City Council Agenda
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Memo to: |
Manteca City Council |
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From: |
Jose Jasso, Assistant City Manager |
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Prepared by: |
Juan Portillo, Public Works Manager - Transit |
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Date: |
August 19, 2025 |
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Subject: |
Manteca Transit Short Range Transit Plan |
Recommendation:
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Adopt a resolution adopting the City of Manteca Short Range Transit Plan Update.
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Background:
This Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) is a document that outlines a transit agency’s services and operations for 5 to 10 years. SRTPs are based on revenue forecasts and include information such as service plans, budgets, and operational data. The San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG), in order to support its planning objectives and fulfill State and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations, requires any agency receiving State or Federal funds for public transit operations to develop, and periodically update, an SRTP. The City’s previous SRTP was completed and approved by City Council in 2019.
The SRTP is comprised of a number of tasks to allow for a thorough review of the transit system and allow adequate recommendations to move the system forward and meet the needs of Manteca residents. The tasks included the following:
• Background Information: This task included a review of the City’s demographics, to determine where individuals who are most likely to utilize public transit (i.e., transit-disadvantaged individuals) reside, and to provide a foundation of how well the City’s current transit services link potential users with those destinations deemed most important (healthcare, housing, education, employment, etc.). This demographic information aids in the identification of ride-dependent populations within the city and helps form the recommended route revisions.
• Evaluation of System Performance: This task required an analysis of current system ridership and productivity using direct observations (ride checks) performed by the consultant. The analysis included an evaluation of ridership and on-time performance by route.
• Community Outreach: The following three outreach methods were utilized to garner input from both users and non-users of the transit system:
• Onboard Survey: A 30-question survey of people riding Manteca Transit’s fixed-route bus service was conducted by Manteca Transit staff across three weekdays in mid-December 2024 and two weekdays in early January 2025. Thirty-four valid responses were collected during this effort. Dial-A-Ride had a 20- question survey. The goal of the survey in English and Spanish was to collect market research data at the rider-level and include questions regarding trip purpose, frequency of use, satisfaction regarding a variety of Manteca Transit service attributes, and rider demographics.
• Community Survey: The City provided a community survey on the City’s transit webpage for six months to give the entire community the opportunity to participate in the survey process. The city provided surveys and flyers with a QR Code to access the survey electronically, which included bilingual surveys that were available to the public through social media, public outreach events, website, Manteca Transit Center and on the buses. While the onboard survey targeted current Manteca Transit passengers, the concurrent community (or household) survey focused on non-passengers.
• Community Workshops: To support future transit service development, transit staff hosted public community meetings to inform residents and gather feedback. Meetings were held at the Transit Center on Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM, and Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM; at Woodward Park on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 5:00 PM; at Eskaton Manteca Manor on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 2:00 PM.
• Service Recommendations: The service recommendations aim to enhance transit accessibility, reliability, and community connectivity in Manteca. This includes the realignment of Routes 1, 2, and 4 to better serve neighborhoods, improve on-time performance, and reach new developments. A new route is proposed to operate throughout the day, connecting key destinations such as the Family Entertainment Zone (FEZ), The Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley, Downtown Manteca, and the Manteca Transit Center. Another new route would focus on transporting high school students to and from all Manteca high schools, while remaining open to the general public. To ensure the system continues to meet community needs, a comprehensive route redesign study is recommended to evaluate ways to improve reliability, increase ridership, and enhance access to jobs, education, and essential services. Additionally, a partnership with Uber Transit is proposed to offer subsidized ride services during late-night hours and Sundays-times when fixed-route service is unavailable-to help residents access employment and other vital destinations.
• Marketing Plan: The marketing plan provides a framework for City staff to meet the following goals: 1. Increase ridership through promotion and easily accessible information; 2. Increase community awareness and support of the City’s transit services; 3. Establish “top-of mind” service awareness; and 4. Raise awareness of regional transit connectivity.
• Implementation Plan: The implementation plan summarizes the recommendations listed in the Service Recommendations, as well as those within the Marketing Plan, and offers a recommended timeline for their implementation.
• Financial and Capital Plans: This task includes the five-year operating and capital budget projections required to support the City’s public transit program within the parameters established in the implementation plan. Funding and capital scenarios are based on input received from customers, the community and discussions with City of Manteca Transit staff.
As recommended in the SRTP, and with Council’s approval, City staff will implement the recommended service modifications within a five-year horizon, starting Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Service modifications will be introduced on a trial basis, and evaluated through ongoing performance monitoring of ridership, passenger satisfaction, and cost effectiveness to determine their long-term viability. Staff are seeking approval of the Short Range Transit Plan.
Fiscal Impact:
No General Fund (Fund 100) funding is utilized for transit operating or capital costs. Transit is funded in the Federal Transit Management Fund (Fund 610) exclusively with FTA Urbanized Formula funds, Transportation Development Act (TDA) funding (Fund 460), State grant approval revenues, and other directly generated revenues.
Documents Attached:
1. Attachment 1 - Resolution
2. Attachment 2 - City of Manteca Short Range Transit Plan Update