For Immediate Release. Date: 8/2/2017. AVTA Board Approves Service Changes to Provide Increased Performance and Access t
For Immediate Release Date: 8/2/2017 AVTA Board Approves Service Changes to Provide Increased Performance and Access to Community Services Lancaster – The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) Board of Directors gave the agency the green light to implement changes to some of its fixed route services, beginning August 14. Utilizing market research gathered from over 2,300 unique riders in a 2016 Origin and Destination Study, AVTA has since been working to develop service change recommendations focused on improving on-time performance (OTP) and the customer experience. In addition, the approved service changes have been developed to be cost neutral and will accommodate operational needs as AVTA transitions to an all-electric fleet. “We are pleased with the progress being made to enhance transit performance and community access to healthcare and education, without incurring impacts to AVTA’s bottom-line. It is through these positive changes that we can continue to provide efficient, reliable, and safe transportation while meeting the growing needs of our riders in the Antelope Valley”, said Board Chairman Marvin Crist. Changes to Routes 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 51, and 52 involve simply adjusting existing bus schedules based on different traffic patterns throughout the day. Routes 2 and 3 will continue to connect at 47th Street East and Avenue S, and will charge at Palmdale Transportation Center. Similarly, Routes 11 and 12 will continue to connect at Avenue J and 20th Street East, and will charge during the layover at Sgt. Steve Owen Memorial Park. Responding to requests from healthcare officials at Kaiser Permanente Lancaster and in collaboration with the City of Lancaster, a bus stop will be relocated from street-side on Avenue L to just outside the entrance of the Kaiser facility. Route 50 will have adjusted running times, this change will greatly improve ease-of-access to healthcare, especially for riders with mobility challenges. Additionally, riders who use AVTA’s North County Transporter will enjoy expanded service to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital and College of The Canyons. "We greatly value our customers, and our goal with these changes was to address some of the questions and concerns we have received from our riders," stated AVTA CEO Len Engel. "We will continue to strive towards enhancing our operations without fiscal impacts, improving the quality of life for our riders and getting closer to becoming the world's first all-electric fleet".
Riders are encouraged to visit the AVTA website, www.avta.com for trip planning and to stay upto-date on service changes. 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. ###
