Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transit topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Stanislaus RTA warns of $3 million shortfall, proposes 15% system‑wide service cut and route simplification
Summary
Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority told the Modesto City Council it faces about a $3,000,000 funding shortfall and is proposing roughly a 15% reduction in service while redesigning routes to prioritize high‑ridership corridors; RTA and riders raised accessibility and paratransit concerns.
Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority Executive Director Adam Barth told the Modesto City Council on July 14 that the agency faces an approximately $3,000,000 shortfall and is considering a roughly 15% reduction in service across the system while simplifying and rerouting some lines to maintain frequency on high‑ridership corridors.
The presentation explained the short‑range transit plan process, public outreach undertaken over the winter, and a consultant’s service concepts. Barth said the agency’s priorities are service design, passenger experience and operational efficiency. He directed residents to the project website for maps and comment tools and said the RTA plans to present a final short‑range plan to its board in September with implementation targeted for mid‑2027.
Why it matters: RTA serves riders who depend on fixed routes and ADA paratransit. Barth said simplifying routes and creating more hubs could preserve frequent service where demand is strongest while reducing service hours overall to match available funding.
Councilmembers and members of the public raised accessibility concerns. Council and staff asked about impacts for people with mobility challenges; Barth said ADA paratransit remains a door‑to‑door service for riders who cannot use fixed routes and that current ADA riders who rely on service in areas scheduled to lose fixed‑route coverage would be grandfathered. A public commenter raised specific safety and accessibility issues—nonworking audible crosswalk beepers and missing curb access—asking staff and RTA to follow up.
Barth emphasized the RTA’s outreach tools and urged the community to submit targeted comments on proposed route changes at the project website.
Next steps: RTA will refine service concepts over the coming month and return to its board in September; Modesto staff and RTA representatives indicated they would follow up with individual callers about ADA and stop‑location concerns.
