SHUTTLE SERVICE USES 'SMART' FLEXIBILITY.

Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande and Krystn Shrieve  Staff Writers

THOUSAND OAKS - Customized routes and name-your-stop service are being added to the city of Thousand Oaks' transit system, allowing the flexibility for riders to flag down a shuttle van for a ride at any point on the route.

``It allows for more flexibility,'' said Thousand Oaks City Councilwoman Linda Parks. ``The city has a desire to increase the number of people using the bus. This makes it more flexible, more available and more efficient.''

The shuttle system will be inaugurated by city officials at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Civic Arts Plaza, and will begin as a full service at 6 a.m. Monday.

The Smart Shuttle service, which will begin as an $85,000 pilot program, can be used in concert with the Thousand Oaks Transit buses.

The 20-passenger shuttle vans will run on a defined route but will be able to deviate two to four blocks off to pick up or drop off passengers at their home or other locations and take them directly to the main bus line or to a destination.

As an example of its efficiency, Parks used the route from the Sunset Hills neighborhood to The Oaks mall, which typically takes about an hour.

With the Smart Shuttle program, residents in that area can be picked up at their home by a shuttle and taken directly to a shuttle stop closer to the mall, where they can then take the main bus directly to the mall without having to go through all the stops in between.

``At that point, once they get on the bus, it won't take as long to get to the mall,'' Parks said. ``Previously, bus routes have been very windy and lengthy, and it took a long time to get from one part of town to the other. There were lots of stops because we are serving so many different areas. This will mean faster routes.''

John Helliwell, city traffic engineer, said the shuttle service is expected to replace the Thousand Oaks Transit Bus Route 1, serving the central part of the city. It will travel between The Oaks mall and Janss Marketplace and up Moorpark Road.

Passengers will pay $1 for adults, 75 cents for ages 5 to 19, per one- way trip, the same as in a TOT bus. But riders will be charged an additional 50 cents for a customized pick up and drop off point outside its designated service area.

Fares for seniors or disabled will be $1 and reduced income passengers will pay 50 cents, the same as current fares for subsidized taxi program.

BUS SERVICE AT A GLANCE

--Begins 6 a.m. Monday.

--Cost: One-way service is $1 for adults, 75 cents for ages 5 to 19, with an additional 50 cents for a customized pick up and drop off point outside the designated service area.

--For information call [phone].

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Box: BUS SERVICE AT A GLANCE (see text)