Natalie Fox rides the bus to school twice a week. She’s planning to take it twice as often next semester.

The Temecula resident, a UC Riverside English major, is looking forward to the launch of bolstered bus service that could make her commute faster and less stressful.

“I’m all for any kind of public transportation,” said Fox, 25. “The days I have to drive my car it takes me two hours to get home.”

Riverside Transit Agency officials are preparing to expand service to four new Metrolink train stations in Riverside, Moreno Valley and Perris.

When the Metrolink Perris Valley Line opens early next year, 10 bus routes will stop at the train stations. Two routes will be added to serve Metrolink riders.

The changes are among several upgrades aimed at boosting productivity on the bus system and improving riders’ travel experience. Many route shifts take effect Jan. 10.

“We are always looking to fine-tune our routes to fit our customers’ changing needs,” said Bradley Weaver, the agency’s spokesman. “We try to find the smoothest and fastest way to provide service.”

Some routes are changing because of detours resulting from roadwork. In other cases, departure times are being adjusted to make connections easier. The agency updates its routes three times a year in January, May and September.

The most significant changes coincide with the opening of Metrolink’s 24-mile, $248 million Perris Valley Line – an extension of the 91 line that now connects Riverside to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. The line is expected to begin running in February.

Riders who use trains will benefit from the routes, Weaver said.

“For our customers who rely on using Metrolink stations, this is a good time to be a rider,” he said. “We’re going to be providing more service than ever before.”

Fox is glad to hear about the new bus routes. She drives her car to The Promenade in Temecula mall, where she boards a bus at 6:30 a.m. She arrives on campus in time for her 8 a.m. class.

When the Perris Valley Line starts running, she plans to take a bus to the Perris Station Transit Center and board a train to UCR.

“That’s totally convenient to take the bus to Perris and take the train to school,” said Fox, who works part time as a waitress and plans to study full time next semester.

“I get to rely on someone else to get me there and I don’t have to worry about driving,” she said. “To have time to do homework on the bus is great.”

Perris resident Jessica Miller is a fan of the bus and plans to ride it more when train service starts where she lives.

She was waiting at the downtown Riverside Metrolink station on a recent weekday for a bus home after returning on the train from visiting family in Los Angeles. She likes taking the bus to shop and watch shows at the Fox Performing Arts Center in downtown Riverside.

“They’re always on time,” said Miller, 60. “The drivers are great. I feel safe and comfortable on the bus.”

Contact the writer: 951-368-9292 or swall@pe.com