridership is at an all-time high because today’s riders know that, in addition to traveling to and from work, Metrolink is a great option for exploring regional destinations like Orange County’s famous beaches, visiting friends and family, and connecting with new experiences.”

Metrolink officials now consider weekend ridership to be fully recovered compared to pre-pandemic levels, and weekday ridership continues to show year-over-year growth, reaching a 65% recovery rate in March, according to Metrolink.

March weekend ridership was bolstered by several high-profile events taking place across Southern California, including the International Women’s Day Protest and Rally March 8 in Downtown Los Angeles, the Swallows Day Parade March 22 in San Juan Capistrano and the Beyond Wonderland festival March 28-29 in San Bernardino.

Metrolink has emphasized leisure and entertainment travel in recent years with campaigns such as the $10 Weekend Day Pass, Kids Ride Free on Weekends and SoCal Explorer Rewards, all of which have contributed to weekend ridership growth, according to the transit agency.

Metrolink serves Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, and San Diego counties. There are nine Metrolink stations in Riverside County, including two in Corona, two in Perris, one in Moreno Valley, three in Riverside, and one in Jurupa Valley.

Learn more about destinations that are easily accessible from Metrolink stations — including amusement parks, hiking and biking trails, restaurants, beaches and more — at metrolinktrains.com/explore.

The post Southern California Metrolink Train Ridership Sets New Record appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

PERRIS, CA — Due to maintenance and rehabilitation projects, 91/Perris Valley Line service will be interrupted on Saturday and Sunday, June 22-23, 2024.

That weekend, 91/Perris Valley Line trains will not operate between the Perris-South and Riverside-Downtown stations. Alternate bus transportation will be provided at all stations between Perris and Riverside. Expect delays as the buses negotiate traffic congestion.

Safety is foundational at Metrolink, and we are regularly working to ensure our system’s long-term safety and reliability in the communities we serve. We apologize that these necessary infrastructure enhancements result in the closure of the rail line and the inconveniences it causes our riders. We will continue to look for ways to minimize the impact of these closures as best as possible as we continue this critical work.

• Will the buses be able to carry bikes?
  • Yes, but not all of them. We work with bus charter companies to have space for both luggage and bicycles, but the compartments are not necessarily designed to secure bicycles. When we can secure buses that routinely provide public transportation, traditional bicycle racks are located outside of the buses.
    
• Are the buses ADA-accessible?
  • Yes. At least one bus will be ADA accessible within each scheduled bus group providing alternate transportation.
    
• Why will trains be delayed by up to 1 hour late?
  • Buses will take the fastest, safest route available; however, we can experience delays from 30-90 minutes due to traffic. It takes buses longer to travel between Metrolink stations than our trains.
    
• Do I need to buy an extra ticket to ride the bus?
  • No. Your Metrolink ticket is all you need.
    
• Where do I catch the bus?
  • • Perris-South Station: 1304 Case Road, Perris CA
  • • Perris-Downtown Station: 121 South C Street, Perris CA
  • • Moreno Valley/March Field Station: 14160 Meridian Parkway, Riverside CA
  • • Riverside-Hunter Park/UCR Station: 1101 Marlborough Avenue, Riverside CA
  • • Riverside-Downtown Station: 4066 Vine St., Riverside CA
• 
  Will there be personnel at the stations to assist us?
• Metrolink will make every effort to have staff at stations with bus bridge service. For additional assistance, call or text 800-371-LINK (5465).

The post 91/Perris Valley Line Trains To Be Out Of Service June 22-23 appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.