The Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA) has awarded Keolis North America a contract to operate the Victor Valley network in San Bernardino County in southern California.
Keolis Transit America (KTA), a subsidiary of Keolis North America, began operating the network Oct. 1. The contract, worth approximately $130 million, gives Keolis responsibility to operate and maintain 127 buses, 91 of which run on natural gas and seven of which are electric, for a period of five years, with the option to extend it for an additional five years.
With this new contract, Keolis will carry an additional 1.7 million passengers per year and welcome 240 new employees to its workforce. Operating buses, commuter rail, on-demand transport, paratransit and autonomous electric vehicles in the U.S. since 2010, the VVTA contract represents another step in the growth of Keolis’ North American footprint.
“We are pleased to partner with VVTA and contribute our expertise in bus operations and maintenance from across the United States and Canada, as well as around the world. And we are particularly proud to have managed the handover in a short time of 17 days,” said Keolis Group International CEO Bernard Tabary. “Our aim is to provide Victor Valley residents and visitors with a reliable, safe and on-time service whilst introducing innovations which deliver tangible improvements to the passenger experience.”
The bus network of Victor Valley, located in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, features 30 lines and four main transit centers. It encompasses several southern California cities such as Adelanto, Apple Valley, Barstow, Hesperia, Victorville, San Bernardino and unincorporated San Bernardino areas in the High Desert, including commuter service to Fort Irwin, which are home to a combined total of 450,000 residents.
Keolis offers VVTA a data-driven approach to performance management that includes transparent reporting through a visualization room, used to review the status of operations in real time, and a proprietary Dispatch Control System (DCS) for optimal driver scheduling and vehicle readiness.
“Here at VVTA we look forward to a long and successful partnership with Keolis. VVTA is at the forefront of providing innovative mobility options to the High Desert communities and we feel Keolis is at the forefront of providing professional transit services that will meet and exceed our expectations,” said VVTA Executive Director Kevin Kane.
