WHEELS (California)

Founded 1986
Headquarters 1362 Rutan Court, Suite 100, Livermore, California
Service type bus service, paratransit
Routes 17 local routes and
15 select school routes
Stops ~500
Fleet 74 regular buses and
27 paratransit vehicles
Operator Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority
Website wheelsbus.com

WHEELS is a bus service that provides public transportation in the Tri-Valley Region (southeast Alameda County) of the San Francisco Bay Area, in the United States. Started in 1986, Wheels offers service to various communities in three cities, and connects to Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) trains for connections to and from the greater Bay Area (Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose) and Central Valley (Stockton, Modesto, Tracy).

Wheels is operated by the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA), and it has carried nearly 2 million passengers annually.[1]

Areas served

WHEELS operates in Alameda County, with limited service in Contra Costa County.

Alameda County:

Contra Costa County:

Fixed-route service

As of January 2011, Wheels operates twelve (12) local routes, two express routes, fifteen (15) select school routes, and two shuttle routes.[2][3] Descriptions for all services are described below.

Local Routes

Note that routes that have a V on a route number means that it is a variation of the original route (i.e. express service, operating differently from regular route)

Route Number Days of Operation Direction Terminals Cities, Communities, and Attractions Served Notes Schedule Information
North/East Terminal South/West Terminal
1A
East Dublin		 Weekdays only Clockwise loop Dublin Pleasanton BART Station Santa Rita Jail, Waterford Plaza, Koll Center, Hacienda Business Park (Rose Pavilion, Walmart, Oracle) operates in the afternoon and evening; for morning service, see Route 1B Routes 1/1A/1B Schedule
1B
East Dublin		 Weekdays only Counterclockwise loop Hacienda Business Park (Oracle, Walmart, Rose Pavilion, Koll Center), Waterfront Plaza, Santa Rita Jail Operates in the morning; for afternoon and evening service, see Route 1A
1
East Dublin		 Weekends Clockwise loop Santa Rita Jail, Waterford Plaza, Koll Center, Hacienda Business Park (Rose Pavilion, Walmart, Oracle) Integrated with former shuttle Route 51
2
Dublin Ranch		 Weekday peak periods only East-West, then loop Dublin Ranch Village
(Fallon Middle School)		 Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station Emerald Point, Emerald Glen Park, Dublin Ranch Village Route 2 Schedule
3
West Dublin		 Weekdays and Saturdays Loop Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station Hacienda Business Park, Stoneridge Mall, Safeway Offices, Dublin Plaza, Dublin Senior Center, Dublin High School, Dublin Swim Center, San Ramon Senior Center, Amador Lakes, Dougherty Road, West Dublin/Pleasanton BART (Dublin) Mornings run clockwise, afternoons run counterclockwise Routes 3/3V Schedule
3V
West Dublin		 Weekday peak periods only West Dublin/Pleasanton BART (Pleasanton), Dougherty Road, Wells Middle School, Valley High School, Dublin High School, Dublin Swim Center, Shannon Park, Heritage Center, Kaiser Pleasanton, Hacienda Business Park
8A/8B
Pleasanton		 Weekdays only North-South, then loop Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station Pleasanton
(Bernal & Palomino)		 Hacienda Business Park, DMV, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Downtown Pleasanton (Village High School, Oak Hill Center, Senior Center, Ridgeview Commons, Civic Center), Kottinger Park
  • Mornings serve Bernal Business Park from BART; afternoons serve Bernal Business Park to BART
  • For peak period service between Bernal & Palomino and Dublin/Pleasanton BART, see Route 10V
  • In Downtown Pleasanton, route operates as follows:
    • Route 8A: BART → Civic Center → First & Neal → Kottinger Park → Senior Center → Ridgeview Commons → BART
    • Route 8B: BART → Ridgeview Commons → Senior Center → First & Neal → Kottinger Park → Civic Center → BART
 Routes 8/8A/8B Schedule
8
Pleasanton		 Saturdays only Downtown Pleasanton
(Neal & First)		 Hacienda Business Park, DMV, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Downtown Pleasanton (Pleasanton ACE Station, Village High School, Oak Hill Center, Senior Center, Ridgeview Commons)
9
Hacienda Business Park		 Weekday peak periods only (limited holiday service) Loop Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station Hacienda Business Park (Oracle, Walmart, CarrAmerica, Alameda Municipal Court, Hart Middle School, Chabot Drive) Mornings operate clockwise; afternoons operate counterclockwise. Select trips originate from or continue as Route 70X at Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station. Route 9 Schedule
10
Dublin-Livermore		 Daily (including holidays) East-West Livermore
(LLNL/Sandia Transit Hub)		 Weekdays:
Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station		 Dublin Plaza, Dublin/Pleasanton BART, Valley Care Medical Center, Downtown Pleasanton (First & Neal), Shadow Cliffs Regional Park, Downtown Livermore (Livermore Transit Center, Livermore ACE Station), Livermore High School
  • Operates special schedules on Thanksgiving and Christmas Days
  • Service to Stoneridge Mall weekdays (between 6am and 9pm) is operated by the Tri-Valley Rapid (see below)
 Route 10 Schedule
Early AM and late PM weekdays and weekends:
Pleasanton
(Stoneridge Mall)
10V
Santa Rita Road		 Weekday peak periods only Pleasanton
(Bernal & Palomino)		 Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station Valley Care Medical Center, Downtown Pleasanton Operates as a complement to Route 10 from 6:30am to 9am, then 4:15pm to 7pm
11
Greenville Road		 Weekday peak periods only East-West, then loop Livermore
(Las Positas & Greenville)		 Livermore Transit Center Target, Las Positas Rd, Springtown Operates counterclockwise from Las Positas & Vasco via Vasco, Northfront, Greenville, and Las Positas, with service to Preston St. Route 11 Schedule
12
Dublin-Livermore		 Daily (except Sundays) East-West Livermore Transit Center Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station Hacienda Crossings, Waterford Center, Costco, Las Positas College, Airway Blvd Park and Ride, Downtown Livermore (ACE Station) Limited school days-only service operates via Hagemann Park Routes 12/12V Schedule
12V
Dublin-Livermore		 Weekday peak periods only Airway Blvd Park and Ride, Downtown Livermore (ACE Station) Express service between Hacienda Road/I-580 and Airway Blvd/I-580; route does not serve Las Positas College
14
Downtown Livermore		 Weekdays only Loop Livermore Transit Center Junction Avenue Middle School, Chestnut, Olivina, Murrieta, Pine, P St, Fourth St, Civic Center, Livermore High School Route 14 Schedule
15A
Springtown		 Daily (including holidays) East-West, then loop Livermore
(Garaventa & Altamont Cr)		 Livermore Transit Center Junction Avenue Middle School, Walmart, Kaiser Livermore, Target, Springtown Golf Course, Christensen School Clockwise loop around Springtown; route serves via Blueball & Galloway before serving Christensen School Routes 15A/15B Schedule
15B
Springtown		 Weekday peak periods only Counterclockwise loop; route serves via Blueball & Galloway after serving Christensen School
18A
Granada		 Weekday peak periods only (with special holiday service) North-South, then loop Livermore Transit Center Granada High School 4th Street, Holmes Street, Granada Community Center, Mendelhall Middle School, Vineyard High School, Granada High School, Valley Medical Center Clockwise loop; route serves Concannon, Arroyo, Superior, Lexington, and Holmes mornings only Routes 18A/18B Schedule
18B
Granada		 Weekday peak periods only Counterclockwise loop; route serves Concannon, Arroyo, Superior, Lexington, and Holmes afternoons only

