Tulare County Regional Transit Agency

The Tulare County Regional Transit Agency (TCRTA) is a joint powers agency formed by all the cities in Tulare County, California (except Visalia) alongside the county government on August 17, 2020. It operates the public transportation systems within and connecting the respective member agencies, including the legacy systems Dinuba Area Regional Transit (DART, in Dinuba), Porterville Transit (PT, Porterville), Tulare InterModal Express (TIME, in the City of Tulare), and Tulare County Area Transit (TCaT, intercity routes). It is the largest single public transit agency in Tulare County.

Tulare County Regional Transit Agency
ParentTulare County Association of Governments (TCAG)
FoundedAugust 17, 2020 (2020-08-17)
Service areaTulare County, California
Service typeBus service, Dial-a-Ride
Routes27[1]
DestinationsIntercity and local routes in Tulare County
HubsDinuba Transit Center, Porterville Transit Center, Tulare Transit Center, Visalia Transit Center
Websitetcrtacares.com

History

The cities of Exeter, Farmersville, Lindsay, Porterville, Tulare, and Woodlake in partnership with the County of Tulare were the initial seven member agencies of TCRTA, which was formed by unanimously adopting the draft by-laws on August 17, 2020.[2] In September 2020, Dinuba joined TCRTA as the eighth member.[3]: 5–6  Collectively, these represent all the cities within Tulare County with the sole exception of Visalia, the largest city and county seat, which has chosen to retain its independent Visalia Transit agency. The consolidation is expected to result in uniform fares, more efficient routes, and easier intercity travel within Tulare County.[4]

Memoranda of understanding (MoU) were signed between TCRTA and the cities of Dinuba, Tulare, and Woodlake at the May 17, 2021 TCRTA Board of Directors meeting, transferring ownership, operation, and administration of public transportation systems in those cities to TCRTA.[5]: 27–44, 53–88  A similar MoU for Porterville signed at the same May meeting effectively allowed that city to provide transit operations and maintenance services for Woodlake.[5]: 45–52  The first legacy system to transition to TCRTA administration was the bus service in Woodlake, starting on July 1, 2021.[6] Porterville Transit loaned several minivans to Woodlake, replacing the minibuses that previously were operated by that city.[4]

Services

Fixed routes

TCRTA has assumed operation of legacy fixed routes from Dinuba (DART), Porterville (Porterville Transit), the City of Tulare (TIME), and Tulare County (TCaT). Prefixes designate the legacy system from which the route was inherited.

