PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF ROUTE 17
Visalia Industrial Park
Presented By:
Angelina Baker, Transit Manager
John Lollis, Assistant City Manager
REVIEW
Need for Proposed Route 17 Elimination
Exhaustion of grant funds
Exceedingly low ridership
The significant ongoing operational expense to maintain the route serving the Visalia Industrial Park after the exhaustion of initial federal grant funding combined with continued exceedingly low ridership prompts the proposal.
Significant operational costs
Alternative public transportation
TIMELINE
Council approved public comment period opening
Staff started engaging the public to receive feedback in various ways July 20, 2026
July 21, 2026
City Council Public Hearing and Discussion on feedback received and Council decision September 8, 2026
Route 17 elimination on any date determined by Council
October 2026
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PUBLIC
OUTREACH
City Social Media Channels
Transit Center and Bus Flyer Posts
Transit Advisory Committee
Visalia Economic Development Corporation
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Visalia Times Delta
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9 PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD SUMMARY
Comments Received
Opposed to Elimination
Supportive of Elimination
Neutral of Elimination
2 3
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SUMMARY OF
COMMENTS
Comments request that bus stop locations be more thoughtful to be pedestrian friendly Two (2) commentors specifically state that they utilize Route 17 for work Multiple comments recommend changes to Route 15 which serves the community of Goshen and parts of the Industrial Park Multiple general comments in opposition of the elimination without providing detail while others comment that the Industrial Park is growing and there will be a future need 03 04
RECOMMENDATION
Route 17 Elimination
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the elimination of Fixed Route 17 in order to commit resources to where they can be utilized more efficiently.
Discussion &
Public Hearing