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.
In January 2017, operation of Kern Transit was taken over by National Express Transit.National Express Transit Expands Operations in California National Express November 14, 2016Kern Transit to be under new operation next year KBAK-TV November 11, 2016National Express Transit expands in California Coach & Bus Week December 2, 2016
Routes Originate in Bakersfield Route NameTerminalsCommunities ServedConnecting ServicesNotesEast Kern (100- Lancaster via Tehachapi)Amtrak StationBakersfieldLancaster MetrolinkBakersfield, Keene, Tehachapi, Mojave, Rosamond, LancasterAmtrak California Eastern Sierra Transit Authority Antelope Valley Transit AuthorityRuns 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 CenterDelano (Route 110) Lost Hills Post OfficeLost Hills (Route 115)Bakersfield, Shafter, Wasco, Lost Hills, McFarland, DelanoAmtrak California (Wasco Station) Delano Area Rapid Transit (110 only) Tulare County Area Transit (110 only)Route 110 runs everyday while route 115 runs only on Thursdays and SaturdaysWest Kern (120- Taft)GET Downtown Transit Center Amtrak StationBakersfieldTaft Transit CenterTaft Bakersfield, Dustin Acres, Valley Acres, TaftAmtrak California Taft Area Transit to MaricopaRuns Monday-SaturdayFrazier Park Area (130- Frazier Park)GET Downtown Transit CenterBakersfield Amtrak StationBakersfield Frazier Park Post OfficeBakersfield, Wheeler Ridge, Lebec, Frazier Park,Amtrak CaliforniaRuns Monday-Saturday Formerly serviced the Santa Clarita stationLamont Area (140 [Bakersfield North Route] & 145 [Bakersfield South Route]) GET Downtown Transit Center (145) BakersfieldArvin City HallArvinBakersfield, Lamont, Weedpatch, ArvinArvin TransitBoth 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 CenterBakersfieldLake Isabella Senior CenterLake IsabellaBakersfield, Lake IsabellaAmtrak CaliforniaRuns everyday
Other routes Route NameTerminalsCommunities ServedConnecting ServicesNotesBoron - Mojave Route (240)Inyo St & Hwy 14MojaveBoron Post OfficeBoronBoron, Mojave, North EdwardsEastern Sierra Transit AuthorityRuns Mondays, Wednesdays, and FridaysFrazier Park Local (210)Frazier Park Lumber and HardwareFrazier ParkPine Mountain ClubFrazier Park, Lake of the Woods, Pine Mountain Club, Pinon Pines EstatesRuns Tuesday and Saturday onlyKern River Valley (220 [Lake Isabella - Kernville], 223 [Lake Isabella - Bodfish Loop], and 225 [Lake Isabella - Onyx])Lake Isabella Senior CenterLake 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-SaturdayKernville - Lake Isabella - Ridgecrest Route (227)Tobias St. & Kernville Rd.Kernville Lake Isabella Senior Center Lake IsabellaWalmart/China Lake Blvd.RidgecrestKernville, Wofford Heights, Lake Isabella, Mountain Mesa, South Lake, Weldon, Onyx, Walker Pass, Inyokern, RidgecrestRuns on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday onlyLancaster - California City Route (250)Mobil/Avenue JLancasterRite Aid/California City Blvd.California CityCalifornia City, Mojave, Rosamond, LancasterMetrolink Amtrak California Eastern Sierra Transit Authority Antelope Valley Transit AuthorityRuns Monday-SaturdayMojave - Ridgecrest Route (230)Inyo St & Hwy 14MojaveWalmart/ China Lake Blvd.RidgecrestMojave, California City, Inyokern, RidgecrestEastern Sierra Transit Authority 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.
References
External links kerntransit.org