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:  

In 2022, several members stepped down from serving on the SSTAC because of promotions, new jobs, and other reasons.  Some of these member’s terms expire this month.  As a result, we have vacancies on the SSTAC to fill, a few of these are to represent Fresno County on the Committee.   

We encourage you to discuss SSTAC and the possibility of serving with your qualified friends and acquaintances.  Additionally, please let Todd Sobrado know if you have someone he can reach out to.

ACTION:  Staff requests that SSTAC recommend the Fresno COG TTC, PAC, and Policy Board approve the re-appointment of interested SSTAC members for a 2-year term.

SUMMARY:

It is January and with the New Year comes another cycle of the Unmet Transit Needs (UTN) Assessment. 

Public outreach is an essential and required component of the Unmet Transit Needs Assessment.  This year, the public outreach component of the UTN will consist of virtual and in-person events, and an online public survey. 

Public outreach activities are tentatively scheduled (as of this writing) for the second and third week of February and will consist of seven in-person events, two virtual events, and the public hearing.  The virtual events will be held in the morning, and evening, with the latter, broadcast on Facebook. 

The in-person events are tentatively scheduled for the following cities:

• Fresno (Urban area)
• Clovis (Urban area)
• Fresno COG Offices (Urban area)
• Huron (West County)
• Mendota (West County)
• Del Rey (East County)
• Sanger (East County)

One of the ‘in-person’ events will be scheduled for a Saturday to accommodate those transit riders who want to attend a weekday in-person event but are unable to do so.

An increasingly important component of the public outreach process is the online survey.  Available in English and Spanish, the survey will be available online through Friday, March 24, 2023.  The draft survey in English is attached herein for your review. 

To generate interest and awareness in the UTN and the survey, staff will rely on the mailing list and is exploring conducting an advertising campaign on Facebook.  If run, the Facebook advertising campaign will be limited to Fresno County. 

The final public outreach event for the current cycle of the Unmet Transit Needs Assessment is the public hearing tentatively scheduled for Thursday, April 27, 2023 at the Fresno COG Policy Board meeting.  

ACTION: This is an informational item and subject to the discretion of the SSTAC.

SUMMARY: 

Transit operators conduct a productivity evaluation annually, to assess progress with State Transportation Development Act funds and to recommend potential productivity improvements.  The California Public Utilities Code 99244 requires that “Each transportation planning agency shall annually identify, analyze, and recommend potential productivity improvements which could lower the operational costs of transit operators who operate at least 50 percent of their vehicle service miles within the area under its jurisdiction.”  If the responsible entity determines that the operator has not made a reasonable effort to implement the recommended improvements, then local transportation funds allocated to that operator cannot exceed the appropriation from the prior year.

The FY 2022 productivity evaluation assesses the following transit agencies:

1. Fresno Area Express and Handy Ride

2.  Clovis Stageline and Roundup

3. Fresno County Rural Transit Agency

4.  Consolidated Transportation Services Agencies for the Metropolitan and Rural Areas.

ACTION: SSTAC recommends to the Fresno COG TTC, PAC, and Policy Board, to accept the accept the FY 2022 Transit Productivity Evaluation Report.

a.

Inspiration Transportation

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.