Lancaster – The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) will soon be expanding its commuter routes to include local aerospace employers Edwards Air Force Base and the Mojave Air and Space Port, to better serve the community and the employers' transportation needs. After the Board of Directors approved the New Employment Center Commuter Services in September, the agency has been working diligently to finalize routes and fare structures, develop service schedules and brochures and are now ready to begin public outreach, to give the community a chance to learn and ask questions about the new services.
AVTA will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, November 20 at the Rosamond Community Services District (RCSD), located at 3179 35th Street West in Rosamond. The meeting will begin at 4:30 p.m., prior to the regular meeting of the RCSD Board of Directors, and is open to the public. AVTA will also be giving a short presentation during the actual board meeting, for those who are not able to attend at the earlier time.
"We are confident that these new services will be of great benefit to the entire area," said Marvin Crist, AVTA Board Chair. "Public transportation has been shown to save people time and money, while creating a healthier environment with less traffic congestion and lower air pollution. Our goal is to encourage aerospace-based workers to make the positive change to using public transit as a means of getting to work."
AVTA's new Route 747 will serve the Edwards Air Force Base Installation and 412th Test Wing, which currently employs more than 10,000 personnel, while Route 748 will run to the Mojave Air and Space Port, home to The Spaceship Company, BAE Systems, Scaled Composites and Northrop. Both routes will begin in the Antelope Valley, with the 747 making a stop in Rosamond, before reaching their final destinations. AVTA plans to operate its newest 60' articulated all-electric buses on these new routes. The buses, which are 100% battery powered, will provide an environmentally friendly mobility option for the thousands of employees driving into these sites daily, while the free on-board WiFi will enable them to use that drive time more effectively
"We're very excited to finally be able share this with the public and are hoping to get a lot of feedback from the community," stated Macy Neshati, AVTA Executive Director and CEO. "Our entire team has been working closely with officials at both locations to make sure that the service meets the needs of everyone who uses it, but it's very important to hear from our potential riders about what they want and need."
AVTA is also working to develop similar programs with the Air Force Plant 42 Production and Test Facility in Palmdale and employment centers in Santa Clarita.
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.
AVTA will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, November 20 at the Rosamond Community Services District (RCSD), located at 3179 35th Street West in Rosamond. The meeting will begin at 4:30 p.m., prior to the regular meeting of the RCSD Board of Directors, and is open to the public. AVTA will also be giving a short presentation during the actual board meeting, for those who are not able to attend at the earlier time.
"We are confident that these new services will be of great benefit to the entire area," said Marvin Crist, AVTA Board Chair. "Public transportation has been shown to save people time and money, while creating a healthier environment with less traffic congestion and lower air pollution. Our goal is to encourage aerospace-based workers to make the positive change to using public transit as a means of getting to work."
AVTA's new Route 747 will serve the Edwards Air Force Base Installation and 412th Test Wing, which currently employs more than 10,000 personnel, while Route 748 will run to the Mojave Air and Space Port, home to The Spaceship Company, BAE Systems, Scaled Composites and Northrop. Both routes will begin in the Antelope Valley, with the 747 making a stop in Rosamond, before reaching their final destinations. AVTA plans to operate its newest 60' articulated all-electric buses on these new routes. The buses, which are 100% battery powered, will provide an environmentally friendly mobility option for the thousands of employees driving into these sites daily, while the free on-board WiFi will enable them to use that drive time more effectively
"We're very excited to finally be able share this with the public and are hoping to get a lot of feedback from the community," stated Macy Neshati, AVTA Executive Director and CEO. "Our entire team has been working closely with officials at both locations to make sure that the service meets the needs of everyone who uses it, but it's very important to hear from our potential riders about what they want and need."
AVTA is also working to develop similar programs with the Air Force Plant 42 Production and Test Facility in Palmdale and employment centers in Santa Clarita.
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.
