While this Summer’s Hollywood Bowl lineup features a lot of hot acts, every Bowl performance also will feature more cool clean energy buses than ever before thanks to Clean Transportation Funding from the MSRC’s Major Event Center Transportation Program.
The MSRC recently awarded Transit Systems Unlimited a grant to significantly increase the frequency of bus shuttles from four high traffic locations including the Los Angeles Zoo (5333 Zoo Dr.), Ventura (10601 Ventura Blvd.), Ventura Annex (10801 Ventura Blvd) and Hollywood and Highland, with the goal of reducing wait times from 20 minutes down to as short as 10 minutes.
Transit Systems Unlimited has been a preferred Bowl bus provider since 1991 and their President Maurice Vanegas was an early proponent and advocate of applying for the opportunity to provide Bowl patrons with more frequent clean bus transportation. “I’m excited that these funds are available,” said Vanegas. “I am particularly proud that we were able to assist the Bowl in their one of a kind shuttle and park and ride service. I don’t know of any other (Southern California) venue that has 40 percent of attendees arriving by mass transit when they sell out a show.”
The goal of the clean bus expansion is to increase ridership by 10 percent. Additionally, by targeting shuttle stops at or near Red Line subway stations, the hope is to encourage Bowl patrons to use mass transit for their entire commute.
The Hollywood Bowl is committed to help aggressively promote the program through their mailers, Facebook page, catalogue and creative Transit TV ads that will air inside all the Metro buses. Additionally, there will be public polling survey stations at each sell-out event to evaluate the impact of the clean bus program. The program will continue throughout the 2014 Bowl Season during more than 70 performance dates.
Vanegas added that the clean transportation investment is having multiple benefits for his small business including lower maintenance costs, less leaks of all types and lower monthly fuel costs that help his cash flow and bottom line. Having one of the largest private clean fuel bus fleets in Los Angeles also helps make his business more competitive to new clients.
All of the patrons of the Hollywood Bowl also benefit from the cleaner buses as they are stacked in the parking lot directly in front of the Bowl. “My stuff don’t smoke,” reminded Vanegas, “Bowl clientele will absolutely notice the difference.”