News

After an extensive nationwide search, the Victor Valley Transit Board of Directors unanimously selected Nancie Goff as Victor Valley Transit Authority’s (VVTA’s) new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). She will assume her new role on April 1, 2023. Ms. Goff replaces long-time CEO, Kevin Kane, who is retiring after 24 years of providing valuable service to the agency. 

Ms. Goff started as a Clerk Typist in 1994, rose through the ranks to Chief Operations Officer (COO), and will transition to her newly appointed role as CEO next month. “It’s a privilege to lead such an award-winning agency and to have the support of a Board of Directors that is so dedicated to the benefits of public transportation within our communities,” shared Ms. Goff.

Ms. Goff’s role within VVTA was integral to the merger with Barstow Transit in 2016. This achievement led to the expansion of services to the community, bus upgrades, technology, equipment, and passenger shelters for transit riders in Barstow, California.

Current CEO, Kevin Kane, will retire at the end of the month as Ms. Goff takes the reins of Victor Valley Transit.  “We want to express our heartfelt thanks to Kevin Kane, who has been a strong leader for Victor Valley Transit over the last 24 years”, stated Liz Becerra, VVTA Board Chair and City of Victorville Mayor Pro Tem. “We are extremely fortunate to be bringing Nancie Goff on board, who will no doubt continue Mr. Kane’s strong leadership and direction while forging a new legacy of her own.”

As the Executive Director of VVTA, Mr. Kane arranged the finance and construction of a large, Gold and Silver LEED-certified transit facility with administrative offices, operations offices, a maintenance facility, and covered parking for transit coaches. Under his leadership, VVTA created a consolidated transportation service agency (CTSA),  that provided services to residents in Trona and Big River. These residents previously had no lifeline services to the court system and medical facilities in San Bernardino County. They created a volunteer driver program and a nationally recognized vehicle rental program. Mr. Kane led the way in transitioning his fleet and operations to zero–emissions and has twelve battery-electric buses providing transit services in the Victor Valley and Barstow communities. 

Under Mr. Kane’s leadership, VVTA operates out of two facilities, the primary operations and maintenance facility in Hesperia and a second in Barstow, California. The agency has always been environmentally conscious, starting its transition to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueled buses in 1998 to reduce its Green House Gas emissions. By 2012, 100% of its’ fixed-route fleet was CNG, utilizing Renewable Natural Gas. After implementing the California Air Resources Board’s Innovative Clean Transit regulation (ICT), VVTA purchased its’ first Battery Electric Buses (BEBs) in 2018 and put them into service in 2019. The agency currently operates 12 BEBs and is adding hydrogen fuel cell powered buses, with the goal of 100% of its’ fixed-route fleet being zero emissions by 2035.

Ms. Goff added, “Mr. Kane has had such a dedicated and outstanding career, a proven track record of leading this agency, and having a strong voice within the industry. I will strive to build on his momentum in delivering outstanding transit service to our community.”

Under the leadership of Ms. Goff, VVTA will continue to focus on building ridership by bringing focus to, and being responsive to, the needs of the community. The agency is set to launch a Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA) this year that will involve outreach to current and potential customers, drivers, staff,and stakeholders. The COA will study opportunities for improving services while being responsible with taxpayers’ dollars. The study will include the immediate and future needs of transit in our communities. In addition, VVTA will continue to expand its Micro-Link transit service and look for more ways to provide fare-free transportation for area students.

With the selection of Nancie Goff as CEO of the Victor Valley Transit, all transit agencies in the nation’s largest geographic county are now led by women, which is a historic first. Ms. Goff joins Erin Rogers (Omnitrans), Cheryl Sallis (City of Needles Transit Services), Cheri Holsclaw (Basin Transit), and Sandy Benson (Mountain Transit) in leading the five transit agencies in San Bernardino County. Never before have all five agencies had women in the top leadership or managerial role at the same time.“It’s such an honor to serve VVTA and to be grouped alongside these remarkable women. I look forward to building on our momentum for delivering outstanding transit service,” Goff said.Ms. Goff is a native of the Victor Valley and was born at the former George Air Force Base. She has been part of this community her whole life. Ms. Goff has three decades of experience in the transit industry. Before her career in transit, she attended Victor Valley College and graduated with degrees in Business Management and Liberal Arts. Ms. Goff lives in the Victor Valley with her husband and has one son.

