Elk Grove - Elk Grove expands e-tran routes - sacbee.com Elk Grove - Elk Grove expands e-tran routes - sacbee.com: "Elk Grove expands e-tran routes
Changes may aid families in wake of school bus cuts.
By Elizabeth Hume -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Sunday, August 28, 2005
Story appeared in Elk grove laguna section, Page N1
Elk Grove students will find it easier to get to school Monday, following the city's launch of three new e-tran bus routes.

The new routes come just in time for students on traditional schedules, who are returning to school Monday.

Last spring, the Elk Grove Unified school board approved reducing the district's bus service by more than half after redrawing school boundaries. The cuts went into effect in July, district officials said.

The district will continue to provide school buses in some cases. For example, in some rural areas students will have the option to pay a fee for traditional school bus service.

Busing also will continue to be provided at no charge to students being off-loaded to schools outside their neighborhoods because of overcrowding and to those who live outside the prescribed walking radius.

Another option for parents will be e-tran.

Eight months after the city of Elk Grove started its own transit system, e-tran's coverage of the city has been expanded from 25 to 90 percent, said Elk Grove Deputy City Manager Frank Oviedo.

On Monday the e-tran system will add three new city routes and a regional route. In addition, the city's other routes have been revamped to cover a wider area.

Following the changes, 90 percent of Elk Grove residents will live within a half mile of a transit stop and one transfer from a light rail station, Oviedo said.

"I know that there's been a lot of residents with school-age children who have been concerned about district routes being canceled," Oviedo said. "This is certainly going to supplement that service and help students."

Elk Grove district officials said they are pleased with the collaboration between the city and school district.

E-TRAN PRICES

Single fare

$1.50, all residents

75 cents, seniors and disabled

75 cents, students under 18 years old

Daily pass

$3.50, all residents

$1.75, seniors and disabled

$1.75, students under 18 years old

Monthly pass

$60, all residents

$30, seniors and disabled

$15, students under 18 years old

For more information, call (916)68E-TRAN or www.e-tran.org

About the writer:

* The Bee's Elizabeth Hume can be reached at (916) 478-2642or ehume@sacbee.com.

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