Wheels also operated an All-Nighter route, Route 810, that ran between Downtown Livermore and Bay Fair BART Station in San Leandro, serving areas currently provided by the all-day Route 10. However, due to budget cuts and low ridership, this route has been eliminated on June 27, 2009.[4]

Tri-Valley Rapid

Wheels launched its rapid transit service on January 24, 2011, called the Tri-Valley Rapid.[5] Billed as "the next generation transit system", the Tri-Valley Rapid makes travel in the Tri-Valley area (namely Dublin, Pleasanton, and Livermore) easier, safer, and cleaner, and it incorporates similar features already used by Bay Area transit agencies, like AC Transit and Golden Gate Transit, including:

Schedule and stops served by the Tri-Valley Rapid

Express Routes

All express routes operate weekday peak periods only (between 5:00 and 9:00am and 3:30 and 8:00pm). Limited holiday service is provided on two routes on the following holidays:

Route Number Direction Terminals Cities, Communities, and Attractions Served Express Area Direction of Travel Notes Schedule Information
North/East Terminal South/West Terminal Morning commute Afternoon commute
20X East-West Livermore Transit Center Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station Hacienda Business Park (Oracle), Vasco ACE Station, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LLNL/Sandia Transit Hub, Mines Rd, First Street Between Hacienda Road/I-580 (Pleasanton) and Greenville Rd/I-580 (Livermore) Towards Livermore Towards BART Route operates special holiday service on select holidays Route 20X Schedule
Route 20X Holiday Schedule
70X North-South Pleasant Hill BART Station Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station Dublin, Walnut Creek (BART), Pleasant Hill Between Dublin Blvd/I-680 (Dublin) and S Main St/I-680 (Walnut Creek) Operates in both directions Route operates special holiday service on select holidays. Select trips originate from or continue as Route 9 at the Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station. Route 70X Schedule
Route 70X Holiday Schedule
70XV Pleasanton
(Stoneridge Mall)		 Pleasanton (Stoneridge & McWilliams), Walnut Creek (BART, Kaiser Hospital), Pleasant Hill Between Stoneridge Dr/I-680 (Pleasanton) and S Main St/I-680 (Walnut Creek) Towards Pleasant Hill Towards Stoneridge Mall Walnut Creek Kaiser served morning trip only

Shuttle Routes

Wheels' shuttle routes are numbered between 50 and 59, and these usually operate on certain days and at certain times only. These routes serve destinations close to BART and ACE stations.

