The campus may be closed, but Victor Valley Transit and Victor Valley College keep on moving!
Beginning Monday, June 22, 2020, VVC students with a Summer 2020 Student ID can ride any of our area buses FREE! Spring 2020 Student ID’s are still good to use up to Monday, July 6.
If you need your Summer 2020 Student ID, please call VVC ASB at 760-245-4271, ext. 2395
Beginning June 1st, Victor Valley Transit will resume front door boarding, fare collections and will reopen their lobby to the public to continue their next phase on the way to full-service restoration.
Victor Valley / Barstow – In an effort to move toward restoring full service and keeping in line with County and State mandates, Victor Valley Transit will resume front door boarding, and fare collection on Monday, June 1, 2020. This decision is the second part of a four-phase plan to have full transit service return across the board beginning August 2020.
This next phase will allow passengers to resume boarding the bus from the front doors, and with far collections returning, will encourage those violating stay-at-home orders to not use unnecessary transit, which will enhance the safety and well-being of other passengers and operators.
Understanding the country is still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, VVTA will be installing protective vinyl barriers between the driver area and the farebox to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. In addition, social distancing will continue to be promoted with specific seats closed off, exit by the rear doors only, and all passengers must still wear a mask or face covering while on the bus. Customers are still encouraged to use Victor Valley Transit for essential trips only.
Also returning June 1st, the Victor Valley Transit lobby and Customer Service window will re-open to the public for purchases of passes, route assistance, and information. Masks or proper face coverings will be required to enter. To help curb the spread of COVID-19, VVTA is encouraging the public to use this re-opening phase to purchase their fares using the TouchPass Mobile App, where passes can be purchased and used on all buses.The TouchPass is easy & convenient and will reduce interaction at the farebox protecting both passengers and bus operators. Downloading the app is easy at the Apple Store or Google Play Store. You can purchase fares from 1 trip to 31-day passes. Once set up, passengers simply point their smartphone to the farebox and board.
“VVTA has led the way into making sure our service is as safe as can be under these unusual circumstances. It seems our precautions are paying off, thankfully there have been no cases of the coronavirus throughout the entire VVTA organization including bus operators” stated VVTA Executive Director Kevin Kane. “VVTA will continue to be vigilant and greatly appreciates our passengers understanding and cooperation as we all learn how to keep safe and healthy during this pandemic period.”
Victor Valley Transit executues these safety measures by conducting rigorous cleaning of all buses, stops, shelters, and facilities daily, plus all staff continues to be tested for symptoms of COVID-19 every day before the start of shifts.
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VVTA was established through a Joint Powers Authority in 1991. The JPA includes the three cities of Adelanto, Hesperia and Victorville, the Town of Apple Valley, and the certain unincorporated portions of the County of San Bernardino. VVTA operates local fixed-route, deviated, and ADA complementary para-transit bus services in the Victor Valley area. Its commuter service operates from the cities of Victorville and Barstow north to the National Training Center at Ft. Irwin and provides inter-city service from Barstow-Victorville/Apple Valley to San Bernardino/Fontana. The service structure consists of 21 local fixed routes and 4 local deviated routes, 7 County deviated routes, 2 inter-city route, 1 commuter route, vanpool service and paratransit service.
In the first phase of resuming regular weekday service, Route 15 will return to a modified weekday schedule starting Friday, May 1, 2020. The last trip from San Bernardino departing at 6:18 PM will be ending in Victorville and will not be continuing to Barstow. The remaining trips will be regular weekday schedules.
Also the NTC Commuter will start collecting fares beginning on Friday. If you do not have your Mega Pass please make arrangements to have on starting on Monday, May 4, 2020.
All other Routes will continue on a modified Sunday Service, rear boarding, and fare suspension while maintaining social distancing guidelines at this time.
To salute all Frontline Workers throughout the High Desert, Victor Valley Transit promotes special bus donning protective Covid-19 face covering.
