Amtrak Travelers from Martinez to Arcata Now Have Bus-Only Option
Press release from the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority:
Riders traveling on Amtrak’s San Joaquins Route 7, the Thruway Bus route extending from the Martinez Amtrak Station to Arcata (Cal Poly Humboldt) and encompassing a total of 18 stops, can now purchase bus-only tickets for all city pairs along the route. This recent expansion of service significantly broadens the scope and connectivity of the bus top pairs previously available on Route 7.
This expansion along Route 7, which was approved by the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) Board of Directors at the July 21 meeting, represents the latest step in Amtrak San Joaquins’ efforts to provide a comprehensive transportation alternative to travelers in communities throughout the state, beyond where the train can service.
Historically, travelers on all Thruway Bus routes were required to have a segment of train travel as part of their overall trip to travel on the Thruway Bus. However, state legislation, SB 742 authored by Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), was passed in 2019 to remove the requirement for intercity passenger rail/thruway bus services to sell companion rail tickets as a condition of the sale. As such, following extensive planning coordination, in 2021 after the impacts of the pandemic had eased, SJJPA opened parts of the Amtrak San Joaquins Route 7 as well as Routes 1c, 10, 18, and 19 for bus-only sales.
“We are pleased to now be at the point where we can expand connectivity along Route 7 to its fullest extent,” said Pat Hume, Chair for the SJJPA. “Fully opening Route 7 is a result of extensive collaboration with local stakeholders and regional transit providers and is a part of our ongoing effort to make Amtrak San Joaquins a comprehensive transportation solution for communities statewide.”
Making Amtrak’s Thruway bus routes available to non-rail riders brings several benefits including:
- Improved access to transit for priority and underserved communities.
- Reduction in greenhouse gas and air pollution emissions by diverting trips that would have previously been taken by an automobile.
- Reduced car trips on some of the state’s most congested freeways.
- Better utilization of current transit infrastructure.
- Increased revenues for the state at virtually no additional cost.
The bus-only ticketing options and fares are now available in the following locations:
- Route 7: Martinez – Napa – Santa Rosa – Humboldt State University – Arcata
- Route 1C: Bakersfield – Van Nuys – West Los Angeles/UCLA – Santa Monica
- Route 10: Santa Barbara – Bakersfield – Barstow – Las Vegas
- Route 15: Merced – Yosemite & Fresno – Yosemite (seasonal)
- Route 18: Hanford – Lemoore – San Luis Obispo – Santa Maria
- Route 19: Bakersfield – Pasadena – Riverside – San Bernadino
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
Is this part of Hair Gel’s “Bullet Train” scam that will never see the light of day. By the way, where did all those billions go??
Much of them money has gone to battling obstructionist.
The bullet train never had anything to do with the bay-humboldt route.
I’m surprised you didn’t know that since it’s such a major policy issue that you’re super concerned about
Did you read the article? This bus is operational currently.
Or are you just against public transit?
The train to nowhere (well, Bakersfield) was Jerry Brown’s baby, actually and most of the money disappeared under his watch. Newsom seems pretty fed up too and has threatened to shut it all down a couple times. There’s now an audit proceeding slowly, I believe.p
I assume tickets will still need to be purchased in advance. One can’t just show up at a bus stop with fare in hand.
It will be interesting to see if this degrades the experience for those connecting to rail. I suspect it will.
“The experience”
As if it wasn’t a nightmare to begin with. American train and bus systems are a joke.
Amtrak long distance train travel has been a great experience for us. It’s been a few years so I don’t know if there has been a decline of services. Was wondering if the rail infrastructure has been properly attended to? Other than that, you can’t beat the scenery. The Skunk Train is a hoot too.
Actually The Amtrak bus to and from Martinez into Humboldt is a good option. Urually on time, clean bus, nice drivers and courteous riders. I’ve always had a pleasant experience. I hope adding more riders does not ruin it.
It’s a long ride and the buses vary in quality, but not everyone is up for a six hour drive themselves. You can do work or relax on the bus instead of white-knuckling it around hairpin turns through the fog belt so there are a lot of advantages if you’re not in a hurry.
From any one of the route links…
“Tickets must be purchased in advance on AmtrakSanJoaquins.com, the Amtrak app or website, by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL or purchased at a staffed Amtrak train station. Bus drivers cannot accept cash or credit cards.”
How many hours (or days) will that take? Long way with a lot of stops.
First bus leaves Arcata Transit Center at 7:05 AM, arrives in Martinez at 1:45. 6 hr 40 min.
Second bus leaves at 10AM, arrives in Martiez at 5:45. 7 hrs 45 min.
Roughly, seven hours- thirty minutes of that is a short lunch break at Macdonalds for lunch in Ukiah going either way. It’s long enough, but if your going to SLO county, add a short train ride to Emoryville and another seven hours. All in all about a eighteen hour trip just to get to the central coast. Makes for a very long day!
That’s a solid 10 hour day of driving. 18 hours on public transit across remote highways and through a massive metro area isn’t terrible
But you can sleep, watch movies, and during some segments, have an alcoholic beverage during that time.