News Release

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Janet Sanders
Office: 661.869.6304

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2019

GET joins in the Holiday Spirit at the 37th Annual Bakersfield Christmas Parade

Bakersfield, CA — The Golden Empire Transit District (GET) will be participating in the 37th Annual Christmas Parade on Thursday, December 5th, 2019 along with 109 other participants that will follow the parade route bringing holiday joy to Kern County residents. GET will have a fixed route bus, and a GET-A-LIFT vehicle that have been painted by our employee’s children. We will also be debuting our new RYDE, bus which is Bakersfield’s NEW On-Demand bus that services the Southwest area of Bakersfield.

Each year our employees and their children get together and enjoy painting the bus. This year’s theme is “The Polar Express.” The children and employees are invited to ride the buses along the parade route on Thursday December 5th, 2019.

We at GET represent our company in the community and are ambassadors of our brand in Bakersfield. We strive to create an open, fun work environment by organizing great events like this one, where people are inspired to be creative with art.

“We’re trying to introduce more people to transit, and that’s a fun way to do it,” said Karen King CEO of GET.

From December 1 – 31, 2019 GET (fixed routes) and Get-A-Lift (Paratransit) will be providing FREE rides. “This is GET’s gift to Bakersfield this holiday season,” said Karen King, GET’s CEO. “Free rides mean residents can keep the money they would spend on bus fare or transportation and save it or spend it on friends and family during this special time of year.”
GET received a grant through the Low Carbon Transit Operation Program (LCTOP) to bring free public transportation to Bakersfield residents for the month of December.
Happy Holidays from Golden Empire Transit District!

GET was formed in July 1973 and is the primary public transportation provider for the Bakersfield Urbanized Area. It is the largest public transit system within a 110-mile radius. The District’s legal boundary includes Bakersfield city limits as well as adjacent unincorporated areas. GET has a fleet of 88 compressed natural gas buses equipped with wheelchair lifts and bike racks. GET serves 16 routes, operating 7 days a week and transporting more than 6 million passengers each year with its fixed-route buses. In addition, GET operates 25 compressed natural gas GET-A-Lift buses and 7 microtransit RYDE shuttles. For more information, visit www.getbus.org or call 869.2GET (2438).

News Release

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Janet Sanders
Office: 661.869.6304

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 27, 2019

GET Chief Named Vice Chair of California Transit Association Executive Committee

Bakersfield, CA — The Golden Empire Transit District (GET) announced today that its Chief Executive Officer, Karen King, was recently named Vice Chair of the California Transit Association’s Executive Committee.

Ms. King, who has headed GET since 2008, has been a member of the California Transit Association (CTA) for 33 years. She will serve as Vice Chair on CTA’s Executive Committee alongside other high-level representatives of California transit programs through 2021. “This is an exciting opportunity for GET,” said King, who was elected to the position during CTA’s Fall Conference and Expo, which took place from November 13-15, 2019, in Monterey. “Working closely with the managers and CEOs of some of our state’s most successful transit programs on this committee will not only help me to advocate for and improve transit throughout California, but also to bring new and exciting ideas and innovations to GET.”

CTA is the state’s largest transit advocacy group, representing more than 200 member organizations. Its recent 2019 Fall Conference and Expo focused on today’s most pressing challenges for transit and the solutions being implemented by innovative industry leaders. CTA is led by its Executive Committee, which is responsible for managing CTA’s affairs, setting policies, and directing staff. Its 25 members are selected by member organizations and serve two-year terms.

In 2018, Ms. King received a Distinguished Service Award from CTA as part of its Small Operator Awards. The award recognizes individuals who have had a long and distinguished career in the transportation industry and have made outstanding contributions to public transit. Ms. King’s career in public transportation has spanned more than 43 years and garnered numerous awards and recognitions for GET, including CTA’s Transit Innovation Award in 2015.

