New thruway bus route cuts travel time between Merced and the Bay Area

MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Merced County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremonial connected Wednesday greeting for Gold Runner Route 40.

A brand-new Thruway autobus work connecting Merced and San Jose stations with stops successful Los Banos astatine Memorial Hospital and the Gilroy Transit Center.

"This way links our communities to large employment centers, universities, and the broader determination transit network," said Merced County Supervisor Josh Pedrozo.

Merced County Supervisor Josh Pedrazo says that, arsenic idiosyncratic who uses Gold Runner for trips, this way was necessary.

"One of the things we heard contiguous is that astir 300 cardinal miles are driven passim the authorities each year, and this is truly going to assistance alleviate immoderate of the postulation congestion, particularly connected the 99," said Pedrazo.

He says this route, which has been moving since the 5th of January, volition service arsenic a shortcut for Central Valley residents heading to and from the South Bay, compared to taking the train.

"To get up to the Bay Area, they had to spell to Stockton and past backmost around, truthful I deliberation this volition prevention them 2 hours due to the fact that they don't person to spell to Stockton, they volition travel to Merced, get this autobus and spell to the Bay Area."

Gold Runner's Thruway buses widen the scope of the bid line, providing connecting work to 135 destinations successful California and Nevada, including Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Napa Valley, Las Vegas, and Reno.

Last twelvemonth alone, 1.4 cardinal passengers relied connected Gold Runner - some connected the bid and buses. This caller way is expected to boost the section economy.

" And it's going to make a long-lasting economical interaction successful the metropolis and region of Merced, and we are precise excited for that," said Merced County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President Nadine Villafana.

Gold Runner trains run 7 regular round-trip from Bakersfield to either Oakland oregon Sacramento.

The Gold Runner Route 40 volition run 2 regular round-trip.

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