Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA), the second largest transit operator in San Bernardino County (with over 1,020,119 passengers a year), is a transit agency providing bus service in the Victor Valley, California area.[5] [6] In 2023, the system had a ridership of 1,476,600.
 | |
 Victor Valley Transit Vehicle in Fontana in 2022 | |
| Parent | Victor Valley Transit Authority |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1993[1] |
| Headquarters | 17150 Smoke Tree St. Hesperia, California |
| Service area | Victor Valley [2] |
| Service type | bus service, paratransit |
| Routes | 32 |
| Hubs | 1 maintenance, 1 bus storage facility |
| Fleet | 64 active[3] |
| Annual ridership | 1,476,600 (2023)[4] |
| Operator | Keolis |
| Website | vvta |
In June 2015, VVTA was designated as a Consolidated Transportation Services Agency (CTSA) for the High & North Desert regions of San Bernardino County. This represented an expanding role and commitment to the Authority's already established Mobility Management department and increased the VVTA service area from 425 to 950 square miles.[7]
History
editOrigins of the VVTA
editVVTA operates local fixed-route, county commuter (discontinued in 2005), and ADA complementary paratransit bus services in the Victor Valley area. It has a maintenance facility located in Hesperia. The service structure consists of 23 local fixed and deviated routes, 3 County routes and ADA complementary paratransit service. VVTA was established through a Joint Powers Authority in 1991. The JPA includes the four cities of Adelanto, Apple Valley, Hesperia and Victorville and certain unincorporated portions of the County of San Bernardino including Oro Grande, Helendale, Lucerne Valley, Phelan, Piñon Hills, Wrightwood. Service is also provided to Barstow and Fort Irwin. The Fort Irwin service is branded as the NTC Commuter. The Board of Directors includes council members from the above cities and the San Bernardino 1st District Supervisor. Since 1998, the Board has held a management contract with McDonald Transit Associates, Inc. for administration of the system. In January 2005, the operations contract for all transit service in the Victor Valley area was consolidated under a separate contract with ATC (later Veoila, now Transdev).[8] In 2018, National Express Transit became the system operator.[9] Keolis Transit America (KTA), a subsidiary of Keolis North America, began operating the network Oct. 1, 2020.[10]
Barstow Area Transit
edit | |
| Parent | City of Barstow, San Bernardino Associated Governments |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 1612 State St., |
| Locale | Barstow, CA |
| Service area | northern Mojave desert[2] |
| Service type | bus service, paratransit |
| Routes | 3 |
| Annual ridership | 144,000[11] |
| Website | Barstow transportation[permanent dead link] |
Barstow Area Transit formerly ran the transportation service in Barstow and surrounding areas of San Bernardino County, including the communities of Hinkley, Lenwood, Grandview, Yermo, Harvard, Daggett and Newberry Springs. It was merged into VVTA in 2015.[12][13]
MV Transportation, Inc. was contracted by the city to operate Barstow Area Transit. Barstow Area Transit operated Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and on the weekends from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m; the system carried more than 144,000 passengers each year.
The system featured three routes: Central Barstow, which was called Route 1 while running as a clockwise loop and Route 2 while running counterclockwise; West Barstow/Grandview/Lenwood, which was called Route 3 while running clockwise and Route 4 while running counterclockwise; and Hwy 58 which traveled crosstown as Route 5.
