For a second time, the Westwood FlyAway bus got a six-month reprieve and will continue to shuttle passengers to Los Angeles International Airport as officials resume studies on how to improve ridership and shore up an operating deficit.
Even after fares were doubled to $10 and hours were reduced during the summer, the Westwood FlyAway shuttle continued to operate at a $53,928 deficit from August to November, averaging a little more than six passengers per bus, according to an airport report.
However, that was a significant improvement from the $265,772 operating loss reported during the same period in 2010, officials said.
“I hope the next six months will tell the full story of what’s going on,” said Airport Commissioner Fernando Torres-Gil, a professor at UCLA.
In total, 1.38 million passengers boarded FlyAway buses from stops in Van Nuys, Union Station, Westwood and Irvine in 2011, a slight increase from the 1.34 million passengers reported in 2010.
The FlyAway’s Irvine route launched in November 2009 as a way to link Orange County residents to LAX and reduce traffic congestion on the San Diego (405) Freeway, but the route averages fewer than four passengers per bus, airport officials said.
“I believe it’s safe to say that Irvine is on life support,” said Gina Marie Lindsey, executive director of LAX.
To help increase ridership, the airport commission on Monday agreed to offer a $295 monthly pass for LAX employees who board the FlyAway’s Irvine route to work. Airport employees already are offered a $120 monthly pass for the Union Station, Van Nuys and Westwood FlyAway routes.
In total, LAX is required to have nine FlyAway routes by 2015 under the terms of a legal settlement reached nearly six years ago with the county, three cities and a community group opposed to airport expansion.
Officials have unsuccessfully sought out a FlyAway stop in Long Beach, including locations along the Metro Blue Line and at Long Beach Airport. Lindsey said she now plans to ask Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster for help in finding a suitable location.
Also under consideration is a FlyAway stop somewhere along the Metro Orange Line bus route in the San Fernando Valley to complement the existing Van Nuys FlyAway shuttle service. Additionally, airport officials are scheduled to meet next month with representatives from the Big Blue Bus to discuss a stop in Santa Monica, while Culver City could have a route as early as next year.
Airport officials also are working with county officials to create a FlyAway stop along the upcoming Metro Exposition Line.
“We’ve been working diligently to get these completed soon,” said Patrick Tomcheck, a senior transportation engineer at LAX.
Additionally, the airport commission on Monday approved a three-year, $15.3 million contract with Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation to operate the Van Nuys FlyAway shuttle, which carried 835,346 passengers last year and remains the most popular route in the system.
Along with a $1.4 million cost savings from the current bus operator, Bauer’s plans to use a newer and larger fleet of buses, according to an airport report.
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