TCRTA Fixed Routes
RouteNameLegacy systemTerminusviaTerminusTyp. headway (mins.)Notes / Refs.
DC Dinuba Connection DART Dinuba Transit CenterTulare WORKS, Reedley Shopping Center, Adventist Health Reedley, Reedley College, Palm Village, Reedley DMVDinuba Transit Center 60 (weekday) Alternative name: Dinuba / Reedley Route[7][8]
C10 North County TCaT Visalia (Visalia Transit Center) Seville, Cutler, East Orosi, Orosi, Sultana Dinuba (Dinuba Transit Center) 60 (weekday)
120 (weekend)		 [9][10]
C20 South County TCaT Tulare (Tulare Transit Center) Matheny Tract, Tipton, Pixley, Teviston, Earlimart, Delano Richgrove 60–90 (weekday)
150 (weekend)		 [11][12]
C30 Northeast County TCaT Visalia (Visalia Transit Center) Ivanhoe, Woodlake, Lemon Cove, Three Rivers Visalia (Visalia Transit Center) 30 (weekday)
70 (weekend)		 [13][14]
C40 Southeast County TCaT Visalia (Tulare County Gov't Plaza) Tulare, Lindsay, Strathmore Porterville (Porterville Transit Center) 65 (weekday)
120 (weekend)		 Free transfer to Visalia Transit Route 1, connects to Visalia Transit Center[15][16]
C50 Dinuba – London – Traver – Delft Colony TCaT Dinuba (Kmart) London, Traver, Delft Colony, Dinuba Transit Center Dinuba (Kmart) 70–240 (wkdy)
60–180 (Sat)		 [17][18]
C60 Lindsay TCaT Lindsay Savemart/McDonalds, Wellness Center, E. Tulare Rd & Lafayette Ave, City Hall Lindsay 30 (weekday) [19][20]
C70 Porterville – Springville TCaT Porterville (Porterville Transit Center) Springville Porterville (Porterville Transit Center) 360 (weekday) [21][22]
C80 Porterville – Terra Bella – Ducor TCaT Porterville (Porterville Transit Center) Terra Bella, Ducor Porterville (Porterville Transit Center) 360 (weekday) [23][24]
C90 Lindsay – Strathmore – Plainview – Woodville – Poplar – Porterville TCaT Lindsay (McDonalds) Plainview, Woodville, Cotton Center, Poplar, Strathmore Porterville (Porterville Transit Center) 90–270 (weekday) [25][26]
D1 Dollar Tree – Tropicana Market – Viscaya Gardens DART Dinuba Transit CenterSurabian Dr, El Monte Way, Alta AveDinuba Transit Center 60 (M–Sa) Western segment of legacy "Jolly Trolley".[7][27]
D2 Senior Center – Northpark Apts – Mercantile Row DART Dinuba Transit CenterAlta Ave, Nebraska Ave, El Monte WayDinuba Transit Center 60 (M–Sa) Previously named "North Route".[7][28]
D3 Jefferson School – Rancho Vista – DPW DART Dinuba Transit CenterEl Monte Way, Road 88, Kamm Ave, MDinuba Transit Center 60 (M-Sa) Abbreviated from "South Route".[7][29]
D4 Walmart – Housing Authority – Delgado Park DART Dinuba Transit CenterSurabian Dr, El Monte Way, College Ave, Kamm Ave, Greene AveDinuba Transit Center 60 (M–Sa) Interior segment of "South Route".[7][30]
P1 Sierra View District Hospital PT Porterville Transit Center South County Justice Center, Porterville High School, Burton Elementary Porterville Transit Center 40 [31][32]
P2 Monache High School PT Porterville Transit Center Porterville Library, Wal-Mart Shopping Center, Porterville Adult School, Monte Vista Elementary Porterville Transit Center 40 [33][34]
P3 East Porterville PT Porterville Transit Center Vallarta Super Market, East Porterville, Alta Vista School, Granite Hills High School, Porterville Municipal Golf Course, Santa Fe Apartments Porterville Transit Center 40 [35][36]
P4 Porterville College PT Porterville Transit Center Porterville Heritage Center, Santa Fe School, LB Learning Center, Porterville Developmental Center, Golden Hills Mobile Estates, Vandalia Elementary, Pioneer Middle School Porterville Transit Center 40 [37][38]
P5 Veterans Park PT Porterville Transit Center Westwood Ave, Target Shopping Center, Government Plaza, Galaxy 9 Theaters, Zalud Park Porterville Transit Center 40 [39][40]
P6 Family HealthCare Network PT Porterville Transit Center Sierra View District Hospital, Lowes and Home Depot Shopping Center, Holiday Inn Express, Porterville Sheltered Workshop Porterville Transit Center 40 [41][42]
T1 North Tulare TIME Tulare Transit CenterRegional Medical Center, Sports Park, Pleasant School, Maple SchoolTulare Transit Center 30 (M–Sa)
60 (Sun)		 [43][44]
T2 Southeast Tulare TIME Tulare Transit CenterMartin Luther King, Bardsley, BlackstoneTulare Transit Center 30 (M–Sa)
60 (Sun)		 [43][45]
T3 West Tulare TIME Tulare Transit CenterWestside Community Health Clinic, Senior Center, Skate ParkTulare Transit Center 30 (M–Sa)
60 (Sun)		 [43][46]
T4 Northeast Tulare TIME Tulare Transit CenterCVS, Target, WalmartTulare Transit Center 30 (M–Sa)
60 (Sun)		 [43][47]
T5 Southwest Tulare TIME Tulare Transit CenterBardsley, K St, Hillman Clinic, City HallTulare Transit Center 30 (M–Sa)
60 (Sun)		 [43][48]
T7 East Tulare TIME Tulare Transit CenterMooney, Cos Tulare, Kohn SchoolTulare Transit Center 30 (M–Sa)
60 (Sun)		 [43][49]
T11X Tulare to Visalia Express TIME Tulare Transit CenterJ St, SR 99, SR 198Visalia Transit Center 60 [43][50]

