Victor Valley Transit Authority

Last updated
Victor Valley Transit
Victor Valley Transit Authority.png
Victor Valley Transit Fontana2022.jpg
Victor Valley Transit Vehicle in Fontana in 2022
ParentVictor Valley Transit Authority
Founded1993 [1]
Headquarters17150 Smoke Tree St.
Hesperia, California
Service areaVictor Valley [2]
Service type bus service, paratransit
Routes32
Hubs1 maintenance, 1 bus storage facility
Fleet64 active [3]
Annual ridership1,476,600 (2023) [4]
Operator Keolis
Website vvta.org

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.

Contents

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

Origins of the VVTA

VVTA 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

Barstow Area Transit text.png
Parent City of Barstow, San Bernardino Associated Governments
Headquarters1612 State St.,
Locale Barstow, CA
Service areanorthern Mojave desert [2]
Service type bus service, paratransit
Routes3
Annual ridership144,000 [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

In 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

Victor 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

VVTA 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.

RouteTerminalsViaNotes
1 Barstow

Barstow City Hall

Barstow

Armory + Chateau

Main St / Montara Rd
2Barstow

Barstow City Hall

Barstow

Barstow Community College

Barstow Rd
3Barstow

Barstow City Hall

Barstow

Lenwood Rd + Hampton Inn

Main St, Lenwood Rd
6Barstow

Barstow City Hall

Barstow

Rimrock Rd + N St

Armory Rd
15Barstow

Barstow City Hall

San Bernardino

San Bernardino Transit Center

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 MesaPreviously Route 21P
21Hesperia

Main St + Cataba Rd

Wrightwood

Wrightwood Community Center

Main St / Phelan RdPreviously Route 21W
22 Victorvilla

Victor Valley Transportation Center

Silver Lakes

Vista Rd + Helendale Rd

National Trails Hwy
23 Apple Valley

Apple Valley Post Office

Lucerne Valley

Lucerne Valley Market

Highway 18
27Barstow

Barstow City Hall

Hinkley

Outer Hwy 58 EB + Hidden River

Highway 58 / Community BlvdNew Route, previously served by Route 28
28Barstow

Barstow City Hall

Helendale

Vista Rd + Helendale Rd

National Trails Hwy
29Barstow

Barstow City Hall

Newberry Springs

National Trails Hwy + I-40

Yermo Rd
31Victorville

Victor Valley Transportation Center

Adelanto

Hwy 395 + Crossroads Way

7th St / Palmdale Rd
32Victorville

Victor Valley Transportation Center

Adelanto

Muskrat Ave + El Mirage Rd

Air Expressway
33Adelanto

Bartlett Ave + Greening St

Adelanto

Hwy 395 + Crossroads Way

Bellflower St
40Apple Valley

Apple Valley Post Office

Apple Valley

Hwy 18 + Bass Hill Rd

Thunderbird Rd
41Apple Valley

Apple Valley Post Office

Victorville

Victor Valley Transportation Center

Outer Hwy 18
42Victorville

Victor Valley College

Apple Valley

Navajo Rd + Johnson Rd

Apple Valley Rd
43Victorville

Victor Valley College

Apple Valley

Apple Valley Post Office

Bear Valley Rd
47Apple Valley

Apple Valley Post Office

Apple Valley

Bear Valley Rd + Navajo Rd

Kiowa Rd / Pahute Rd
49Apple Valley

Victor Valley Post Office

Victorville

Victor Valley Mall

Yucca Loma RdNew Route, first direct route between Apple Valley Post Office and Victor Valley Mall.
50Victorville

Victor Valley Transportation Center

Victorville

Hesperia Post Office

I Ave / Hesperia Rd
52Victorville

Victor Valley Transportation Center

Victorville

Victor Valley Mall

El Evado Rd
53Victorville

Victor Valley Mall

Victorville

VictorvValley College

Bear Valley Rd
55Victorville

Victor Valley Transportation Center

Victorville

Victor Valley College

Ridgecrest Rd / Hesperia Rd
56Victorville

Victor Valley Transportation Center

Victorville

Lorene Dr + 7th St

Seneca Rd / Amargosa Rd
64Hesperia

Hesperia Post Office

Hesperia

Main St + Cataba Rd

3rd Ave / Willow Stvia Escondido
66

(Loop)