Route Number Days of Operation Direction Terminals Cities, Communities, and Attractions Served Notes Schedule Information
North/East Terminal South/West Terminal
53 Weekday peak periods only North-South Stoneridge Mall Pleasanton ACE Station West Dublin/Pleasanton BART, Alameda County Fairgrounds Operates via I-680 (both ways) and Stoneridge & McWilliams (NB only); bus schedules coordinated with ACE trains Route 53 Schedule
54 Weekday peak periods only North-South Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station Pleasanton ACE Station Alameda County Fairgrounds, Bernal Business Park, Hopyard Rd, Hacienda Business Park (Hart Middle School, Willow Rd, CarrAmerica, Walmart, Oracle, Alameda Municipal Court, Rose Pavilion), Koll Center, Hacienda Crossings Operates around the Hacienda Business Park and Bernal Business Park northbound AM and southbound PM; bus schedules coordinated with ACE trains Route 54 Schedule

Select School Day Services

Wheels operates fifteen (15) dedicated Select School Day services (also called School Trippers) that bring students to and from schools in the cities of Dublin and Pleasanton, and these operate when schools are in session.

Regular Routes that Provide Select School Day Services: These routes provide additional trips to serve nearby schools along their main routes.

Select School Day-only Services: These trips are identified as routes numbered:

and these operate during school days only, with most morning trips leaving later on Wednesdays.

Route Number Direction School/s Served Communities and Attractions Served Schedule Information
16 East-West Livermore High School
East Ave. Middle School		 Big Trees Park, East Avenue Route 16 Schedule
201 East-West Dublin High School Central Pkwy, Tassajara Rd, Fallon Rd Route 201 Schedule
202 East-West Dublin High School Dublin Ranch Villages, Dublin Blvd Route 202 Schedule
601 East-West Pleasanton Middle School Ruby Hill, Bernal Avenue Route 601 Schedule
602 North-South Foothill High School Downtown Pleasanton, Del Prado Park, Parkside, Valley Trails Park Route 602 Schedule
603 East-West Hart Middle School Stoneridge, Muirwood Park Route 603 Schedule
604 East-West Foothill High School Fairlands, Hacienda Business Park, Stoneridge, Muirwood Park Route 604 Schedule
605 North-South, with Loop Amador Valley High School Fairlands, Amaral Park, Kamp Road Route 605 Schedule
606 East-West, with Loops Pleasanton Middle School Vintage Hills, Tawny Park, Kottinger Drive Route 606 Schedule
607 North-South Hart Middle School Laguna Oaks Route 607 Schedule
608 North-South Harvest Park Middle School Mission Plaza, Amador Center, Nielsen Park, Amaral Park Route 608 Schedule
609 North-South Hart Middle School Del Prado Park, Parkside Drive, Valley Trails Route 609 Schedule
610 East-West Hart Middle School Fairlands, Valley Care Medical Center Route 610 Schedule
611 North-South Amador Valley High School Ruby Hill, Vintage Hills, Tawny Park Route 611 Schedule
612 East-West Amador Valley High School
Harvest Park Middle School		 Del Prado Park, Harvest Park, Amador Valley Community Park Route 612 Schedule

Transfer hubs

The major transfer points for the majority of Wheels' routes include:[7]

Ticketing

Fares

Fares are effective 22 March 2009 [8]

Type Adult (19-64)/Student (6-18)† Senior (65+)/Disabled ‡
Local US$2.00 US$1.00
Paratransit Service (Dial-A-Ride) US$3.50 US$3.50

Transfers

Transfers are given out to passengers only at time of boarding, and these are honored only on the day issued and are valid on any Wheels fixed route bus within two (2) hours after boarding.

Transferring to a Wheels-operated route from:

Transfers from a Wheels-operated route to BART, however, are not honored.

Passes

Wheels offers for sale several bus passes or punch cards which provide a discount over cash fare:

Connecting transit agencies

The local transportation demand management organization 511 Contra Costa also provides information for intermodal transfers throughout the county and works closely with Wheels to improve regional transit options.

References

  1. ↑ WHEELS - About LAVTA, retrieved May 24, 2007
  2. ↑ WHEELS - Routes, Timetables and Maps
  3. ↑ Wheels Transit Guide (2010 Routes and Schedules), effective January 22, 2011
  4. ↑ Transit.511.org
  5. ↑ Tri-Valley Rapid
  6. ↑ Tri-Valley Rapid Route
  7. ↑ WHEELS - Transit Centers
  8. ↑ WHEELS - Fare and Monthly Pass Information

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, March 14, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.