Kern Transit

Kern Transit, formerly Kern Regional Transit, is the operator of mass transportation in Kern County, California. Primarily, it provides inter-regional transportation, connecting outlying regions with the city of Bakersfield (and with each other with a transfer in Bakersfield). It also provides inter-city transportation within specific regions. Kern (Regional) Transit is operated by the Kern County Department of Roads. The agency was founded in 1981. Its headquarters are located in Bakersfield.

For public transportation in Bakersfield before 1973, see Bakersfield and Kern Electric Railway. For public transportation in Bakersfield after 1973, see Golden Empire Transit.
Kern Transit
ParentKern County Roads Department
Founded1981 (1981)
Headquarters2700 M Street
LocaleBakersfield, California
Service areaKern County, California
Service typeBus service
Routes16
HubsBakersfield,
Frazier Park,
Lake Isabella,
Mojave
Annual ridership513,000 (2010)
Fuel typeCNG, Diesel
OperatorNational Express Transit
Websitewww.kerntransit.org

In January 2017, operation of Kern Transit was taken over by National Express Transit.[1][2][3]

Routes

Originate in Bakersfield
Route Name Terminals Communities Served Connecting Services Notes
East Kern (100- Lancaster via Tehachapi) Amtrak Station
Bakersfield		 Metrolink
Lancaster		 Bakersfield, Keene, Tehachapi, Mojave, Rosamond, Lancaster
  • Runs everyday
  • Route 100 runs Monday-Thursday evening services to Tehachapi.
North Kern (110- Delano & 115- Lost Hills) GET Downtown Transit Center,

Bakersfield College (Route 110 on weekdays only), Valley Plaza (Route 110 on weekends only)

 Delano Community Center
Delano (Route 110)

Lost Hills Post Office
Lost Hills (Route 115)

 Bakersfield, Shafter, Wasco, Lost Hills, McFarland, Delano
  • Route 110 runs everyday while route 115 runs only on Thursdays and Saturdays
West Kern (120- Taft) GET Downtown Transit Center

Amtrak Station
Bakersfield

 Taft Transit Center
Taft		 Bakersfield, Dustin Acres, Valley Acres, Taft
  • Runs Monday-Saturday
Frazier Park Area (130- Frazier Park/Santa Clarita) GET Downtown Transit Center
Bakersfield		 McBean Regional Transit Center

Frazier Park Post Office

 Bakersfield, Wheeler Ridge, Lebec, Frazier Park, Santa Clarita
  • Runs Monday-Saturday [Service to Santa Clarita runs on weekdays only and Saturday trips end at Frazier Park.]
Lamont Area (140 [Bakersfield North Route] & 145 [Bakersfield South Route]) Greyhound Bus Station/18th St. (140)

GET Downtown Transit Center (145)
Bakersfield

 Arvin City Hall
Arvin		 Bakersfield, Lamont,

Weedpatch, Arvin
  • Both routes run everyday
  • Evening service (140 [North]) runs Monday-Thursday to Arvin
  • Route 145, on weekdays, only runs to Weedpatch, but services to Arvin on weekends.
Kern River Valley (150-Lake Isabella) GET Downtown Transit Center
Bakersfield		 Lake Isabella Senior Center
Lake Isabella		 Bakersfield, Lake Isabella
  • Runs everyday

Other routes
Route Name Terminals Communities Served Connecting Services Notes
Boron - Mojave Route (240) Inyo St & Hwy 14
Mojave		 Boron Post Office
Boron		 Boron, Mojave, North Edwards
  • Runs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
Frazier Park Local (210) Frazier Park Lumber and Hardware
Frazier Park		 Pine Mountain Club Frazier Park, Lake of the Woods, Pine Mountain Club, Pinon Pines Estates
  • Runs Tuesday and Saturday only
Kern River Valley

(220 [Lake Isabella - Kernville], 223 [Lake Isabella - Bodfish Loop], and 225 [Lake Isabella - Onyx])

 Lake Isabella Senior Center
Lake Isabella		 Route 220: Valley View Dr. & Sierra Way/ Kern Valley Airport Kernville

