Pasadena Transit and Dial-A-Ride to Implement Service Changes

In response to the COVID-19 emergency, Pasadena Transit and Dial-A-Ride are taking additional measures to protect both their vehicle operators and the riding public.

Effective Sunday, Pasadena Transit will increase the number of buses on Route 20, the system’s heaviest route, to help passengers maintain social distancing while on the bus.

On weekdays, trips will be 15-minute service on Route 20, and on Saturdays and Sundays, trips will be at 20- to 30-minute service, a Pasadena Transit advisory said.

On Route 10, trips will be at 30-minute service all week.

Passengers also must wear clean cloth face coverings over their noses and mouths while on board a Pasadena Transit or Dial-A-Ride vehicle.

“Pasadena Transit drivers are wearing face coverings, we ask that you also help keep your neighbors and fellow transit riders safe by wearing one too,” the advisory said. “Transit drivers are ‘ordinary heroes,’ and many of our Pasadena Transit and Dial-A-Ride drivers are residents of Pasadena, your neighbors. They are going above and beyond to keep the vehicles extra clean throughout the day.”

Every transit vehicle is sanitized every night, and operators are cleaning high touch areas in the buses several times a day, the advisory added.

In line with the Safer at Home order, passengers are strongly urged to use transit only for essential trips, and to stay home otherwise.

Essential trips include going to work, or buying groceries and medicines and going to medical appointments.

Aside from the schedule changes, Pasadena Transit has taken other actions to facilitate social distancing. These include boarding through the rear door to minimize contact between passengers and the driver, free fares, limiting the number of passengers to help provide social distancing space, and taping off select seats on buses to encourage social distancing.

Pasadena Dial-A-Ride is still running regular hours and transporting members for their essential errands, including grocery and medical trips. Special scheduling accommodations are also being made to help people visit grocery stores during the early “senior” hours.

In addition, Dial-A-Ride is working with the Foothill Unity Food Bank to deliver food from the food bank to members’ homes.

Dial-A-Ride is available for seniors ages 60 and over, and those under 60 with disabilities, who are residents of Pasadena, Altadena, San Marino and parts of unincorporated Los Angeles County in San Gabriel.

For anyone interested in using Dial-A-Ride, call (626) 744-4094 to become a member. Leave a message and your call will be returned Monday through Thursday, 10:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m.