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FAX director previews tap-to-pay rollout, warns driver absenteeism is causing daily route cancellations
Summary
Fresno Area Express reported growing ridership, a planned tap-to-pay system with an estimated $3 million upfront cost, and high day-to-day driver absenteeism that leads to daily cancellations; Director Gregory Barfield outlined contingency cuts if Measure C does not pass.
Gregory Barfield, director of Fresno Area Express (FAX), told the council that FAX expects to finish FY27 with about $244 million in operating appropriation and a $140 million capital program, driven largely by increased operating costs and capital investments. He outlined service gains over the last year and offered ridership data for the new Route 29.
"For us, we are looking at 74,402 riders from the August start to May 30 or May 31 on that route," Barfield said, adding the route averages roughly 63,600 riders a month and shows strong demand.
Barfield said the agency plans to deploy a mobile tap‑to‑pay system and card readers; the current best estimate for the upfront investment is roughly $3 million including hardware and software. "We are coming soon," he told council members, but urged careful procurement given past RFP challenges.
A central operating issue for FAX is driver absenteeism: Barfield said a recent holiday saw 48.9% of bus drivers fail to show, forcing route cancellations. He described an "extra board" of approximately 60 substitute drivers but said the system often reaches that limit and routes are partially or fully canceled daily when replacements are exhausted.
Council members pressed about service impacts and equity: Director Barfield said his contingency if Measure C (a local transit funding measure) does not pass is to scale back night and weekend service first, then consider reductions in positions. He underscored that student and low‑income pass programs reduce fare revenue but increase ridership and access.
FAX will provide more detailed ridership and student-pass breakouts at council request. Barfield said the agency is pursuing a consultant to get the tap‑to‑pay rollout right and working with school districts to expand free pass MOUs to more campuses.
Why it matters: FAX serves over 10 million annual riders across Fresno; the proposed technology and service cuts would affect access for students, low-income riders and employees who rely on evenings and weekend service. The council asked staff for further breakdowns and schedule impacts.
