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    1. Bus

    Roadrunner Management Services Makes $200,000 Trolley Service Deal with Municipalities, University and Local Businesses

    Jan. 19, 2015
    An unusual public-private partnership has funded a new trolley service to bolster Camarillo’s economy by increasing traffic to local shopping centers and providing alternate transportation for university students and the senior community.

    An unusual public-private partnership has funded a new trolley service to bolster Camarillo’s economy by increasing traffic to local shopping centers and providing alternate transportation for university students and the senior community.

    With a modest $200,000 contract, Roadrunner Management Services Inc. recently began operating a free trolley service in Camarillo, California. after a public-private partnership finalized funding by the city of Camarillo, the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce and California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI).

    The city of Camarillo contributed $100,000 using funds allocated by the Federal Transit Administration; CSUCI provided $20,000; and the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce is collecting the remaining $80,000, in quarterly installments, from businesses located along the trolley route.

    The San Francisco-style trolley connects riders to 10 different stops throughout the city including picking up CSUCI students who take the bus to the Metrolink station, a retirement community and local shopping centers.

    The year-long demonstration period began Oct. 1 and the service will be evaluated quarterly for ridership numbers to determine if the service should be extended. The 30-minute route runs Sundays through Thursdays and currently sees approximately 150 riders per day.

    “This partnership is unique in that small business has directly invested in transit through their chamber of commerce. This pulls together three stakeholders to greatly increase the transportation options for those who need it most,” said Charles Sandlin, general manager of Roadrunner Management Services Inc. “Having multiple stakeholders from both public and private entities also helps ensure the long-term success of the project.”

    The city has secured between eight and 10 months of funding, however the city may stop the service if the chamber and business community cannot make the quarterly payments of $20,000.

    “So far the response has been fantastic. The community loves the service because of the novelty of the trolley and the businesses are seeing more foot traffic,” said Gary Cushing, CEO of the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce. “The trolley is a great asset to the economic livelihood of Camarillo. The service is a great complement to our main source of tourism, the Camarillo Premium Outlets, which is on the trolley route.”

    Sandlin is optimistic that the trolley will be long-term. “We see first-hand how riders appreciate the value and convenience of this service. Our drivers see the enthusiasm of the riders and we are committed to doing everything we can to make this a long-term transportation option. Our local economy is counting on us.”  Roadrunner Management Services is headquartered in Camarillo.