City Council Agenda Report
December 16, 2025
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager
BY: James C. Parker, Executive Director of Regional Transportation Theresa Clark, Transit Administration Officer
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT ANNUAL SHORT RANGE TRANSIT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEARS 2025-2027
Background:
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) as the Transportation Planning Authority, is required by Federal and State statutes to prepare the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for all Los Angeles County municipal transit agencies on an annual basis. The Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) facilitates input from each of the 16 municipal transit agencies, including Norwalk Transit System (NTS), on its planning and financial activities for inclusion into the Metro TIP. The SRTP/TIP serves as a formal record of both Metro and other municipal agencies’ commitment to on-going safe, efficient, and quality transit services in keeping with components of the federal funding process.
It is the responsibility of Metro to review each municipal transit operator’s SRTP to ensure compliance with all Federal, State, and local reporting requirements is achieved as well as ensuring that data collection efforts and operating budgets are consistent with funding assumptions and regional planning policies.
The SRTP is NTS’s primary planning document and is updated annually according to guidelines issued by Metro. It describes the organizational structure in keeping with current and planned service changes over three years. Also, descriptions of the financial and capital improvements associated with major projects/programs are included as a reference for various internal and external stakeholders.
Major highlights and initiatives in the 2025-2027 SRTP include the following:
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Fixed Route Service: The fixed-route service utilizes 34 buses which provide local circulation and inter-jurisdictional service connecting Norwalk and adjoining communities of Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, El Monte, La Mirada, La Habra, Santa Fe Springs, South El Monte, Whittier, and the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County; as well as, providing bus service as a link between the Metro C Line Light Rail Station and the Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs Metrolink Commuter Rail Station. Configuration of the routes was to a large extent, determined through significant community involvement.
Since the last SRTP, NTS has not implemented any changes to its fixed-route services.
However, ridership and passenger fare revenue have shown consistent growth with ridership, increasing from 696,241 in FY2021 to 1,297,047 in FY2025—an 86% increase.
This upward trend brings NTS closer to its pre-pandemic ridership levels of approximately
1.4 million. As part of its long-term strategic planning, NTS remains focused on achieving full ridership recovery.
To support this goal, NTS will reschedule its planned Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA) to July 2026. This analysis will evaluate the performance of Routes 1 through 5 and Route 7, with the objective of identifying opportunities to enhance on-time performance and overall route productivity. The revised timeline also aligns with the upcoming launch of NTS’s Microtransit On-Demand pilot Program, scheduled for January 2026. Rescheduling the COA will allow sufficient time to assess the pilot program’s impact on service delivery and customer experience, ensuring that any future service adjustments are data-driven and responsive to community needs.
Dial-a-Ride Service: NTS’s current Dial-a-Ride services will also be assessed by NTS staff for opportunities to provide trips through NTS’s 12-month pilot Microtransit/On- Demand service that include a Smart App reservation and payment system. The NTS Advanced Reservation Dial-A-Ride service currently provides curb-to-curb service for trips taken within the City using lift-equipped accessible vehicles; and the User-side Subsidy Taxicab program provides service to approved medical facilities in the cities of Bellflower, Downey, Lakewood, Santa Fe Springs, and Whittier. Both of these services are reserved for senior and disabled residents of the City of Norwalk.
Fare Revenues and Structure: NTS does not plan to implement any fixed-route or Dial- A-Ride fare increases. The last fare increase was on November 17, 2013. Additionally, NTS has coordinated with Metro in the implementation of a Countywide Fareless System Initiative (FSI) that includes voluntary participation by Muni operators. The FSI Program is for students at participating K-12 schools and community colleges, focused on helping students ride transit without the worry of paying fares. Students participating in the FSI Program are issued a GoPass. The GoPass Program is available to students at participating K-12 schools and community colleges, with a focus on helping students ride transit without the worry of paying fare. With a registered GoPass TAP card, students attending participating schools can ride NTS, Metro, and 15 other participating local municipal transit systems to and from school, and for trips after school and on weekends.
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NTS continues to participate in a major regional effort to integrate the Transit Access Pass (TAP). Currently, TAP is accepted by 27 agencies, all Metro bus and rail lines, and municipal transit systems throughout Los Angeles (LA) County.
Bus Fleet Electrification: NTS recently received an additional three Gillig Battery Electric Buses (BEBs) in December 2024 and is scheduled to procure three (3) additional BEBs and eleven (11) Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses. This balanced approach allows the agency to continue making progress toward its long-term sustainability goals while remaining fiscally responsible and ensuring uninterrupted transit service for the community.
Capital Improvements: Construction is currently underway on the Transit Facility Tenant Improvement Project (CIP #7865). This project is designed to implement critical upgrades and tenant improvements that will support the evolving needs of Transit Operations, Fleet Maintenance, and Transit Administration. These enhancements aim to improve operational efficiency, accommodate future growth, and provide a more functional and modernized workspace for transit staff. Project completion is anticipated by February 2026.
Additionally, NTS will be implementing its Bus Stop Equity Enhancement Project in early 2026, which will provide modernization of bus stops with equity priority amenities to enhance the safety, comfort, and accessibility at our bus stops for patrons served by NTS. This project will address drastic climate changes our region has experienced by providing equitable amenities such as enhanced shelters and solar panels to provide ample lighting for patron safety while waiting at stops and real-time information to provide patrons with accurate wait times.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Citizens Advised:
N/A
Strategic Plan 2023 Implementation:
N/A
Recommended Action:
Staff recommend City Council receive and file the Triennial Short Range Transit Plan, and authorize the Executive Director of Regional Transportation to submit the updated Short Range Transit Plan to Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
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Attachments:
Short Range Transit Plan FY 2025-2027
https://www.norwalk.org/departments_services/norwalk_transit_system_nts/about_us.p hp