Transition to Fuel Cell Buses
editIn May 2023, the board of directors voted to replace its Battery Electric buses in favor of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses due to not meeting range requirements. Current plans are for eleven fuel cell buses[14]
Governance
editVictor Valley Transit Authority is administered by a Board of Directors, consisting of Seven Members (each with an alternate). The five board members from the cities are elected council persons assigned to VVTA by their respective city councils. The two board members are the San Bernardino county Supervisors[15] (generally a staff person or the supervisor represents the county as the alternate). The Board is required under the JPA Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to meet at least one time each quarter of each fiscal year. Board meetings are generally monthly in Hesperia, with every third meeting in Barstow. All meetings are held in compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act. Board meetings are presided by the Board-appointed Chair. The board of directors is responsible for such acts as adopting the budget, approving route and schedule changes, public hearings as required, appointing the CEO/General Manager, appointing a technical advisory committee, establishing policy, and adopting rules and regulations for the conduct of business. The VVTA Technical Advisory (TAC) committee is the working group for the VVTA Board. It is composed of a staff member from each of the cities and County who is generally appointed by the City Manager, County Supervisor. The TAC takes direction from the Board to make recommendations on policy issues. In addition, TAC reviews monthly all suggested Board agenda items and decides on what actions to recommend to the Board for approval.[16]
Routes
editVVTA routes include Fixed, County, Intercity, and Commuter. County routes and some Fixed Routes can deviate as far as 3/4 mile to pick up passengers. County routes serve outlying rural areas. In August 2021, all routes at Lorene and 7th were moved to the Victor Valley Transportation Center (VVTC). On Sunday, October 2, 2022 VVTA returned to full-service.
Routes 1-9 are Barstow routes; 10-19 are Intercity routes; 20-29 are County routes; 30-39 are Routes primarily in Adelanto; 40-49 are Apple Valley, 50-59 are Victorville, 60-69 are Hesperia, and 100 series are the NTC Commuter. All routes operate 7 days a week. NTC Commuter Routes 111-118 operate Weekdays only..
Sunday, October 6, 2024, route restructuring and schedule changes. Barstow service hours expanded to be the same as Hesperia's service hours. Routes 25, 50X, and 54 discontinued. New Routes 27 and 49. Route 55 increased weekday frequency to 30 minute service. Routes 27, 28, and 29 frequency increased from 3 hours to 2 hours. Routes 40, 47, 54, and 66 Sunday frequency increased from every two hours to hourly. Route 66 Weekday and Saturday frequency increased from every two hours to hourly.
Free rides on all Fixed Routes (1-6, 31-68) and County Routes (20-29) from Sunday, October 5, 2024 to Saturday, October 12, 2024.
| Route | Terminals | Via | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barstow
Barstow City Hall |
Barstow
Armory + Chateau |
Main St / Montara Rd | |
| 2 | Barstow
Barstow City Hall |
Barstow | Barstow Rd | |
| 3 | Barstow
Barstow City Hall |
Barstow
Lenwood Rd + Hampton Inn |
Main St, Lenwood Rd | |
| 6 | Barstow
Barstow City Hall |
Barstow
Rimrock Rd + N St |
Armory Rd | |
