Unmet Transit Needs

In order for Merced County to be eligible for Transportation Development Act funds, MCAG is required to identify the unmet transit needs of the county by soliciting the comments of transit dependent or disadvantaged persons. An Unmet Transit Needs (UTN) assessment is required to ensure that all unmet transit needs that are "reasonable to meet" are met before funds are expended for non-transit uses, such as streets and roads.

WHAT IS AN UNMET TRANSIT NEED?

An “unmet transit need” is an inadequacy in the existing public transit services for persons recognized as transit dependent in Merced County.

The “reasonable to meet” standard is based on several criteria that analyze how accommodating that transit need will affect the rest of the transit system that it relates to. If it passes the criteria then it is found "reasonable to meet" and changes will be made to accommodate the need.

The process is done annually by conducting a series of public hearings throughout the county to obtain comments on unmet transit needs that may be reasonable to meet. Once the comments are received, the Social Services Transportation Advisory Council analyzes them to determine if there are any transit needs that meet the adopted definitions of "unmet transit need" and "reasonable to meet" and makes a recommendation of findings to the MCAG Board.

2024-2025 Unmet Transit Needs Schedule

• MCAG SSTAC Kick Off Meeting October 15,2023
• UTN MCAG Public Comment Period September 2023 through October 2023
• UTN In Person Public Hearing (Merced) October 17, 2023
• UTN Virtual Public Hearing October 18, 2023
• UTN In Person Public Hearing (Los Banos) October 25, 2023
• SSTAC Review of UTN Comments November 16, 2023
• Board Adoption - TBD

Fiscal Year 2023 to 2024 Unmet Transit Needs Analysis and Recommendations Report (PDF)

ATTEND A UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS HEARING

In Person HEARING 

Unmet Transit Needs Public Hearing – In person

Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at  3:00 PM and 6:00 PM

Merced Civic Center – Sam Pipes Room 678 W. 18th Street Merced, CA

Virtual Hearing

Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 6:00 PM

VIA Zoom: 

Meeting ID: 827 9851 5947

Passcode: 36918

Phone Audio (669) 900-6833

IN PERSON HEARING 

Unmet Transit Needs Public Hearing – In person

Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at  3:00 PM and 6:00 PM

Los Banos Community Center 645 7th St,Los Banos, CA 93635

SUBMIT A COMMENT

Ride The Bus? Do you feel like you have an unmet need in your area? Let us know, submit your comment online here.

Toma El Bus? Siente que tiene una necesidad insatisfecha en su área? Háganoslo saber submeta su comentario en línea aquí.

Mail a comment to: Merced County Association of Governments c/o Elizabeth Forte 369 W. 18th St Merced Ca 95340

E-mail: elizabeth.forte@mcagov.org

COMMENT PERIOD September 1st to October 31st 2023

If you have a Transit Related Concern Please contact us at 209 723-3100 or Email customerservice@mercedthebus.com

The TJPA is currently working on addressing the unmet Transit needs From Fiscal Year 2023-2024:

1. Provide earlier service to Planada.

To view a copy of the final report which includes responses to all comments click here.

Past Reports

Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Unmet Transit Needs Analysis and Recommendations Report (PDF)

Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Unmet Transit Needs Analysis and Recommendations Report (PDF)

Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Unmet Transit Needs Analysis and Recommendations Report (PDF)

Fiscal Year 2020 to 2021 Unmet Transit Needs Analysis and Recommendations Report (PDF)

Fiscal Year 2019 to 2020 Unmet Transit Needs Analysis and Recommendations Report (PDF)

Fiscal Year 2018 to 2019 Unmet Transit Needs Analysis and Recommendations Report (PDF)

Fiscal Year 2017 to 2018 Unmet Transit Needs Analysis and Recommendations Report (PDF)

Fiscal Year 2016 to 2017 Unmet Transit Needs Analysis and Recommendations Report (PDF)