San Joaquin Regional Transit District operates mostly within San Joaquin County, with extensive coverage throughout metropolitan Stockton and a network of commuter services linking the county with the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento. It also operates its own Bus Rapid Transit service within Stockton, currently with three lines in operation, and is branded as Metro Express.
|
Metro ExpressThe Metro Express is Stockton's answer to streamlining its bus services. With three lines in operation (see map on right), this fast-growing bus rapid transit network allows commuters to travel around the city quickly and efficiently. It offers the following features:
Nova Bus LFS Artic HEV (60-footer articulated, low-floor bus) Used exclusively on Route 40, operating along Pacific Avenue between Downtown Transit Center and Hammer Triangle. |
Gillig BRT Hybrid 40-Footer Low-Floor Bus
Used on all services except Route 44.
Used on all services except Route 44.
Proterra 40' All-Electric Bus (164xx Series)
Used exclusively on Route 44, operating between Downtown Transit Center and Stockton's industrial area close to the city's airport.
Used exclusively on Route 44, operating between Downtown Transit Center and Stockton's industrial area close to the city's airport.
San Joaquin Commuter
San Joaquin RTD operates, under contract to National Express since 29 April 2018 (formerly MV Transportation), a fleet of MCI D4500 commuter coaches (with rolling headsigns), providing intercounty services to and from San Joaquin County. These services (1xx series) are aimed for commuters traveling between the county and:
- Dublin/Pleasanton BART
- Various employers in Livermore, Milpitas, Mountain View, San Jose, and Sunnyvale
- Sacramento
- High-back, reclining seats
- Overhead lights and air conditioning vents
- Overhead baggage racks
- Foldable tables
- Audio jack and a station selector
- WiFi connectivity
Local Bus Service
San Joaquin RTD operates frequent local services within the City of Stockton, with some operations being handled by the agency itself while others (like the Metro Hopper, below) are contracted out to MV Transportation. It operates a diverse set of Gillig hybrid-powered buses for its local services, and it also operates two all-electric Proterra buses that operate on two routes within Stockton.
Gillig LF35 Hybrid (35-footer bus) (63xx Series)
Gillig LF40 Hybrid (40-footer standard bus)
Two variants can be found:
Two variants can be found:
- District-operated: 134xx series
- Operated by National Express: 64xx series
Proterra All-Electric Bus (EV1 and EV2)
These all-electric buses are used on the following routes, both of which complete a round trip within one hour from Downtown Transit Center:
These all-electric buses are used on the following routes, both of which complete a round trip within one hour from Downtown Transit Center:
- Route 55 (DTC - Weston Ranch via Stanislaus)
- Route 60 (DTC - Pixie Woods via W Fremont)
Ripon Blossom ExpressRipon, the southernmost city in San Joaquin County, operates a unique bus service linking the Almond Blossom City with nearby Modesto in Stanislaus County. Known as the Ripon Blossom Express, it is operated by San Joaquin RTD under contract to National Express. Its sole bus, a Gillig BRT Plus 35-footer Hybrid bus, runs twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with four round trips per day, serving the city of Ripon and two large attractions in Modesto: Kaiser Medical Center and Vintage Faire Mall.
|
Metro HopperMetro Hopper is a service provided by San Joaquin RTD as a response to addressing low-density transit routes that used to be served by full-sized city buses. Partly as a result of budget cuts in years past, Metro Hopper fills the void in communities within Stockton that do not support large bus service yet still provide adequate transit options for residents. The main hubs for the Metro Hopper include:
|
Ford E450 Cutaway Van
This is the basic vehicle type used for the Hopper service, operating on all routes.
This is the basic vehicle type used for the Hopper service, operating on all routes.
Chevy 4500 ARBOC Spirit of Mobility Shuttle Bus (17xx Series)
This low-floored passenger van has replaced the Ford E450 cutaway vans above. With 20 units, these can carry 19 seated passengers (with three rows of two being able to be flipped up for up to two wheelchairs), a flip-up ramp operable by the driver using a button (instead of going through a cumbersome procedure which can take several minutes to load and unload a wheelchair), a row of seats wide enough to have a stroller or walker on board, and front mounted bike racks (for two bikes each).
This low-floored passenger van has replaced the Ford E450 cutaway vans above. With 20 units, these can carry 19 seated passengers (with three rows of two being able to be flipped up for up to two wheelchairs), a flip-up ramp operable by the driver using a button (instead of going through a cumbersome procedure which can take several minutes to load and unload a wheelchair), a row of seats wide enough to have a stroller or walker on board, and front mounted bike racks (for two bikes each).
Gillig LF30 Hybrid (30-footer Baby Bus) (62xx Series)
This type is used on the busier Hopper routes within Stockton, notably Route 7. It is also used for many of its Intercity Hopper services that operate between Stockton and points in southern San Joaquin County, namely Tracy, Lathrop, and Manteca.
This type is used on the busier Hopper routes within Stockton, notably Route 7. It is also used for many of its Intercity Hopper services that operate between Stockton and points in southern San Joaquin County, namely Tracy, Lathrop, and Manteca.