For More Information Please Contact: Chris Ackerman Senior Marketing Manager Public Information Officer 760-559-5185 cackerman@vvta.org

Due to extreme snow and worsening road conditions, Victor Valley Transit has made the decision to suspend all routes at this time for the safety of our Passengers and Bus Operators.

If you are passenger stranded at one of our Bus Stops currently, please call 760-948-3030 as soon as possible and we will send someone to transport you.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Micro-Link, the micro transit service will be free of charge from February 27 – March 31, 2023. Opening out of 3 Zones, it is a perfect time to get to your nearest bus stop, local shopping, appointments, take in our area parks, visit a friend or loved one, or wherever you need to go within your zone area.

Please visit vvta/microlink to find out how you can benefit from this fantastic service from Victor Valley Transit!

Residents and businesses of 92392! We are inviting the neighborhood to our first Micro-Link Pop Up Event that will take place from 2pm – 4pm this Thursday at Mesa Linda Park in Victorville!

Bring your family and fiends out to check out the Micro-Link van, and see the benefits of using this new neighborhood transit service from Victor Valley Transit! Get a tour of the vehicle, get information from our helpful Micro-Link staff, free goodies to give out and more!

We will also be joined by your neighborhood San Bernardino Sheriff Department with vehicles, bus safety information and Mint Condition, the Mini Horse Mascot from the Search & Rescue Team!

See how Micro-Link can benefit your transportation needs at www.vvta.org/microlink

Victor Valley Transit partners with Excelsior Charter Schools in the Victor Valley to offer fare-free transit for students.

Excelsior Charter School students now have a new transportation option that allows them free VVTA bus rides to and from school and other destinations in the Victor Valley through the end of this school year. Victor Valley Transit Authority announced this week that Excelsior Charter School joins the ranks of Options for Youth, Victor Valley College, and Cal State San Bernardino in subsidizing free rides to all its registered students. The six-month promotional program authorizes students enrolled in the following Excelsior Campuses: Victorville Main, Victorville North, Barstow, and Phelan; the opportunity to ride Victor Valley Transit Fixed and County Routes fare-free by simply presenting their current student ID to the bus operator upon boarding.

“The Excelsior and VVTA partnership allows our students to ride the regional bus network fare-free, and it is life-changing,” expressed Excelsior Charter School Superintendent Derek King. “Our agreement helps protect parents’ freedom of choice. Distant families no longer have the financial burden of transporting their child to school when Excelsior is their preferred educational setting. Even more, working and high school students attending college can now get to work and school free of charge to their families. Now, Excelsior Charter Schools will be more accessible than ever before due to the partnership with VVTA.” 

Also paramount in this partnership is giving more youth access to shared rides that reduce car traffic congestion at the entrances to the campuses. Additionally, it helps reduce traffic on local roads and improves the air quality in the process. 

“Many of our students’ parents work and struggle during business hours in providing rides to and from school,” acknowledged Phelan Campus Principal Michelia McDonald, “I have already received notification from students that will be utilizing this program as part of their day-to-day transportation. We are extremely thankful that our students have access to additional support and resources that they would otherwise not be able to receive consistently and in person.”

Fare-free rides for students is a significant benefit for schools that do not provide transportation services and is a valuable complement for those that do. For various reasons, some charter and public-school students live outside their neighborhoods or attend from outside the District. Free transportation transcends beyond education; it promotes the value of public transportation while providing additional opportunities outside school hours. For example, after-school activities, study groups, social interactions, and part-time jobs. 

“VVTA cares that the students of the High Desert have the opportunity to get the best education by partnering up with schools to provide more bus transportation opportunities free of charge to the students,” shared VVTA Board Chair and City of Victorville Mayor Pro Tem Elizabeth Becerra. “Not only does it provide more transportation options, but it teaches students the merits of using public transportation in our community.”

The Free-Fare Rides for Students Program comes at a lower cost to the school’s transportation budget and at no additional cost to the students or their families.  Excelsior students are already taking full advantage of this opportunity since the start of the program on December 17, 2022.

