Through the years, the Antelope Valley Transit Authority has grown with the community!

1992

•    The Antelope Valley Transit Authority was established April 1,1992 in response to area residents who expressed a strong desire for public transportation in the high desert
•    A Joint Powers Agreement between the cities of Lancaster, Palmdale and Los Angeles County was developed to govern the organization of the newly-formed AVTA
•    AVTA rolled its first bus down the streets of Lancaster and Palmdale on July 1, 1992. During AVTA’s first year in operation, the transit agency provided more than 900,000 rides
•    AVTA began by operating three services: Local Transit, Commuter and Dial-A-Ride

1996

•    Access Services (formerly ASI) established to serve the disabled as a “complementary paratransit service” in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

1998

•    The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recognized AVTA for its efficiency

1999

•    The California Transit Association recognized AVTA with an award for Transit Image

2004

•    AVTA relocated to its new, larger facility with state-of-the-art equipment for maintaining its fleet, including a solar canopy covering a portion of the parking area, which continues to offset electricity costs for AVTA. The federally funded facility cost $21 million to construct and is located at 6th Street West just north of Avenue M in Lancaster

2005

•    The Palmdale Transportation Center opened, providing citizens with a state-of-the-art transportation facility. The $14 million multi-modal hub offers connections between AVTA local and commuter bus service, Metrolink commuter rail service, Greyhound bus service, and Amtrak train service

2007

•    AVTA won an AdWheel award from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) for its innovative and appealing Local Transit Map design

2011

•    AVTA won its first of seven consecutive AdWheel annual awards from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
•    AVTA was recognized as Employer of the Year by Desert Haven Enterprises for its support and employment of the developmentally disabled for grounds keeping and janitorial services
•    An $11 million expansion project began in order to add new maintenance bays, more solar canopies, a new community room, and additional office space
•    A complete renovation of AVTA's main transfer center in Lancaster at the Lancaster City Park (now Sgt. Steve Owen Memorial Park) was completed. It is located on 10th Street West at Avenue K-8

2012

•    AVTA enters a cleaner new era by adding 15 new diesel hybrid buses to its local transit fleet
•    AVTA again won an AdWheel annual award from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
•    The California Transit Association honored AVTA with the Small Operators Transit Excellence Award

2013

•    AVTA’s facilities expansion project was completed, adding new maintenance bays, more solar canopies, a new community room, and additional office space

2014

•    AVTA embarked on their historic journey to become the first transit agency in the nation to operate a 100% all-electric zero emission fleet, with the first two 40' buses going into service
•    AVTA was awarded the William J. "Pete" Knight AIRE Award by the AVAQMD, and the Energy Efficiency Leader Award by Thermo King, both recognizing the agency's commitment to environmental responsibility
•    AVTA was recognized as Employer of the Year by Desert Haven Enterprises for its support and employment of the developmentally disabled for grounds keeping and janitorial services

2015

•    AVTA releases an RFP to purchase the first eight zero emission buses from local manufacturer BYD
•    AVTA introduced Track-It, a real-time bus location information system where customers can access real time information through AVTA's website and through the MyStop app
•    The fare structure is updated, with Day Passes now available for purchase on the bus

2016

•    AVTA makes history by voting to purchase up to 85 new all-electric zero emission buses from BYD, officially becoming the first transit agency in the nation to commit to a 100% electric fleet
•    AVTA recognized by the White House for its leadership in the adoption of zero emission vehicles
•    The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) tapped AVTA to receive the prestigious Sustainability Award for Excellence in Green Region Initiative
•    AVTA launches Campus Connect, a free bus pass program for Antelope Valley College students

2017

•    AVTA again made history by becoming the first transit agency in the world to operate an all-electric, zero emission 60' articulated bus in revenue service
•    AVTA reached another major milestone with the completion of the first ever WAVE inductive charging system in Southern California
•    The Coalition for Clean Air named AVTA the recipient of the Leadership in Government Award in June recognizing AVTA's plan to convert its entire fleet to zero-emission all-electric buses

2018

•    AVTA is working to establish new commuter routes serving Edwards Air Force Base, Mojave Air & Space Port, and employers in Santa Clarita
•    AVTA began to charge its electric buses on special wireless charging pads located along bus routes.

2019

•    AVTA began Commuter Service to Edwards Air Force Base on January 22, 2019
•    AVTA celebrated a significant milestone in its conversion to an all-electric fleet, achieving the first one million zero emission miles driven
•    AVTA celebrated another significant milestone, achieving the two million zero emission miles driven on December 24, 2019

2020

•    The last diesel bus was removed from local service in April 2020
•    AVTA celebrated three million zero emission miles driven on June 23, 2020
•    AVTA launched a Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) service on August 3, 2020
•    AVTA launched a pilot program, On-Request Microtransit Ride Service, on September 1, 2020
•    AVTA celebrated four million zero emission miles driven on December 11, 2020

2021

•    AVTA cuts ribbon and dedicated Marvin E. Crist Wellness Center on April 27, 2021
•    AVTA celebrated five million zero emission miles driven on May 7, 2021
•    On August 24, 2021, AVTA christened the first of 24 battery-electric MCI commuter coaches, launching into service the first electric commuter coach in North America
•    AVTA celebrated six million zero emission miles driven on August 31, 2021
•    AVTA Executive Director and CEO, Macy Neshati, was awarded the 2021 William J. "Pete" Knight Achievement in Reducing Emissions (AIRE) Award by the AVAQMD on September 21, 2021
•    AVTA Board of Directors unanimously appointed Martin Tompkins as the transit agency’s new executive director/CEO on November 23, 2021
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2022

•    AVTA celebrated seven million zero emission miles driven on January 10, 2022
•    On March 16, 2022, ATVA celebrated becoming the first all-electric, zero emissions transit agency in North America
•    In April 2022, ATVA marked the 30th Anniversary of the agency being launched in April of 1992
•    August 2022, AVTA Awarded $4.8 Million in latest round of Transit Intercity Rail Capital Program
•    AVTA achieved ten million zero emission miles driven in December 2022
•    December 17, 2022, AVTA hosted the Holiday Drive Thru Grocery and Toy Giveaway, distributing thousands of holiday meals and turkeys and more than 2,650 toys, gifts, and bicycles
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2023

•    AVTA celebrated ten million zero emission miles driven in January 2023
•    AVTA launches the L.A. Metro GoPass Program for school districts in the Antelope Valley
•    AVTA hits a thirteen million zero emission miles driven in December 2023 
•    December 16, 2023, AVTA hosted the Holiday Drive Thru Grocery and Toy Giveaway, distributing thousands of holiday meals, turkeys, toys, and bicycles. 

2024

•    AVTA celebrated ten years of electric service in March 2024
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