GET was formed in July 1973 and is the primary public transportation provider for the Bakersfield Urbanized Area. It is the largest public transit system within a 110-mile radius. The District’s legal boundary includes Bakersfield city limits as well as adjacent unincorporated areas. GET has a fleet of 88 compressed natural gas buses equipped with wheelchair lifts and bike racks. GET serves 16 routes, operating 7 days a week and transporting more than 6 million passengers each year with its fixed-route buses. In addition, GET operates 25 compressed natural gas GET-A-Lift buses and 7 microtransit RYDE shuttles. For more information, visit www.getbus.org or call 869.2GET (2438).

News Release

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jill Smith
Office: 661.869.6307

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2019

Free Rides All December on GET

Bakersfield, CA — The Golden Empire Transit District (GET) will launch its Free Rides for the Holidays promotion this Sunday. All GET fixed routes and GET-A-Lift buses will be free to everyone from December 1 through December 31, 2019. GET’s RYDE service will continue to collect its standard fare.

“This is GET’s gift to Bakersfield this holiday season,” said Karen King, GET’s CEO. “Free rides mean residents can keep the money they would spend on bus fare or transportation and save it or spend it on friends and family during this special time of year.”

Fares will not be collected on GET services from December 1 through December 31. All fareboxes on the GET buses will be covered to prevent residents from paying.

GET received a grant through Caltrans’ Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) to bring free ride days to Bakersfield. The LCTOP was created to provide operating and capital assistance for transit agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve mobility, with a priority on serving disadvantaged communities.

As a reminder, GET services will not operate on Christmas Day (December 25), and the GET administrative office and customer service phone lines will be closed as well.

GET was formed in July 1973 and is the primary public transportation provider for the Bakersfield Urbanized Area. It is the largest public transit system within a 110-mile radius. The District’s legal boundary includes Bakersfield city limits as well as adjacent unincorporated areas. GET has a fleet of 88 compressed natural gas buses equipped with wheelchair lifts and bike racks. GET serves 16 routes, operating 7 days a week and transporting more than 6 million passengers each year with its fixed-route buses. In addition, GET operates 25 compressed natural gas GET-A-Lift buses and 7 microtransit RYDE shuttles. For more information, visit www.getbus.org or call 869.2GET (2438).

News Release

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jill Smith
Office: 661.869.6307

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2019

GET Named Honorable Mention in PR Daily Content Marketing Awards

Bakersfield, CA — Golden Empire Transit District (GET) was recently announced as an honorable mention recipient of PR Daily’s 2019 Content Marketing Awards in the Customer Engagement category for its “GETWorks” campaign.

PR Daily’s Content Marketing Awards celebrate teams, organizations, and consultants who have redefined the field with their groundbreaking work. As an honorable mention recipient, GET joins an elite group of past recipients, including PCL Construction, IBM, Cambia Health Solutions, Sunrise Banks, Capital One, American Red Cross, and The Coca-Cola Company.

GET was chosen from a wide pool of entries to receive an honorable mention in the Customer Engagement category for the impact of its “GETWorks” campaign.

The “GETWorks” campaign sought to discover how public transportation worked for those who depend on it. GET interacted with current riders throughout Bakersfield during the fall 2018 campaign to determine if the bus was simply a means to get from point A to point B, or if there was something more to being a faithful rider. The resulting customer engagement was truly authentic and often inspiring. GetWorks participants gave often heroic testimonials about how the bus provided financial security, community support, creative inspiration, and even a path to sobriety.

“GET set themselves apart from an outstanding field of applicants. Their work was exceptional and displayed their innovative strategies for achieving success. Congratulations, Golden Empire Transit! We look forward to your continued success,” said Brendan Gannon, Marketing Manager for Awards Programs at Ragan Communications.

“This is great recognition for a campaign that truly put a spotlight on real GET riders,” said Karen King, GET’s CEO. “GETWorks testimonials revealed that GET works for people because the service provides so much more than just transportation.”

