The route would begin at Avenue S and 47th Street East in Palmdale and would end at the University of Antelope Valley in Lancaster.
The Board of Directors will hold a public hearing on the proposal at its next meeting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28. If approved, the new route would stop at transportation centers in both Palmdale and Lancaster as well as at the Michael D. Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse. Direct service to the county courthouse does not currently exist.
“Our goal is to help reduce overcrowding on Route 1,” stated AVTA Executive Director Julie Austin.
Two buses would run the northbound and southbound routes with hourly service to each stop.
The Board of Directors is also slated to consider eliminating the Route 1 Express. This new route, which was created on Nov. 7, to alleviate overcrowding on Route 1, has proven ineffective carrying less than four passengers per hour. The popular Route 1 continues to transport approximately 32 passengers per hour.
“We are being very proactive in ensuring we utilize our resources effectively, stated Board Chairman Norm Hickling. “As soon as it became apparent the Route 1 Express was not effectively meeting the needs of the community, the AVTA staff set about to find a new solution. We owe it to the Antelope Valley ridership to make adjustments in the bus routes, as necessary, to accommodate the greatest number of passengers.”
If approved, route changes would go into effect on April 1. Valley residents are encouraged to attend the upcoming board meeting to express opinions regarding these proposed changes.
The meeting will be held in the AVTA Boardroom located at 42210 6th Street West in Lancaster. Contact Wendy Williams at (661) 729-2239 for additional information.
