Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System
Passengers boarding a YARTS bus at the Merced Amtrak station. | |
Slogan | Watch the Scenery, Not the Road |
Founded | 2000 |
Headquarters | Merced, California |
Service area | Merced/Yosemite region |
Service type | Intercity Coach |
Alliance | VIA Adventures, Inc. |
Fleet | MCI D4500CT |
Operator | Merced County Association of Governments |
Website | YARTS.com |
The Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System, also known as YARTS, is a public transit bus line based in Merced, California. YARTS provides scheduled service into popular locations within Merced, Mariposa, and Mono counties, including Yosemite National Park.[1]
History
First proposed in 1992, YARTS was designed as a way to reduce traffic and increase accessibility to Yosemite National Park. In May 2000, after 8 years of planning, the bus line officially commenced service in Yosemite's neighboring communities.[2] To date, the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System has served over 500,000 passengers.[3]
Operation
YARTS is managed by the Merced County Association of Governments, and governed by a Joint Powers Authority between Merced, Mariposa, and Mono counties. Each county provides an elected supervisor to serve on the governing board.[2]
VIA Adventures
Although the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System maintains a proprietary fleet of motor coaches, the majority of passengers utilizing the YARTS service are carried by VIA Adventures.
VIA Adventures, Inc. is a private charter bus company based in Merced and Tempe, Arizona. Through a contract with YARTS, VIA Adventures handles most of the passenger traffic originating from stops along the Highway 140 route. During the month of July 2011, VIA carried over 10,000 passengers.[4]
Communities Served
Mariposa County |
Mono County |
Merced County |
Tuolumne County |
References
- ↑ About - YARTS
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "YARTS celebrates 10 years". Merced Sun-Star. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
- ↑ Merced County Times - Stimulus rides into town on the back of YARTS
- ↑ Monthly VIA Report 070110
External links
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