Calif.’s Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA) Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve the Amended Joint Powers Agreement that authorizes its merger with Barstow Area Transit. Pending adoption by its member entities, the merger is slated to take effect July 1, 2015.

“Through the preceding trial period, VVTA delivered on its promises, improving the level of service and fiscal responsibility to our community,” said Barstow City Council Member Richard Harpole, citing a recent Barstow Area Transit survey report. “The drivers are more courteous. The buses are cleaner, and the introduction of trash cans at bus stops has helped clean up our city streets.”

With a core service area that spans approximately 425 square miles, VVTA maintains three types of service that connect Barstow to the Victor Valley and Los Angeles metropolitan area. These include B-V Link Lifeline Bus Service to San Bernardino and Fontana Metrolink; NTC Commuter bus service to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin; and its Regional Vanpool Program, which provides rideshare service for commutes that begin or terminate within its operational area.