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 MV Transportation, and is affiliated with and offers connecting services with Metro and Metrolink. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 1,523,700, or about 5,300 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.[3]
 | |
 The first all electric zero emission bus built in Lancaster, California; layover at Sgt. Steve Owen Memorial Park, July 13, 2017. | |
| Parent | Cities of Palmdale, Lancaster and Metro. |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1992 |
| Locale | Antelope Valley |
| Service type | bus service, paratransit |
| Alliance | Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Metrolink (California) |
| Routes | 20 |
| Fleet | 94 buses |
| Daily ridership | 5,300 (weekdays, Q3 2024)[1] |
| Annual ridership | 1,523,700 (2023)[2] |
| Fuel type | battery electric |
| Operator | MV Transportation |
| Website | www |
AVTA became the first bus system in the United States with an all-electric fleet in 2022.[4]
Routes
editLocal routes
edit| Route | Terminals | Via | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lancaster
The Boulevard Transit Center |
Palmdale
South Valley Transit Center |
10th St |
|
| 2 | Palmdale
Antelope Valley Mall |
Palmdale
South Valley Transit Center |
Avenue R | |
| 3 | Palmdale
Antelope Valley Mall |
Palmdale
South Valley Transit Center |
Avenue S |
|
| 4 | Lancaster
The Boulevard Transit Center |
Lancaster
Owen memorial Park |
20th St | |
| 5 | Palmdale
67th St & Ave L-15 |
Lancaster
Owen memorial Park |
Avenue L | |
| 7 | Palmdale
Palmdale Transportation Center |
Lancaster
The Boulevard Transit Center |
Rancho Vista Bl |
|
| 8 | Lancaster
Antelope Valley College |
Palmdale
Palmdale Bl & 25th St |
Sierra Hwy |
|
| 9 | Lancaster
Owen memorial Park |
Lancaster | Avenue I |
|
| 11 | Lancaster
Owen memorial Park |
Lancaster
Avenue J & 20th St |
Avenue I | |
| 12 | Lancaster
Owen memorial Park |
Lancaster
Avenue J & 20th St |
Avenue J |
|
| 50 | Lancaster
Owen memorial Park |
Lake Los Angeles
170th St & Avenue O |
Avenue K | |
| 51 | Palmdale
Palmdale Transportation Center |
Lake Los Angeles
170th St & Avenue O |
Palmdale Bl | |
| 52 | Palmdale
South Valley Transit Center |
Pearblossom
Avenue V-10 & 121st St |
Pearblossom Hwy | |
School Tripper routes
editServices operate weekdays only.
| Route | Terminals | Via | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94 | Lancaster
Owen memorial Park |
Lancaster | Avenue K | |
| 97 | Lancaster
Quartz Hill High School |
Palmdale
Palmdale transportation Center |
Rancho Vista Bl |
|
| 98 | Palmdale | Palmdale
Palmdale transportation Center |
Avenue K, Avenue S | |
Commuter Express routes
editCommuter services operate weekdays only in the peak direction.
| Route | Terminals | Via | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 785 [21] |
Lancaster Owen Memorial Park |
Downtown LA | I-5, SR 14, US 101 | |
| 786 [22] |
Lancaster Owen Memorial Park |
Hollywood Santa Monica Bl & La Brea Av |
SR 14, I-405 |
|
| 787 [23] |
Lancaster Owen Memorial Park |
Tarzana Ventura Bl & Reseda Bl |
SR 14, SR 118 |
|
| 790 [24] |
Palmdale Palmdale Transportation Center |
Santa Clarita Newhall station |
SR 14 |
|
Bus fleet
editFixed-Route fleet
editAccurate as of May 2024.[26]
| Make/Model | Fleet Numbers | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BYD K7M-ER | 30301-30308 | 2023 | |
| BYD K8M | 35301-35303 | 2023 | |
| BYD K9S | 35601-35603 | 2016 |
|
| 35604 | 2017 |
| |
| BYD K9 | 40450-40451 | 2013 |
|
| BYD K9M | 40089-40090 | 2020 | |
| 40301-40310 | 2023 | ||
| 40856-40875 | 2018 |
| |
| 407L1-407L3 | 2017 | ||
| 40976-40988 | 2019 | ||
| MCI D45 CRT LE CHARGE | 45101-45124 | 2021 |
|
| MCI D4500CT | 70426 | 2009 |
|
| BYD K11M | 60314-60318 | 2023 | |
| 60701-60705, 60707-60711 | 2017 | ||
| 60906, 60912-60913 | 2017 |
Microtransit fleet
edit| Make/Model | Fleet Numbers | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GreenPower EV Star | 27901-27908 | 2019 |
|
History
editThe 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.[28] However the drivers went on strike again, May 3 was the third walkout which lasted at least a week.[29] As the dispute continued, drivers were locked out on August 22.[30]
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.[31][32]
In 2018, the Antelope Valley Transit Authority began to charge its electric buses on special wireless charging pads located along bus routes.[33]
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.
In May 2022, AVTA drivers struck. The dispute was about unfair labor practices with Teamsters Union 848 and Transdev. The contract expired and MV Transportation took over operations as of June 2022.
Discounts
editSenior citizens, people with disabilities, 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.[34]
Awards
editThe 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.
References
edit- ^ "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ About AVTA
- ^ "AVTA Becomes First All-Electric Zero-Emission Transit Agency". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
- ^ "Route 1 - Lancaster/Palmdale". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "Route 2 - East/West Palmdale via Avenue R". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "Route 3 - East/West Palmdale via Avenue S". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "Route 4 - Eastside Lancaster". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "Route 5 - Quartz Hill via Avenue L". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "Route 7 - Rancho Vista/Lancaster". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "Route 8 - Antelope Valley College". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "Route 9 - Quartz Hill via Avenue H". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "Route 11 - East/West Lancaster via Avenue I". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "Route 12 - East/West Lancaster via Avenue J". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "Route 50 - Lake LA/Lancaster". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "Route 51 - Lake LA/Palmdale". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "Route 52 - Littlerock/Pearblossom". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "94 Special - AV High School/Eastside High School". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "97 Special - Highland High School". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "98 Special - Pete Knight High School". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "Route 785 - Downtown Los Angeles". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "Route 786 - Century City/West Los Angeles". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "Route 787 - West San Fernando Valley". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "790 Commuter". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "790 TRANSporter Schedule".
- ^ "About Our Fleet". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "On-Request Microtransit Ride Service". www.avta.com. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
- ^ "After strike, bus service will resume in the Antelope Valley Sunday". dailynews.com. 19 March 2017.
- ^ Nelson, Laura J. (9 May 2017). "Antelope Valley transit service stalls as bus operator strike continues". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "AVTA local service suspended indefinitely". theavtimes.com. 22 August 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA)". Wave. 2018-06-04. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
- ^ "Local transit fares", AVTA website