West Mojave Plan FEIR/S - Desert Managers Group

the Street & Highway Code, Art. 3, Sec. 300 et.seq. State roadways in the planning area consistof Interstate freeways, freeways, expressways, highways and surface streets. For more than 100years, Caltrans and its predecessors have been responsible for designing, building, operating andmaintaining the California state highway system. Over time, as the population of California hasincreased, Caltrans’ role has expanded to include rail and mass transit systems. In addition to achanging mix of transportation modes, such as highways, rail, mass transit and aeronautics,Caltrans professionals must consider the integration of various transit issues with land use,environmental standards and the formation of partnership between private industry and local,state and federal agencies.Caltrans operates and maintains 15,000 miles of roadways included in the State HighwaySystem, and is responsible for ensuring proper distribution of the State TransportationImprovement Program, including the application of $3 billion used for construction (1997).Mass Transit: Mass transit and rapid transit systems in the planning area are limited tothe more conventional modes, specifically bus. There are many sources of bus public transitwithin the plan area. The largest providers in the area include:• Victor Valley Transit Authority: The Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA) serves thecities of Adelanto, Hesperia and Victorville; the Town of Apple Valley; and theunincorporated communities of Phelan, Wrightwood, Pinon Hills, and Helendale. Thistransit system carries more than a million passengers annually. Service includes standardbus operations, plus curb-to-curb service for disabled persons.• Morongo Basin Transit Authority: The Morongo Basin Transit Authority transportsnearly 143,000 passengers each year in the City of Twentynine Palms, Town of YuccaValley and the unincorporated communities of Joshua Tree, Landers, Flamingo Heights,and Yucca Mesa.• Barstow Area Transport: The City of Barstow administers the operation of the BarstowArea Transit, as well as two San Bernardino County-supported specialized services forseniors and persons with disabilities in the communities of Big River and Trona. Thesystem carries more than 144,000 passengers each year.• Antelope Valley Transit Authority: The Antelope Valley Transit Authority serves theLancaster/Palmdale area. They provide a variety of services including local andcommuter services. The transit system carries more than a million passengers annually.• Kern Regional Transit (KRT): KRT operates a fleet of 30 vehicles ranging in sizefrom 15 passenger paratransit minibuses to thirty-foot, heavy duty transit buses,with service in excess of 1.2 million miles. The Kern Regional Transit connectsTaft, Frazier Park, Lancaster, Mojave, Wasco/Shafter, Delano, California City,Tehachapi, Ridgecrest, and Inyokern with Bakersfield and with a ridership of over450,000 passengers.Chapter 3 3-254