Unitrans

The Unitrans bus yard

Office

5 South Hall, UC Davis

Hours of Operation

Can be found

here

Phone

(530)752-BUSS

Web Site

http://unitrans.ucdavis.edu/ or

http://unitrans.com

Owner

(Associated Students of UC Davis)

Unitrans is the primary bus system for Davis residents. Unitrans is operated by the Associated Students at UC Davis, and drivers of the buses are all UC Davis undergraduate students. Many bus drivers are also members of the Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh!, earning the bus service the nickname of "Band-uhTrans". There are only a few career positions at Unitrans, mainly in Administration (General Manager, Assistant General Managers, Administrative Assistants) and Maintenance (Maintenance Manager and Career Mechanics).

Rider Information

Fares

Grad Students
Discount Fares and Passes

Transfers
Bus Lines
Is My Bus On Time?
Additional Notes

History
Operations

Structure of Student Positions
APPLY TO BE A DRIVER!
Bus Information
Trivia

Other Links

Rider Information

Fares

A Unitrans bus pulls into a stop on Cowell.

The fare to ride the bus is just $1. However, many passengers ride for free because they belong to one of the many exempt groups listed below. Frequent riders may be interested in discounted passes and ten-ride tickets. Full fare information can be found at the Unitrans website at http://unitrans.ucdavis.edu/fares.

Free Riders Include:

Undergraduates at UC Davis with a Reg Card . (All undergraduates have fare included in their registration fees. Grad students do not.)
Former Unitrans Employees - Employees who have worked at least a year at Unitrans are given a Lifetime Pass for themselves and their immediate family members.
A or C Parking Permit Holders - Riders may travel free if they show the actual permit to the bus driver. Photocopies are not accepted (This is a program instituted by TAPS to reduce the amount of cars on campus)
Sacramento Regional Transit and YoloBus Passholders.
Seniors over 60 with a special pass. This pass is available from the senior center.
City of Davis employees with valid employee ID card.
All passengers ride for free on spare the air days. You can check the Unitrans website to check today's "Spare the Air" status.

Grad Students

TAPS sells passes for an additional 40% off to UCD-affiliated non-undergrads (e.g., grad students, employees, and faculty). This comes to about 40 cents per pass. Note that this discount is only available at the TAPS office and not at other places where passes are sold.

Grad Students can also ride the bus in two ways:

By purchasing a quarterly pass for Unitrans through the Transitpool program, including 6 free parking day passes, for $34 (2006)
By becoming a member of ASUCD, which includes 15 minutes extra legal advice (in addition to GSA), for $41 (2008)

Discount Fares and Passes

Unitrans offers several discount passes available to community members (prices are as of June 2008): Annual ($180), quarterly ($64), and monthly ($25), as well as a "Summer Sizzler" pass that allows children age 5-17 ride all summer on both Unitrans and Yolobus for $15.

Passes can be purchased at City Hall, Davis Community Transit in the Amtrak Station, Transportation & Parking Services, Freeborn Hall Box Office, and the Unitrans Business Office at 5 South Hall. You can also call 752-BUSS and order a pass over the phone with a credit card.

In addition, 10-ride ticket passes can be purchased at Davis High School, Harper Junior High School, and Holmes Junior High School.

Transfers

Transfers to other Unitrans lines are free and valid for 30 minutes from time of issue during regular service, and for 1 hour during break and summer service. You cannot transfer to the same line, or to lines that travel the same route (P-Q, W-M, D-K, J-G, etc.) Transfer slips are provided upon request by the driver. **There is one exception, P to Q line transfers are allowed at Monarch and Covell, to allow P line riders to access Harper JHS**
Speak with the driver if you would like to ensure a timed transfer to another bus line. Please note that timed transfers are NOT guaranteed.
For information about transferring to other transit agencies click here.

Bus Lines

A Bus Line (Silo Terminal)
B Bus Line (Memorial Union Terminal)
C Bus Line (Silo Terminal)
D Bus Line (Silo Terminal)
E Bus Line (Memorial Union Terminal)
F Bus Line (Memorial Union Terminal)
G Bus Line (Memorial Union Terminal)
~~H Bus Line (Vet Med loop from Silo Terminal)~~
J Bus Line (Silo Terminal)
K Bus Line (Memorial Terminal)
L Bus Line (Silo Terminal)
M Bus Line (Memorial Union Terminal)
P/Q Bus Line (Memorial Union Terminal)
S Bus Line*
T Bus Line*
W Bus Line (Silo Terminal)
P/Q Bus Line Saturday (Memorial Union Terminal)
J Bus Line Saturday (Silo Terminal)
W Bus Line Saturday (Silo Terminal)
Amtrak Shuttle

* The S-line is primarily for Harper and Holmes Junior High (these buses do not serve Emerson) and the T-line is for Davis Senior High School. Anyone can ride these buses, though they only run on DJUSD school days long enough to get students to their morning classes [roughly 7am-9am] and to take them home at the end of the day [3:30pm-4pm].

