Author: Cheri Holsclaw

Basin Transit Invites Public to Share the Thanksgiving Spirit and Help “Fill the Bus”

(Yucca Valley) – Basin Transit will host its first Fill the Bus Thanksgiving Food Drive on Friday, November 17 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to help individuals and families experiencing hunger this holiday season in the Morongo Basin. The bus will be parked at the Walmart Supercenter in Yucca Valley and all collected goods will be distributed by The Way Station.

Throughout the years, The Way Station has made it a part of their mission to provide hot meals to those struggling with access to food.

“We know that many residents face hunger and food insecurity in our region, and that the demand only rises over the holidays,” said Cheri Holsclaw, General Manager of Basin Transit. “The Fill the Bus event is an opportunity for our community to come together and donate food that will help brighten the holiday season for our neighbors in need.”

Basin Transit encourages the donation of non-perishable food items, turkeys, hams and other assorted trimmings for holiday meals, including stuffing mix and cranberry sauce.

Members of Basin Transit’s management team and volunteers from The Way Station will be onsite to greet donors, assist with drop-offs, and thank the community for their generosity.

For more information about the event, call Michal Brock at (760) 366-2986.

Basin Transit Providing FREE Rides for Students through June 2024

(Morongo Basin) – Basin Transit is offering free, unlimited transit rides on all buses during the summer and upcoming school year for students in the Morongo Basin. From July 2023 through June 30, 2024, students in kindergarten through 12^th grade may board Basin Transit buses for free. The “Students Ride Free” program is a year-long grant funded initiative.

No passes are necessary to ride, youth must simply show a valid K-12 school or government-issed UD to the bus operator when boarding. Youth grades 9-12 may use a school ID issued for the new school year. Youth grades 8 and under, if asked, may present a school ID, or simply tell the operator their grade and which school they attend. Younger children, under age 5, continue to be free but must be accompanied by an adult.

Effective immediately, local students can take public transit to their favorite summer destinations, including parks, movie theaters, shopping centers, and summer camps. When school begins in the fall, students will be able to use Basin Transit buses at no cost to get to/from school and their extracurricular activities.

“The Students Ride Free program will be a great resource for our region and will provide an opportunity to introduce more youth to the benefits of public transit,” said Cheri Holsclaw, General Manager of Basin Transit. “We are excited to join other transit agencies across the state in inspiring the next generation of riders.”

The program is made possible through Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) grant funding. The LCTOP was created to provide operating and capital assistance for transit agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve mobility, with a priority on serving disadvantaged communities.

WHEN:     Saturday, July 29, 2023   –  7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

WHERE:  Walmart Supercenter Parking Lot in Yucca Valley, 58501 Twentynine Palms Highway Yucca Valley, CA 92284

WHAT:     Basin Transit, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Desert, is hosting a ‘Pack the Bus’ School Supply Drive to collect donations and help set up students for success in the coming school year. Donations can include a range of school supplies including backpacks, crayons, markers, pencils, notebooks, binders, erasers, rulers, and glue. All items should be new and unused.

WHO:        The community is invited to help by stopping by throughout the course of the day and donating supplies. Members of Basin Transit’s management team and volunteers from the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Desert will be onsite to greet donors, assist with drop-offs, and thank the community for their generosity.

As the Chairman of Basin Transit, McArthur Wright would like to take this opportunity to recognize a stellar achievement reached by Basin Transit, our local provider of public transportation in the Morongo Basin.

As of February 10th, Basin Transit has 300 days and over 585,000 miles of 100% safety to include no accidents, injuries or preventable mishaps of any kind.  This is a testament to the staff of the Organization. Their professionalism, attention-to-detail and adherence to safe practices/protocols is a fine example of dedication by all the Basin Transit employees.  Recognition goes to the office/administrative staff, the maintenance crew and the bus drivers.  All the wonderful employees play an important role in the smooth operation of and dedicated service provided to the citizens of the Morongo Basin.

Congratulations on a job well done to all the employees of Basin Transit.  You exemplify what great achievements can be reached when everyone works together and commits themselves to excellence.  Basin Transit demonstrates this excellence every day in every way!

Here’s to the next 300 days of safety!

Last week, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) lauded a historic first in San Bernardino County: With the selection of Nancie Goff as CEO of the Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA), all transit agencies in the nation’s largest geographic county are now led by women.

