Vacaville City Coach Bus System Sets Ridership Milestone

By Bay City News Service

Vacaville's City Coach bus system reached a milestone last month when for the first time, ridership topped 40,000 passengers, officials said Wednesday.

There were 40,631 riders in September, Vacaville's fleet and transit manager Brian McLean said.

"Naturally, we're pleased with the result," McLean said. "At a time when other systems in the region are cutting service and increasing fares, we're increasing service and keeping fares as low as possible, and the results speak for themselves," McLean said.

City Coach expanded service hours and added new routes on Aug. 1 in response to growing demand, McLean said. City Coach now operates weekdays between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. and between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays.

Buses run on compressed natural gas, which is cheaper than diesel fuel and better for the environment, McLean said. The bus system is based on meeting the needs expressed by passengers, McLean said.

Other changes to City Coach include 30-minute service frequency on all routes and service to Solano Community College's Vacaville campus, Genentech, the State Fund campus and Kaiser Permanente hospital.

Service is also provided to apartment complexes along Beelard Drive and medical offices along Buck Avenue and Alamo Drive. There is also regular, 30-minute service to the Browns Valley neighborhood and improved timing of routes to keep pace with traffic conditions, McLean said.

City Coach's new and improved website includes real-time tracking of buses, and a new transit center at Allison and Ulatis drives offers constant status updates using electronic reader boards and more than 200 parking spaces.