Founded | 2005 |
---|---|
Headquarters | 10250 Iron Rock Way, |
Locale | Elk Grove, California |
Service type | bus service, paratransit |
Alliance | Regional Transit |
Routes | 20 |
Operator | MV Transportation |
Website | www.e-tran.org |
e-tran is the public transit system for the city of Elk Grove, California and parts of south Sacramento. With currently 20 local routes, it began service on January 2, 2005. Nearby Sacramento RT formerly operated bus service in Elk Grove, but it mostly consisted of express bus routes linking Elk Grove to Downtown Sacramento before that system's light rail extension was built in 2003. That converted express service from RT's operationship to the newly created e-tran service area.
In 2007, it was named "Outstanding Public Transportation System" by the APTA (American Public Transport Association).
e-tran is Elk Grove's own bus system. Routes are coordinated with RT buses and light rail and South County Transit/Link (SCT/LINK) to areas outside the city. Main transfer points are at the Cosumnes River College, Meadowview Light Rail Station and Laguna Town Hall. Services are funded with Transportation Development Act (TDA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds.
e-tran currently operates older Gold Coast Transit (formerly South Coast Area Transit) CNG buses from Oxnard, CA, and Akron Metro Regional Transit Authority CNG buses from Akron, Ohio painted with the e-tran paint scheme. The first of the new CNG Orion buses began arriving in Elk Grove the fall of 2008.
In September 2008, the original 21 hybrid-electric buses that were used when the transit system opened on January 2, 2005 were pulled from service. This was due to bus fires that happened on several occasions with only the hybrid-electric buses. These buses are now parked in a field at the e-tran matinence yard in southern Elk Grove while the Board Members try to get their money back ($10,000,000) to fix the buses.
E-Tran has its own Paratransit service called e-van. Vans painted in e-tran paint scheme (e-van instead of e-tran word on side) come door-to-door and pick disabled/ADA certified passengers that make reservations.