Route 223: North Rd. & Columbus Ave.Bodfish

Route 225: Scodie Park Rd. & Cypress St. Onyx

 Bodfish (Rte 223), Kernville (220), Lake Isabella, Mountain Mesa (225), Onyx (225), South Lake (225), Weldon (225), Wofford Heights (220)
  • Runs Monday-Saturday
Kernville - Lake Isabella - Ridgecrest Route (227) Tobias St. & Kernville Rd.
Kernville

Lake Isabella Senior Center
Lake Isabella

 Walmart/China Lake Blvd.
Ridgecrest		 Kernville, Wofford Heights, Lake Isabella, Mountain Mesa, South Lake, Weldon, Onyx, Walker Pass, Inyokern, Ridgecrest
  • Runs on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only
Lancaster - California City Route (250) Mobil/Avenue J
Lancaster		 Rite Aid/California City Blvd.
California City		 California City, Mojave,

Rosamond, Lancaster
  • Runs Monday-Saturday
Mojave - Ridgecrest Route (230) Inyo St & Hwy 14
Mojave		 Walmart/ China Lake Blvd.
Ridgecrest		 Mojave, California City, Inyokern, Ridgecrest

RidgeRunner (Ridgecrest Transit System)
  • Runs on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday only

Hubs and connecting services

Bakersfield is the central hub for the inter-regional routes. Buses stop at the Downtown Transit Center (operated by Golden Empire Transit), or the Bakersfield Amtrak Station which is also located downtown, or both. Bus bays are used at the Amtrak Station, while none are available at the Transit Center. Buses instead park on Chester Avenue, in front of it. Depending on the route, Kern Regional Transit makes additional stops in Bakersfield, but are generally used either to board or discharge passengers (depending on the direction the bus is traveling).

Additional hubs are located in Frazier Park, Lake Isabella, and Mojave. Passengers transfer from inter-regional routes to inter-city routes that serve the specific region. Many of these routes were requested and funded by local governments, instead of operating their own transit system.

Some local governments have funded their own public transportation system, instead of relying on Kern Regional Transit. These include Arvin (Arvin Transit), Delano (Delano Area Rapid Transit), and Taft (Taft Area Transit). In addition, Shafter and Wasco provide their own Dial-a-ride service, which serves their communities.

Fare and schedule
  • Local Routes:

(140,145,210,220,223,&225) & All Dial-A-Rides operated by Kern Transit

General Fare: $2.00/Reduced Fare: $1.00

  • Inter-Community Routes:

([100 not traveling through Tehachapi],110,115,120,[130 not traveling through Frazier Park],150,227,230,240,&250)

General Fare: $3.00 Reduced Fare: $1.50

  • Cross County Routes:

100 traveling through Tehachapi and 130 traveling through Frazier Park

General Fare: $5.00 Reduced Fare: $2.50

Operating days vary greatly depending on the route. Most of the long distance inter-regional (100,110,120,130,250)routes run 6 or 7 days a week. However, some (227,230) run 3 days a week. Shorter regional routes (115,210,240) mostly run 2 or 3 days a week. However, some (all Kern River Valley routes, 140,145) run 6 or 7 days a week.

Fleet

Because of the wide variety of demand for service in various areas, Kern Regional Transit uses a variety of vehicles. The fleet consists of 40-foot, 35-foot, 30-foot, and 21-foot buses which are used on scheduled routes depending on the number of riders.

All buses are equipped with wheelchair ramps, and offer bicycle racks. A portion of the fleet runs on compressed natural gas. The paint scheme is white, with "Regional Transit" in large letters in the center, on all sides. On the sides, a small "Kern Regional Transit" logo is directly in front of "Regional Transit", with the slogan "...your county connection" directly behind. Changeable signs, which list the destination city, are only on the front and left side of the bus.

Maintenance facility

The maintenance facility is located on Victor Street, just south of Olive Drive in Northwest Bakersfield. It contains parking for the entire fleet, shops, bus wash, and cleaning facilities. The facility does not contain the headquarters for the agency. That is located in the Public Services Building on "M" Street.

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References
  1. National Express Transit Expands Operations in California National Express November 14, 2016
  2. Kern Transit to be under new operation next year KBAK-TV November 11, 2016
  3. National Express Transit expands in California Coach & Bus Week December 2, 2016

kerntransit.org

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