About Ragan Communications
Ragan and PR Daily sponsor 11 award programs each year, including the PR Daily Awards, Employee Communications Awards, Communicators of the Year Awards (formerly the ACE Awards) and its inaugural Top Women in Communications Awards. Judged by globally regarded experts and featuring multiple categories, these programs honor the top work in communications, public relations, marketing and media.

Ragan Communications operates two of the top news and information sites for the public relations and corporate communications industry: Ragan.com and PRDaily.com. Together, these daily news sites attract more than 700,000 global visitors monthly.

Ragan is the leading provider of conferences and online training for public relations, media relations, and corporate communications professionals. The Chicago-based company also produces RaganTraining.com, the industry’s leading video and online education portal.

GET was formed in July 1973 and is the primary public transportation provider for the Bakersfield Urbanized Area. It is the largest public transit system within a 110-mile radius. The District’s legal boundary includes Bakersfield city limits as well as adjacent unincorporated areas. GET has a fleet of 88 compressed natural gas buses equipped with wheelchair lifts and bike racks. GET serves 16 routes, operating 7 days a week and transporting more than 6 million passengers each year with its fixed-route buses. In addition, GET operates 25 compressed natural gas GET-A-Lift buses and 7 microtransit RYDE shuttles. For more information, visit www.getbus.org or call 869.2GET (2438).

News Release

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jill SmithOffice: 661.869.6307

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2019

Free Rides for the Holidays

Bakersfield, CA — The Golden Empire Transit District (GET) announced today that all rides on GET fixed routes and GET-A-Lift will be free from December 1 through December 31, 2019 for its Free Rides for the Holidays campaign. GET’s RYDE service will continue to collect its standard fare.

GET received a grant through Caltrans’ Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) to bring free ride days to Bakersfield. The LCTOP was created to provide operating and capital assistance for transit agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve mobility, with a priority on serving disadvantaged communities.

“GET is so happy to give what we can to residents this holiday season,” said Karen King, GET’s CEO. “By providing free rides during this busy time, we hope to encourage residents to take advantage of GET’s services and become familiar with the local bus system, for free!”

Fares will not be collected on GET services from December 1 through December 31. All fareboxes on the GET buses will be covered to prevent residents from paying.
As a reminder, GET services will not operate on Christmas Day (December 25), and the GET administrative office and customer service phone lines will be closed as well.

GET was formed in July 1973 and is the primary public transportation provider for the Bakersfield Urbanized Area. It is the largest public transit system within a 110-mile radius. The District’s legal boundary includes Bakersfield city limits as well as adjacent unincorporated areas. GET has a fleet of 88 compressed natural gas buses equipped with wheelchair lifts and bike racks. GET serves 16 routes, operating 7 days a week and transporting more than 6 million passengers each year with its fixed-route buses. In addition, GET operates 25 compressed natural gas GET-A-Lift buses and 7 microtransit RYDE shuttles. For more information, visit www.getbus.org or call 869.2GET (2438).

News Release

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jill Smith
Office: 661.869.6307

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2019

40 Years of GET-A-Lift

Bakersfield, CA —Golden Empire Transit District (GET) announced that November marks the 40th anniversary of its GET-A-Lift (GAL) program which provides paratransit service to Bakersfield area residents in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The GAL paratransit service was established in 1979 to provide transportation to individuals who have a disability that prevents them from making some or all of their trips on GET fixed-route buses. GAL offers a shared-ride, curb-to-curb (origin-to-destination) service which operates in the same areas and during the same days and hours as the fixed route bus system.

“We are so excited to mark the growth and success of this important paratransit service in the Bakersfield community,” said Karen King, GET’s CEO. “During the month of November, we’ll be offering fun giveaways on GAL vehicles as we celebrate together.” GET staff will officially celebrate GAL’s 40th anniversary at GET headquarters on November 14, 2019.

To learn more about GAL eligibility requirements, please call 869-6347 or visit getbus.org/get-a-lift.

