Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General FAQs

  • 1-Ride Discount $0.75
  • 1-Ride Full $1.50
  • All-Day Discount $2.00
  • All-Day Full $4.00
  • 31-Day Discount $30.00
  • 31-Day Student $40.00
  • 31-Day Full $65.00

For more information, click here:

  1. Vamos Mobility App

Available on Apple App Store and Google Play Store, this app gives you the freedom to buy bus tickets right on your smartphone without having to wait in line or visit a Fare Vending Machine or Customer Service Center. This app only accepts credit/debit cards for payment. Learn more.

 Available for purchase:

    • Express
    • Local
    • Hopper
    • Commuter
  1. Van Go! App

Available on Apple App Store and Google Play Store, this app let’s you reserve a trip right on your smartphone 2 days in advance.

 Available for purchase:

    • Van Go!
  1. On the Bus

All Express, Local, and Hopper buses have a farebox as you board through the front doors.  Farebox accepts cash and coins.  Please have exact amount ready.  The farebox does not issue change.

Available for purchase:

    • 1-Ride
    • 1-Day
  1. Downtown Transit Center (DTC)

Buy most tickets in-person with a live representative at the Customer Service Center.  This location accepts cash, coins, and credit/debit cards.  Due to safety reasons, we strongly encourage all customers to have exact change ready.  Once a customer pays for a ticket and a ticket is issued, there is no refunds or exchanges.

Available for purchase:

    • 1-Ride*
    • 1-Day*
    • 31-Day*
    • Commuter One-Way
    • Paratransit 

*Validation required at the time of use.

  1. Fare Vending Machine

This machine accepts cash, coins, and credit/debit card.  Please have exact amount ready.  The machine does not issue change.

Available for purchase:

    • 1-Ride
    • 1-Day

For more information, click here.

  1. Google Maps

Simply tap in your origin, destination, and the time you want to leave or arrive by then click “Get Directions”.  You will find step-by-step instructions on how to get to your destination.

  1. Vamos Mobility App

This app is available for both Apple and Android devices.  You will find trip planning functionalities similar to Google Maps however with additional features like estimated wait times for your bus arrival and purchase a ticket. Learn more.

  1. Call Customer Service

Speak to a live customer service representative for trip planning assistance at (209) 943-1111, option 1.  Please have your origin, destination, and desired time of arrival or departure ready.

  1. Transit App

This app is available for both Apple and Android devices.  You will find trip planning functionalities similar to Google Maps, however, with additional features like real-time tracking of your bus.

RTD currently operates 46 fixed-route services in total.

  • Express Route 40, 43, 44, 47, and 49 operate rapid services in Stockton seven days a week.
  • Local Route 315, 335, 340, 345, 360, 371, 375, 378, 380, 385, and 390 serves school trips with Stockton during school year.
  • Local Route 510, 515, 520, 525, 545, 555, 566, 576, 578, and 580 operates within Stockton during the weekdays only.
  • Local Route 710, 715, 720, 725, and 745 operates within Stockton during the weekends only.
  • Commuter Route 150 and 163 connect to destinations beyond San Joaquin County.
  • Metro Hopper 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9 operate within Stockton weekdays only.
  • County Hopper 90, 91, 93, 95, and 97 provides intercity connections between Stockton, Tracy, Local, Manteca, Ripon, Lathrop, and Escalon.

For more information, visit https://sanjoaquinrtd.com/all-routes/

There are few ways you can obtain this information.

  1. Visit https://sanjoaquinrtd.com/rider-alerts/
  2. Subscribe to our Rider Alert email notifications.
  3. Follow RTD Facebook and Instagram accounts.
  4. Call Customer Service at (209) 943-1111, option 1.

View all current job openings at https://sanjoaquinrtd.com/careers/ and complete an online application.

  • What is the age requirement to become a bus driver? 

An individual must be 21 years of age.

  • What type of license is required for bus drivers? 

A class B with Passenger endorsement and Airbrakes.

  • How long is the bus driver training program? 

