Transit – Dibs

Take Transit

Local Transit and Rail Providers

Public transit offers a convenient alternative to driving alone, helping reduce commuting costs, traffic congestion, and time behind the wheel. Using transit may also qualify you for additional commuter incentives and dibs rewards.

San Joaquin and Merced Counties have a TON of transit agencies offering everything from intercity fixed route service to commuter buses and trains to dial-a-ride and paratransit. Check out all the options below:

Commuter Rail

The Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) is a commuter train that runs between Stockton and San Jose with stations in Stockton, Lathrop-Manteca, Tracy and various stops in the Bay Area.

Amtrak San Joaquins runs through the San Joaquin Valley with connections to places including Bakersfield, Fresno, Stockton, Sacramento, and Oakland. In addition to its train service, Amtrak San Joaquins also runs a thruway bus service that can connect you to destinations like Yosemite, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has trains running from Dublin-Pleasanton to various Bay Area locations. You can drive, carpool or vanpool, or take SJRTD or MAX commuter buses to BART.

San Joaquin County Transit Providers

San Joaquin Regional Transit District (SJRTD) operates 3 Commuter Routes to Stockton, Lathrop, Tracy, Dublin/Pleasanton BART, and Sacramento, plus local service in Stockton, rural services in unincorporated San Joaquin County and intercity service to each city in San Joaquin County.

Manteca Transit provides fixed route, paratransit, and Dial-A-Ride services serving the Manteca area.

The Lodi GrapeLine provides a fixed route, paratransit, Dial-A-Ride services to City of Lodi, Acampo, Woodbridge and Villa Carrizo Mobile Home Park. Amtrak Lodi (LOD) station building with waiting room. 24 S Sacramento St., Lodi.

The Tracy Tracer provides fixed route, paratransit, and Dial-A-Ride services to the City of Tracy.

The Blossom Express provides the City of Ripon a flex route bus service to the general public, with four roundtrip loops from Ripon to Modesto every Tuesday and Thursday.

ETrans provides the City of Escalon with a door-to-door Dial-A-Ride service which operates within the City of Escalon and has a weekday flex route service to Modesto, three times each weekday.

Lathrop Transit provides fixed route, paratransit and Dial-A-Ride services to the city of Lathrop.

The San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) and Masabi, the company bringing Fare Payments-as-a-Service (FPaaS) to public transit, is pleased to announce EZHub, a cashless mobile ticketing and fare payment system, available in the Vamos Mobility App from Kyyti.

Merced County Transit Providers

THE BUS public transportation for the County of Merced.

YARTS public transportation to Yosemite from Merced on Hwy 41, Hwy 140, and Hwy 120. Also offers service from Interstate 395 to Mammoth Lake.

Amtrak (MCD) Merced station building with enclosed waiting room. 324 W 24th St., Merced, CA 95340.

Greyhound Bus Merced bus station with baggage check and waiting room. 710 W 16th St.

Additional Transit Providers

Amador Transit connects Sutter Hill Transit Center to Jackson, Sutter Creek, Plymouth, Ione and Hwy 88 corridor through Pine Grove and Pioneer ending at Amador Station.

Calaveras Connect offers public transportation in Calaveras County and to Jackson and Columbia College Monday through Friday with the exception of most County holidays. The Saturday Hopper travels between Murphys and Angels Camp with On-Demand to Arnold every Saturday, March through November.

Tuolumne County Transit offers public transportation in Tuolumne County including service in and around Sonora, Groveland to Columbia, and a SkiBus to Dodge Ridge during the season. Dial-A-Ride is also available.

Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority (StanRTA) serves Stanislaus County with commuter services to ACE, Amtrak, and BART as well Fixed Route, and Dial-A-Ride. Serves Turlock, Modesto, Waterford, Newman, Oakdale, Patterson, Waterford and Riverbank. Non-emergency transportation to Bay Area Medical Facilities is also available.

Bus Line Service of Turlock (BLAST) provides transit service to the City of Turlock and the surrounding unincorporated area. Dial-A-Ride is also available.

Fresno Area Express (FAX) serving the greater Fresno Metropolitan area. Connecting Fresno and Clovis.

Pre-Tax Savings

Employers may provide up to $300 per month to commuting employees for transit, parking or vanpool fees. As an employer, you pay for the benefit and receive business income tax deductions in return. As an employee, you receive the benefit free of payroll and income taxes. It’s basically $ on top of your current salary. Win, win. Get the Employer’s Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits here.

FAQ

Public transit is confusing as heck! Where do I start?

Enter your start and end points on the NorCal Go app and it’ll tell you the best ways to get to where you’re going, departure times and step-by-step directions included.

How much does it cost?

That depends what trains/buses/rail lines you’re taking and where you’re going.

Is it faster than driving?

It can be. If you’ve ever driven into the Bay Area from Stockton on a busy weekday morning, you know rush hour is more like rush 3 hours. A train can potentially reduce that.

My route says driving is faster, so why bother with this?

You could sit in stressful traffic, tiring out your foot by going from gas to break and back again in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Or you could get comfortable with a book, zone out to a podcast, or catch sleep on a train or bus. You do you.