Transit California sat down with Amy Hance, who leads a Central Valley small urban transit agency, serves as a Board Member of the California Association for Coordinated Transportation, and helps guide Association work on the Transit Transformation Task Force.
Transit California: You serve as Deputy Director of General Services at the City of Clovis, a Central Valley suburb of Fresno with about 125,000 people. You administer a large portfolio of government operations, including the city’s transit operations, which consists of a fleet of 35 buses, 22 vans, a trolley, and a paratransit service; there are also connections to the Fresno Area Express transit network. What are some of the unique opportunities and challenges of managing a small operation as part of a larger metropolitan area?
Clovis Transit is a small urban bus operation that provides fixed route and paratransit service to the residents of Clovis and Fresno. Over half our fixed route passengers are students and we do not contract out any of our operation. Ridership on both services is healthy and has exceeded pre-pandemic levels. This is likely due to a combination of factors including a zero-fare model since 2020, highly efficient and convenient paratransit scheduling software, and a resumption of in-person school and work.
The City of Clovis shares a border with Fresno and both agencies serve the same passengers as they transfer routes and move around the region. Historically, as a large urban operator, Fresno Area Express makes route and service adjustments more frequently than Clovis Transit. The challenge lies in creating convenient transfer times and locations. We are continually assessing service models to create ease of movement between the two cities and actively seek collaboration opportunities for mutual operational benefits.
Because Clovis Transit is a small operation, there is a level of flexibility and speed in making decisions that larger operators may not experience. The lean management team is adept at innovative thinking and agile decision-making, facilitating easier rollout of new programs without bureaucratic hurdles. However, like all transit operations, Clovis Transit contends with ongoing challenges posed by the ever-changing regulatory landscape.
Transit California: You serve on the Board of Directors of the California Association for Coordinated Transportation (CalACT), a statewide organization that advocates for and supports the mobility needs of Californians with over 300 members including large & small transit & paratransit operators, social service organizations, government agencies & commercial vendors. CalACT implements several programs, including the Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP), the CalACT MTBA Purchasing Cooperative, and several education initiatives. Additionally, your city will host the CalACT Maintenance Conference in October 2024. As a board member, what are some of your highest priorities for CalACT’s activities, and can you tell us a little more about the upcoming conference?
CALACT was founded in 1984 to facilitate networking and provide a voice for paratransit agencies in California. The mission of the association is to promote professional excellence, stimulate ideas, and advocate for effective community transportation. One of the core values of CALACT is that we help each other. This tenet is evident in the work that the association’s board does on behalf of its members. The CALACT umbrella is large, and our membership is a diverse collection of transit throughout the state. We prioritize providing relevant information, resources, and education along with advocating at the local, state, and federal levels for public transit. Current board priorities include support of the CALACT/MBTA Purchasing Cooperative, lobbying for increased funding and relief from overregulation, and direct assistance to transit providers through educational conferences, webinars, and RTAP programs.
Clovis Transit is delighted to host CALACT’s upcoming Maintenance Conference October 14-16, 2024. This conference has been designed to provide fleet maintenance professionals of all levels a robust agenda that will include current trends and information on a variety of topics. The conference includes a vendor trade show, bus show, and tours of local maintenance facilities and hydrogen production plant. For more information on this conference and the work CALACT does on behalf of transit in California, go to www.calact.org.
Transit California: How does your experience as a member of leadership at CalACT inform and guide your work with the California Transit Association? How does CalACT coordinate advocacy work with the Association, and what advice do you have for members of both associations who are interested in getting more involved in these efforts?
CTA and CALACT could easily operate independently, but that's not the case. Their collaboration is remarkable—a perfect example of achieving common goals by putting aside personal agenda. Credit is due to both Executive Directors, Michael Pimentel and Jacklyn Cuddy, who are highly professional, approachable, and possess a profound understanding of success within their respective associations. Together with their teams, they dedicate their considerable expertise to serving the broader transit community.
The collaboration between CALACT and CTA has forged a strong partnership that greatly benefits their members. Nowhere was this clearer than during the pandemic, when both associations swiftly adapted to the new challenges facing transit in California. The demands on operators were urgent and unprecedented. By joining forces, the associations responded promptly and effectively, providing essential PPE and technical support.
If you're considering involvement in either association, don't hesitate — there's a place for everyone at the table, and your perspective and experience are highly valued. Choose an area that aligns with your interests: whether it's volunteering as a mentor, committee member, conference speaker, technical advisor, or any other role — the opportunities are limitless. Many members hold leadership positions in both associations, bolstering the industry's resilience and vitality. Join in and make a difference!
