TEMECULA -- There's a new option for commuters between Temecula and Escondido who are fed up with the daily grind of traffic on Interstate 15.

The Riverside Transit Agency is now offering an express bus, Route 217, that links San Jacinto with Escondido. The express route -- which features stops in Hemet and Temecula -- is the first public transit option linking Southwest County to Escondido, a major San Diego County hub.

For people commuting to Escondido from Temecula, or vice-versa, the route is ideal as there are no scheduled stops in between the two cities.

"It shaves an hour off my commute," said Hien Tran, a Temecula resident who uses the 217 to commute to and from his job in Oceanside.

Tran, waiting for the bus early Thursday morning at The Promenade mall's bus stop near P.F. Chang's, said he has a hybrid car at home, but he has been using public transportation of late due to the economy.

"And also for the environment," he said.

Before the 217 began operating, Tran had been taking the Route 202 bus home from Oceanside. Now, he's got an extra hour of free time each evening.

"I get to hang out with my kids, which is better than being on the freeway," he said.

Riverside Transit spokesman Bradley Weaver said the agency is offering the new service because of numerous requests by area residents and agency studies.

"It's our reaction to the community's needs," he said. "We know there is strong demand for this type of express service and the list of people who have contacted us for this service continues to grow."

For those thinking of trying out the route, the agency is waiving fees through Friday. After that date, it will cost $3 for a one-way trip and $7 for a day pass. It's $75 for a 30-day pass.

Describing a typical commute for a Southwest County resident, Weaver said buses are scheduled for peak commuting times.

Someone getting on the express bus at The Promenade mall at 6:12 a.m. should expect to arrive at Escondido's Transit Center by 7:02 a.m. Buses leave from that Temecula stop between 5:12 a.m. and 6:12 a.m. in 15 minute increments. There is also a Temecula pickup near the Harveston Community Park on Harveston Drive.

From the transit center, there are plenty of public transit options that connect people with Oceanside to the west and downtown San Diego to the south.

In the evenings, a commuter getting on the express bus in Escondido at 5:10 p.m. should expect to hit Temecula by 6 p.m.

While traffic might skew the schedule a bit, Weaver said the departure and arrival times should be "pretty consistent."

Agency officials said the bus used on the route can seat 26 people and the seating has been upgraded -- high-back chairs with seats covered with cloth upholstery. If people stand, the capacity bulges to 39.

On Thursday morning, Stacy Gallagher was sitting in the bus and was impressed.

"I didn't know what to expect," Gallagher said, recalling the hard, scooped plastic seats on older buses. "I haven't ridden a bus in ages. This is a test run for me today."

Gallagher, a Hemet resident, said she was taking the express bus to Escondido and from there popping over to San Marcos for a meeting. She has a car, but she thought it would be fun to try out the new route, which leaves from a stop in Hemet four blocks from her house.

Gallagher plotted her course on the agency's Web site and she expected it to take about 2 1/2 hours to get to San Marcos, which is about 55 miles from Hemet.

During that time, Gallagher said she planned to read -- she had a magazine handy -- and "rest her eyes."

The bus used on the route is powered by unleaded gas, a dirtier fuel compared to the compressed natural gas used in many of the agency's buses, but Weaver said the bus still qualifies as an environmentally-friendly mode of transportation because it is taking cars off the freeway.

Food and drinks without lids won't be allowed on the bus, which might crimp the morning routines for many area commuters. Weaver said the decision to ban everything except for bottled water and coffee in sealed mugs or cups is in place because of the hassles associated with keeping the bus clean.

For anyone considering the bus as a cost saver, Weaver said the timing of the new route is ideal.

"People are looking for a way to escape high gas prices and save money -- especially in this economy," he said.

A gallon of gas costs about $3, as of this week. Unless someone is using a Prius, a Civic Hybrid or another fuel efficient vehicle, it would cost more in gas to travel the 26 miles from Temecula to Escondido. Weaver said taking the bus spares commuters' everyday vehicles from the wear and tear of stop-and-go driving.

For bus route and schedule information contact the agency at 800-800-7821 or log on to the agency's Web site at www.RiversideTransit.com.

Call staff writer Aaron Claverie at 951-676-4315, ext. 2624.