Victor Valley Transit is holding its 11th Annual Bus Roadeo on February 11th, and this year we are hosting an online opportunity to you, our passengers! You now can guess and vote on which of your favorite participating bus operator will win! If your Bus Operator wins in the Roadeo, you will have an opportunity to receive a Samsung Galaxy Tab A or 31-Day Bus Pass!

The VVTA Bus Roadeo is an annual safety and skills competition for bus operators who volunteer to participate. A Bus Roadeo is a behind-the-wheel skills and safety test in which drivers navigate an obstacle course and execute maneuvers such as the “Serpentine,” “Offset Street” and “Rear Dual Clearance.” 1st Place Winners can advance to state, regional or even international contests. The first bus Roadeo was held in 1975 and is an annual tradition throughout the transit industry to this day!

This Year’s Participants:

Fixed Route (Large Bus Category)

Vote for Large Bus Operator

• Danica Thomas
• Kristle Sanchez
• Dana Dixon
• Yvette A Favors
• Sione Tofavaha
• Robert Luna
• Wilder Rodas
• Patricia Gates
• Raelin Jackson
• Renee Parker

ADA/Direct Access Bus (Small Bus Category)

Vote for Small Bus Operator

• Jamieaka Ray
• Terika McDonald
• Geneva Barker (Barstow)

To be part of the fun, grab the link here and on our social media channels from February 1st to the 10th and make your selection, depending on which of our services you use (Fixed Route or ADA/Direct Access). Then tell us why you are voting for them, and your contact information. If you select the Bus Operator who comes in 1st place in their category, you name will then go into a random drawing and one lucky passenger in each category will receive a Samsung Galaxy Tab A8! If you select the Bus Operator who finishes 2nd or 3rd, you will go into a random drawing to receive a 31-Day Bus Pass!

Official Rules: Only one entry in either category is allowed per person. Participants may only vote in either the Fixed Bus Route or ADA/Direct Access category. Duplicate entries will be disqualified. Fixed Route passengers will receive a 31-Day UMO Pass card, and ADA/Direct Access winners will receive 31-day coupons. Employees of Victor Valley Transit Authority and Keolis North America and their family members are ineligible to win. Voting begins Wednesday February 1 at 12:00pm, and ends Friday, February 10 at 11:59PM

Victor Valley Transit this week announced their 2023 board members and a new board chair who will each help support the VVTA’s work to improve and expand public transportation services in their coverage area.

The 2023 Victor Valley Transit Board of Directors

Liz Becerra, Chair, City of Victorville

James Nobel, Vice-Chair, City of Barstow

Larry Bird, Director, City of City of Hesperia

Paul Cook, Director, County of San Bernardino

Dawn Rowe, Director, County of San Bernardino

Joy Jeannette, Director, City of Adelanto

Curt Emick, Director, Town of Apple Valley

In honor of the MLK Peace March on Monday, January 16th, Route 56 will be on Detour between 9:00am to 1:00pm.

During this time, Route 56 will be utilizing the following Stops for passengers:

• Stop #50294 Roy Rogers Dr & Civic Dr 
• Stop #50090 Amargosa Rd & Hook Blvd 
• Plus a temporary Stop on Amargosa and Seneca Rd 

During this time, the following Stops will not be served during this detour:

• Stop #50391 Civic Dr & Roy Rogers Dr
• Stop #50143 Civic Dr & Seneca Rd
• Stop #50223 Kentwood Blvd & Ramona Ave 

Please adjust your travel plans accordingly.

VVTA is excited to announce all rides will be FREE in honor of Transit Equity Day on Saturday, February 4th!

Transit Equity Day is celebrated worldwide on February 4th to mark the birthday of Rosa Parks, who would have turned 110 this year. It was Parks, a Black seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama, who famously refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in December 1955. Her simple act of protest launched a local bus boycott as well as global recognition of social inequalities. As a result of her actions, transit systems and communities worldwide became more equitable.

Try transit for free on February 4th!

Due to lane closures from 12 noon today until 6am Sunday on the northbound and southbound 15 freeway between Oak Hills Road and Bear Valley Road, Passengers on Route 15 will experience significant delays due to heavy traffic and detours.

No Stops will be missed, but riders are encouraged to adjust their travel times.

Please call 760-948-3030 for more information.