FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. \u2013 A variety of adjectives can be used to describe public transit in and around Fresno County.<\/p>\n
For some, \u201cequitable\u201d isn\u2019t one of them.<\/p>\n
Measure S, the half-cent sales tax<\/a> for transportation projects and programs that goes before voters in November, aims to get it a little closer to that.<\/p>\n KVPR looked into different transit options for residents across Fresno County and found the availability, affordability and convenience of transit depends in large part on where one lives.<\/p>\n In Clovis, residents have enjoyed a free bus service<\/a> since the pandemic. This applies to the fixed-route Stageline service that operates six days a week except Sundays at 30-minute intervals, and to the door-to-door, dial-a-ride Round Up service offered for those with qualified disabilities.<\/p>\n In rural communities<\/a>, bus fares range from 75 cents to $6 per one-way trip depending on the distance traveled. Inner city routes are scarce. Rather, they link to neighboring towns while offering between one to three daily roundtrips to Fresno.<\/p>\n For example, if a Mendota resident wants to go shopping in Fresno or has an appointment to see a medical specialist, he or she must first ride to downtown Fresno before catching another bus \u2013 or multiple buses \u2013 to the specified store or doctor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n This can take several hours, depending on the frequency of routes. And since only two buses operate between Mendota and Fresno each day \u2013 not counting holidays \u2013 there isn\u2019t much wiggle room for delays or cancellations.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we have now is inhumane,\u201d Mendota mayor Victor Martinez said. \u201cWe believe that all public infrastructure should look the same. Should look the same here as in Clovis, in San Francisco, everywhere. Our people deserve it. We are in the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n While Measure S won\u2019t completely eliminate the equity gaps in Fresno County public transit, advocates of the tax measure say it would help smooth some of the rougher edges.<\/p>\n The measure sets aside<\/a> a quarter of the projected $7.4 billion in tax revenues over the next 30 years to Fresno Area Express (FAX), Clovis Transit and the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency.<\/p>\n That in itself is a 1% increase over Measure C, the existing transportation tax that expires next year.<\/p>\n However, Measure S also ensures free bus service for seniors 62 and older, people with disabilities, active-duty military personnel, veterans, students and children \u2013 a provision not included in Measure C.<\/p>\n Free bus fares use 1% of Measure S<\/p>\n Free bus fares are expected to take up less than 1% of the total revenues from Measure S, according to campaign manager Andy Levine.<\/p>\n The money for free bus fares doesn\u2019t come out of the portion of tax revenues allocated to public transit agencies. Rather, it comes from the 4% set aside for access and innovation programs.<\/p>\n Also under Measure S, all transit agencies will be required to expand hours and increase frequency of services, including on nights and weekends; provide non-emergency medical transportation; increase paratransit service; add lighting and weather protections at bus stops; and add university and college transit options.<\/p>\n Money from the tax can also be spent on microtransit, carshares, rideshares or vanpools \u2013 services that rural mayors believe would benefit communities<\/a> where Uber and Lyft currently do not operate.<\/p>\n \u201cWe would like to have a point-to-point service through the rural county transit,\u201d Firebaugh Mayor Freddy Valdez said. \u201cIf I need to go to Walmart, it would pick me up, take me to Walmart to get my medication. I can call it and come back to Firebaugh. I don’t have to wait four hours at Walmart until they pick me up again.\u201d<\/p>\n The existing system does not adequately serve the needs of rural residents, Valdez said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you miss a bus, if you miss a FAX transit line somewhere, and you don’t get back to your bus, you’re calling someone to go and get you,\u201d he added. \u201cI’ve had to pick up people in Fresno because they were scared and didn’t know where they ended up.\u201d<\/p>\n Critics of Measure S want transportation tax revenues spent elsewhere. Many supported an alternate measure that didn\u2019t gather enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot.<\/p>\n The alternate measure proposed to trim public transit revenues to 18% from the 24% currently allocated under Measure C.<\/p>\n \u201c[Measure S] is a public transportation tax, funding buses that people don\u2019t ride,\u201d Fresno County Board of Supervisors chairman Garry Bredefeld said.<\/p>\n During a recent \u201cNo on Measure S\u201d press conference, Valley Watchdogs PAC chair Brooke Ashjian joked he was late because he \u201ctook the bus\u201d and was \u201cthe only one on it.\u201d<\/p>\n Ten million rides on Fresno FAX<\/p>\n Ridership figures<\/a>, such as those published by the Fresno Council of Governments, do not support those claims.<\/p>\n