"Madera County's Unmet Transit Needs in Madera County: Riders without Riders"*

The MCGJ fines that bus schedule information is not readily available. Response Respondent disagrees with the finding per California Penal Code 933.05 (a) (2). Under separate cover, the Deputy Director of Public Works has responded to this finding and stated: "Information for all Madera County transit services--MCC, Madera Dial-A-Ride, Chowchilla Dial-A- Ride, Senior Bus and Medical Escort, is readily available through a variety of ways. A dedicated, comprehensive County transit website is available at www.mcctransit.com and provides information on all County services with real-time MCC bus location updates by stop, and links with other key transit operators, including YARTS, Madera Metro, CATX, and FAX. Google Maps Transit at www.google.com/transit provides on-line access to MCC routing and 0 real-time MCC bus location updates by stop. Brochures/schedules are accessible on the Madera County website at Camarena Health Services, Madera and Chowchilla Madera Community Hospital - Madera Senior Centers - City of Chowchilla City Hall Brochures/schedules are available on all MCC buses and Medical Escort van. Madera County Transportation Commission periodically publishes a County-Wide Transit Guide. The response of the Deputy Director of Public Works to the above finding is considered appropriate and is submitted as the Board of Supervisors' response.

The MCGJ finds that bus schedules are difficult to read and understand. Response Respondent partially disagrees with the finding per California Penal Code 933.05 (a) (2). Under separate cover, the Deputy Director of Public Works has responded to this finding and stated: The "The County has five different transit services each with its own brochure/schedule. MCC fixed-route brochure provides detailed information on its services including bus schedules for three MCC routes-Eastern Madera County; Chowchilla-Fairmead; and Eastin Arcola-Ripperdan-La Vina. The County therefore assumes that this finding refers to MCC bus schedules. The Madera Dial-A-Ride, Chowchilla Dial-A-Ride, Senior Bus and Escort brochures provide detailed information on these services and how to make a demand-response trip reservation. Although the County has received mostly positive feedback on the format of the MCC schedule, the County is receptive to evaluating alternative approaches to make it easier to information read and understand the brochure/schedule and will review other transit service for ease of use." The response of the Deputy Director of Public Works to the above finding is considered appropriate and is submitted as the Board of Supervisors' response.

The MCGJ finds that there continues to be unmet transit needs throughout the county which will only increase in outlying areas as the population increases and ages. Response Respondent partially disagrees with the finding per California Penal Code 933.05 (a) (2) because the finding lacks specificity. Under separate cover, the Deputy Director of Public Works has responded to this finding and stated: reasonable "The phrase "unmet transit needs" is very broad and undefined; and there are transit needs" limits to meeting needs. For clarification purposes, the phrase "unmet strict definition frequently is used in transit planning by the MCTC and County with a Development Act developed by the MCTC and in compliance with the Transportation (TDA). The County's response to this finding will address how the County meets both the formal MCTC definition and informal meaning that encompasses operating and capital needs. As stated above, the MCGJ finding refers to unmet transit needs throughout the County without identifying specific unmet transit needs by location. Given the County's large geographic area, the County's mission has been to provide, at a minimum, lifeline services to those areas and residents that have been identified as being in greatest need of transit services, including seniors, disabled, persons of limited means, students and other general public. Like many rural transit operators, the County faces many challenges in providing successful transit services and infrastructure to rural communities with low population densities and diverse needs such as those found in Madera County. The County spans over 2,100 square miles and has a population of 157,000 residents served by five different transit services, one fixed-route and four demand-response services—MCC fixed-route; MCC Madera Dial-A-Ride; MCC Chowchilla Dial-A-Ride; Senior Bus; Medical Escort. These services collectively serve an area stretching from Oakhurst-Bass Lake to the north, Valley Children's Hospital to the east, Eastin Arcola-Ripperdan-La Vina to the south, and Chowchilla-Fairmead to the west. Inter-county medical trips also are provided from Madera County to Fresno County. One of the key purposes of the MCTC Unmet Transit Needs process is to determine whether any unmet transit needs may exist and may be reasonable to meet before street funds can be distributed. MCTC has a well-established annual public outreach process and utilizes its Social Services Transportation Advisory Council (SSTAC) to review all testimony received from the MCTC Board Public Hearing and advises the MCTC Board. The County actively participates in MCTC's annual Unmet Transit Needs process and is a member of the SSTAC which provides the County with informed insight into transit needs throughout the region from a broad spectrum of the public. It is important to note that through the County's proactive participation in MCTC's public participation process, the County has expeditiously addressed many transit needs throughout the County. For example, a dedicated MCC route was added to Eastin Arcola-Ripperdan-La Vina, and additional service was expanded to the communities of Raymond and Yosemite Lakes Park. Levels of service also were enhanced to and from Fairmead, Chowchilla, Valley Children's Hospital, and Madera Community College with additional round trip service. Beyond the MCTC Unmet Transit Needs process, the County initiated and continues to undertake many transit service and capital improvements. Most recently, on-time performance, dispatching and fleet maintenance have improved, and a new dedicated Transit Administration Office completed. Bus shelters and benches have been installed at key MCC bus stops throughout the County. All vehicles are wheelchair accessible. Service reliability is high given the procurement of seven new buses and a van over the past two years and the County's goal of adhering to its Fleet Replacement Plan. Consolidation of transit operations from four contracts to one was undertaken beginning in FY2019/20. This effort has led to streamlined operations, management, and administrative oversight, seamless services and dispatching, and more cost-efficient services. The County's transit services are funded by a variety of federal, State, and local funds. Integral to each funding source are stringent requirements. Implementation of services must be carefully evaluated for effectiveness in meeting service and cost-efficient performance measures. The County, at a minimum, must strive to achieve a ten percent (10%) farebox recovery, where fares cover 10% of transit operating costs, and to maintain transit costs that do not exceed specific Consumer Price Index metrics consistent with State TDA requirements. These requirements do not exclusively guide County transit improvements but must be considered. While the County recognizes the need for effective transit services throughout the County, including outlying rural communities, warranted operating and capital improvements have been and will continue to be undertaken. The ability to operate transit services while meeting key performance metrics remains key to successful long-term sustainability." The response of the Deputy Director of Public Works to the above finding is considered appropriate and is submitted as the Board of Supervisors' response.

