The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) was established 30 years ago in April 1992 in response to an expressed desire from the Antelope Valley residents for public transportation. A Joint Powers Agreement between the cities of Lancaster, Palmdale and Los Angeles County was developed to govern the organization of the newly formed agency.
Three months later, the first AVTA bus, a diesel-powered Gillig, rolled down the streets of Lancaster and Palmdale. During that first year, AVTA launched three services: local transit, commuter service to L.A. and a dial-a-ride paratransit service.
“During a year of remarkable and historical achievements at AVTA, the staff is taking a moment to celebrate a simpler milestone,” said AVTA Chairman of the Board Marvin Crist. “This agency started from humble beginnings and has been built into a nationally known transit agency, recently becoming the first 100 percent all-electric, zero-emission transit agency in North America.”
Over its 30-year existence, AVTA has stayed dedicated to serving the residents of the Antelope Valley. AVTA exists to mobilize and empower the community by connecting people to resources for opportunities that enrich and elevate their lives.
“The staff of AVTA sincerely believes and follows this vision of why we exist,” said Martin Tompkins, AVTA executive director and CEO. “In the next 30 years, we look forward to continuing our board of directors’ vision for a greener and technologically superior transit system serving the citizens of Lancaster, Palmdale and the rural northern Los Angeles County communities.”
AVTA provides local, commuter and dial-a-ride service to a population of more than 450,000 residents in the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale as well as the unincorporated portions of northern Los Angeles County. Its total service area covers 1,200 square miles and it is bounded by the Kern County line to the north, the San Bernardino County line to the east, the Angeles National Forest to the south and Interstate 5 to the West.
