National Express Transit (NEXT) will begin operating Kern Transit in January 2017. Kern County is the third area of operations in California for the organization, including the cities of Vallejo and Merced.
“We are looking forward to serving the residents of Kern County with safe and dependable transportation,” said Judith Crawford, CEO of National Express Transit. “More than 500,000 annual riders rely on Kern Transit, and we are committed to providing the best service possible.”
As part of the National Express Group, NEXT brings global transit experience to the region.
“Our long history in the transit arena, as well as recommendations from our municipal partners, earned us this opportunity to provide public transportation for Kern County,” said Mark Foster, vice president of NEXT operations.
As the company operating Kern Transit, NEXT will be responsible for daily administrative duties and operations staffing. The county will continue to provide fleet maintenance and overall program administration.
Since 1981, Kern Transit has provided passenger bus service between and in the rural communities surrounding Bakersfield, CA, covering more than 8,100 square miles. The public transit fleet includes 60 vehicles serving 17 fixed routes, as well as Dial-a-Ride services.
