DATE: 06/03/2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Public Works Department
2026-192
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBJECT:
PROPOSED SHORT-RANGE TRANSIT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEARS 2027 THROUGH 2029
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the Council to adopt the Short-Range Transit Plan for fiscal years 2027 through 2029. The plan summarizes the City’s local transit planning and financial activities, including fund requests for operating and capital needs.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council:
a. Adopt the proposed Short Range Transit Plan for fiscal year 2027 through 2029. b. Direct staff to submit the approved Short Range Transit Plan for fiscal year 2027 through 2029 to the Riverside County Transportation Commission for approval. c. Authorize revisions to the Fiscal Year 2027 Transit Service Fund revenue and expense budget following approval of the Fiscal Year 2027 through 2029 Short Range Transit Plan from the Riverside County Transportation Commission. d. Authorize an appropriation and an offsetting revenue in the amount of $1,500,000 from the Transit Service Fund 577 to the COA – Citywide Bus Stop Improvements, Capital Improvement Project No. FC-2022-19 for Fiscal Year 2027. e. Authorize an appropriation and an offsetting revenue in the amount of $3,190,000 from the Transit Service Fund 577 to a newly created Operating and Maintenance project titled Replacement Buses for Fixed Route for Fiscal Year 2027.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
The City of Corona Transit Service (CCTS) operates its transit program under the Dial-ARide and Corona Cruiser fixed-route programs. Dial-A-Ride services were launched in 1977, and the Corona Cruiser fixed-route service in 2001. The City contracts a private transit management company, MV Transportation, to operate both transit programs.
The Dial-A-Ride (DAR) program is comprised of specialized demand response and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-complementary paratransit service. This service provides curb-to-curb transportation to qualified individuals, seniors 60 and older, and persons with disabilities, while door-to-door service is available to those certified under the ADA. The DAR service area includes the City of Corona, satellite locations in the City of Norco, and the unincorporated Riverside County areas of Coronita, El Cerrito, and Home Gardens.
The Corona Cruiser fixed route program is a network of two fixed routes, the Red Line and the Blue Line. These routes provide access to local businesses, retail stores, parks, entertainment venues, municipal services, schools, and residential adjacent areas. They also connect with the Riverside Transit Agency regional bus routes, the Corona Transit Center, and the North Main Corona Metrolink Train Station.
Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) is the designated Regional Transportation Planning Agency with fiduciary and administrative oversight of transit operators in Riverside County. Each year, RCTC reviews and approves the Short-Range Transit Plan (SRTP) and allocates local, state, and federal funding.
The CCTS is a participating transit agency in the region and relies on RCTC to provide the majority of funds needed for day-to-day operations. Therefore, CCTS is required to submit an annual update of its Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP), which represents the City of Corona’s transportation services and compiles operational and financial data for the upcoming fiscal year based on audited data from previous years ANALYSIS:
In conformance with RCTC’s guidelines, CCTS staff prepared the three-year Short-Range Transit Plan for FY2027 through FY2029. The Plan includes the following four chapters.
For a complete, detailed review of all the data points summarized below, a copy of the Plan is attached to this report.
Chapter 1 – System overview and service profile
This chapter outlines the current service structure, providing information on Corona Cruiser fixed routes and the Dial-A-Ride/paratransit program, including a description of the service area, the population and demographics served, the current fare structure, the transit fleet, facilities, and bus stop amenities. In addition, this chapter covers coordination efforts between CCTS and other transit agencies, i.e., Riverside Transit Agency & RCTC Metrolink. Further, this chapter provides operating data relating to the current fiscal year and year-end estimates regarding operating expenses, passenger trips, fare revenues, and vehicle miles/hours.
Chapter 2 – Existing service and route performance
This chapter further details the performance of the current service compared to the proposed plan provided in the prior approved year. It summarizes the year-to-date operating data and compares it to the performance targets set by RCTC. It further provides year-end estimates based on the performance of the first nine months of the fiscal year. Lastly, this chapter highlights improvement efforts to increase productivity and maintain service to major trip generators.
Chapter 3 – Future service plans, fare changes, capital planning, and marketing This chapter provides an overview of future service planning, outlining planned service enhancements, marketing and promotion efforts, as well as capital improvement planning. Service enhancements include increasing bus frequency, providing service to areas not currently served, and exploring alternate transit options. These options were explored as part of the Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA). On August 6, 2023, the City Council approved Scenario Two (2) of the proposed service recommendation as outlined in the final report of the COA. This section highlights these service improvements for which a consultant was brought on board to assist in implementation. The final plan is available at Comprehensive Operation Analysis | City of Corona (coronaca.gov). Further, CCTS’s marketing strategies are to increase ridership and awareness of Corona’s transit services. Finally, the capital improvement plan includes various projects, and this section provides a brief description of those projects.
Chapter 4 – Financial Planning
The final chapter provides the funding plan for the three years covered in the SRTP. It includes the operating and capital budget needs for FY 2027, which are funded by RCTC.
In addition, this chapter includes the funding plan to support the two upcoming years (FY 2028 & FY 2029). This chapter further outlines the regulatory and compliance requirements to ensure CCTS complies as a public transit operator and recipient of federal funds.
