Tracy Press

A workshop will take on public input in an effort to shape the public transportation system of the future.

An under-construction transportation hub at the city center and rising fuel costs will likely change the way locals get around in the coming decade.

In anticipation, city employees will host an open house Wednesday night to hear what changes Tracy residents would like to see in public transportation.

The Tracer bus system will be one of the topics on tap in an upcoming meeting about the future of Tracy's public transit system. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

A city-hired consultant will collect comments as part of a 10-year plan that outlines what routes, agencies and services should be included city- and countywide.

"Basically, we want to put together a picture of what public transportation will look like in the next 10 years," said Ed Lovell, a Department of Parks and Community Services analyst.

One change with the addition of the unfinished $12 million transportation hub could be a connection to broad regional and county transit agencies, he said, like Bay Area Rapid Transit or the Altamont Commuter Express.

Within Tracy, Lovell said, new bus lines could be added to reach more neighborhoods.

The last plan was drawn up in 2004, he said, in a different economy and situation.

Today, people seem to want more options to driving, and the public might want more Tracer routes in parts of the city that now lack service, Lovell said.

Another thing to look at, he added, is how local public transportation connects with the Regional Transit District and whether that could be improved.

"We’re going to let the public decide," Lovell said. "There have been some shifts, and we’re looking to see if there’s an increased demand for public transit."

The city will pay the consulting company Transit Resource Center up to $174,000 to come up with the study and consequent plan.

A consultant and city staff will be on hand at Wednesday’s meeting to answer questions and take comments.

At a glance

WHAT: Public transit open house

WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday

WHERE: Tracy Community Center, 950 East St.

INFO: Ed Lovell, 831-6204

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written by Tracy RealNews , August 23, 2008

Transportation...

No wonder, with the price of gas, at the pumps...

I saw a TRACER Bus that had at least fifteen people.

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written by Observer , August 23, 2008

Hybrid buses? Cost difference for passengers as compared to one fed by product derived from oil?

-amy

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written by Tracy27 , August 24, 2008

Why there is no BUS station near ACE station? Lot of people use ACE, if there is a connection from station to other part of tracy that would be helpful.

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written by Tracy RealNews , August 25, 2008

You can call TRACER ahead of time to schedule trips. I once called them about taking a trip to Great America. But you have to schedule it ahead of time. I think they will also be willing to schedule service if there is enough interest. That's what they said.

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written by Tracy RealNews , August 25, 2008

The TRACER (Commuter Route) goes to Sycamore and Tracy Blvd. South of Valpico. There is about a 400 m walk to the ACE Train Station.

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written by Tracy RealNews , August 25, 2008

Btw, Tracy27,

If you are a Senior, then you can ride directly to the ACE Train Station (for half price).

The City contracts out with MVTransit, but you can call them to get a ride directly to the ACE Train Station. Non seniors will have to walk the 400 meters to the station.

Cheers!

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written by Tracy RealNews , August 25, 2008

Here is the website for MVTransit/TRACER.

http://www.mvtransit.com/Tracer_schedule.htm

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written by Tracy27 , August 25, 2008

Thank you Tracy RealNews for providing lot of information about Tracer, but still I don't understand one thing, Like Myself and other daily commuters travel everyday to ACE station. We can't call everyday and schedule a trip. People will make use of it, if there is a bus taking them to their nearest detinations.

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written by Tracy RealNews , August 25, 2008

Tracy27,

No problem. I'm not a representative, but the information was available, on their website, which I provided above.

"With Tracer fixed route and paratransit service, the buses run all day, from morning to early evening. Fixed route bus service means there's no need to make transportation plans ahead of time. Frequent bus service around Tracy makes it easy for you to get where you want to go. Most bus stops are located within a brief walk of your home, office or school in Tracy."

Btw, I rode TRACER to ACE (once), although it was several years ago and there weren't that many people from ACE riding the TRACER bus, so they said that they would discontinue the service. I recall that I was the only person on the bus that particular day.

I know that the bus can drop you off about 400 meters north of ACE station. That is their "fixed route". I wonder, if there is enough interest, could you get them to change the fixed route? How much gas would it cost them? Is it a hybrid bus? I haven't rode the bus for a long time. I commute by bicyle to get excercise. If it is a hybrid bus then it might even cost less to extend the service.

Glad you liked the info. Hope they extend it soon!

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written by Tracy RealNews , August 27, 2008

WHAT: Public transit open house

WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday

WHERE: Tracy Community Center, 950 East St.

INFO: Ed Lovell, 831-6204

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written by Tracy RealNews , August 28, 2008

http://tracypress.com/content/view/15621/2242/

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written by Tracy RealNews , August 28, 2008

Cathleen Galgiani (D-Tracy):

Now that Arnold just signed legislation that would pay 9.9 billion dollars for a high speed rail from L.A. to S.F.

Will it go through Tracy, CA? Hope we will be gettting a part of that puzzle, and do not get bypassed.

9.9 Billion dollars is a lot to support for some other county. Need to know how this will benefit Tracy, CA!?!

http://camajorityreport.com/index.php?module=articles&func=display&aid=3429&ptid=9&theme=print


http://www.fortmilltimes.com/124/story/268087.html


Otherwise, why would the Tracy Democrats push Proposition 1 through to the Governor's desk???

Please advise!

Thanks!

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written by Dave Hardesty , August 28, 2008

Tracy27

"Like Myself and other daily commuters travel everyday to ACE station. We can't call everyday and schedule a trip. People will make use of it, if there is a bus taking them to their nearest destinations."

I hear you and agree with you. But the problem, as a former ACE rider, is not Tracer but rather ACE.

In order to have efficient usage of resources, in this case a bus, the driver and the fuel to run the bus, it's necessary to have a schedule that they can synchronize in order to meet the train when it drops off its passengers and then efficiently distribute those passengers all over Tracy.

The problem occurs with ACE's historical inability to follow a set schedule of arrival. Three out of five days some of the trains run on time. The rest is sort of like playing the lotto. Sometimes you win but most times you loose.

The rest of the time they are late. In the two years of riding ACE I cannot ever recall a time when they were early, but concede it may have happened.

Can you expect a bus that follows a schedule to sit around for anywhere from ten minutes to an hour waiting for the train to arrive? And if the train arrives and the bus is not there then what do the passengers do, call home and ask for someone to come and get them or walk home? That might be fine if you live on the extreme south side of town, but what if you live on the north side out by I205?

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written by Dave Hardesty , August 28, 2008

This is one very good reason why we need a multi-modal transit station. Logistically it would be fairly easy to run a shuttle bus from downtown to the multi-modal station and then redistribute bus passengers all over town.

It also is a strong indicator why we need to consider a method to get ACE downtown, where it is more centralized to the needs of everyone, and not on the south side of town where it really can only service the commuter needs of people that drive to the station or live close by the station.

Can it be done? Yes. Will it be expensive? Probably. Will it be easy? No. Is it really necessary? I believe that it is, if not now but in the future.

Dave Hardesty