GET was formed in July 1973 and is the primary public transportation provider for the Bakersfield Urbanized Area. It is the largest public transit system within a 110-mile radius. The District’s legal boundary includes Bakersfield city limits as well as adjacent unincorporated areas. GET has a fleet of 88 compressed natural gas buses equipped with wheelchair lifts and bike racks. GET serves 16 routes, operating 7 days a week and transporting more than 6 million passengers each year with its fixed-route buses. In addition, GET operates 25 compressed natural gas GET-A-Lift buses and 7 microtransit RYDE shuttles. For more information, visit www.getbus.org or call 869.2GET (2438).

News Release

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jill Smith
Office: 661.869.6307

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2019

Golden Empire Transit Providing Free Rides for Veterans in November

Bakersfield, CA — Golden Empire Transit District (GET) announced today that all GET fixed-route and GET-A-Lift services will be free to military veterans during the entire month of November.
“We are proud to provide our brave servicemen and-women with 30 days of free rides on our services in honor of Veterans Day,” said Karen King, GET’s CEO. “We ask that our veterans simply show their military ID to board, free of charge, every day in November.” GET’s RYDE service will not be included in the Veterans Day promotion.

King encourages veterans to utilize the Trip Planning Tool on getbus.org to plan their free fixed-route travel. Free GET-A-Lift transportation for registered customers can be scheduled by calling 661-869-6363. Eligibility for GET-A-Lift paratransit service is directly related to the inability of a person with a disability to use the existing fixed-route service.

Veterans Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11. It honors those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. All GET routes will be operating on a regular schedule this Veterans Day.

GET was formed in July 1973 and is the primary public transportation provider for the Bakersfield Urbanized Area. It is the largest public transit system within a 110-mile radius. The District’s legal boundary includes Bakersfield city limits as well as adjacent unincorporated areas. GET has a fleet of 88 compressed natural gas buses equipped with wheelchair lifts and bike racks. GET serves 16 routes, operating 7 days a week and transporting more than 6 million passengers each year with its fixed-route buses. In addition, GET operates 25 compressed natural gas GET-A-Lift buses and 7 microtransit RYDE shuttles. For more information, visit www.getbus.org or call 869.2GET (2438).

News Release

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jill Smith

Office: 661.869.6307
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2019

Golden Empire Transit District Annual Report to the Community

Bakersfield, CA — The Golden Empire Transit District (GET) announced today its 2018/2019 Annual Report, which highlights the District’s revenue, expenses, improvements, and contributions to the Bakersfield community.

“For every dollar GET spends and invests, it creates $5.80 in return,” said Karen King, GET’s CEO. “For every dollar a Bakersfield resident earns, the average household will spend nearly twenty percent of that dollar on transportation, 94 percent of which is for buying, maintaining, and operating cars.”

As detailed in the report, GET has 358 employees, serves a population of 500,977, and had a 2018/2019 operating budget of $31.5 million and a capital budget of $5.4 million. GET’s fiscal year expenses included:

• Transportation Services – $12,767,175
• Facilities & Accommodations – $1,439,457
• Paratransit – $2,424,859
• Vehicle Maintenance – $7,554,662

General Administration – $6,608,862GET’s revenue for the year totaled $30,795,015 and included:

• Sales Tax Revenue – $18,833,195
• Federal Assistance – $5,689,148
• Passenger Fares – $4,862,817
• Cap and Trade – $565,109
• CNG Excise Tax Rebate – $160,127
• Interest – $171,125
• CNG Sales – $177,313
• Advertising – $314,106
• Other – $22,075

In addition to its 16 fixed routes (which transported 6.4 million riders this year) and its 25 compressed natural gas GET-A-Lift buses, GET launched its on-demand pilot project (RYDE) on April 7, 2019. The service is proving to be successful in shaping the future of public transportation in Bakersfield. As of September 2019, RYDE has provided over 10,000 custom trips. On October 3, 2019, the service hit a record high of 126 custom trips for the day.

In addition to being the primary public transportation provider for the Bakersfield Urbanized Area, GET was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award at the Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) Humanitarian Awards Banquet on May 9, 2019. “Transportation isn’t the only service GET provides for Bakersfield and the Kern County community,” King said.

