AGENDA TITLE:
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Adopt a Resolution Adopting City of Lodi Short Range Transit Plan Update (PW)
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MEETING DATE:
June 4, 2025
PREPARED BY:
Public Works Director
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RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a Resolution Adopting City of Lodi Short Range Transit Plan Update.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In April 2024, the City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with LSC Transportation Consultants, Inc. (LSC) to prepare the City of Lodi Short-Range Transit Plan (SRTP) update. A SRTP is a 5 to 10-year planning document designed to provide an operating and financial blueprint for the provision of transit service in a community. The Regional Transportation Planning Agency, the San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG), in order to support its planning objectives and fulfill State and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations, requires any agency receiving State or Federal funds for public transit operations to develop, and periodically update, an SRTP.
City and consultant staff began the SRTP process with a kick-off meeting, followed by data collection, performance analysis, and public outreach activities in the community. Public participation included extensive surveying (437 participants), virtual stakeholder workshops, outreach events, and a public workshop at the Lodi Transit Station. LSC and City staff presented highlights of the “Draft” SRTP to Council at the May 6, 2025 Special Meeting. The presentation consisted of an overview of existing transit services, recommendations for route/stop modifications, service frequency, and financial planning to enhance public transit services in Lodi, within the constraints of realistic future funding projections.
The proposed service modifications recommended in the SRTP include:
• Realignment of Weekday Routes 1, 3, 4, and 5 to improve neighborhood coverage, improve travel times, and serve new developments in Lodi
• Increased frequency of Route 2 (30-minute headways) during peak ridership hours (9:30 AM - 6:30 PM)
• Extended Saturday service to 7:30 PM, pending continued improvement of weekend ridership
• Various bus stop improvement recommendations
• A new Valley Rail “ACE Connector” route, launching with the new Lodi Rail Station, to connect Lodi to regional ACE rail service.
• A new route, planned to coincide with upcoming developments, providing west-to-east connections between key residential neighborhoods, commercial areas, and future growth areas.
Additionally, the SRTP includes a financially-constrained Capital Improvement Plan that outlines upcoming investments in fleet replacements, bus stop improvements, infrastructure upgrades including communications systems and fueling station, intelligent transportation system (ITS) enhancements, transit station upgrades, and infrastructure to support mandated zero-emission bus deployments.
As recommended in the SRTP, and with Council’s approval, City staff will implement the recommended service modifications within the next five-year horizon, starting Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Service modifications will be introduced on a trial basis, with ongoing performance monitoring (ridership numbers, passenger satisfaction, and cost) to assess their effectiveness and determine long-term feasibility. Additionally, the implementation of some new services, such as the ACE connector route and the proposed west-to-east route, is contingent on external factors, including the completion of the new Lodi Rail Station and future development projects. These services will be launched as warranted by demand.
Chapter 10 of the SRTP update summarizes these proposed operating and capital recommendations, and is attached. The full copy of the prepared Draft SRTP Update is available for review at the Public Works Department, and on the City of Lodi’s Transit website.
STRATEGIC VISION:
1D. Downtown: Accessibility for multi-modal transportation and public safety.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No general funds are utilized for transit operating or capital improvement costs. Transit is funded exclusively with FTA Urbanized Formula funds, TDA, Measure K, miscellaneous grants, farebox revenue, and other directly generated revenue. All proposed operating and capital costs are financially constrained, and may be funded with existing fund balance and/or forecasted apportionments.
FUNDING AVAILABLE:
Not Applicable.