Two new bus routes have been added that should be of interest to students: one from Lamont to Arvin and another from Lamont to the campus that leaves the campus late enough that a rider could still attend evening classes.
They will both be available Monday through Thursday, a schedule much later in the evening than previously available. The rates are $1.25 from campus to Lamont with another $1.25 from Lamont to Arvin with the last bus leaving campus at 9:30 p.m. and stopping in Lamont at 9:59 p.m. and Arvin at 10:21 p.m. (schedules available at the Kern Regional Transit website).
The Kern Regional Transit continues to serve the community by providing one-way transit fares to various locations in and around Kern County, with additional routes and an updated schedule of ticket and service operations.
Transportation Development and Kern County Roads Department Planner, Linda Wilbanks, discusses in depth the success of the county transit and the services available to residents who are seeking transportation assistance now and for the future.
“Our transit offers great reliability and our services are always at reasonable prices,” said Wilbanks.
Transit departures range in different locations within the Kern Regional Transit network, that not only include intercity routes, but also long distance locations that run north, south, east and west through Frazier Park, Gorman, Lost Hills, Mojave, Boron, California City, and also the Ridgecrest area and distances beyond that are within the same network.
“The distance of where you want to go will affect the price, but taking the transit is a smart, safe, and effective choice to getting where you need to go,” said Wilbanks.
The standard departure fee for general public tickets averages seventy-five cents and up.
Discounts are available for the disabled, seniors, and youth riders.
According to Wilbanks, not only does the Kern Regional Transit offer reliable and inexpensive transportation, but it also grants parents and their children a “safe” and “crime-free” environment.
When asked if the transit’s position would ever be jeopardized due to other transportation coming in to the community, such as a new railroad or high-speed train, Wilbanks disagreed.
“A high-speed railroad would most likely help bring awareness to society about public transit,” said Wilbanks. “Hopefully, it will mean more people will want to use our services to travel.”
BC sophomore and current student Eduardo Guerra has been taking the bus to school for the past semester and considers it to be a reliable source of transportation.
“If you know the times of the buses, then it’s good to take. I come from Stockdale and I normally take the blue bus because itzs the fastest and really cheap. Its only a dollar,” said Guerra.
The Kern Regional Transit also offers express transportation to fixed areas around Kern County and is noticeably painted blue or white with a California poppy.
Dial-A-Ride service is available for those who call a day in advance and whom are interested in being picked up from a specific destination under the appropriate conditions and at given running times.