Victor Valley / Barstow – Throughout the High Desert, many of our frontline workers are traveling to their jobs each day to keep the community running. From medical personal, first responders, grocery store workers, transit operators, and more, these people are exposing themselves daily to Coronavirus, and Victor Valley Transit has created a special bus to honor these individuals.
Beginning Monday, a bus wearing a protective COVID-19 face covering will be on display at their Victorville Hub, located at Seventh and Lorene behind Costco. This bus was created as a salute to all of the frontline workers throughout the High Desert. This bus will be moved throughout the community over the coming days and weeks.
Kevin Kane, Victor Valley transit Executive Director stated, “Putting this giant COVID-19 mask on the front of one of our buses is meant to garner attention from the community and our riders as to how important it is to protect ourselves and others from contamination during this pandemic. It is also a salute to VVTA team members on the front lines.”
In addition,Victor Valley Transit continues to promote social distancing on all area buses, by closing off certain seats. This will allow our essential riders an extra measure of safety while getting to their jobs, shopping, medical appointments and caring for loved ones. VVTA has been proactive in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak by instituting measures not only for the safety of their passengers but operators as well. Some of these measures include rear boarding, fare suspension, sanitizing teams for buses and stops, plus various outreach efforts in the community.
In response to new mandates set forth tonight at from San Bernardino County, VVTA now requires all passengers wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth to ride the bus. Customers who do not wear a mask will not be permitted on board. Mask MUST remain on face throughout whole ride. More info at SBCounty.gov
Effective immediately, the Victor Valley Transit Lobby will be closed until further notice in response to COVID-19.
Customers are encouraged to call 760-948-4021 for all their transit-related needs.
For Lost and Found, please call 760-948-4021, ext. 0.
Victor Valley Transit is actively monitoring COVID-19 changes and is working with San Bernardino County and the Cities of Hesperia & Barstow to determine further appropriate steps.
Please note, NO cases of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) have been reported at Victor Valley Transit.
Effective Wednesday March 18, 2020, VVTA is implementing new procedures to help stop the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) for not only the safety of our passengers but our Drivers as well.
Beginning tomorrow, all passengers will be entering VVTA buses from the rear exit doors. Only mobilities will be allowed access from the front doors.
In addition, all fares will be complimentary during this time until further notice.
The safety of our passengers and transit drivers are of the utmost concern from all of us at Victor Valley transit, and will continue to make necessary adjustments, until such time as this situation passes.
COVID-19, commonly referred to as the Coronavirus, is a new disease being monitored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is so new that the CDC is still learning how it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, and to what extent it may continue to spread in the U.S.
How It Spreads
Person-to-person spread
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person, between those who are in close contact with one another (within about six feet), through respiratory exhales when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Small droplets can land in the mouth or be inhaled by people who are nearby.
Can someone spread the virus without being sick?
Some spread might be possible before people show any symptoms of actually being sick, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
Can you catch it from infected surfaces, seat belt latches, and door handles?
It is possible to become infected by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. The virus can live for up to 48 hours on handrails, seat belt latches, and handles. However, this is not thought to be the main way this virus spreads.
How easily the virus spreads
The spread varies from person to person based upon overall health and genetics. The virus that causes COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in communities (“community spread”) in some affected geographic areas.
What is Community Spread?
It means people have been infected with the virus in their community, even if they have not recently traveled anywhere.
The Symptoms
Symptoms will appear two to 14 days after exposure and can range from mild to severe. Watch for:
Avoid touching your face anywhere
How to Protect Your Employees and Clients
There is currently no vaccine to prevent Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here’s what you, your employees, and your clients can do to avoid spreading the virus, according to the CDC.
The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
The CDC has also created a guide specifically for businesses and employers to plan and respond to coronavirus, which can be found here. A CDC guide with specific guidance for travelers can be found here.
Treatment of Coronavirus
There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19. People with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms. For severe cases, treatment should include care to support vital organ functions. People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
Portions of this story initially appeared in Luxury Coach & Transportation (LCT) on March 5. Kevin Haegele/LCT and reprinted by Metro For Transit and Motorcoach Business