GET was formed in July 1973 and is the primary public transportation provider for the Bakersfield Urbanized Area. It is the largest public transit system within a 110-mile radius. The District’s legal boundary includes Bakersfield city limits as well as adjacent unincorporated areas. GET has a fleet of 88 compressed natural gas buses equipped with wheelchair lifts and bike racks. GET serves 16 routes, operating 7 days a week and transporting more than 6 million passengers each year with its fixed-route buses. In addition, GET operates 25 compressed natural gas GET-A-Lift buses and 7 microtransit RYDE shuttles. For more information, visit www.getbus.org or call 869.2GET (2438).

News Release

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jill Smith
Office: 661.869.6307

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2019

Golden Empire Transit District Receives Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting

Bakersfield, CA — The Golden Empire Transit District (GET) is honored to receive the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting awarded by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). The Certificate of Achievement, awarded according to each recipient’s comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR), is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. Attaining the certificate represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

“GET is committed to the greatest level of transparency in our annual financial reporting,” explains Karen King, GET’s CEO. “It’s important that our riders, employees, transit partners, and stakeholders have access to the information they need to assess the financial health of our organization. Our finance team works diligently every year to prepare the CAFR and it’s truly an honor to receive the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting based on their hard work.”

The CAFR was judged by an impartial panel and determined to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate GET’s financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.

For more information on the award, please visit the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada at gfoa.org.

GET was formed in July 1973 and is the primary public transportation provider for the Bakersfield Urbanized Area. It is the largest public transit system within a 110-mile radius. The District’s legal boundary includes Bakersfield city limits as well as adjacent unincorporated areas. GET has a fleet of 88 compressed natural gas buses equipped with wheelchair lifts and bike racks. GET serves 16 routes, operating 7 days a week and transporting more than 6 million passengers each year with its fixed-route buses. In addition, GET operates 25 compressed natural gas GET-A-Lift buses and 7 microtransit RYDE shuttles. For more information, visit www.getbus.org or call 869.2GET (2438).

News Release

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jill Smith
Office: 661.869.6307

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2019

Golden Empire Transit District Halloween Bus Schedule

Bakersfield, CA — The Golden Empire Transit District (GET) announced its annual GET Halloween bus is currently traveling throughout Bakersfield to various events and schools for children to enjoy “Mickey’s House of Villains.”

Both the exterior and interior of a GET bus were wrapped and then decorated in this year’s theme by local artist Al Mendez. The GET Halloween bus will act as a traveling library for the month of October and then provide a safe trick-or-treating spot on Wednesday and Thursday, October 30 and 31, at the Kern County Museum from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.

“We look forward to this bus every year,” said Karen King, GET’s CEO. “GET is proud to be able to share art with the community and provide safe Halloween excitement for the children of Bakersfield.” Children and their caregivers will enjoy the GET bus disguised as “Mickey’s House of Villains” at the following locations:

October 16 – Spooktacular Bus at Beale Library
October 17 – Casa Loma Elementary
October 17 – Third Thursday at the Kern County Museum
October 21 – KCSOS Richardson Center
October 22 – MAOF Preschool
October 24 – Fremont Elementary
October 25 – College Heights Elementary
October 28 – Bessie Owens Intermediate School
October 30 – Safe Halloween at the Kern County Museum
October 31 – Safe Halloween at the Kern County Museum

GET was formed in July 1973 and is the primary public transportation provider for the Bakersfield Urbanized Area. It is the largest public transit system within a 110-mile radius. The District’s legal boundary includes Bakersfield city limits as well as adjacent unincorporated areas. GET has a fleet of 88 compressed natural gas buses equipped with wheelchair lifts and bike racks. GET serves 16 routes, operating 7 days a week and transporting more than 6 million passengers each year with its fixed-route buses. In addition, GET operates 25 compressed natural gas GET-A-Lift buses and 7 microtransit RYDE shuttles. For more information, visit www.getbus.org or call 869.2GET (2438).