Transit California: You were appointed to serve as one of 25 members of the Transit Transformation Task Force, which is meeting this year to develop policy recommendations for growing transit ridership and address the state’s long-term transit needs. Most members of the task force represent large operators or entities that coordinate amongst multiple transit agencies. You serve as a representative of both CalACT and as a small operator. With your experience and expertise in these areas, what key messages are you bringing to the Task Force?
I’ve been in public transit for 15 years and have a clear understanding of the challenges faced by small operators in the rural and small urban setting. I also live in Fresno County, which is a NAAQS non-attainment area and some days, has the highest pollution in the entire country. There is no doubt that environmental action must be taken to clean our air, water, and soil.
The task force has been posed a big question — what fundamental changes are needed in public transit to increase ridership enough to meet California’s climate goals? To find the answer, we are exploring a multitude of scenarios, examining a variety of examples, and working to understand the barriers.
As the representative for CALACT members and small agencies, my responsibility is to bridge high-level concepts with the practical realities. Each member of the task force brings a distinct perspective and valuable experience to our discussions. To effectively fulfill our mandate, we aim to develop a blueprint for our industry that is not only achievable and sustainable but also incentivizes cooperation rather than relying solely on enforcement measures.
Transit California: Because of your role as a small operator and CalACT representative on the Task Force, you have also joined the Association’s Transit Transformation Advisory Committee. How are you working with the committee, and how can interested Association member agencies help ensure that the needs of small operators are included in the recommendations?
The Advisory Committee was established to facilitate further discussion and refinement of the data presented to the task force. It includes representatives from the technical working group, which convenes to develop the content delivered to the task force. The Association’s committee engages in candid discussions regarding presentations and strives to assess the implications for transit operators.
CTA and CALACT members keen on supporting small operators are encouraged to contact their representative board member to share their perspectives. Both associations collaborated closely to design a member survey aimed at identifying key barriers to boosting ridership across various categories. The collected responses were collated and analyzed by CTA staff and subsequently presented during a task force meeting. This data significantly influenced the discussion, ensuring that the association's members were effectively represented.
Transit California: You spearheaded a pilot project to test environmentally friendly electric vehicles in the Clovis Transit Fleet. What was the project, and what were some important takeaways for you and your agency?
In 2018, in anticipation of the passage of the Innovative Clean Transit rule, we launched a pilot program with two small battery electric buses. Our objectives were twofold: to collect data and gain insights into the operational impact of zero-emission vehicles, and to share our findings with the broader transit community. This initiative was funded through Measure C, a ½ cent sales tax dedicated to supporting transportation initiatives in Fresno County.
The two battery-electric cutaway shuttle buses were deployed on routes in early 2020, serving both paratransit and fixed-route services. Despite the lack of community fanfare during their launch due to the pandemic, feedback from both passengers and bus drivers was positive. However, for nearly a year now, the buses have been sidelined due to unresolved technical issues, posing a significant challenge with no clear solution in sight.
I characterize this project as a "successful learning experience." It highlighted the formidable challenges involved in transitioning to a zero-emission bus fleet. Every facet of our operations was influenced by the introduction of battery electric buses. Our journey included unexpected costs that exceeded projections by 40%, delays due to issues with our power provider, prolonged timelines for infrastructure construction and installation, and challenges with vendor transparency regarding range and battery life. These lessons have profoundly shaped our strategies as we prepare to comply with the ICT Rule and proceed with our conversion plans.
Transit California: You organize regular meetings of the Central Valley Transit Manager’s group, which includes presentations about emerging topics in the transit industry. What are some special or ongoing concerns specific to this region, and what are some of the most promising opportunities?
The San Joaquin Valley consists of 27,000 square miles, 4 million residents, and 31,000 miles of roadways. While several major urban metropolitan areas exist, a significant portion of the Valley’s four million residents live in rural and “fringe” type settings including low-income households employed in the agricultural sector who live in the outer Valley floor, and foothill and mountain residing populations. Meeting the needs of the urban, rural, and fringe residents poses several issues for transit operators who are attempting to implement Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS) policies to reduce vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions while addressing mobility, access and efficiency deficiencies in our transportation system.
The Central Valley Transit Managers meetings provide an opportunity to openly discuss challenges, share creative ideas, and create partnerships. The transit operators work together to find solutions to the issues facing all public transit providers. Unstable funding, escalating costs, scarce workforce, and the ever-changing regulatory landscape are just a few of the subjects we tackle by working together. In-person meetings typically include guest speakers and presenters who are subject matter experts with time scheduled into the agenda for questions and discussions.