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Ridgecrest council adopts five‑year Transit Development Plan to guide transit and fleet transition
Summary
The Ridgecrest City Council voted 4‑0 to adopt a five‑year Transit Development Plan presented by Nelson Nygaard, which recommends 11 measures across capital, operations and policy — including fleet transition planning, regional coordination and improved rider communications.
The Ridgecrest City Council on July 15 unanimously approved a five‑year Transit Development Plan (TDP) aimed at guiding short‑term transit operations and capital priorities for the city’s transit system.
Nelson Nygaard senior associate Kyle Taniguchi presented the plan, describing outreach efforts, existing services and 11 recommendations grouped into capital, operations and administrative/policy categories. Taniguchi said the TDP is a short‑term, five‑year roadmap constrained by local finances and intended to support budgeting and grant applications.
Key recommendations highlighted in the presentation included creating a fleet‑resiliency plan to support the shift toward zero‑emission vehicles, improving customer communications and the city’s transit website, better coordination with regional providers, and targeted training to address electric‑vehicle maintenance and driver certification. Taniguchi also said the plan identifies no immediate service‑level changes but recommends improvements that could be implemented within available grant and reserve funds.
City staff and council members asked for clarification on weekend service, cost implications and how the plan addresses trips to regional medical facilities such as Bakersfield. Taniguchi and transit staff said options exist for transfers to regional routes and emphasized the plan’s role in making those connections more visible to riders.
The council voted to adopt the plan after a motion to approve; the meeting record shows the motion carried with four ayes. Council and staff said the plan will support grant applications and a phased approach to fleet replacement and training.
What happens next: Staff will use the TDP as a basis for budgeting and grant applications and to develop an implementation schedule. The council and staff also discussed pursuing a local training facility and coordinating schedules with neighboring providers to improve access to regional services.