Legacy systems

Dinuba

Under Dinuba Area Regional Transit (DART), Dinuba operated four routes, including one longer-distance route ("Dinuba Connection") connecting Dinuba to Reedley in Fresno County, two flexible routes ("North" and "South") allowing deviations to serve dial-a-ride passengers between nominal fixed route stops, and a fare-free single fixed route ("Jolly Trolley") serving popular businesses.[51]

Exeter

The City of Exeter began operating a dial-a-ride intracity on-demand transit service in 1991. Service to its larger neighbor Visalia is provided by Visalia Transit.[52] On July 1, 2017, Visalia Transit took over intracity dial-a-ride services within Exeter.[53] The steep fare increase, from $1 under Exeter to $2.25 under Visalia, resulted in citizens berating the City Council.[4]

Farmersville

The City of Farmersville also relied on Visalia Transit for public transportation connections to Visalia, with Farmersville compensating Visalia annually from its transportation funding allocation.[54]

Lindsay

Dial-a-ride services within Lindsay were provided under annual agreements with Tulare County.[55]: Res.19-13  TCaT also provided service for circulation within Lindsay (Route 60)[19] and connections to Porterville and the neighboring unincorporated communities of Plainview, Poplar-Cotton Center, Strathmore, and Woodville (Route 90).[25]

Porterville
Main article: Porterville Transit

Porterville Transit operates six fixed routes within Porterville; there were nine fixed routes prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, with one of the fixed routes providing service to the Tule River Indian Reservation.

Tulare

The City of Tulare operated the Tulare InterModal Express (TIME) transit service, which provided six fixed routes within Tulare and one express route, jointly operated with Visalia Transit, that connected those two cities.[56][57] The six fixed routes within Tulare were named for their geographical coverage (#1 Northwest; #2 Southeast; #3 West; #4 Northeast; #5 Southwest; and #7 East); all routes, including Tulare–Visalia service (#11X) met at the central Tulare Transit Center (360 N. K St).[58] Sunday service was added in 2015.[59]

Tulare County
Main article: Tulare County Area Transit

Tulare County Area Transit (TCaT) provided mainly intercity routes, linking cities and communities within Tulare County.

Woodlake

Woodlake operated a dial-a-ride service within the city limits and unincorporated areas of the county starting in 1999; fixed intercity routes serving Woodlake were previously operated by Orange Belt Stages and TCaT.[60]: 14 

The Woodlake dial-a-ride service typically operated one of the city's three 16-passenger cutaway minibuses with the other two left in reserve.[60]: 17  The Woodlake city bus connected with TCaT Route 30 at the Whitney Transit Center, which opened in October 2013 at 201 E Lakeview in downtown Woodlake;[61] in total, there were four bus shelters: one at Whitney and the others at local schools (Woodlake High School, F.J. White Learning Center, and Castle Rock Elementary).[60]: 18–20 

Structure

Each member agency appoints one elected official and one alternate representative to serve on the TCRTA Board of Directors. TCRTA holds one meeting per month, scheduled for the third Monday at 3 PM.[62]

Fleet and facilities

Facilities

The Tulare County Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility (TOMF) held a grand opening on September 23, 2021. The TOMF can accommodate up to 25 buses with a 26,000 sq ft (2,400 m2) building that includes administration, operations, dispatch, and maintenance facilities.[63] It is located near the county's Visalia Road Yard, at the intersection of Avenues 256 (Sierra) and 140 (South Lover's Lane).[64]