The MCGJ finds that MCC La Vina, Fairmead, Berenda, Madera Dial a Ride, Chowchilla Dial a Ride, Senior Bus and Medical Escort are underused. Response Respondent partially disagrees with the finding per California Penal Code 933.05 (a) (2). Under separate cover, the Deputy Director of Public Works has responded to this finding and stated: "The MCGJ provides a general statement about underuse collectively of all County transit The County agrees that ridership on its services could increase both by services. New residential and commercial incentivizing current riders and attracting non-riders. developments, an aging population, and an increasing transit-dependent population also will help generate increased ridership. The County understands the importance of developing increased public outreach and trust in its transit services, particularly with the dramatic changes in transit rider behavior during the Covid-19 pandemic and declining transit ridership. Marketing efforts will be undertaken as described in greater detail in R10." The response of the Deputy Director of Public Works to the above finding is considered appropriate and is submitted as the Board of Supervisors' response.

The MCGJ finds that when referencing the hours and the bus schedules, transit services do not provide adequate hours or diverse route schedules. Response Respondent disagrees with the finding per California Penal Code 933.05 (a) (2). Under separate cover, the Deputy Director of Public Works has responded to this finding and stated: "The County disagrees with this finding and would like to clarify that while the finding is general in nature, it appears to reference MCC fixed-route schedules and routes. Assuming this interpretation is correct, the County agrees that MCC has the potential to increase its hours of operation. The service is designed to provide a high level of service justified by demand and that is cost-effective for long-term sustainability. As described in F5, the County offers diverse services with operating challenges faced by many rural transit operators. Improvements to County transit services, whether through an MCTC Unmet Transit Needs process or informal request, are considered based on a specific defined need and on many operational performance measures, including potential ridership, days and hours of operation, vehicle requirements and cost. Each request is carefully considered and responded to on a timely basis, and as warranted, improvements are initiated. For clarification purposes, the MCGJ report states that "there have been no new service routes or expanded services in Madera County since the YARTS expansion in 2000 and the addition of MCC routes in 2002/03 to Eastin Arcola, Ripperdan and La Vina." The County would like to note that MCC services were expanded to the Chukchansi Gold Casino in 2005; Yosemite Lakes Park in 2010; and mid-morning and mid-afternoon trips to Chowchilla- Fairmead, and an early-morning run to the College-Hospital route and additional Eastern Madera stops were added in 2016. Further, two trips were added to Eastin Arcola-Ripperdan- La Vina in July 2020 but discontinued in December 2020 due to low ridership. MCC schedules are continuously monitored for on-time performance and undergo changes as needed due to route changes, transfers, addition or deletion of bus stops, traffic changes, etc. Six new MCC bus shelters also were installed in 2015 in Fairmead, Chowchilla, Oakhurst, Coarsegold, and La Vina. There are plans for additional shelters at other locations, including in Fairmead through close coordination with community leaders and the organization Fairmead Community and Friends." The response of the Deputy Director of Public Works to the above finding is considered appropriate and is submitted as the Board of Supervisors' response.

The MCGJ commends the County on the consolidated contract agreement and, cost savings of $500,000 per year over five years with the selection of FCEOC as the bus service provider under a single operator contract. Response Respondent agrees with the finding per California Penal Code 933.05 (a) (1). As a point of clarification, as noted by the Deputy Director of Public Works, the estimated cost savings from FY 2019/20 to FY2023/24 is $340,000 annually.

The MCGJ finds that little is being done to market public transportation within the County. Response Respondent partially disagrees with the finding per California Penal Code 933.05 (a) (2). However, respondent agrees that increased funding and a renewed focus on marketing and branding would help to increase ridership.