Omnitrans launched its sbX green line service in Loma Linda and San Bernardino on April 28, 2014, as one of the first bus rapid transit (BRT) lines in the nation.
Ridership on sbX has grown from an average of just under 42,000 passengers per month in 2014 to nearly 70,000 per month so far in 2019. In all, over 3.4 million trips have been taken aboard the silver sbX 60-foot articulated coaches.
“We’re proud of the success of sbX,” said Omnitrans CEO P. Scott Graham. “It demonstrates that investing in speedier transit options and enhanced station amenities will attract customers.”
The sbX BRT line travels a 16 mile-corridor through San Bernardino and Loma Linda and has 5 miles of dedicated bus-only lanes. There are 16 stations and four park-and-ride lots. The sbX fleet of 15 natural-gas-powered, 60-foot articulated vehicles offer onboard Wi-Fi, power outlets, interior bike racks, and space for two wheelchairs. Travel time is about 20 percent faster than local bus service, due to fewer stops, dedicated lanes and transit signal priority.
Station features include real time arrival information signs, enhanced lighting, shade canopies, benches, ticket vending machines, security cameras and emergency phones. Public art is incorporated into each sbX station. At the San Bernardino Transit Center, sbX connects with Metrolink, multiple Omnitrans bus routes, and four other regional bus agencies.
The sbX green line was funded by a combination of federal, state and county funds designated for transit projects, including $75 million from the Federal Transit Administration’s Small Starts Program.
On weekdays, sbX operates from 5 am until 11 pm with 10-minute frequency during peak morning and afternoon hours. Weekday mid-day and early evening sbX frequency is 15 minutes; early morning and late evening frequency is every 20 to 30 minutes. Omnitrans introduced sbX Saturday service in January 2019, with buses running every 20 minutes between 6 am and 9 pm.
