Telegraph Fire Prompts YARTS Schedule Changes

The Telegraph fire in Mariposa County is putting unusual demands on all service providers in the area, and YARTS is no exception. We are continuing to operate, but with the following adjustments to our posted schedule:

On Monday afternoon, Hwy 140 was closed between “the Octagon” in Midpines and Cedar Lodge in El Portal. CDF has announced that it will Try to have the Hwy open between 8 PM and 9 AM each day, however on Tuesday morning, the Hwy was announced closed at 8 AM.

The fire situation is very fluid, changing quickly and without much notice, so CDF will have to respond to the needs of the fire crews and concerns about safety over the convenience of vehicles wanting to use the highway.

The schedule changes like this:

Runs 1, 2, and 2A will depart as posted and use Hwy 140, IF POSSIBLE. If the Hwy closes, these runs will have to travel to Yosemite Valley by going around through Oakhurst and Wawona.

Runs 3, 4, 5A and 6 will also need to reach Yosemite Valley the long way through Oakhurst, but will depart from Merced as scheduled.

Run 5 will depart from Modesto Amtrak station at 9:45 AM, using Hwy 120 to access the park.

The outbound runs will be adjusted as follows:

Run 8 will go to Modesto and Merced via Hwy 120. Amtrak and Greyhound passengers staying at Cedar Lodge or the Yosemite View Lodge will need to ride runs 1, 2, or 2A to meet the Run 8 departure from Yosemite.

Runs 9 and 9A will both depart Yosemite Valley at 4:15 PM, with one of the buses going to Modesto and Merced via Hwy 120, and the other looping into El Portal and then back into the park to return to Merced through Oakhurst. This bus will also make a loop through Midpines on the way out.

Run 10 will leave Yosemite as scheduled, but loop through El Portal before exiting the park through Wawona and Oakhurst. It will also loop up through Midpines during the run.

Runs 11 and 12 will depart the park at 5:45 PM, with one going to Modesto and Merced via Hwy 120 and the other looping into El Portal and then back into the park to return to Merced through Oakhurst. There will also be a loop through Midpines on this run.

Run 12 A will not run as posted, but will be used to provide Run 14 at the end of the day.

"We hope you understand that we will return to our regular schedule as soon as is possible, but the fire will dictate when this might be. We are as anxious to see the return of the regular schedules, as you must be. In the meantime, we will try to make your travel on YARTS as satisfactory as is possible, given the situation."