This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the SSTAC on the items within its jurisdiction but not on this agenda.  Note: Prior to action by SSTAC on any item on this agenda, the public may comment on that item

Summary: Fresno COG is making progress towards completing the current cycle of the Unmet Transit Needs Assessment process. The main product of this important process is the Unmet Transit Needs Assessment Report attached herein for your review and approval. 

An essential element of the Unmet Transit Needs process is public outreach.  This year, Fresno COG took a hybrid approach to outreach combining the best of both virtual and in-person meetings. 

Regarding virtual outreach, three online meetings were held on ZOOM on Thursday, February 17, 2022, with the evening meeting broadcast on Facebook.  Around 10 members of the public joined the Facebook broadcast.  

Regarding in-person meetings, six public meetings took place; four in the Fresno-Clovis metropolitan area, and two in rural incorporated cities, specifically Kerman and Fowler.  The final in-person public meeting took place on Saturday, February 27, 2022, at the offices of Fresno COG.  This meeting was held to accommodate the schedules of those stakeholders and transit riders who were not able to participate in events held on weekdays.

Also carried over from last year’s UTN cycle was an online survey asking transit riders and stakeholders about their unmet transit needs.  Available online in early February through late March, the survey was publicized in email newsletter articles, social media, websites, and Fresno COG and UTN email lists. All comments received this year was through the online survey. 

Twelve comments have been received to date.  The comments received, transit operator response, whether the comment is an unmet need, reasonable to meet, and if it was a previously recorded start on page 14 of the attached draft UTN Report. Three of the 12 comments received satisfied the definition of an unmet transit needs, with two determined to be “not reasonable to meet.”

  A summary of the comments received includes:

• Several requests for transit service to Clovis, including Clovis Community College. 
• Feedback about FAX routes. 
• Comments about service between outlying rural communities and the Fresno metropolitan area.

The Draft FY 2022-2023 Unmet Transit Needs Report is attached herein. SSTAC members are requested to review the draft report before the UTN meeting on April 14, 2022, in preparation to vote on the report.

Action: Staff recommends that SSTAC approve and forward the draft Unmet Transit Needs Assessment Report for FY 2022-23 to the Fresno COG Transportation Technical Committee, Policy Advisory Committee, and Policy Board.

The Fresno COG offices and restrooms are ADA accessible. Representatives or individuals with disabilities should contact Fresno COG, at least 3 days in advance, to request auxiliary aids and/or translation services necessary to participate in the public meeting.