Tri Valley Wheels

What Tri Valley Wheels does

Tri Valley Wheels, legally the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA), is a California Joint Powers Authority that has operated public bus transit in the Tri-Valley region since 1985. LAVTA was created through an intergovernmental agreement among the cities of Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, and Alameda County, and serves as the exclusive fixed-route transit provider for this jurisdiction. The agency operates 32 routes across Livermore, Pleasanton, and Dublin using a fleet of 60 locally built GILLIG vehicles, transporting more than 5,000 daily riders and supported by 150 dedicated employees. Service is anchored by the Livermore Transit Center, which functions as the main transfer hub for BART and ACE rail connections, and includes ADA paratransit options (Dial-A-Ride, Para-Taxi, One-Seat Regional Ride) and student-focused programs (Class Pass) for area schools and Las Positas College.

The underlying technology stack is conventional for a mid-sized public transit authority: a real-time Bus Tracker, an online Trip Planner, and the Clipper regional contactless fare system (implemented in 2015, interoperable across 27 Bay Area agencies). LAVTA also runs Go Tri-Valley, an on-demand service launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a Rapid express sub-brand (routes 10R and 30R) offering faster trips on high-demand corridors. The agency is preparing for a system-wide service change effective August 8, 2026 and a restructured fare schedule effective April 1, 2026.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid of passenger fares (single rides $2.50, day passes $4.00, monthly passes $70.00, with discounted tiers for seniors, ADA riders, and youth) and significant public sector funding, including a $63.95 million federal Low-No grant awarded for construction of a new Atlantis Court campus and replacement of aging buses. As a government entity, LAVTA is not privately owned or venture-backed; it is accountable to its member jurisdictions and the communities it serves. The agency does not publicly disclose revenue figures and maintains no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

Name

Tri Valley Wheels

Legal name

Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA)

Website

https://wheelsbus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tri Valley Wheels (LAVTA) is a California public transit authority operating 32 fixed bus routes across the Tri-Valley region of Livermore, Pleasanton, and Dublin. The agency serves 5,000+ daily riders with a 60-vehicle GILLIG fleet, paratransit services, and BART/ACE rail connections.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transit Services

NAICS

Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Special Needs Transportation (485991), Urban Transit Systems (48511)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Multimodal Transit Agencies (Bus + Rail) (THAIAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

ADA/Accessible Paratransit (Complementary to Fixed-Route Transit) (THAIAHAA), Multimodal Transit Hubs & Interchanges (THAIALAF), Last-Mile On-Demand Feeder to Transit (First/Last-Mile Providers) (THAIAGAJ)

Keywords

• Public bus transit
• Paratransit services
• Fixed-route bus service
• Regional transit authority
• ADA accessible transit

Headquarters

HQ city

Livermore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Passenger Fares: Revenue from single rides, day passes, monthly passes, and special category fares (senior/ADA, youth). Standard single ride $2.50, day pass $4.00, monthly pass $70.00.
2. Federal Low-No Funding: Received $63.95 million in federal Low-No funding to support future transit facilities, operations, and bus replacements

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tri Valley Wheels (LAVTA) operates fixed-route public bus transit across 32 routes in the Tri-Valley region of California, including Rapid express service, local routes, paratransit for ADA-eligible riders, and on-demand service. The service connects Livermore, Pleasanton, and Dublin to regional BART and ACE rail systems using a fleet of 60 GILLIG buses. Fares are collected via cash, single rides, day passes, monthly passes, and the regional Clipper card.

Product overview

Wheels Bus operates as the primary public transit service for the Tri-Valley region, operated by LAVTA (Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority). The service provides fixed-route bus transportation through 32 routes including local service (Route 15), Rapid express service (10R, 30R), and paratransit options (Dial-A-Ride, Para-Taxi, One-Seat Regional Ride). The fleet consists of 60 locally-built GILLIG vehicles serving over 5,000 daily riders with 150 employees. Additional services include real-time Bus Tracker, Trip Planner, and student-focused Class Pass programs. Fares range from single rides at $2.50 to monthly passes at $70.00 with discounted rates for seniors, ADA users, and youth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rapid: Express bus service offering faster trips and improved reliability on key routes including Route 10R (Pleasanton-Livermore) and Route 30R (Dublin-Livermore).
• Dial-A-Ride
• Para-Taxi

