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Date Adopted:
Date Approved:
Effective Date:
City Attorney Approval: ______ Resolution No. ____________ RESOLUTION NO. ____________
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A PROGRAM
PROVIDING ZERO FARE FOR SENIORS , MEDICARE
CARD HOLDERS, AND PE RSONS WITH DISABILITY
PLACARDS
WHEREAS, Fresno Area Express (FAX), the City’s bus transit system, operates eighteen routes and 119 buses, including the Q, the City’s bus rapid transit system; and WHEREAS, seniors aged 65 and older, many of whom are on a fixed income, Medicare card holders, and persons with disabilit y placards need transportation to medical appointments, vaccination clinics, bill payment centers, grocery stores, Covid-19 testing services, work, and other general services; and WHEREAS, Kaiser Permanente has dedicated $500,000 to the City of Fresno towards the overall efforts of making local public transportation more affordable for all riders; and
WHEREAS, providing a zero-fare program through a subsidy afforded by the grant award from Kaiser Permanente to seniors 65 and older , Medicare card holders, and persons with disability placards, will have substantial social and economic benefits to the residents of Fresno; and
WHEREAS, the Central Valley is known to have some of the worst air quality in the country, with hundreds of thousands of residents experiencing asthma or other respiratory health issues; and
WHEREAS, gas prices have increased to an unprecedented amount, cr eating a burden to residents on a fixed or low income; and
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WHEREAS, providing seniors 65 and older , Medicare card holders, and persons with disability placards, subsidized fare may encourage more Fresno residents to use public transit instead of driving alone, thereby decreasing traffic, reducing congestion and harmful emissions; and
WHEREAS, this program, when coupled with a mandate to convert the FAX bus fleet to zero emissions by 2040, state law s requiring new development to utilize vehicle miles traveled mitigation strategies, and recent investments in local infill development will lead to a more walkable city, reduce barriers to transportation, and provide healthier outcomes for our most impacted residents.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Fresno as follows:
1. The Administration shall temporarily subsidize bus fares on fixed route transit buses for seniors 65 and older, Medicare card holders, and persons with disability placards commencing July 1, 2022, until grant funds have been expended.
2. The Administration is authorized to execute the grant documents and shall accept and use the $500,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente to su bsidize the fares that would otherwise have been received from seniors 65 and older, Medicare card holders, and persons with disability placards.
3. Prior to the initiation of this program, the FAX Department will provide educational awareness about this program.
4. There shall be no decrease in current routes or services as an effect of this resolution.
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5. The funding provided by Kaiser Permanente used to subsidize the cost of providing seniors 65 and older , Medicare card holders, and pe rsons with disabil ity placards zero fare shall not affect bus driver salaries or benefits.
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF FRESNO ) ss.
CITY OF FRESNO )
I, TODD STERMER, City Clerk of the City of Fresno, certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the Council of the City of Fresno, at a regular meeting held on the day of 2022.
AYES :
NOES :
ABSENT :
ABSTAIN :
Mayor Approval: , 2022
Mayor Approval/No Return: , 2022
Mayor Veto: , 2022
Council Override Vote: , 2022
TODD STERMER, CMC
City Clerk
By:
Deputy Date
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
DOUGLAS T. SLOAN
City Attorney
By:
Pauline Brickey Date
Deputy City Attorney