Is My Bus On Time?

Unitrans in the Summer of 2009 outfitted many of their buses with Global Positioning Systems (GPS) that tie into the NextBus service, a 3rd party. NextBus is a "real-time" Internet and telecom service that provides, for buses so outfitted, the latest arrival information for serviced stops. It is free to Unitrans riders and any one with an interest in knowing if a bus will be ontime. Keep in mind that since this is a new system, it may not be available on all buses.

Arrival estimates can be queried automatically via SMS using your cellphone and can even be set to automatically page you. Or you can call an automated line and simply punch in your stop number (530-204-5529). The website provides a simple, regularly refreshing information page for a selected stop. They also have "live maps" to show you where the buses on a line currently are and what the latest arrival times are for each bus stop.

Visit the NextBus Unitrans website to see if your bus is on time or held up in traffic.

Additional Notes

Unlike other bus systems, Unitrans operates full schedules only during the regular UC Davis academic term (S and T lines follow the DJUSD calendar). Buses operate less often and stop running earlier during finals week, breaks between quarters, and in the summer. No fixed route service on Sundays, and many holidays.
Yolobus operates within Davis in addition to Unitrans. The 42A/B route runs longer hours on weekends, and 365 days a year including Sundays and other days when Unitrans runs at reduced schedules or does not operate. 42A (coming from Sac. and W. Sac.) serves south/east Davis (El Cemonte and Cowell), goes to Mace, Alhambra, then Covell to F, to Fifth, to the UCD MU, then Russell to Anderson, back to Covell, Marketplace (Covell/113), then to Woodland and Sacramento airport. 42B goes the opposite way.
Do not run after buses after they have pulled away from the curb, especially at the terminal. Drivers are instructed not to stop. (Before the bus pulls away, however, running and/or yelling are often useful for the tardier riders.)
Bicycles are not allowed, except on the last run of the day.
Lost and found items are brought to the MU Information Center. Call (530)752-2222 to locate lost items.

History

Unitrans created in 1968 after the purchase of two London double-decker buses, and was known as the University Transport System. In 1972 Unitrans, as it became known, began operating to serve the general public, and a partnership with the City of Davis (including partial funding) began. The partnership with the city has expanded and continues to this day. ¹

article about the 40^th Anniversary from the February 22^nd California Aggie.

Just in time for Earth Day 2008 Unitrans joined up with Google to put their routes on Google Maps. This means you can plan trips across town using Google Maps.

Operations

Unitrans has a few strange procedures which ensure safe and reliable service. Below are some examples of these procedures.

Double-deck buses pull into stops and then angle away from the curb ("kicking out") so that when conductors and passengers step off of the bus, they are protected and less likely to be run over.
The high-ridership lines (Such as D, G, J, M, and W) commonly have a "tripper" bus that accompanies the main bus through one line. This second bus helps split the load and keep the other bus on time. So if one passes you by, don't worry; the second one will stop!
All drivers work a required minimum number of hours - usually around 15 per week. Most drivers, especially route supervisors and driver trainers, work upwards of 20 to 30 each week.

Structure of Student Positions

All student positions are filled by undergraduates, from Operations Manager to Conductor (but graduate students can also apply).

Operations Manager - is the highest-level operations student employee. Oversees daily operations of the system. Also leads the Route Supervisors.

Human Resources Manager - is in charge of hiring and firing of all non-manager student positions, setting up interview boards, and staff development activities.

Planning & Marketing Manager - is a student employee in charge of route planning and changes for the annual Unitrans schedule. Produces the annual schedule and oversees all outreach, publicity, and service announcements. Tells Operations how service should run.

Support Services Manager - keeps the buses tidy and clean. Makes sure we look good out on the road.

Conductor Manager - trains all conductors and performs evaluations.

Route Supervisor - is the voice of "Dispatch" and the "RS." "Supes" oversee the daily operation of all aspects of bus service in the City of Davis. If a bus breaks down, they attempt to fix it. If a bus is late, they arrange a "tripper" to start the late bus' next line on time. Approximately 20 of the most senior students in Unitrans hold this position. It requires a minimum of 500 safe driving hours, double-deck training, and conductor training.

Assistant Driver Trainer - is a student trainer for new drivers; trainers can also lead refreshers during the summer to ensure that all currently-employed drivers maintain adequate DMV-mandated training hours per year, as well as provide accident refreshers as needed. Some "ADTs" are also qualified to be Double-Deck ADTs, or Out-of-Town Charter ("OTC") ADTs. Primarily, ADTs work with newly-hired employees to efficiently train them in the use and operation of all single-deck buses (as double decks require OTC training and 500 hours of driving with no accidents). The training comprises over 11 phases, usually spread over a quarter.

