Ride The S News - Summer 2024

BY THE NUMBERS

Good news! Ridership on StanRTA’s fixed-route service continues to increase, with ridership for May 2024 an impressive 38% higher than May 2023. The S is definitely doing something right as more and more riders are choosing fixed-route transit for their trips. Thanks to all the riders who give us something to brag about!

As with any transit service, there are growing pains, and one of the places this is most apparent is with respect to complaints. The number of fixed-route complaints StanRTA receives per 100,000 miles varies from month to month, and since the beginning of FY 2023/24 (July 2023) these totals have ranged from a low of 19 (July 2023) to a high of 54 (October 2023). In May 2024 the number stood at 38 complaints per 100,000 miles, so we are still working on reducing that number. Demand Response complaints have also varied, ranging from a low of 5 (January 2024) to a high of 25 (April 2024). As a result, StanRTA has been working hard to address some of the most common issues such as pass-ups, late or missed ADA trips, and operator issues. Our Operations contractor, Transdev, is actively training staff and enhancing its dispatch support to address as many of these issues as possible. We’re also looking forward to seeing the impact of our new ADA paratransit fleet, which is expected to improve service reliability.

Breakdowns are another issue StanRTA has been working to improve upon. During FY 2023/24, fixed-route breakdown rates have ranged from a low of 8.63 per 100,000 miles (August 2023) to 19.26 per 100,000 miles (December 2023). Demand response breakdown rates have ranged from a low of 3.52 per 100,000 miles (November 2023) to a high of 13.11 per 100,000 miles (October 2023). We’re striving to improve the breakdown rate by maintaining and enhancing our mechanical reliability and identifying areas for further improvement, and these efforts generally appear to be working. For fixed route, the incidence of breakdowns declined between December 2023 and April 2024, though it rose again in May 2024. For demand response, it has been improving steadily since February 2024.

MAINTENANCE MATTERS

StanRTA would like to congratulate City of Modesto Fleet Supervisor Jeff Custer on his recent retirement. Thank you, Jeff, for your years of dedicated service! Since Jeff’s departure, Greg Kluver has stepped up and taken on additional responsibilities to ensure Maintenance Operations continue without a hitch. Thank you, Greg, for your commitment to keeping our buses rolling!

A big welcome to the City of Modesto’s new Fleet Manager, Lawrence Devereaux and Shop Supervisor, Brian Ferdinand! StanRTA looks forward to working with both of you!

The City of Modesto currently has several open positions in Maintenance Operations, including one existing position and several newly created positions funded by StanRTA that are anticipated to improve overall service and ensure quality fleet maintenance. These open positions include:

Service Technician (4 positions)
Utility Service Workers (Bus Washers) (4 positions)
Heavy Duty Mechanic I/II – Fleet (4 positions)

WHAT’S NEW WITH THE S

In April 2024, StanRTA made updates and adjustments to several routes to enhance efficiency and improve service. Here’s what we did:

Route 21: The stop at Robertson Rd. and Vernon Ave. was eliminated to enhance on-time performance.

Route 24: A new stop at Oakdale Rd. and Crawford/Westgate was added on the outbound trip.

Route 26: Schedule adjustments were made to improve on-time performance.

Route 29T: The outbound stop at Magnolia & 6th Street was consolidated with the stop at Park & 6th due to their close proximity.

Route 30: The outbound stop at Conant Ave. and Northridge Dr. was eliminated, and a new inbound stop was added at Conant Ave. and Standiford Ave. Additional stops were added along Rumble Rd. Between Conant Ave. and Prescott Rd., the timepoint was relocated to Rumble Rd. and Prescott Rd. to align with the Route 37 transfer stop.

Route 33: Schedule adjustments were made to accommodate peak traffic hours and improve on-time performance.

Route 37: The inbound stop at Roselle Ave. and Belharbour was relocated to the transfer point of Route 24 for improved alignment with its schedule. This change involved the inbound route now following Belharbour Dr. and Temescal Dr. The updated schedules aim to enhance punctuality.

Route 42: The outbound route now follows a different path, traveling west on Pecos Ave., south on Santa Fe Ave., and west on Pueblo Ave. to Crows Landing Rd. Schedule updates were implemented to improve on-time performance.

Route 45: Schedule adjustments were made to enhance on-time performance, especially during peak traffic hours.