“This is an important moment, for our county and the communities we serve, as we celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of women in transportation. San Bernardino County is recognized as an innovation hub when it comes to commuter and transit solutions, and the women who run each of these agencies are providing bold leadership and visioning for the future,” said Dawn Rowe, Vice President of the SBCTA Board and Chair of the County Board of Supervisors.

Goff joins Erin Rogers (Omnitrans), Cheryl Sallis (City of Needles Transit Services), Cheri Holsclaw (Basin Transit) and Sandy Benson (Mountain Transit) in leading the five transit agencies in San Bernardino County. Never before have all five had women in the top leadership or managerial role at the same time.

“It’s such an honor to serve VVTA and to be grouped alongside these remarkable women. I look forward to building on our momentum for delivering outstanding transit service,” Goff said.

“It sends a powerful message that women now lead all five transit agencies in one of the fastest-growing population centers in the country,” said Rogers, who was named CEO and General Manager of Omnitrans in 2020.

“The doors have been opened to women in leadership positions, and we’re excited about what that means for the communities we serve,” said Sallis.

“The future of mobility is directly tied to the future of transit. The five of us love what we do, and are proud to represent our communities and women in transportation,” said Holsclaw, who was named General Manager of Basin Transit in 2022.

“This is an exciting time in the world of transit, and our job is to make sure we are serving our community and making our services available to as many riders as possible,” said Benson, General Manager of Mountain Transit.

https://www.gosbcta.com/all-five-sb-county-transit-agencies-now-led-by-women/

Everyone rides for free on February 4^th! Every bus, every train, everywhere in San Bernardino County.

In honor of Transit Equity Day, the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority is sponsoring free bus and train fares for everyone boarding San Bernardino County transit providers within the county. Transit Equity Day is celebrated worldwide on February 4th to mark the birthday of Rosa Parks, who would have turned 110 this year. It was Parks, a Black seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama, who famously refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in December 1955. Her simple act of protest launched a local bus boycott as well as global recognition of social inequalities. As a result of her actions, transit systems and communities worldwide became more equitable.

“In addition to celebrating Parks’ memory,” says SBCTA Board President Art Bishop, “Transit Equity Day gives the opportunity to focus on how public transit systems make our communities fairer.”  Transit Equity Day offers a day off from paying fares for regular transit users and gives the transit-curious a no-charge chance to explore transportation options.

We hope to see you on the bus on February 4^th!

BASIN TRANSIT SURPASSES 200 DAYS ACCIDENT-FREE ONCE AGAIN

Basin Transit is proud to exceed 200 days collision and injury free as of November 1^st. Basin Transit takes pride in knowing that each of its operators and maintenance employees have not been involved in a preventable collision. This accomplishment also includes any injury that could have been considered preventable.

“I am extremely proud of our team for their hard work and dedication to safety,” said General Manager, Cheri Holsclaw. “They make sure everyone arrives at their destination safely all while keeping them on schedule, checking fares, remembering stop requests, and handling our weather and traffic conditions.”

Basin Transit currently has 43 employees and operates a fleet consisting of 24 buses throughout the greater Morongo Basin and Lower Desert. Basin Transit has been serving the Morongo Basin for over 30 years. If you would like to join their team, please visit www.basin-transit.com/careers.

September 26, 2022, CA: The Basin Transit board wrapped up a brief but action filled meeting at its Joshua Tree headquarters where it doled out Transportation Assistance grants to a slew of Basin non-profits and received a year end presentation on finances and ridership from staff.

The Transportation Assistance Grant (TAG) program is funded by a procurement services program administered by Basin Transit wherein bus purchases throughout the state by other agencies are made via a set of vehicle contracts solicited for by the agency. A fee for usage of the contract is charged by Basin Transit which is used to augment the agency’s finances and fund the TAG program.

“This is a unique opportunity for Basin Transit to partner with our non-profit agencies to provide the local community with vital resources they may otherwise not have”  says Basin Transit Chair Merl Abel.  “From access to healthcare providers and mental health advocates to food security and educational resources, these grants will leverage public resources for the underserved in our communities.  It is one of our most rewarding initiatives undertaken each year.”

This year, the Basin Transit board made awards totaling $83,992 providing financial support to Reach Out Morongo Basin, Copper Mountain College Foundation, Morongo Basin Health Care District, Unity Home, The Way Station, The Morongo Basin Unified School District and Pacific Clinics.

The agency marked the 10^th year of program since initiation. Since 2012, $808,882 has been disbursed to various non-profits in the Morongo Basin.