Mountain Transit (legally the Mountain Area Regional Transit Authority) is the third largest regional transit agency in San Bernardino County, California. Mountain Transit serves the San Bernardino Mountain communities of Crestline, Lake Arrowhead, Running Springs, and Big Bear Lake, providing local service for more than 163,000 passengers each year.[5]

Mountain Transit
ParentMountain Area Regional Transit Authority
Founded1993[1]
HeadquartersBig Bear
Service areaBig Bear Valley, Running Springs, Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, and Valley of Enchanment to San Bernardino
Service typeBus service, Dial a Ride
Routes9
Hubs2[2]
Fleet26 buses[3]
Annual ridership796,327 passengers (FY 2024) [4]
Chief executiveKathy Hawksford
Websitemountaintransit.org

Mountain Transit also offers Off the Mountain (OTM) service that enables the residents of the mountain communities to connect with major stops in San Bernardino, which include Metrolink, Omnitrans, Greyhound, St. Bernadine's Hospital, and other stops along the way. This service runs Monday through Sunday from Big Bear, and Monday through Saturday from the RIM area. The Off the Mountain service allows mountain residents to commute to their jobs in the San Bernardino valley with three trips from Big Bear and four trips from Crestline/Lake Arrowhead weekdays. Weekend service on Mountain Transit's Big Bear OTM provides 2 round trips on Saturday and Sunday, and two round trips on Saturday from the RIM OTM (Crestline, Lake Arrowhead, and Valley of Enchantment).[6]

Mountain Transit serves an area of 269 Square miles.[7]

Route overview

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Fixed-Route

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Route Terminals Via Notes
Red Line Big Bear Lake

Knickerbocker Rd & Pedder Rd

Big Bear City

State Ln & Central Ln

Big Bear Bl
Blue Line Big Bear Lake

Knickerbocker Rd & Pedder Rd

Big Bear Lake

Willow Landing Rd & Blue Jay Rd

Lakeview Dr
Gold Line Big Bear Lake

Pine Knot Av & Maryland Rd

Big Bear Lake

Paradise Wy & Mountain View Bl

Big Bear Bl
2 Crestline

Byron Rd & Vista Ln

Lake Arrowhead

Mountain Community Hospital

Hwy 138, Hwy 173
4 Running Springs

Arrowbear Lake

Lake Arrowhead

Mountain Community Hospital

Hilltop Bl, Hwy 173
5 Big Bear Lake

Fox Farm Rd & Sandalwood Dr

San Bernardino

San Bernardino Transit Center

Big Bear Bl, City Creek Rd
6 Lake Arrowhead

Lake Arrowhead Village

San Bernardino

San Bernardino Transit Center

Lakes Edge Rd, Waterman av
  • Serves San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot
8

Crestline Summer Trolley

Lake Arrowhead

SkyPark at Santa's Village

Crestline

Lake Dr & Springy Path

Hwy 18. Lake Gregory Dr
10

Lake Arrowhead Summer Trolley

Lake Arrowhead

SkyPark at Santa's Village

Twin Peaks

Grandview Rd & Hwy 189

Hwy 18

Fares

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Mountain Transit offers both standard daily fares and discounted multi-trip and multi-day passes. Seniors, persons with disabilities, and veterans receive a discounted fare of 50% off. The fares also vary depending if the trip is local or off the mountain. If the fares are for Off the Mountain service, the extra fees apply.[8]

In 2021, local bus routes in the Big Bear valley were made free as a way to reduce congestion within Big Bear[9][10][11]

In 2023, bus routes in Crestline and Lake Arrowhead were made free as a way to reduce congestion[12]

Governance

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Mountain Transit is administered by a board of directors made up five members: two from Big Bear Lake, one member at large, and two Supervisors of the County of San Bernardino. It is required under the JPA that the board of directors meet at least one time each quarter of each fiscal year. Board meetings are held the third Monday of every month (except January* and February*) at 1:00 p.m. with location alternating between Big Bear Lake and Crestline. All meetings are held in compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act. Board meetings are presided over by the board-appointed chair. The board of directors is responsible for adopting the budget, appointing the CEO/General Manager, appointing a technical committee, establishing policy, and adopting rules and regulations for the conduct of business.[13]

References

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  1. ^ https://www.mountaintransit.org/about-us/
  2. ^ https://www.mountaintransit.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/MT-2021-Draft-SRTP-13Sep2021.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  3. ^ https://www.mountaintransit.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/MT-2021-Draft-SRTP-13Sep2021.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  4. ^ "Agenda - Wednesday, December 4, 2024" (PDF). SBCTA. SBCTA. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  5. ^ "general information on MARTA transit". Sanbag.ca.gov. Archived from the original on 22 December 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  6. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ "Agenda - Thursday, August 10, 2023" (PDF). sbcta. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2017-11-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ Bear, Visit Big (14 October 2021). "Big Bear Lake Launches New Free Trolley Service". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Free Big Bear Trolley is Big Bear's best public transportation". Big Bear Lake, CA. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  11. ^ "Shuttle Schedule, Routes, and Details | Big Bear Mountain Resort". www.bigbearmountainresort.com. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  12. ^ "FREE MOUNTAIN TRANSIT BUS SERVICE FOR RIM AREA RIDERS NOW UNDERWAY". Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2017-11-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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