| 15 | Barstow
Barstow City Hall |
San Bernardino | I-10, I-15 | via Victor Valley Transportation Center |
| 20 | Hesperia
Main St + Cataba Rd |
Pinon Hills
Pinon Hills Community Center |
Bear Valley Rd / Baldy Mesa | Previously Route 21P |
| 21 | Hesperia
Main St + Cataba Rd |
Wrightwood
Wrightwood Community Center |
Main St / Phelan Rd | Previously Route 21W |
| 22 | Victorvilla | Silver Lakes
Vista Rd + Helendale Rd |
National Trails Hwy | |
| 23 | Apple Valley
Apple Valley Post Office |
Lucerne Valley
Lucerne Valley Market |
Highway 18 | |
| 27 | Barstow
Barstow City Hall |
Hinkley
Outer Hwy 58 EB + Hidden River |
Highway 58 / Community Blvd | New Route, previously served by Route 28 |
| 28 | Barstow
Barstow City Hall |
Helendale
Vista Rd + Helendale Rd |
National Trails Hwy | |
| 29 | Barstow
Barstow City Hall |
Newberry Springs
National Trails Hwy + I-40 |
Yermo Rd | |
| 31 | Victorville
Victor Valley Transportation Center |
Adelanto
Hwy 395 + Crossroads Way |
7th St / Palmdale Rd | |
| 32 | Victorville
Victor Valley Transportation Center |
Adelanto
Muskrat Ave + El Mirage Rd |
Air Expressway | |
| 33 | Adelanto
Bartlett Ave + Greening St |
Adelanto
Hwy 395 + Crossroads Way |
Bellflower St | |
| 40 | Apple Valley
Apple Valley Post Office |
Apple Valley
Hwy 18 + Bass Hill Rd |
Thunderbird Rd | |
| 41 | Apple Valley
Apple Valley Post Office |
Victorville
Victor Valley Transportation Center |
Outer Hwy 18 | |
| 42 | Victorville
Victor Valley College |
Apple Valley
Navajo Rd + Johnson Rd |
Apple Valley Rd | |
| 43 | Victorville
Victor Valley College |
Apple Valley
Apple Valley Post Office |
Bear Valley Rd | |
| 47 | Apple Valley
Apple Valley Post Office |
Apple Valley
Bear Valley Rd + Navajo Rd |
Kiowa Rd / Pahute Rd | |
| 49 | Apple Valley
Victor Valley Post Office |
Victorville
Victor Valley Mall |
Yucca Loma Rd | New Route, first direct route between Apple Valley Post Office and Victor Valley Mall. |
| 50 | Victorville
Victor Valley Transportation Center |
Victorville
Hesperia Post Office |
I Ave / Hesperia Rd | |
| 52 | Victorville
Victor Valley Transportation Center |
Victorville
Victor Valley Mall |
El Evado Rd | |
| 53 | Victorville
Victor Valley Mall |
Victorville
VictorvValley College |
Bear Valley Rd | |
| 55 | Victorville
Victor Valley Transportation Center |
Victorville
Victor Valley College |
Ridgecrest Rd / Hesperia Rd | |
| 56 | Victorville
Victor Valley Transportation Center |
Victorville
Lorene Dr + 7th St |
Seneca Rd / Amargosa Rd | |
| 64 | Hesperia
Hesperia Post Office |
Hesperia
Main St + Cataba Rd |
3rd Ave / Willow St | via Escondido |
| 66
(Loop) |
Hesperia
Hesperia Post Office |
C Ave | ||
| 68 | Hesperia
Hesperia Post Office |
Hesperia
Main St + Cataba Rd |
Main St | Westbound via Victor Valley Mall |
| 111 | Fort Irwin
Fort Irwin Bus Lot |
Barstow
Wiliams Park & Ride |
Irwin Rd | AM Northbound to Fort Irwin, PM Southbound to Barstow |
| 114 | Fort Irwin
Fort Irwin Bus Lot |
Hesperia
Smoke Tree St - VVTA |
15 Freeway | AM Northbound to Fort Irwin, PM Southbound to Hesperia |
| 115 | Fort Irwin
Fort Irwin Bus Lot |
Silver Lakes
Vista Rd + Helendale Rd |
National Trails Hwy | AM Northbound to Fort Irwin, PM Southbound to Helendale |
| 118 | Fort Irwin
Fort Irwin Bus Lot |
Irwin Rd / 15 Freeway | PM Southbound to Hesperia via Barstow | |
Micro-Link
editOn Monday, October 3, 2022, Micro-Link was introduced in three zones - Zone 1 Victorville, and Zone 2 Hesperia. Beginning October 28, 2024, Zone 3 North Apple Valley.
