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.

It is January 2026 and with the New Year comes another cycle of the Unmet Transit Needs (UTN) Assessment.  January’s SSTAC meeting serves to officially kick off the current cycle of this important process.

Public outreach is an essential and required component of the UTN.  This year, the public outreach component of the UTN will consist of a virtual and in-person events, an online public survey, and culminate in a public hearing.

Public outreach activities are being scheduled for the second week of February through the first week of March and are being paired with FCOG public outreach activities for the Regional Transportation Plan update taking place. Public outreach activities for the urban areas are dependent upon the schedule for rural areas and will be finalized then as will an online meeting. The final public outreach schedule will be shared with the Committee upon its completion.

The most popular component of the public outreach process is the online survey.  This year’s survey will reuse last year’s survey in its entirety and be available in several languages.  The online survey will remain online until Friday, April 3, 2026, and is included here as an attachment for your consideration

Public outreach of the Unmet Transit Needs process concludes with a public hearing scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 2026, at the Fresno COG Policy Board meeting.

An essential component of the public outreach process is the stakeholder mailing list.  The most recent stakeholder will be sent in a separate email.

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

Summary:  Fresno COG is the designated recipient of FTA Section 5310 program funds for Fresno County, which provides capital and operating assistance grants for projects that meet the transportation needs for seniors and individuals with disabilities.  The funds may be used for projects where public mass transportation services are otherwise unavailable, insufficient, or inappropriate; that exceed the requirements of the ADA; that improve access to fixed-route service and; that provide alternatives to public transportation.

At the beginning of 2026, Fresno COG issued a formal Call for Projects for $1,741,617 in Fresno County Large Urban Area FTA Section 5310 funding. Staff received six applications requesting a total of $3,188,081 to support vehicle purchases and operating expenses. Of this amount, $3,014,081 was requested for capital expenditures and $174,000 for operating expenses. Additional details are provided in the attached FY 2024/25 FTA Section 5310 Recommended Funding spreadsheet.

A scoring committee composed of staff from Fresno COG, Clovis Transit, and Fresno Area Express evaluated the applications and developed the attached funding recommendations. Of the six applications received, three were recommended for full funding and two were recommended for partial funding.

Action: Fresno COG staff and the Section 5310 Scoring Committee recommend that the SSTAC forward the recommended award of $1,741,617 in funding to Fresno COG’s Transportation Technical Committee, Policy Advisory Committee, and Policy Board for approval.

Since the Committee last convened on May 20, 2025, the current Chair of SSTAC Moses Stites, has retired from the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA).  As Moses’ replacement, Janelle Del Campo assumes the seat on the Board representing FCRTA but not his appointment as Chair of the Committee.  As a result, the Committee will need to nominate a new Chair.

Also joining SSTAC and representing Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission (FEOC) is Adam Tsudama, Transit Manager. Welcome Adam.  SSTAC appointment requiring action include:

If you want to modify the duplicated row or add more entries, I can help shape it however you like.

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 the re-appointments of interested SSTAC members for a 2-year term.

Thomas Dulin is back at Fresno Economic Opportunity’s Commission (FEOC) in a new capacity and asked to share information with the Committee about FEOC’s catering services.

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