Willows hears public concerns on transit access after local hospital closure; county planner outlines potential route changes

Carlos Hernandez, Glenn County transportation planner, told the Willows City Council at a public hearing that the county is soliciting input on "unmet transit needs" and will forward comments to the Social Services Transportation Advisory Council for consideration.

Hernandez described current GlenTrans services, including a veterans program that allows free rides to riders who present military identification and a volunteer medical transportation program that serves qualifying residents. He said the county is preparing updates to its short-range transit plan and working with a consultant that has suggested adding direct routes between Orland and Chico and expanded connections between Willows and Orland to respond to service gaps after the closure of Glenn Medical.

Why it matters: Council members and several residents said the closure of local medical facilities and limited volunteer drivers are creating longer, more complex trips for patients who must travel to Chico or Sacramento for care. A council member raised whether the volunteer medical program excludes temporarily disabled residents recovering from surgery; staff said they would "look at the program guidelines" and forward the question to SSTAC for possible inclusion.

Residents at the hearing urged better cross‑county connections and more accessible stops. One frequent transit rider said he had missed specialist appointments when transfers or wheelchair loading took too long and asked for a flag or shelter at a stop near John F. Kennedy Manor, calling the current conditions "dangerous for seniors and others to cross the street." Carlos Hernandez confirmed the county has increased the volunteer mileage stipend to $1 per mile to try to boost volunteer recruitment but said volunteer numbers remain low.

Hernandez also said the Reading Area Bus Authority plans a new long‑distance service called the Salmon Runner from Redding to Sacramento that will include a Willows stop at the Walmart location and is expected to begin in the next fiscal year; he said the service will terminate at the Sacramento airport.

The council closed the hearing with no action taken at the meeting; staff will forward written and oral comments to the county transportation commission and SSTAC for further analysis and any recommended service changes.