Bus fleet
editActive fleet
edit| Make/Model | Fleet Numbers | Thumbnail | Year | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Flyer XE40 | 301-307 | 2019 | Siemens ELFA2 | XALT Energy | ||
| New Flyer XE40 | 308-312 | 2022 | Siemens ELFA2 | XALT Energy | Extended range | |
| ENC Axess BRT 35' CNG | 507-509 | 2022 | Cummins Westport L9N | Allison B400R | ||
| ENC Axess BRT 35' CNG | 510 | 2023 | Cummins Westport L9N | Allison B400R | ||
| NABI 40-LFW CNG | 610-615 | 2010 | Cummins Westport ISL G | Allison B400R | Retired | |
| ENC Axess BRT 40' CNG | 616-624 | 2014 | Cummins Westport ISL G | Allison B400R | 616 retired | |
| ENC Axess BRT 40' CNG | 625 | 2015 | Cummins Westport ISL G | Allison B400R | ||
| ENC XHF 35' CNG | 626-627 | 2016 | Cummins Westport ISL G | Allison B400R | ||
| ENC Axess BRT 35' CNG | 628-629 | 2018 | Cummins Westport ISL G NZ | Allison B3400 xFE | ||
| ENC Axess BRT 40' CNG | 630-636 | 2018 | Cummins Westport L9N | Allison B3400 xFE | ||
| ENC Axess BRT 35' CNG | 637-638 | 2018 | Cummins Westport L9N | Allison B3400 xFE | ||
| ENC Axess BRT 40' CNG | 639-643 | 2018 | Cummins Westport L9N | Allison B3400 xFE | ||
| ENC Axess BRT 40' CNG | 644-645 | 2020 | Cummins Westport L9N | Allison B400R | ||
| ENC Axess BRT 40' CNG | 646-647 | 2022 | Cummins Westport L9N | Allison B400R | ||
| ENC Axess BRT 40' CNG | 648-650 | 2022 | Cummins Westport L9N | Allison B400R | ||
| ENC Axess BRT 40' CNG | 651-655 | 2023 | Cummins Westport L9N | Allison B400R | 30th Anniversary wrap | |
| MCI D4500CT CNG | 812-816 | 2015 | Cummins Westport ISX12 G | Allison B500R | Used on NTC Commuter | |
| ENC Axess BRT 40' CNG | 817-819 | 2016 | Cummins Westport ISL G | Allison B400R | Used on Route 15 | |
| ENC E-Z Rider II BRT 32' CNG | 2022-2027 | 2021 | Cummins Westport L9N | Allison B400R | ||
| ENC E-Z Rider II BRT 32' CNG | 2028-2031 | 2022 | Cummins Westport L9N | Allison B400R | ||
| Ford E450/ElDorado 240 | 155-209 | 2011-2019 | Direct Access | |||
| Dodge Lonestar ProMaster 3500 | 1011-1013, 1024 | 2020-2024 | Micro-Link |
References
edit- ^ "Victor Valley Transit Authority COA Final Report - June 2024" (PDF). SBCTA. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ a b "San Bernardino County Measure I Boundary Map" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
- ^ "page 21 in report" (PDF). Vvta.org. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
- ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ "VVTA – Public Transit for Victor Valley". Vvta.org. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
- ^ "look in page 44" (PDF). Vvta.org. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
- ^ "VVTA BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WITH INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2018" (PDF). VVTA. Retrieved 4 Jan 2022.
- ^ "look in page 23" (PDF). Vvta.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-22. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
- ^ "BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Meeting Agenda – August 20, 2018 – VVTA". Retrieved 2018-11-29.
- ^ "Keolis awarded VVTA bus contract in southern California". Mass Transit. 2020-10-12. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
- ^ San Bernardino Associated Governments information on Barstow Area Transport Archived December 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "VVTA, Barstow Area Transit Merger Formalized". Mass Transit. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- ^ Staff Reports. "VVTA / Barstow Area Transit Merger Formalized, Two New Board Members Join VVTA – High Desert Daily". highdesertdaily.com. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- ^ "Victor Valley Transit Authority Regular meeting of the board of directors, may 15, 2023" (PDF). VVTA. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ "Victory Valley Transit Authority public hearing and regular meeting of the board of directors, June 20, 2023" (PDF). VVTA. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ "board members". Vvta.org. Retrieved 22 June 2019.