TOP STORY:Bus ridership takes a jump

BURBANK — Passenger loads in August on the Burbank Bus system jumped about 50% higher than the same period in 2005 during a season usually plagued by low numbers of bus riders, transit officials said.

Roughly 31,000 travelers rode Burbank buses last month, compared to about 20,700 in August 2005.

"Historically for us … Burbank Bus usually drops off in ridership in July and August due to the studios and the entertainment businesses, which tend to go on hiatus in July and August," Burbank Transportation Manager Andrew Carrasco said. "But now we're having steady ridership, not having much waves or ups and downs."

The changing composition of the passenger mix is one component that is driving steady ridership, he added.

"Right now we have a trend where we're picking up larger businesses that are not necessarily dedicated to entertainment, TV, or film, like the Yahoo! folks and the State Fund employees [who work] near the airport area," he said.

Though commuters still make up the majority of bus passengers, increased route offerings have attracted Burbank-resident travelers, he said. In September 2005, Burbank Bus added routes to the airport and downtown area; a North Hollywood route was added in November 2005.

"We've offered a lot more opportunities for Burbank residents to get out of town, as well as making it easier for commuters coming into Burbank," he said. "We're starting to see a trend toward more and more residents utilizing the lines. And that's a real positive, because that was one of the goals of the city council — to provide more service to the residents in Burbank, and not just the commuters coming in to work."

But the true test of the Burbank Bus system lies in expanding bus hours beyond peak business travel times and incorporating more Burbank-resident travelers, City Councilman Jef Vander Borght said.

"The key still will be how we transition from commuter service to service for residents and/or services that go outside of the peak-hour commuter demand," he said. "I'm hopeful, but in the next few months to a year we will see either one of the routes be available all day long and on weekends, and/or, have a cross-town, full-day service that will be able to pick up all the different routes. Those are certainly my personal goals … but I have been pleasantly surprised thus far."

Keeping pace with increased ridership continues to challenge public transportation in Burbank, Carrasco said.