Route 47: A new stop was added at Hatch Rd. and Monticello Ln.

Route 48: Schedule updates were made to improve on-time performance.

Route 50: Changes included alterations to the outbound route in Waterford and the addition of new stops in Modesto.

Route 60: Changes included the elimination of stops on G St. and Hallman Ln. in Oakdale and the relocation of the S. Maag stop to N. Maag. Schedule updates aim to improve on-time performance.

Route 90 BART Commuter Modesto: Schedule changes were made to the weekday schedule for the second trip of the day at the Modesto Transit Center and the Vintage Faire Mall Park & Ride.

Route 100 BART Commuter Turlock/Patterson: Stops were added in Patterson, including an outbound stop at Sperry Ave. and Walker Ranch Pkwy. and an inbound stop at Sperry Ave. and Baldwin Rd.

IT’S SO EASY TO BE GREEN

StanRTA celebrated Go Green Week from March 11 to March 17 by offering free rides on all its fixed-route, demand response, and commuter services. The purpose of Go Green Week is to raise awareness about the benefits of using public transportation on the environment. Current and potential riders were invited to ride for free to save money and reduce their carbon footprint. StanRTA’s goal in participating in Go Green Week was to incentivize members of the community to choose greener commute options.

SHOWING OUR APPRECIATION!

StanRTA celebrated National Transit Employee Appreciation Day on March 18 by providing breakfast and lunch for all employees at the Modesto Transit Center. Our employees work hard, and it is important to us to recognize their commitment and dedication. Each employee was also presented with a lightweight jacket as a small token of our appreciation. StanRTA appreciates all drivers, customer service representatives, dispatchers, and other staff members who contribute to the smooth operation of the transit system and thanks them for all the work they do.

DID YOU DUMP THE PUMP?

StanRTA celebrated Dump the Pump Day on June 20 by offering free rides to encourage residents to leave their cars at home and choose public transportation instead. Dump the Pump Day is a national initiative aimed at reducing fuel consumption and lowering emissions. StanRTA plays its part by offering a convenient and sustainable alternative to driving. Dump the Pump Day represents a great opportunity to explore the benefits of public transportation, which also include saving money and reducing traffic congestion. This year, we provided 9,663 free rides!

FREE FARES ARE HERE!

Everyone can benefit from Free Fares July! StanRTA is offering complimentary rides on all its services throughout the month of July. This grant-funded initiative is part of StanRTA’s efforts to attract new riders to the convenience and benefits of public transportation. With no fares or passes needed, riders just need to hop onboard to start enjoying the benefits. It’s a great time to try transit!

GET READY FOR IMPROVED ACCESSIBILITY

You may have noticed StanRTA’s new fleet of 16 ADA-compliant vans, all designed to accommodate passengers with disabilities, that hit the streets in March. This brings the total Demand-Response fleet to 46 after we retired some of the older and unreliable vehicles. Our new fleet is just one way StanRTA is committed to providing inclusive and equitable transportation options so that all members of our community can travel comfortably and independently.

You’ll also soon be seeing our brand-new MCI Commuter Coach on the road! Unlike our other commuter coaches, the new bus features a low-floor ADA area with an automated ramp, which simplifies boarding for riders who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices. It’s StanRTA’s first step toward enhancing accessibility on our commuter routes.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Sherry Bonora started with the City of Modesto Transit Division in 2016 and transferred to StanRTA when the agency was formed. Before joining the MAX team, Sherry had no career experience with public transportation, but you’d never guess that now!

Sherry is part of StanRTA’s Finance Team and also supports the Operations Team. Most of her time is spent working with fare media: ensuring passes are always available for purchase, tracking inventory, and reporting sales. She also assists with the StanRTA website.

Through her years at the City of Modesto and StanRTA, Sherry has learned the vital role transit plays in our community and that it takes commitment from all team members to make the system work. Thank you for your commitment and dedication, Sherry!

DRIVERS OF THE MONTH

Congratulations to our Drivers of the Month! Thank you for all your hard work!

January 2024 – Andrew Harper
February 2024 – Mirabel Ramirez
March 2024 – Jacinda Tavares
April 2024 – Ruben Solis
May 2024 – Pal Chahal
June 2024 – Tamika Scott