Operating Budget
As RCTC funds the initial year of the SRTP, CCTS staff is proposing an estimated operating budget of $4,143,399 for FY 2027, which is 5 percent, or $198,072, more than the current-year budget. Additional information is provided under Capital Budget below.
The proposed SRTP financial forecast is based on available transit funds, previous years’ data, and CCTS’s projected operational needs. The budget includes the following sources to fund the Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget:
Revenue Source $ Amount
Local Transportation Funds (LTF) $2,073,957
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5307 $1,925,742 Other Operating Revenues* $143,700
General Fund** $0.00
TOTAL $4,143,399
*Includes passenger fares, bus shelter advertising revenues, and AB2766 bus pass subsidy. ** Farebox Ratio Mandate requires a local contribution of 20% Cruiser and 10% DAR. If a gap exists at the end of the FY, general funds will need to be contributed to fill the gap.
CCTS’s operating budget supports the following expenses: Salaries-Benefits (12%) and Services-Supplies (88%). Of the $4.14 million operating budget, contracted services constitute the largest component at 80% of the total budget. These expenses represent transportation services currently provided by MV Transportation for operating Dial-A-Ride and the Corona Cruiser. Other service & supplies expenses include fuel, printing and publications, advertising, Routematch Dispatching software, utilities, office supplies, minor office equipment, and administrative and Information Technology Services support.
Additional program activities funded from the operating budget include contracted services and projects, such as:
1) Consulting Services to assist staff with various large transit projects, such as the ITS, fleet procurement, and implementation of COA service level changes. This includes preparing solicitations/scope of work and project management oversight. 2) Routematch software for computer-aided dispatching includes annual fees for technical support, a data plan, and cloud server hosting, which are necessary for communication between bus operators and dispatching staff to coordinate pickups and drop-offs.
The minor increase in the operating budget can be attributed to the year-to-year contract cost for transit operations as well increased budget for marketing and public information for service improvements.
Capital Improvement Plan & Budget
The SRTP includes fund requests for the following capital projects:
Project Project # Amount
Bus Stop Improvement FC-2022-19 $
1,500,000
Replacement Buses for Fixed
Route
New
3,190,000
Total Capital Fund Request $
4,690,000
The Bus Stop Improvement CIP noted on this list is a standard operating budget item used to address maintenance issues, as needed. However, major bus stop improvement efforts will occur as part of the COA adopted service recommendations. These efforts will include removing some bus stops, constructing new bus stop pads, relocating usable amenities, installing new signs that match the City’s branding efforts, installing new ADAaccessible stops, etc.
The Replacement Buses for Fixed Route is a new project. The current seven (7) fixedroutes buses were put into service in 2016. Pursuant to the Federal Transit Administration, these buses have a useful life of twelve (12) years or a minimum of 500,000 miles, whichever comes first. These buses will reach their useful life in February of 2028. Timely replacement of buses is necessary to ensure system’s efficiency and reliability. This project will replace five of the seven buses, whereas the remaining two buses will utilize different fund sources, as they must be zero-emission buses.
The Capital Budget also outlines past SRTP-approved projects, which consist of the following projects to be carried out in the next two years:
Intelligent Transportation System
Purchase an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessible Van Digital Land Mobile Radio System
Canopy/Roof structure for Bus Parking Area
Bus Stop Improvements
Replacement of two (2) older 2012 DAR buses
Replacement of eleven (11) 2017 DAR buses
Zero Emission Bus purchase and related infrastructure These projects were approved and funded by RCTC in prior SRTPs using State Transit Assistance, FTA Section 5307 & 5339 funds, State of Good Repair, and SB125 TIRCP and ZETCP funds. Prior-approved projects and associated funds are listed in SRTP Section 4.4 of Exhibit 1. These projects have all been included in the City’s Transit CIP budget. Contract for the replacement of the 2012 and 2017 DAR buses was awarded at the April 20, 2026, Council Meeting.
Staff recommends approval of the City of Corona Transit Service Short Range Transit Plan for FY2027 through FY2029. If approved by the Council, the Plan will be submitted to the Riverside County Transportation Commission, in its capacity as Regional Transportation Planning Agency, for ratification.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The cost of operations for transit services in Fiscal Year 2027 is $4,143,399. Funding for all operating activities, in the aggregate, is available from Local Transit Funds, Federal Section 5307, State of Good Repair, and farebox revenues.
RCTC is expecting to go to their Commission on June 10, 2026, for approval of funding for all transit agencies. Following RCTC approval of the proposed Fiscal Year 2026/27 through Fiscal Year 2028/29 SRTP, the Fiscal Year 2026/27 Transit Service Fund revenue and expense budget will require the following adjustment:
1. Increase operating budget by $240,925 to $4,143,399 and increase offsetting revenue.
2. Appropriate $1,500,000 to an existing Capital Improvement Project (FC-2022-19, Bus Stop Improvements) and increase offsetting revenue by the same amount.
3. Create a new Operating and Maintenance Project titled Replacement Buses for Fixed Route , appropriate $3,190,000 and increase offsetting revenue by the same amount.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the commonsense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This action approves planning documents and a financial plan. There is no possibility that this action will have a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: SUDESH PAUL, TRANSIT PROGRAM MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: SAVAT KHAMPHOU, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Exhibit 1 – Exhibit 1 – FY 2026/27 through FY 2028/29 Short Range Transit Plan