Streamlined
routes, a commitment to on-time service, a new daily
Jackson-and-Sutter Creek trolley express and a sparkling new
Transit Center are the latest elements in the planned growth at
Amador Transit.
There’s a new center to Amador
Transit’s operations, a gleaming new Transit Center on Valley
View Avenue in Sutter Hill. The new building is the hub of the
systems routes. All buses and trolleys run on routes the end and
being at the new center.
Part
of those routes include big, shiny, green trolleys that carry
passengers between Sutter Creek and Jackson, 6:30 a.m. and 7:30
p.m., Monday-through-Friday. They make nine circuits between the
two cities that last about 70 minutes each. The new daily
Jackson-and-Sutter Creek trolley route began February 1.
“This is an ideal way to take care of
shopping, business and appointments. Riders from either city can
rely on regular service every business day. Passengers from
outlying areas can use public parking in either city and then
use the trolleys to get around,” said Amador Transit executive
director James A. Means.
Means acquired the trolleys from the
Riverbank Oakdale Transit Authority for no cost to Amador
Transit. The trolleys are custom-built coaches with elaborate
exterior design, curved windows and wood and brass interiors.
Streamlined routes are now in place
providing, on-time service throughout the system. They
began on February 8.
“We established a Steering Committee
of interested public members and have held two meetings so far,”
explained Means. “The overwhelming comment to come from those
meetings was the lack of reliability and problems with on-time
service. We were told that these two issues were the biggest
stumbling blocks preventing people from riding the bus.
“If I tell people the bus is coming,
the most they are going to wait is ten minutes,” he said.
Exact on-time service will depend on
how many ADA deviations have been approved for each route. ARTS
dispatchers will know 24 hours in advance how many there are and
can plan to keep the buses on schedule. All other route
deviations will be approved on a per-request basis made 24 hours
ahead of time; approval will depend on the schedule and they
will be charged double fares.
ARTS has 11 routes serving the Amador
County public, including the new trolley line. Current fares are
$2 for adults, $1 for seniors and students.
For daily commuters to the Sacramento
area, Amador Transit recently accepted delivery of a new bus for
the daily X-Line, and this one is equipped with on-board WIFI.
Commuters can go on line and work or read while they ride to
work.
And within a year’s time - it could
be as little as six months - Amador Transit will take delivery
on five new CNG-powered buses for local routes.
“This process is basically done,”
said Means. “The new buses are grant-funded and we are going
through an administrative process with the state. Our new buses
could begin service in as little as six months to a year from
now.”
CNG fueling is a long-range plan for
Amador Transit, which will add to its commitment to
environmental responsibility.
