Antelope Valley Transit Service to Van Nuys Scheduled to Begin

Antelope Valley commuters bound for the Van Nuys area will soon have another way of getting there, thanks to funding from the federal government.

The Antelope Valley Transit Authority on Monday will begin commuter bus service to the industrial area around Van Nuys Airport. Other stops on the route include the Van Nuys post office, Anheuser-Busch Inc. and the San Fernando Valley Government Center.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will pay 90% of the net cost of the service, said Tim Galbraith, grants manager. The state will pay three-fourths of the balance, leaving the transit agency with only a small tab.

Two other commuter lines, one to El Segundo and another to the Los Angeles International Airport area, may also begin Monday, he said, noting that the details of those services are being worked out. Those lines will also be funded by FEMA, with the state contributing as well.

The state and federal governments are expected to fund the new commuter services until the Antelope Valley/Golden State freeways interchange, downed by the Jan. 17 Northridge quake, is repaired, Galbraith said.

Two round-trip buses will serve each of the new lines, he said. If ridership on the lines is high enough to cover the cost of the services, they will continue after the federal funding is stopped.

“Right now we run 14 commuter buses out of the Antelope Valley,” he said. “On Monday, we’ll be at 16. If we put together LAX and El Segundo, we could be as high as 20.”

Monthly passes for the Van Nuys line are available through June 30 at a reduced rate of $115. The regular fare as of July 1 will be $170 a month. Additional information about the new commuter service is available by calling 805-945-9445.