The Tulare County Resource Management Agency (RMA) held a ceremony on September 23 to open the new Transit Operations & Maintenance Facility. Members of the public were able to tour the building and observe a demonstration detailing the steps to mount a bike on a bus bike rack. Tulare County's newest Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) bus was on display, one of the 20 environmentally friendly buses that are part of the Tulare County Area Transit fleet.

"Transit opens doors for people across the county. It connects us and it takes us places," said RMA Director Reed Schenke. "This new facility will help keep the Tulare County transit system operating smoothly, efficiently and sustainably well into the future"

"The county investment in the new state-of-the-art transit facility is a continued support of the critical transportation services senior citizens need," said Dan Fox, chair of the Social Services Transportation Advisory Council and representative of potential transit riders aged 60 and over. "Tulare County Area Transit (TCAT) is a trusted and dependable system that helps seniors realize essential day-to-day functions such as going to the grocery store or getting to a doctor's appointment. It gives our senior population a new sense of freedom.

"The consolidation and formation of a new transit joint power agency increases flexibility and will provide new options to county riders, many of whom are senior citizens," he added. "We strive to provide the best service to our residents with the help of trained professional drivers so that they don't have to miss some of their favorite activities, and to provide affordable quality transportation to longevity enrichment opportunities."

The new 26,000-square-foot facility includes administration spaces as well as a dispatch and operations center for TCAT vehicles. Behind the facility is a CNG fueling station.

The $9.5 million facility was built solely by grant funding from the Public Transportation Modernization Improvement and Service Enhancements Account program, funding from California Office of Emergency Services, and other state and federal grants.

Tulare County's newest compressed natural gas bus

"The final project resulted in improved transit services for our residents and overall better connectivity for individuals," said Tulare County Supervisor Pete Vander Poel. "The completion of this project is progress towards the county's efforts to serve Tulare County residents by meeting their transportation needs efficiently and safely."

The new facility is located at 25430 Road 140 in Visalia.

For information on TCAT routes, fares and services visit http://www.RideTCAT.org