MERCED – Tickets are now available to purchase for summer service to Yosemite National Park on the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS). This year, the YARTS summer schedules from Merced, Mariposa, Sonora, Groveland, Oakhurst and Fresno to Yosemite National Park begin on Friday, May 23rd and service from Mammoth Lakes begins July 1st.
This month marks the 25th anniversary of YARTS service to Yosemite. The public transit system was formed through a Joint Powers Agreement in 1999 with the first buses departing Merced in May 2000. Original YARTS members include the Counties of Merced, Mono and Mariposa; in the last five years, the Agency has added Madera County, Tuolumne County and the City of Fresno to its governing body.
“The spirit of YARTS has remained the same for 25 years,” said Serenity Anderson, Transit Director for YARTS. “Our goal has always been to provide safe, convenient, cost-effective, comfortable and accessible public transit services to Yosemite for all individuals. We are proud to still be doing this important work after a quarter century of commitment to preserving one of the most iconic gems in the National Park system.”
Booking YARTS tickets in advance is highly encouraged as only a limited number of walk-on tickets are issued. Reduced ticket prices are available for seniors, disabled passengers, veterans, and older children. Children under five are always free and each child between the ages of 6 and 12 years-old ride free if accompanied by a full-fare paying adult. Passengers riding into Yosemite on YARTS do not need a day-use pass issued by the National Park Service on days when one is required for those entering in private vehicles. All YARTS buses are equipped with lavatories and both undercarriage and overhead storage for personal items. For more information about YARTS schedules, fares, routes, to reserve tickets, visit www.yarts.com or call (877) 989-2787.
YARTS is a California Joint Powers Authority comprised of Merced, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Madera and Mono Counties, and the City of Fresno, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, National Park Service and United States Forest Service. The Merced County Association of Governments provides administrative services and operational support for YARTS.
