Social Services Transportation Advisory Committee

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 items on this agenda, the public may comment on that item.

Summary: At the beginning of each fiscal year, the Fresno COG must determine the amount of funds available from the TDA Local Transportation Fund (LTF) for allocation to local agencies within Fresno County. Allocations are made into four categories: Bicycle and pedestrian facilities, social service transportation, regional transportation planning, and public transportation. In certain cases, funding from the public transportation category can be applied to local streets and roads in individual jurisdictions if a finding has been made that there are no unmet transit needs that are reasonable to meet within the jurisdiction; however, public transit must be given priority. As a result, prior to allocating LTF funds for any use other than public transit in the public transportation category, the Fresno COG must identify any unmet public transit needs that may exist in Fresno County that are reasonable to meet.  The Unmet Transit Needs Assessment process is conducted to identify any unmet transit needs and make any related findings.

Unmet Transit Needs Public Outreach

Public outreach is an essential component of the annual Unmet Transit Needs process. This year, the public outreach component consists of an online survey, five in-person events, one virtual event, and a public hearing.  Additionally, comments can be received by email, phone and text.  Details are below:

Unmet Transit Needs Survey

An online survey for transit riders is available online through April 3, 2026, at:

English: https://publicinput.com/2026-utn-survey/

Spanish: https://publicinput.com/2026utnesp

It contains a widget enabling non-English speaking transit riders to submit their comments in their primary language.

In-Person and Virtual Public Outreach

For those transit riders wanting to provide their feedback directly FCOG and transit agency staff, in-person and virtual outreach will be taking place starting Tuesday, February 20, and running through Thursday, March 6, 2026.  Non-English-speaking and individuals with disabilities or their representatives should contact Fresno COG at (559) 233-4148, at least 3 days in advance to request auxiliary aids and/or translation services necessary to participate in the public meeting.

The dates, times, and locations of each public outreach meeting are as follows:

Rural Westside Fresno County
Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Presence at the FCOG RTP /SCS Workshop at the Reedley Planning Commission Meeting
845 G Street,
Reedley, CA 93654
Rural Eastside Fresno County
Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 5:00 – 7:30 PM
FCOG RTP / SCS Meeting at the Kerman Community Teen Center
15101 W. Kearney Blvd.,
Kerman, CA 93630

Virtual Meeting
Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 11:00 AM
Via ZOOM: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81749685269

City of Fresno, No. 1
Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Betty Rodriguez Community Library, Meeting Room
3040 N. Cedar Ave
Fresno CA 93703

City of Fresno, No. 2
Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Sunnyside Regional Library, Community Center Conference Room
5566 E. Kings Canyon Road,
Fresno, CA 93727

City of Clovis, No. 1
Thursday, March 5, 2026, 5:30 – 6:30 PM
City of Clovis, Clovis Transit Center
785 3rd St.,
Clovis, CA 93612

Other Ways to Participate

Transit riders can also submit their comments via voicemail, in English or Spanish, via email or text.

To email staff, use utn2026@publicinput.com.

To leave a voicemail message, call (855) 925-2801, and enter project code when prompted 5248.

You can also submit your comment in English via text to: Utn26 to 73224, and in Spanish to Utn26esp to 73224.

Public outreach for the FY2026-27 Unmet Transit Needs process concludes with the public hearing scheduled for Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 5:30pm at the Fresno COG Policy Board meeting at the offices of Fresno COG, located at:

Fresno Council of Governments
2035 Tulare Street Suite 201, Sequoia Room
Fresno, CA 93721

Marketing activities for the FY 2026-27 Unmet Transit Needs will include flyers to be sent to the FAX unmet transit needs mailing list, articles published in the Fresno COG newsletter, flyers and postcards distributed to Fresno County Department of Social Services offices and social media posts through the Fresno COG social media channel.  a community outreach hub is also available at:

https://publicinput.com/utn2026

Previous UTN Final Reports:

2025 – 2026 UTN Report – approved June 26, 2025

2024 – 2025 UTN Report – approved June 27, 2024

Action: Information. The Committee may provide additional directions at its discretion.

Summary: A productivity evaluation is conducted annually to assess transit operators that receive 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 2025 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: Staff request the SSTAC to recommend that the TTC/PAC accept the FY 2025 Transit Productivity Evaluation Report and forward it to the COG Policy Board for approval.

Longstanding participant of SSTAC meetings, Rebecca Donabed has agreed to join the SSTAC as a sitting board member.  Representing a local social services provider to the disabled, Resources for Independence – Central Valley, with an office in Visalia and Merced, the main office is in the City of Fresno.  Rebecca joins the SSTAC to serve a two-year term.

There are also several vacancies on the SSTAC.  As a result, we encourage you to discuss SSTAC and the possibility of serving with your qualified friends and acquaintances.

Action: Staff requests that SSTAC recommend the Fresno COG TTC and PAC approve Rebecca Donabed to serve a 2-year term.

Please call Todd Sobrado at (559) 621-1532 or by email at harold.sobrado@fresno.gov for more information or to RSVP.