Unitrans, the UC Davis and city of Davis bus system, will implement service changes and a cash fare increase with the start of the university’s Summer Session II, this coming Monday (Aug. 6).

Other changes involving bus service for Davis Joint Unified School District students are set to take effect with the start of school, Aug. 29.

Printed copies of the 2018-19 bus schedule will be on buses by Monday. The schedule and updated routes are available now for downloading (see box).

The transit system run by Associated Students of UC Davis put forth proposed changes in the spring and collected the public’s feedback in a series of open houses. The Unitrans Advisory Committee approved the service changes on April 19 and the Davis City Council approved fare increases — the first in 14 years — on May 15.

The prices of monthly passes went up July 1. Unitrans decided to hold off on the cash fare increase until the start of Summer Session II. The new fare is $1.25, up from $1.

Effective Aug. 6, the V Line (West Village) and X Line (residence halls loop) will no longer be fare-free. All passengers must have a valid pass or pay the $1.25 fare.

“Unitrans has a significant budget deficit,” explained Jeffrey Flynn, Unitrans general manager. “We need to increase revenue and decrease costs in order to avoid significant service impacts.”

He said the service changes are focused on improving customer convenience, improving on-time performance and discontinuing low demand services.

• Starting Aug. 6, all Summer Service after 8:10 p.m. will operate to and from the Memorial Union Terminal. If you would normally ride the D, J or W lines from the Silo Terminal, use the K, G or M lines instead from the MU Terminal. This summer change also applies to the V Line. 

• Minor schedule updates to the G, L, O, X and Z lines. 

• Sunday evening Amtrak Shuttle is discontinued due to low customer demand.

Davis school district


To better meet middle and high school student transportation needs, Unitrans is updating the T Line bus schedule and route to serve the Wildhorse neighborhood via Moore Boulevard and provide closer access to Holmes Junior High School via J Street. 
Public school service, starting Aug. 29, will include a new, one-year pilot S Line serving West Davis via Lake and Arlington boulevards, and Shasta Drive; North Davis via Anderson Road and F Street, and providing service to Davis High School and Holmes Junior High School via J Street. 


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