The training program is twelve weeks.

  • What is the fee for the bus driver training program? 

There is no fee, RTD provides paid training to individuals.

RTD requires passengers to purchase a new ticket for bus transfers. For extensive travel plans, an All-Day Ticket is available for unlimited rides in the same day, offering convenience and value.

Any items left on the bus will be brought back to the DTC Customer Service Center within 48 hours and kept for 10 days. After 10 days, unclaimed items will be discarded.  If the items are deemed perishable or considered a hazard, they will be disposed of immediately.

For the safety of you, other riders, and our drivers, RTD does ask all riders to follow our Code of Conduct Policy while onboard our vehicles, at transfer stations, and while at a bus stop. For more information, visit https://sanjoaquinrtd.com/safety-security/

The latest Code of Conduct can be found here:  https://sanjoaquinrtd.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021_CodeofConduct_Brochure.pdf

Our number one priority is your safety. RTD bus drivers are trained and have continuous access to dispatch, supervisors, and security personnel. RTD’s security services include security cameras on our buses and at transit centers, as well as security guard coverage at transit centers. We also deploy a field security officer that can respond to any situation within our service area.

If you see or hear something that causes you concern, please let us know immediately. The entire RTD team is prepared to respond with assistance. The following are ways that you can notify us:

  • Notify an RTD security officer
  • Notify an RTD bus driver
  • Notify an RTD representative at the DTC Customer Service Window located at 421 East Weber Street, Stockton, CA 95202
  • Call RTD at (209) 943-1111
  • File an incident online using our Customer Complaint form at https://sanjoaquinrtd.com/customer-comment/

Additionally, remember that you can call 911 if you need immediate assistance.

No.  As of July 2022, Greyhound has moved it’s operations and only does drop-offs and pick-ups at 17 E Sonora St, Stockton, CA 95203.

  • Approximately 65% of total trip bus riders only ride a portion of a route’s one way trip, boarding, deboarding at intermediate stops and/or transferring to another route
  • Ridership and the total passengers on board at any given point in time, is dependent on where the main traffic generators are located on a given route:
  • Many Routes will have very few and even no riders at the very beginning or end of a route, its originating and terminating bus stop or station
  • Buses may also fill up at their originating point and then thin out for a major portion of its trip and it may also begin filling up nearing arrival at a major destination or Transit Center/Station:
  • Many BRT Route 40 northbound trips fill up as they travel to the Yokuts stop and then depart with many empty seats traveling to Lincoln Center and the HTS
  • Local routes traveling to outlying bus stops and originating at an outlying stop, will have few on board at the end or beginning of its trip, opposite of above example
  • Systems with lower overall community percentage of ridership will take longer to build ridership on New and/or Greatly Expanded Services (unlike a major urban center with large traditional ridership)
  • Taking a bus off service for a few hours during off peak hours, is not efficient as you generate additional costs due to deadheading (moving a bus back to the garage to later return to service),  driver travel time for reliefs, etc.
  • During off peak times, even though we may not have a full bus we are still serving those transit dependent customers who need to go to doctor’s appointments or shopping, or even to work at non-traditional shift hours.
  • Freeways and streets are not full with cars all day, same with buses.

We do have smaller buses for Metro Hoppers for example.  Even the lowest ridership routes need a larger bus during peak time, it would not be effective to keep changing buses along the day for only those trips off peak.  In addition we plan for the future, RTD is increasing service in benefit to those underserved communities and foresee increases in ridership.

  • RTD are focusing  service improvements on underserved neighborhoods who are transit dependent and need the service to go to school, work, doctor’s appointments.  Increase frequencies to decrease wait times.
  • Safety department has contracted additional security guards to deter inappropriate behavior on the bus to ensure RTD’s Code of Conduct is adhered. This process translates to passenger(s) reality and perception of riding in a safe transit system.
  • In addition, RTD has implemented many marketing strategies and deploy communications through various platforms such as bus ads, billboards, social media, RTD website, local news stations, bilingual print publications, bilingual radio stations, and more.

