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Antelope Valley Transit Authority is the transit agency serving the cities of Palmdale, Lancaster and Northern Los Angeles County. Antelope Valley Transit Authority is operated under contract by Veolia Transportation, and is affiliated and offers connecting services with Metro and Metrolink.

History
The Cities of Palmdale and Lancaster and the County of Los Angeles joined together in 1992 to create the Antelope Valley Transit Authority to meet the growing need for public transportation in the Antelope Valley. AVTA began local transit service on July 1, 1992 with three types of services: Transit, Commuter and Dial-A-Ride. A fourth service, Access Services, was created in 1996 to provide the disabled with a local complementary paratransit service in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In 1998 the Tuesday Medical Shuttle was created, which offered rides to nine major medical facilities in the Los Angeles basin and San Fernando Valley. To keep up with the increased need for transit services, AVTA opened its new, larger facility in 2004.

About AVTA
AVTA has tripled the number of passenger trips in just over a decade of operation. To keep up with the increased need for transit services, AVTA recently opened a new, larger maintenance facility in Lancaster.

AVTA pays for a much higher share of its costs through fares compared to other transit systems in Los Angeles County.

AVTA offers some of its customers an innovative program designed to assist those in need, as well as a program to show appreciation to our armed forces,

AVTA permits seniors and passengers who have a disability, with proper ID, to utilize its local bus system for free, during regular business hours. Pam Holland, spokesperson for AVTA, says, "This program offers those in need, a hand up, in their everyday life, some of which can't even afford a car, let alone bus fare, now have the freedom, to use our system throughout the Antelope Valley, going grocery shopping, paying their bills, or going to their doctor's appointment for free on our local fixed routes, we are happy to offer this service, as well as, letting our military ride the local transit system for free as well, in appreciation of their sacrifice to our country."

Service area
Within its local service area of approximately 100 sqmi, AVTA provides service to the communities of:


 * Lake Los Angeles
 * Lancaster
 * Littlerock
 * Palmdale


 * Pearblossom
 * Quartz Hil
 * Sun Village

Routes
As of May 2013, AVTA operates 12 local routes and 3 commuter express routes within Los Angeles County. Among its 12 local routes, AVTA operates a Lake LA Express with 2 sub-routes from Lake LA to Lancaster City Park and Palmdale Transportation Center. Commuter express provides service to and from to major places of employment outside of the Antelope Valley (Routes 785-787).

Local

 * Children 44 inches and under in height may ride free (maximum 4 children with accompanying adult, $0.25 per each additional child);
 * Seniors (65+), Disabled, Medicare, Active Military and Veterans may Ride Free with proper identification.

Commuter Services

 * Proper identification must be presented to obtain the reduced Student and Senior/Disabled/Medicare fare.

Awards
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recognized AVTA as an “Efficient Transit System”. The California Transit Association gave a “Transit Innovation Award” to AVTA in 1998 and a “Transit Image Award” in 1999.