References
  1. "TCRTA Bus Schedules and Maps". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  2. "Agenda for Organizational Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Tulare County Regional Transit Agency". Tulare County Association of Governments. August 17, 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  3. "Agenda: Tulare County Regional Transit Agency". Tulare County Association of Governments. September 21, 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  4. Myers, Paul (July 28, 2021). "Woodlake opts for minivan, holds off on bus for in-city riders". The Sun-Gazette. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  5. "Agenda: Tulare County Regional Transit Agency". Tulare County Association of Governments. May 17, 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  6. Ellis, Reggie (February 24, 2021). "Wheels are in motion for countywide transit". The Sun-Gazette. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  7. "Dinuba Area Regional Transit Guide" (PDF). City of Dinuba. 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  8. "Dinuba Connection Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  9. "Route 10 North County". Tulare County. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  10. "Route C10 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  11. "Route 20 South County". Tulare County. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  12. "Route C20 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  13. "Route 30 Northeast County". Tulare County. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  14. "Route C30 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  15. "Route 40 Southeast County". Tulare County. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  16. "Route C40 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  17. "Route 50 Dinuba – London – Traver – Delft Colony". Tulare County. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  18. "Route C50 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  19. "Route 60 Lindsay". Tulare County. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  20. "Route C60 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  21. "Route 70 Porterville – Springville". Tulare County. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  22. "Route C70 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  23. "Route 80 Porterville – Terra Bella – Ducor". Tulare County. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  24. "Route C80 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  25. "Route 90 Lindsay – Strathmore – Plainview – Woodville – Poplar – Porterville". Tulare County. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  26. "Route C90 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  27. "Route D1 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  28. "Route D2 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  29. "Route D3 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  30. "Route D4 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  31. "Route P1 Map and Schedule" (PDF). City of Porterville, California. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  32. "Route P1 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  33. "Route P2 Map and Schedule" (PDF). City of Porterville, California. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  34. "Route P2 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  35. "Route P3 Map and Schedule" (PDF). City of Porterville, California. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  36. "Route P3 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  37. "Route P4 Map and Schedule" (PDF). City of Porterville, California. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  38. "Route P4 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  39. "Route P5 Map and Schedule" (PDF). City of Porterville, California. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  40. "Route P5 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  41. "Route P6 Map and Schedule" (PDF). City of Porterville, California. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  42. "Route P6 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  43. "Tulare InterModal Express (TIME) Guide". City of Tulare. 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  44. "Route T1 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  45. "Route T2 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  46. "Route T3 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  47. "Route T4 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  48. "Route T5 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  49. "Route T7 Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  50. "Route T11X Map and Schedule". Tulare County Regional Transit Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  51. "Dinuba Area Regional Transit Guide" (PDF). City of Dinuba. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  52. Moore & Associates (May 2014). City of Exeter Transit Development Plan (PDF) (Report). City of Exeter. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  53. "Dial-A-Ride". City of Exeter. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  54. "Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2020–2021". City of Farmersville. May 2020. p. 14. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  55. Camarena, Michael (April 9, 2019). "Resolution No. 19-13" (PDF). Lindsay City Council Meeting: Regular Meeting (PDF) (Report). City of Lindsay, California. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  56. "Transit". City of Tulare, California. Archived from the original on July 3, 2016.
  57. City of Tulare (June 2019). City of Woodlake Short-Range Transit Plan Extension (Report). Tulare County Association of Governments. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  58. "Tulare InterModal Express Rider's Guide". City of Tulare, California. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  59. Hernandez, Luis (August 5, 2015). "Tulare's bus system adds Sunday service, changes route time". Visalia Times Delta. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  60. Moy and Associates (August 12, 2019). City of Woodlake Transit Development Plan (Updated through 2021) (Report). Tulare County Association of Governments. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  61. "Transit Center pulls up City's downtown". The Sun-Gazette. October 23, 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  62. "Board of Directors". Tulare County Association of Governments. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  63. "County touts new, bigger transit center". The Sun-Gazette. September 29, 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  64. Tulare County Association of Governments (June 2015). County of Tulare 2015–2020 Transit Development Plan (Report). County of Tulare, Resource Management Agency. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
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