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 requi...
Click here for full text