Unmet Transit Needs

As the Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) for Madera County, MCTC is responsible for the administration of the Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds. TDA funds, which are funded through ¼ percent of the statewide sales tax, are the primary funding source for most transit systems. The administration of TDA funds includes the annual unmet transit needs process, which has three key components: soliciting testimony on unmet transit needs; analyzing needs in accordance to adopted definitions of unmet transit need and reasonable to meet; and adoption of a finding regarding unmet transit needs that may exist for the upcoming fiscal year. These tasks are to be performed in consultation with the Social Service Transportation Advisory Council (SSTAC).

What is an Unmet Transit Need?

UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS: An unmet transit need is an expressed or identified need that is not currently being met through existing public transportation services.  An unmet transit need also is a need required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

REASONABLE TO MEET: The term “reasonable to meet” shall apply to public or specialized transportation services that meet the following minimum criteria:

Feasibility

  • The proposed service can be provided with available Transportation Development Act (TDA) funding and/or other funding sources (per State law, the lack of available resources shall not be the sole reason for finding that a transit need is not reasonable to meet per PUC § 99401.5 (c).
  • Sufficient ridership potential exists for new expanded, or revisited transit services.
  • The proposed transit service will be safe and comply with local, State, and federal law.

Community Acceptance

  • The proposed transit service has community support from the general public, community groups, and /or community leaders.

Benefit to Population

  • The proposed transit service serves a significant number of residents where it is needed and would benefit the general public and/or senior and disabled persons as a whole.

Cost-Effective

  • The proposed transit service will not affect the ability of the overall system of the implementing agency or agencies to meet applicable transit system performance objectives or the State TDA farebox ratio requirement after any exemption(s) period(s) if the service is eligible for an exemption(s) per CCR 6633.2.
  • The proposed transit service, if implemented or funded, would not cause the responsible operator to incur expenditures in excess of the maximum amount of LTF, STA, FTA funds, and fare revenues and local support.

Consistent with Intent of Existing Transit Service(s) and Plans

  • Once established, the proposed transit service will not abuse or obscure the intent of existing transit service(s).
  • The proposed transit need should be in conformance with the goals included in the Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, and consistent with the intent of the goals of the adopted Short Range Transit Plan.

 

Tell us about your Unmet Transit Need!

Prior to allocating TDA funds for local streets and roads in individual jurisdictions, MCTC must identify any unmet transit needs that may exist in that jurisdiction that are reasonable to meet. The Annual Unmet Transit Needs Assessment is conducted to identify any unmet transit needs and make any related findings. For this assessment, MCTC is required to establish and implement a process of citizen participation, utilizing the SSTAC to hear the transit needs of transit dependent or disadvantaged persons. Dates and locations for future outreach events and the public hearing will be listed below.

 

Unmet Transit Needs Workshops and Public Hearing - 2025

When

Where

In-Person

Virtual

Spanish Language Workshop

Tuesday, March 11 at

6:00 PM

Casas De La Vina

23784 Avenue 9

Madera, CA 93637

Yes

No

Workshop

Wednesday, March 12 at 6:00 PM

Madera Ranchos Library

37398 Berkshire Drive

Madera, CA 93636

Yes

No

Workshop

Thursday, March 13 at 5:00 PM

Oakhurst Library

49044 Civic Circle Drive

Oakhurst, CA 93644

Yes

No

Workshop

Tuesday, March 18 at 6:00 PM

Fairmead Elementary School

19421 Avenue 22 ¾

Chowchilla, CA 93610

Yes

No

Workshop – Zoom Webinar

Thursday, March 20 at 6:00 PM

Webinar ID: 882 7273 5705

Passcode: 554773

Click here to join!

No

Yes

Public Hearing

Wednesday, April 23 at 3:00 PM

MCTC Policy Board Meeting

2001 Howard Road, Ste. 201

Madera, CA 93637

Webinar ID: 876 6961 8417

Passcode: 517654

Call-in number: (408) 638-0968

Yes

Yes

 

 

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