Hesperia

Hesperia Post Office

C Ave
68Hesperia

Hesperia Post Office

Hesperia

Main St + Cataba Rd

Main StWestbound via Victor Valley Mall
111 Fort Irwin

Fort Irwin Bus Lot

Barstow

Wiliams Park & Ride

Irwin RdAM Northbound to Fort Irwin, PM Southbound to Barstow
114Fort Irwin

Fort Irwin Bus Lot

Hesperia

Smoke Tree St - VVTA

15 FreewayAM Northbound to Fort Irwin, PM Southbound to Hesperia
115Fort Irwin

Fort Irwin Bus Lot

Silver Lakes

Vista Rd + Helendale Rd

National Trails HwyAM Northbound to Fort Irwin, PM Southbound to Helendale
118Fort Irwin

Fort Irwin Bus Lot

Irwin Rd / 15 FreewayPM Southbound to Hesperia via Barstow

On 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

Active fleet

Make/ModelFleet NumbersThumbnailYearEngineTransmissionNotes
New Flyer XE40 301-3072019Siemens ELFA2XALT Energy
New Flyer XE40 308-3122022Siemens ELFA2XALT EnergyExtended range
ENC Axess BRT 35' CNG 507-5092022Cummins Westport L9NAllison B400R
ENC Axess BRT 35' CNG 5102023Cummins Westport L9NAllison B400R
NABI 40-LFW CNG 610-6152010Cummins Westport ISL GAllison B400RRetired
ENC Axess BRT 40' CNG 616-6242014Cummins Westport ISL GAllison B400R616 retired
ENC Axess BRT 40' CNG 6252015Cummins Westport ISL GAllison B400R
ENC XHF 35' CNG 626-6272016Cummins Westport ISL GAllison B400R
ENC Axess BRT 35' CNG 628-6292018Cummins Westport ISL G NZAllison B3400 xFE
ENC Axess BRT 40' CNG 630-6362018Cummins Westport L9NAllison B3400 xFE
ENC Axess BRT 35' CNG 637-6382018Cummins Westport L9NAllison B3400 xFE
ENC Axess BRT 40' CNG 639-6432018Cummins Westport L9NAllison B3400 xFE
ENC Axess BRT 40' CNG 644-6452020Cummins Westport L9NAllison B400R
ENC Axess BRT 40' CNG 646-6472022Cummins Westport L9NAllison B400R
ENC Axess BRT 40' CNG 648-6502022Cummins Westport L9NAllison B400R
ENC Axess BRT 40' CNG 651-6552023Cummins Westport L9NAllison B400R30th Anniversary wrap
MCI D4500CT CNG 812-8162015Cummins Westport ISX12 GAllison B500RUsed on NTC Commuter
ENC Axess BRT 40' CNG 817-8192016Cummins Westport ISL GAllison B400RUsed on Route 15
ENC E-Z Rider II BRT 32' CNG 2022-20272021Cummins Westport L9NAllison B400R
ENC E-Z Rider II BRT 32' CNG 2028-20312022Cummins Westport L9NAllison B400R
Ford E450/ElDorado 240155-2092011-2019Direct Access
Dodge Lonestar ProMaster 35001011-1013, 10242020-2024Micro-Link

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References

  1. "Victor Valley Transit Authority COA Final Report - June 2024" (PDF). SBCTA. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  2. 1 2 "San Bernardino County Measure I Boundary Map" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
  3. "page 21 in report" (PDF). Vvta.org. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  4. "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  5. "VVTA – Public Transit for Victor Valley". Vvta.org. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  6. "look in page 44" (PDF). Vvta.org. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  7. "VVTA BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WITH INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2018" (PDF). VVTA. Retrieved 4 Jan 2022.
  8. "look in page 23" (PDF). Vvta.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-22. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  9. "BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Meeting Agenda – August 20, 2018 – VVTA" . Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  10. "Keolis awarded VVTA bus contract in southern California". Mass Transit. 2020-10-12. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
  11. San Bernardino Associated Governments information on Barstow Area Transport Archived December 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  12. "VVTA, Barstow Area Transit Merger Formalized". Mass Transit. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  13. Staff Reports. "VVTA / Barstow Area Transit Merger Formalized, Two New Board Members Join VVTA – High Desert Daily". highdesertdaily.com. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  14. "Victor Valley Transit Authority Regular meeting of the board of directors, may 15, 2023" (PDF). VVTA. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  15. "Victory Valley Transit Authority public hearing and regular meeting of the board of directors, June 20, 2023" (PDF). VVTA. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  16. "board members". Vvta.org. Retrieved 22 June 2019.