The Antelope Valley Transit Authority Board of Directors has approved bus service changes aimed at increasing access to education, veterans' health care, and community resources. As with past service changes, the new enhancements will serve to keep communities connected while reducing the use of fossil fuels. All changes will begin on Monday, August 20, 2018.
College students will benefit from a new local line of service, the Route 8, which has been established to directly connect Antelope Valley College’s Lancaster campus to their Palmdale Center, located at 2301 East Palmdale Blvd. The trip will take less than 35 minutes each direction and includes a stop at the Palmdale Transportation Center. This new route is made possible with $53,000 in funding provided by Antelope Valley College to support the first semester of service. Eligible AVC students can ride local AVTA buses for free utilizing a special student discount program supported by the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District, AVC and AVTA.
“We are excited to again partner with AVTA to provide greater access for our students,” said Ed Knudson, AVC Superintendent/President. “AVTA continues to show diligence, creativity and innovative resource allocation to enhance the transportation opportunities for the citizens of the entire Antelope Valley.”
A new stop on AVTA’s commuter Route 786 has been added at the West Los Angeles Veteran’s Administration Medical Center, the largest facility in the VA health care system, on Wilshire Blvd. Veterans and military personnel can take the bus from Sgt. Steve Owen Memorial Park at 5:20 and 5:40 a.m. and the Palmdale Transportation Center at 5:35 and 6:00 a.m. Returns trips to the Antelope Valley will depart the VA at 3:28 and 4:28 p.m. In the event that health care services extend beyond the time frame of return departures, AVTA will also guarantee that no veteran rider will be left behind at the VA facility.
“We want to make certain our local veterans have peace of mind knowing that they will always have reliable, efficient and affordable transportation to connect them with the quality health care services they deserve,” said AVTA Board Chairman Marvin Crist.
In addition to implementing changes to better serve students and veterans, AVTA is adding a new stop on their local Route 3. This stop, on Avenue 0-8 at Sierra Highway in Palmdale, will provide access to a business and employment center serving Los Angeles County Department of Child and Family Services, foster family care, a major aerospace company, and a higher educational center.
AVTA has adjusted their Route 51 eastbound trip to depart at 5:35 p.m. instead of 5:30, which aligns better with Metrolink’s arrival at the Palmdale Transportation Center. The Commuter Route 785, which has been operating on the path of a long-term detour, will return to its original course along Flower Street since road construction has been completed.
“Through continuous improvements, we will ensure that our routes provide optimal efficiency and connectivity to critical community services that improve the health and welfare of Antelope Valley residents and beyond,” said AVTA CEO Macy Neshati.