Route Trainer - is another training position at Unitrans. RT's train new drivers after they obtain their class B license on Unitrans policies and routes. You will often see RT's on board buses being mentors to new drivers as they drive their first shifts in revenue service. Being an RT requires a minimum of 500 driving hours and a safe driving record.

Driver Trainer Supervisor - is a student responsible for overseeing the training program and supervising all ADTs and RTs.

Driver - is the student driving your bus. Drivers receive behind-the-wheel training upon passing the DMV's written tests for a California Class B Commercial Driver License, with Passenger and Air Brakes endorsements. Drivers-in-training drive all of the single decks at some point, from Gilligs to Bluebirds to Orions. Every driver is required to know all 17 bus routes like the back of their hand.

Shop Assistant - is one of the student mechanics who assist the career staff in maintaining the buses.

Office Clerks - are those friendly, helpful voices on the other side of 752-BUSS. In charge of all customer service and passenger/driver data. Led by the Business Office Manager (BOM).

APPLY TO BE A DRIVER!

Why would you want to be a Unitrans driver?

Flexible hours! - Each shift is generally only one hour long, so you can choose shifts which fit your busy schedule
Good Pay! - Unitrans will pay you to train, as well as cover your fees and licensing costs. After you become a driver, you will begin work at $9.75/hr.
Fun People! - We're nice people, come join us!

Bus Information

See the Unitrans Buses page for more detailed information.

Most of the buses (including one double-decker) run on compressed natural gas (CNG). The remaining ones have diesel engines. The switch to a dominantly-natural-gas-powered fleet occurred on April 5^th, 1996. Because of the California Air Resources Board's regulations, Unitrans plans to retire all of the older diesel buses by the end of 2007.

The now-defunct hydrogen/natural gas bus parked at the Silo

The Unitrans fleet currently consists of the following:

Orion Mark V (35- and 40-ft) (Buses 3536-3542, 4343-4350, 4171-4178, 9613-9616)
Orion Mark VII (Low-Floor 40-ft) (Buses 4063-4067)
Bluebird (37-ft) (Buses 3852-3861)
London RT Double Deckers

RT 742, RTL 1014, RT 3123, RT 4735

RT 1014 is the only double-deck to maintain its original 'pre-select' shifting transmission and original engine.

CNG-Converted London RT Double Deckers

RT 2819, RT 1235

RT 1235 is in the process of being converted to CNG

Unitrans' most prominent color is red. With the exception of the buses leased from Sacramento Regional Transit, the entirety of the Unitrans fleet follows the red color scheme, which was adopted in April 1995 to coincide with the purchase of the new Orion buses. The current color scheme was intended to match the single deck fleet to the colors of the vintage double deckers. Previously, Unitrans buses were white with red and blue stripes along the sides. The first buses to sport this color scheme were the "New Look" GMC buses purchased from San Diego. The remainder of the fleet at the time was matched to this color scheme. All buses that once sported this color scheme have been retired from the fleet and sold.

Sources of Unitrans buses:

The Double-Decker Buses were purchased at various times from the UK, obtained from London Transport.
45xx Series "New Look" GMCs were from San Diego.
Daimlers (long gone) were from the UK.
35' and 40' Flxibles were from Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT).
"Prison bus" GMs were from SacRT, as well.
39xx Series Gilligs were purchased new (1982)
46xx Series Gilligs are from YoloBus (1985)
28xx Series Gilligs were purchased from TAPS (1987)
35xx/43xx Series Orion Mark V buses - Purchased New (1990)
38xx Series Bluebirds - Purchased New (1994)
40xx Series Orion Mark VII buses - Purchased New (1999)
41xx Series Orion Mark V buses - Purchased New (2006)
96xx Series Orion Mark V buses - Leased from Sacramento Regional Transit (1996 Model Year)

Some buses go on to lead other lives after their service at Unitrans like the Jazz Bus.

Trivia

The last run of a driver before retiring/graduating has led to some pranks in the past. It started with just parking backwards at the MU upon completion of the drivers' final runs and escalated into parking on lawns, backwards on the lawns, in the doorway of Hickey Gym, in the courtyard of the MU (bowling alley folks were unhappy about that...who knew the roof isn't rated for bus loads?), doing donuts on the Russell IM fields...

StevenDaubert says he has seen drivers chock the wheels of other buses as a prank, however it was very amusing when the victim just drove over the chock and continued on her merry way.

Unitrans drivers used to get silly on the radio in the late hours when not many people were listening; and do things like trivia. It's rare now. Yolobus wasn't fond of it either, back in the days when Yolobus and Unitrans shared a frequency.