REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: GEORGEANNE A. WHITE, City Manager
Office of Mayor & City Manager
BY: MICHAEL ROGERS, Assistant City Manager
Office of Mayor & City Manager
SUBJECT
Title
Approve Agreement to join the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System Authority through the Restated Joint Powers Agreement.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council approve the agreement for the City of Fresno to join the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation Systems Authority (YARTS) which will provide governing board oversight of transit service to Yosemite National Park along various routes including the Highway 41 route which will include two daily round-trips from the City of Fresno for the summer seasons.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
YARTS provides year-round and peak summer transit service into Yosemite National Park along gateway communities surrounding Highways 140 (Merced and Mariposa Counties), Highway 120 (Tuolumne County), Highways 395/120E (Mono County) and Highway 41 (Fresno and Madera Counties). The City of Fresno has provided $50,000 funding from FAX for the continuation of the 2024 summer season Highway 41 service after Fresno County declined to provide funding for YARTS membership to continue transit service in Fresno. By joining the YARTS Joint Powers Authority (JPA), the City of Fresno will continue the Highway 41 route with two daily round-trip services and will become the only city member of the Authority (Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, and Tuolumne Counties) that will plan, establish, and evaluate passenger bus service and other regional transit and transportation improvements and services for the benefit of the greater Yosemite National Park region.
BACKGROUND
YARTS provides environmentally friendly and sustainable access for Fresno residents and visitors to access Yosemite National Park as an alternative to driving a vehicle to the park. This is especially important during the periods when a reservation and parking fees are required to access the park or when vehicles within the park are restricted. YARTS transit option provides an alternative to those who have limited transportation options.
The Hwy 41 service from Fresno to Yosemite National Park began in 2015 as a pilot program between YARTS and the Fresno Council of Governments. In early 2022, YARTS was notified that local funding provided through the Fresno Council of Governments (FCOG) for the pilot service was fully expended and FCOG was not interested in continuing to participate in, or provide local funds to, YARTS. As a result, YARTS service in Fresno concluded at the end of summer 2022. However, Madera County expressed interest in continuing summer service on the Hwy 41 corridor beyond 2022 and subsequently joined the YARTS JPA. As a result, service between Oakhurst and Yosemite National Park has been secured and will continue into the future. In the spring of 2023, the Fresno Yosemite International Airport contacted YARTS to discuss options to continue service between Fresno and Oakhurst for the 2023 summer season and beyond. The decision was made to operate a one-year pilot connecting Fresno to existing service in Oakhurst, while subsequently pursuing the expansion of the JPA to include the Fresno region. Unfortunately, without the expansion of the JPA to include a Fresno partner, YARTS service from Fresno could not resume. In April of 2024 YARTS representatives presented to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors various JPA membership options to join the JPA, the county respectfully declined the options. As a member of the YARTS JPA, each participating county (Merced, Mariposa, Mono, Tuolumne and Madera) pays an annual member fee that contributes to the revenue needed to operate service on their respective highway corridor. Similarly, should the City Council approve the agreement to join the YARTS JPA, the City would be required to pay annual member dues of $50,600 to be used towards operational and capital costs for the corridor’s base level of summer service - two daily roundtrips from Fresno from mid-May to mid-September. FAX provided a $50,000 payment to continue the 2024 Highway 41 summer service which would be credited towards the 2024 membership dues. Becoming a member of the JPA also provides the City of Fresno with two seats on the YARTS Governing Board with voting authority as well as three seats on the Authority Advisory Board.
To secure future Highway 41 service to Yosemite National Park from the City of Fresno, staff recommends approving the agreement to join the YARTS JPA.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a "project" for the purpose of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable because this item does not include an award of a construction or service contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
This membership request will have no impact on the general fund as the funding will come from FAX resources.
Attachment: Agreement with YARTS