Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA) Facilities and Maintenance Director Ron Zirges will retire from VVTA after more than two decades of service and leadership. Zirges joined VVTA in 2009 and the authority says Zirges will transition from VVTA at the end of 2021.
Zirges was, and is, an essential part of bringing battery electric buses to the Victor Valley, as shared by VVTA Executive Director Kevin Kane.
“Ron Zirges is the smartest person I know when it comes to public transit fleets and facilities,” shared Kane. “It was Ron who led VVTA to be the first transit system in San Bernardino County to deploy battery electric buses. Now on the cusp of his retirement, he is leading VVTA into hydrogen-powered battery-electric buses with plans for a hydrogen fueling station in Hesperia and the procurement of multiple hydrogen battery electric buses. Again, the first in the county.”
During his tenure at VVTA, Zirges had many accomplishments, including:
• Procuring a stable fleet. Zirges took VVTA from an agency with a variety of different types of vehicles into a stable fleet of El Dorado and New Flyer Buses.
• Zirges was instrumental in the design and building of both VVTA’s Hesperia Facility on Smoke Tree Street and E Avenue, as well as VVTA’s latest facility in Barstow, Calif., on Historic Route 66, and
• Zirges implemented the creation of a 100 percent paperless system at VVTA's maintenance facilities.
Before joining VVTA as fleet and maintenance director, Zirges held various leadership positions in both the private and public sectors, including:
• Creating a Rural Fixed Route Service using ADA Buses for Riverside Transit Authority,
• Creating a rubber tire Trolly Service for the hotel industry in Arlington, Texas, in just 30 days,
• Consulting for dozens of transit agencies around the country, and
• Leading and participating with various committees in the fields of zero-emission buses, maintenance and Intelligent Transit Systems (ITS). These include The American Public Transportation Association, the California Transit Association and the California Association for Coordinated Transportation.
“It has been an honor to work in an industry I am passionate about and providing transit opportunities to commuters nationwide,” shared Zirges. “I will now focus my attention on golfing, fresh-water fishing and projects around the house.”
A veteran of the US Army, Zirges served in the 101st Airborne Division as a Door Gunner, Helicopter Mechanic and Crew Chief. Zirges has been a mentor to many in the transit industry and VVTA says he will be missed by all at the authority. Zirges will be enjoying his retirement with his wife Susan.
