Major Projects
Facilities: Yuba-Sutter Transit relocated in May 1996 from an undersized, rented facililty in Yuba City to its existing combined maintenance, operating, and administration facility (a remodeled former Seven-Up Bottling Company plant) at 2100 B Street in Marysville. This facility was remodeled and expanded again in 2011 to serve the site's projected ultimate maximum capacity of approximately 70 buses. Due to the 2018 adoption of state regulations requiring the purchase of only zero emission buses starting as early as 2026 and a state highway project that could render the current facility unusable even earlier, Yuba-Sutter Transit conducted a state funded Next Generation Transit Facility Site Selection planning process resulting in the purchase of a 19.7-acre site at 6035 Avondale Avenue in Linda. This site will be used to construct a replacement transit facility for occupancy by the end of 2027. Approximately $26 million has been secured for this estimated $47.5 million project and the current focus is on securing the remainder of the necessary funding.
A Caltrans owned and operated park and ride lot opened on the northeast corner of Bogue Road and Highway 99 south of Yuba City in 1997 largely with federal funds obtained by Yuba-Sutter Transit. In 2012, this facility was nearly doubled in size to the current 164 spaces with federal and local funds obtained exclusively by Yuba-Sutter Transit. Until the pandemic, this facility was operating at near capacity levels, but the facility site does have capacity for further expansion when funding is available. Yuba County opened the McGowan Park & Ride Lot on Powerline Road at McGowan Parkway in 2008 and the Plumas Lake Park & Ride Lot on Feather River Boulevard east of Highway 70 in 2009. Both lots were sited and constructed by the county in coordination with Yuba-Sutter Transit. Project funding was provided through development impact fees collected by Yuba County from projects in both the North Arboga Study Area and the Plumas Lake Specific Plan and they are maintained with revenue provided through related local Community Service District assessments.
Yuba-Sutter Transit serves 285 designated (signed) bus stops including nine that are owned by the Sacramento Regional Transit District in or near downtown Sacramento. Among the local and rural Yuba-Sutter Transit bus stops, 54 bus stop shelters, and 132 bus stop benches/seats have been placed at high boarding locations and other key points. Of these, 32 shelters and 68 benches are owned and/or maintained by Lamar Advertising. Except for five Wheatland owned shelters, the remaining units are owned by Yuba-Sutter Transit. The ad shelters and benches are provided at no cost to Yuba-Sutter Transit in exchange for the exclusive right to sell and place advertising on them while paying a small commission on the sale of each ad. In addition, 50 pole-mounted route information panels are located throughout the system and bike lockers are available at three of the five local commuter bus stops.
Vehicles: The current revenue vehicle fleet includes 22 local fixed route buses, 16 demand response (Dial-A-Ride) buses and 13 specially equipped intercity commuter buses. The local fixed route buses are all modern, heavy-duty low-floor buses with seated capacities of 31 or 32 passengers. The demand response buses are on cutaway van chassis with a seated capacity of 16 passengers. Primarily used for the Dial-A-Ride service, these small buses are also used on rural routes and to back-up the local fixed route fleet. The commuter buses are all high-floor, tour-style buses with a seated capacity of 57 passengers. Six replacement demand response buses are now on order for delivery later this year, but the next major fleet replacement project is not scheduled until 2025.
Services: Following the 1993 reintroduction of local fixed route service, Yuba-Sutter Transit's operation steadily expanded over time in response to passenger demand as recommeded in a series of short-range (five year) transit plans. The last plan in 2015 included a variety of service and policy recommendations for consideration through 2020 and beyond. Due to generally declining ridership, many of the plan recommendations regarding system growth were deferred indefinitely while others for fleet replacement; enhanced and expanded passenger facilities; and several technology projects have since been completed. A pandemic later, a Caltrans planning grant is being used to conduct the NextGen Transit Plan to reimagine the current system for the future. This process, which is now well underway, is expected to conclude by the end of FY 2023.
Technology: Yuba-Sutter Transit has added new technology in recent years as cost/benefit ratios have improved including on-board video surveillance systems on all buses; the replacement of an obsolete mobile radio system; the installation and ongoing upgrade of video survellance systems at three park and ride lots; the regional Connect Card electronic fare payment system; free passenger Wi-Fi service on all commuter and local fixed route buses; and a real-time bus tracking passenger information system with both visual and audio automatic bus stop announcements. Technology projects still being considered include a computer aided dispatch software system for the Dial-A-Ride service with an on-line trip reservation system and real-time passenger information.