Products and services

• Wheels Bus (Fixed-Route Bus Service) Public fixed-route bus service operated by LAVTA across 32 routes serving Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, and surrounding Tri-Valley communities with 60 GILLIG vehicles. Targets commuters, students, and the general public for daily transportation.
• Rapid Service (Routes 10R and 30R) Express bus service on Routes 10R (Pleasanton-Livermore) and 30R (Dublin-Livermore) providing faster trips and improved reliability on major corridors for commuters.
• Dial-A-Ride Paratransit ADA-compliant door-to-door paratransit service for eligible riders who are unable to use regular fixed-route bus service.
• Para-Taxi Service Accessible taxi service for qualifying disabled passengers, provided through a partnership with local taxi operators to complement paratransit offerings.
• One-Seat Regional Ride ADA-accessible paratransit service enabling regional travel without transfers for eligible riders across the broader service area.
• Class Pass Student Transit Program Transit pass program for middle school, high school, and Las Positas College students providing reduced-fare access to Wheels bus service.
• Go Tri-Valley On-Demand Transit On-demand transit service launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to support essential travel in the Tri-Valley community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5K+ daily riders served across 32 routes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GILLIGcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2003LAVTA partnered with GILLIG to add 34 new buses to the Wheels fleet, marking a major investment in reliability, capacity, and modern transit service. Currently operates 60 locally built GILLIG vehicles.
• BARTcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991BART service opened in Pleasanton, and LAVTA began partnership to provide connecting transit service to BART stations. Critical regional connection for Tri-Valley commuters.
• ACE (Altamont Commuter Express)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Partnership with ACE rail service strengthening regional connections for Tri-Valley riders. LAVTA provides connecting bus service to ACE stations.
• HaciendaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpecial offer partnership providing Wheels ECO Pass program for Hacienda employees and tenants.
• ClippercoreTechnology or IntegrationImplemented Clipper electronic fare system in 2015 - regional contactless transit card accepted across 27 Bay Area transit agencies. Enables convenient tap payments via cards and mobile wallets.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• GILLIG: GILLIG is the bus manufacturer from which LAVTA has procured its 60-vehicle fleet, including the 2003 partnership for 34 new buses. Relevant as the long-standing vehicle supplier whose locally built product underpins LAVTA's fleet.
• Clipper (MTC/Metropolitan Transportation Commission): Clipper is the regional contactless fare platform accepted across 27 Bay Area transit agencies, including Wheels. Relevant as a strategic technology/integration partner that defines Wheels' fare collection capability.

Direct peers

• AC Transit: Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District operates bus service across the East Bay, including connections to BART. Directly comparable as a Bay Area fixed-route bus operator serving suburban and urban corridors with similar fare structure and Clipper integration.
• Golden Gate Transit: Golden Gate Transit operates bus service across Marin and Sonoma counties with strong regional rail/bus connectivity. Comparable Bay Area bus operator with similar commuter-oriented service model and Clipper integration.
• Omnitrans: Omnitrans operates fixed-route bus, Rapid express, and paratransit service in San Bernardino Valley, California. Comparable as a mid-size California transit agency operating a similar mix of local, express, and ADA paratransit services.
• Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA): VTA operates bus and light rail service in the San Jose/Santa Clara region. Comparable as a California Joint Powers Authority providing fixed-route bus, Rapid express, paratransit, and student transit programs with similar governance and funding model.
• SamTrans (San Mateo County Transit District): SamTrans provides fixed-route bus and paratransit service in San Mateo County with Clipper integration and connections to BART/Caltrain. Closely comparable mid-size Bay Area bus operator with similar service mix.
• Riverside Transit Agency (RTA): RTA provides fixed-route bus and paratransit service across Riverside County, California. Comparable mid-size Southern California transit operator with similar suburban service profile and Clipper-equivalent fare systems.
• Sun Tran: Sun Tran provides fixed-route bus and paratransit service in Tucson, Arizona. Comparable mid-size urban transit operator with similar fleet size, route count, and ADA paratransit offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT): SacRT operates bus and light rail service across the Sacramento region. Comparable as a larger California transit district offering fixed-route bus, paratransit, and student programs, though with broader geographic scope than LAVTA.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@LAVTAWheels/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/wheelsbus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/livermore-amador-valley-transit-authority
• Instagraminstagram.com/wheelsbus
• Xx.com/wheelsbus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tri Valley Wheels