Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority : LAVTA History

1985 - 1987: LAVTA Founded

The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority was established in May 1985 when the Cities of Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton and Alameda County executed a Joint Powers Agreement that created the independent authority. LAVTA’s charter mission was to develop and operate local and intercity public transportation in the Tri-Valley operating under the brand name, Wheels.

The following year, LAVTA began transit service on four fixed routes in the cities of Dublin and Pleasanton with nine leased buses.

April 1989: Route 10 Connected The Tri-Valley

LAVTA initiated service on Route 10 connecting the cities of Dublin, Livermore and Pleasanton.

December 1990: LAVTA’s First New Bus Fleet

LAVTA’s first brand new buses delivered by the Gillig Corporation.

September 1991: LAVTA Operations Moved To Its Present Location

LAVTA moved to a new Maintenance, Operations and Administration facility at Rutan Court in Livermore.

January 1996: LAVTA Begins Paratransit Services

LAVTA in full compliance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requiring a fully wheelchair accessible fixed-route and paratransit fleet.

June 1996: LAVTA’s 10-Year Anniversary

LAVTA celebrated 10 years of service and carried 1,000,000 passengers in a single year. This photo is of LAVTA’s one millionth rider Brian Funndell

May 10, 1997

The new Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station opened. LAVTA also launched revamped route maps and timetables.

January 4, 1998

LAVTA opened the Livermore Transit Center which serves as the main transfer point for the Livermore bus routes and the Altamont Commuter Express train service (ACE).

October 19, 1998

LAVTA began shuttle service to the ACE train at the Vasco Road and Pleasanton ACE Stations.

January 4, 1999

LAVTA started the Route 70X Express bus between Pleasanton and the Walnut Creek/Pleasant Hill area providing faster service between Contra Costa County and Tri-Valley employers.

May 30, 2001

LAVTA served 2,000,000 passengers in a single year.

September 2003

Thirty-four new buses delivered by the Gillig Corporation.

April 6, 2004

LAVTA introduced automatic vehicle locator (AVL) technology, allowing customers to access “real-time” transit information via the internet and displayed on electronic digital signs aboard the bus and at the Livermore Transit Center.

January 2005

LAVTA won the Federal Transit Administration’s “Top Website 2004” award for its on-line real-time information feature.

July 2006: LAVTA’s 20-Year Anniversary

LAVTA celebrated 20 years of service.

July 2007

The first two hybrid buses are received from the Gillig Corporation.

January 2008

Broke ground on a new bus operations and maintenance facility on Atlantis Court in Livermore. Phase I (parking/storage) completed in June 2008.

October 2009

Fourteen hybrid buses delivered for the Rapid bus project.

November 2009

Broke ground on the Rapid bus project which included curb improvements, bus stop amenities like on-time arrival signs, enhanced seating and overhead lighting.