TDM Toolbox

Mitigation Calculator

Subsector: Transit
Transit Frequency and Coverage
VMT Reduction Potential: 5
Cost: 5
ROI: 3
StanCOG Relevancy: 4
Land Use Content: Urban, Suburban
Trip Type: School, Residential, Commute, Recreation
Scale: Regional
Timing: Mid-term (3-10 years)
Implementors-Public: Municipalities, Regional Agencies, Transit Agencies
References: California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (2024), StanRTA Comprehensive Operational Analysis/Vision 2032, StanRTA Short Range Transit Plan, StanCOG Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy

Description

Transit service enhancements include extending transit network coverage or hours, increasing service frequency, and improving the reliability and appeal of public transportation.

Implementation Details

  • Use StanCOG travel-demand, demographic, and transit data to identify areas with inadequate transit coverage and high potential demand.
  • Prioritize increased frequency on corridors connecting Modesto, Ceres, Turlock, Riverbank, Patterson, and other major population and employment centers.
  • Evaluate transit service improvements based on employment density, population density, transit dependency, schools, major destinations, and existing ridership.
  • Expand evening and weekend service where demand and transit dependency justify additional operating hours.
  • Coordinate transit service planning with new housing and employment growth to avoid creating areas that are difficult to serve by transit.
  • Evaluate limited-stop and express services on major regional corridors where existing routes experience long travel times.

Mitigation Potential

Increasing transit frequency, service coverage, and operating hours can substantially reduce VMT by improving the convenience and competitiveness of transit. More frequent and reliable service decreases wait times and expands the number of trips that can reasonably be completed by transit instead of driving alone

For more details, see CAPCOA, T-25. Extend Transit Network Coverage or Hours, pg. 183-186 and CAPCOA, T-26. Increase Transit Service Frequency, pg. 187-192 for VMT reduction quantification.

Linked Strategies

Equity Considerations

Transit expansion should prioritize areas with high concentrations of transit-dependent populations, including low-income residents, seniors, and essential workers. Late-night and weekend service is critical for shift workers. Equity goals should include minimizing headways in underserved areas and ensuring accessible transit for riders with disabilities through ADA-compliant infrastructure and real-time info tools.

Funding Sources

Requires significant ongoing operating funding. Potential sources include FTA Section 5307, 5311, 5339, and 5309 programs; State Transit Assistance (STA); Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds; Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP); California State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP); Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ); and local sales tax and transportation revenues.

Examples/Case Studies

StanRTA – Connecting Communities on The S  

StanRTA’s 2023 system redesign provides a highly relevant example for StanCOG. Following its Comprehensive Operational Analysis, StanRTA added more than 200 bus stops, partially redesigned most routes, added Sunday service, introduced 60-minute service, created new routes, and established the Ceres mobility hub. The changes were specifically intended to improve transit equity across the service area.