Antelope Valley Transit Authority

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Antelope Valley Transit Authority
AVTA logo.png
AVTA 4371, BYD K-9.jpg
The first all electric zero emission bus built in Lancaster, California; layover at Sgt. Steve Owen Memorial Park, July 13, 2017.
ParentCities of Palmdale, Lancaster and Metro.
Founded1992
LocaleAntelope Valley
Service typebus service, paratransit
AllianceLos Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Metrolink (Southern California)
Routes14
OperatorTransdev
Websiteavta.com

Antelope Valley Transit Authority is the transit agency serving the cities of Palmdale, Lancaster and Northern Los Angeles County. Antelope Valley Transit Authority is operated under contract by Transdev, and is affiliated with and offers connecting services with Metro and Metrolink.

Services[]

As of 2020, AVTA operates a fleet of 88 buses, 58 buses dedicated to local service and 30 to commuter service.[1] AVTA runs:[2]

  • 15 local bus routes

-Route 1: The Boulevard Transit Center/South Valley Transit Center

-Route 2: AV Mall/Marketplace Dr

-Route 3: Avenue S & 37th Street/South Valley Transit Center

-Route 4: Ferne Ave/ Owen Memorial Park

-Route 5: 60th Street/ Owen Memorial Park

-Route 7: Rancho Vista Blvd/ Avenida Vista Verde

-Route 8: Antelope Valley College/ Palmdale Metrolink

-Route 9: Owen Memorial Park/ Quartz Hill High School

-Route 11: 20th St. / Lancaster Blvd

-Route 12: 15th Street/Owen Memorial Park

  • 3 Supplemental routes to high schools and community colleges
  • Commuter service to Downtown and the Westside of Los Angeles and to the western San Fernando Valley
  • "North County TRANSporter", operating between morning and evening commuting hours when there is no Metrolink train service at the Palmdale and Lancaster Metrolink stations. TRANSporter provides a bus connection during these hours with the Newhall Metrolink station in Santa Clarita, where there is all-day train service to and from Los Angeles Union Station.

History[]

The cities of Palmdale and Lancaster and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works jointly created the Antelope Valley Transit Authority in 1992 to meet the growing need for public transportation in the Antelope Valley. AVTA began local transit service on July 1, 1992, with three types of services: Transit, Commuter and Dial-A-Ride. A fourth service, Access Services, was created in 1996 to provide the disabled with a local complementary paratransit service in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act. AVTA opened a larger facility in 2004 to accommodate increased demand.

On March 17, 2017, AVTA drivers struck. The dispute was between the driver's union Teamsters Local 848 and the system operator Transdev. After making their statement, the drivers elected to return to service by March 19 while negotiations between the parties continued.[3] However the drivers went on strike again, May 3 was the third walkout which lasted at least a week.[4] As the dispute continued, drivers were locked out on August 22.[5]

In 2017, AVTA became the first transit agency in the United States to operate a 60-foot, articulated electric bus, manufactured by BYD in Lancaster.[6][7]

In 2018, the Antelope Valley Transit Authority began to charge its electric buses on special wireless charging pads located along bus routes.[8]

In January 2019, AVTA began commuter service to Edwards Air Force Base. Later that year, AVTA celebrated two significant milestones in its conversion to an all-electric fleet, achieving both a one million (May), then two million (December), zero emission miles driven. The service has been suspended since the start of the pandemic.

Discounts[]

Senior citizens, the disabled, active military, and veterans may ride AVTA local buses free of charge with proper ID. Up to 4 children up to 44 inches tall may ride with an adult free of charge.[9]

Awards[]

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recognized AVTA as an “Efficient Transit System”. The California Transit Association gave a “Transit Innovation Award” to AVTA in 1998 and a “Transit Image Award” in 1999.

Commuter services[]

Commuter Services provides service to and from major places of employment outside of the Antelope Valley (Routes 785-787). Commuter Services service is only operated Monday - Friday.

References[]

  1. ^ AVTA website
  2. ^ "Maps and Schedules", AVTA website
  3. ^ "After strike, bus service will resume in the Antelope Valley Sunday". dailynews.com. 19 March 2017.
  4. ^ Nelson, Laura J. "Antelope Valley transit service stalls as bus operator strike continues". latimes.com.
  5. ^ "AVTA local service suspended indefinitely". theavtimes.com.
  6. ^ Heild, Colleen (January 20, 2018). "ART is a victim of the 'new bus blues'". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM: Journal Publishing Company. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  7. ^ "BYD : First 60-Foot Articulated Battery-Electric Bus in North America Hits the Streets in Antelope Valley". 4-traders. May 6, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  8. ^ "Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA)". Wave. 2018-06-04. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  9. ^ "Local transit fares", AVTA website

External links[]

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