Customer Service FAQs

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Closed on the weekends and most major holidays.

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

  1. Complete the online form at: https://sanjoaquinrtd.com/customer-comment/ OR
  2. Call Customer Service at (209) 943-1111, option 1.

Visit the DTC Customer Service Center and speak with a live representative or call Customer Service at (209) 943-1111, option 1, to inquiry about your lost article.

Provide the following information:

  • Date, route, and time of incident.
  • Description of the lost item.

Verification and identification are required to claim a recovered item.

Vendor FAQs

Any interested business can learn more here: https://sanjoaquinrtd.com/doing-business/

Yes.  RTD has established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Plan in accordance with regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 49 CFR Part 26. RTD has received federal financial assistance from the Department of Transportation; as a condition of receiving this assistance, RTD has signed an assurance that it will comply with 49 CFR Part 26. Learn by visiting: https://sanjoaquinrtd.com/doing-business/#dbe.

The Director of Procurement has office hours for vendors held every Thursday afternoon, you may send a schedule request at RTD-Procurement@sjRTD.com.

Our needs for goods as services varies and the best way to receive notifications and updates is to register here:  https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/sjrtd

Training and workshop schedules are varied depending on our community partners such as the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, San Joaquin Small Business Development Center, and Monterey Bay APEX Accelerator (which services the Central Valley), to name a few.

Funding FAQs

There are various sources of grant funding RTD receives.  RTD receives funding from federal, state, and local sources. Some of these funds are restricted for specific service and/or capital projects.

  • Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Formula Program – 5339(a)
  • Urbanized Area Formula Grants – 5307
  • 5339 (c) Discretionary Low/No
  • 5339 (b) Bus and Bus Facilities Discretionary
  • Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ)
  • Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP)
  • Transportation Development Act (TDA)
  • State of Good Repair
  • Measure K
  • Property Tax
  • Fare Revenue
  • Auxiliary / non-transportation revenues (i.e. Advertising, interest revenue, bus scrap sales)

RTD’s operations is funded by the following revenue sources from federal, state, and local. Some are restricted for specific service or operating purpose.

  • Passenger fares revenue
  • Property tax revenue
  • Measure K
  • Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP)
  • Transportation Development Act (TDA) – Local Transportation Fund LTF
  • Federal Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Grant
  • Federal Section 5310 Urban Senior and people with disabilities
  • Federal Section 5311 Rural Operating assistance
  • Auxiliary/Non-transportation revenue (i.e. Advertising, interest revenue, bus scrap sales)

Operational and capital grants serve two very different purpose. Operating grants provide money to pay for day-to-day and overhead costs of running the business and support operation’s general purpose. for covering daily overhead costs, while capital grants provide money for capital purchases – such as buses, non-revenue vehicles, furniture, or buildings.

Training and workshop schedules are varied depending on our community partners such as the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, San Joaquin Small Business Development Center, and Monterey Bay APEX Accelerator (which services the Central Valley), to name a few.

Formula grants are funding programs that RTD does not compete for, but an application must be submitted that will show specified requirements will be met. Formula grants are awarded based on a set formula that is typically established by law.

Formula grants are funding programs that distribute funds to designated recipients in a group based on a predetermined formula via the State. They are noncompetitive awards that are usually administered and managed by State Administering Agencies such as CALTRANS. Formula grants are also known as federal-aid funds or formula funds, and they are used to fund programs in the states on behalf of transit agencies.

This is a process in which an agency submits a grant application to the funding agency, but the applications are awarded based on a competitive process.  RTD has received competitive awards.

RTD received funding from the following Federal Programs to help with recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic:

  • Corona Virus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act through Federal Sections 5307 and 5311
  • American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) through Federal Sections 5307, 5310, and 5311
  • Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) through Federal Sections 5310 and 5311

The reason why we go through the budget process each year is to effectively allocate RTD’s revenue streams to fulfill our goals, mission, vision, and effectively manage financial resources.