Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA) is the essential connector for over 10 communities across California’s High Desert. Spanning nearly 1,000 square miles—from Barstow to Apple Valley and beyond—VVTA links rural residents to jobs, schools, healthcare, and more.
Every day, commuters travel “down the hill” on Route 15 to the San Bernadino Transit Center – which connects workers to Los Angeles and other regional hubs; a commuter bus transports military personnel 5 days a week to Fort Irwin; VVTA’s vanpooling service – one of the top 10 vanpooling programs in the country – connects business associates to their daily work shifts and even carries Disneyland cast members to Anaheim; and their on-demand Micro-Link service brings customers to shop at local businesses, medical appointments, schools and more for as little as $2 per trip. For rural communities that might otherwise be hard-to-reach, VVTA is the thread tying them into the economic fabric of the region.
While we’re considered a small agency by national standards, our service area is enormous,” said Chris Ackerman, VVTA’s Public Information Officer and Senior Marketing Manager. “The cities in our region have grown by leaps and bounds over the past 30 years, and the connections we provide help make that continued growth possible. With Victor Valley Transit, people throughout the High Desert have the freedom and access to get where they need to go.”
VVTA’s role as a connector extends throughout the community. Its TRIP program for seniors, who cannot use normal means of public transportation, reimburses them so friends and loved ones can step in to help provide rides. Its partnership with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Transit Unit strengthens riders’ confidence in the safety of the system by providing a presence on routes and at stations. Recently, VVTA donated four retired buses to the Victor Valley College Foundation to support hands-on training for future transit and public safety professionals—an investment in both people and the region’s long-term growth.
Looking forward, proposals like the Brightline West high-speed rail project and the Silverwood Community Development in south Hesperia, CA could bring even more regional connectivity, including to Las Vegas. And while those plans are still developing, VVTA’s existing network is already ensuring the High Desert is connected to major cities and to the life-changing opportunities they provide.
