City Prepares Major Overhaul of Transit and Dial-A-Ride Services

The City of Pasadena is scheduled to consider a comprehensive five-year Short-Range Transit Plan that will significantly alter local bus routes, extend operating hours, and introduce a pilot same-day service for Dial-A-Ride users.

The proposed transit overhaul, set to be discussed by the Northwest Commission on March 10, aims to align city services with post-pandemic travel patterns. The plan is designed to increase transit ridership, improve the customer experience, and integrate local routes with the broader Metro NextGen network.

For Pasadena residents and local businesses, the changes will mean expanded evening and weekend service on key routes, easier transfers with regional Metro lines, and new mobility options for Dial-A-Ride users. The Northwest Commission’s review is a critical step before the plan is presented to the City Council for final approval.

According to a presentation prepared by Department of Transportation Planner Britt Card, the city has seen a shift in travel demand from morning and midday commutes to afternoon and evening trips. To address this, the plan proposes extending the span of service on most routes. Weekend service will also see a boost, with Saturday and Sunday frequencies matching weekend travel demand patterns.

Northwest Pasadena, where 33% of all bus boardings originate, will be directly impacted by the proposed route modifications. Route 20, which runs along Fair Oaks Avenue and Lake Avenue and is currently the busiest bus route in the city, will see its weekday frequency increased to every 15 minutes between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The plan also calls for the elimination of Route 32 and Route 60 due to low ridership. Route 31 will be coordinated with Route 33 (formerly Metro Line 256) to provide 20-minute frequency on Washington Boulevard. A new route, Route 710, is proposed to connect the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to Huntington Hospital via Fair Oaks Boulevard, Lincoln Avenue, and Woodbury Road, though funding for this service has not yet been identified.

For Dial-A-Ride users, the city will explore a pilot same-day service program partnering with alternative providers such as Uber, Lyft, and UZURV. This service will be limited to four trips per month and will cover the existing service area as well as expanded areas in South Pasadena, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, and Glendale. To support these enhancements, the Dial-A-Ride fare is proposed to increase from $0.75 to $1.00, with a new $2.00 fare implemented for the pilot same-day service.

The Department of Transportation gathered feedback through more than 1,300 on-board and online surveys for Pasadena Transit and over 150 mail-in surveys for Dial-A-Ride. While customers praised the cost of rides and driver professionalism, they highlighted the need for better on-time performance, extended hours of operation, and increased frequency.

Public feedback on the draft plan will be accepted through April 3. Residents can review the full draft at PasadenaTransit.net and submit comments via email, phone, or during upcoming commission meetings.

The Northwest Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Jackie Robinson Community Center, located at 1020 North Fair Oaks Avenue. The public is invited to attend and provide input on the proposed transit changes. More information about the Department of Transportation is available on the city’s website.