On Oct. 8, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB742 which eliminated sections of the California Government Code that required passengers on the state-supported Amtrak Thruway bus to have a rail trip as part of their ticket. This change will enable the San Joaquin Joint Power Authority, operator of the Amtrak Thruway bus, to pick up and drop off passengers without requiring them to have a train ticket. It was felt that this measure would increase revenue at virtually no additional cost and provide service to underserved communities. This would result in the reduction of greenhouse gasses and pollution emissions by eliminating trips that would previously be made by automobile.

The SJJPA Board decided in November to phase in implementation of bus-only tickets on two of their existing routes without adding additional stops that might conflict with other inter-city bus services.

One of the routes is the San Joaquins Route 12 that runs from Bakersfield to Tehachapi and on to Victorville with stops at Mojave, Lancaster, Palmdale and Littlerock. The fares run from $5 to Mojave to $16.50 to Victorvile. Where local point-to-point bus service is available, there will be no drop off.

Josh Crisalli

Beth helps her mother Mary, who was off to Rohnert Park, board the Amtrak Bus.

The second San Joaquins pilot route is Route 10 which runs from Bakersfield to Santa Barbara with stops in Fillmore, Santa Paula, Oxnard, Ventura and Carpenteria with fares running from $14.25 to $25. Again, where local point-to-point bus service is available, there will be no drop off.

The coaches include comfortable reclining seats, free Wi-Fi, convenient restrooms, ADA accessible seating and plug-in outlets. For more information visit http://www.amtraksanjoaquins.com.