Passengers can now get on the bus to Yosemite from Fresno.

At a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Friday, Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System announced the new service that runs now through Sept. 10.

For a $40 round-trip ticket, and an early morning ride, Fresno travelers can bypass the park’s reservation system, and spare the air, YARTS  officials said.

“You got to provide visitors, who want to go to Yosemite with the comfort and the economical and convenient alternative to driving. And not only is that good with regards to the congestion issues that the park has to face, but also air quality issues that affect our High Sierra Nevada as well as our Valley. And so this is a twofer,” said Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno.

Costa helped secure $3.6 million in federal grants to purchase four clean diesel buses. YARTS board chair Daron McDaniel, who is a Merced County supervisor, said electric or hydrogen buses wouldn’t work at Yosemite’s altitude.

The cost for city of Fresno taxpayers is minimal — $50,600. That’s the cost to join the joint powers authority that operates YARTS. Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer called the service “priceless.”

“There was absolutely no way that we could pass up the opportunity to ensure that our residents here in Fresno, as well as those passing through our airport and visiting, would have the ability to access the beautiful gem that we have in Yosemite,” Dyer said.

Four Fresno-Area Stops

YARTS will operate two Fresno-to-Yosemite lines through Sept. 10. The first bus — from the Amtrak/Greyhound station — leaves at 5:30 a.m. and arrives at Curry Village at 9:35 a.m. There are also Yosemite stops in the Village, and Yosemite Valley Lodge/Laurel Cottage. The buses return after 9 p.m.

Children under 12 ride free with an adult ticket purchase. The park charges $35 per private vehicle for entry.

The Fresno stops include the Amtrak/Greyhound station downtown, the airport, the regular bus stop at North Howard and North Fresno avenues in north Fresno near Kaiser Hospital, and the Four Corners park-and-ride just north of Fresno. Pickups and drop-offs at the latter two need to be requested through the YARTS website.

Passengers can use the bus underneath compartments for camping equipment or bikes.

Route timetables can be found here.