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Visalia Transit
Visalia Transit Center in 2013
ParentCity of Visalia Transit Division
Founded1981; 43 years ago (1981)
LocaleVisalia, California
Service typeBus service, Dial-a-Ride
Routes13
HubsVisalia Transit Center
Daily ridership2,000 (weekdays, Q2 2024)[1]
Annual ridership538,000 (2023)[2]
OperatorTransdev, soon RATP Dev
Websitevisaliatransit.info
System map (2021)

Visalia Transit is the primary bus agency serving residents and visitors to Visalia, California, the largest city and county seat of Tulare County, California. It is operated by the city through its contractor RATP Dev (replacing Transdev on October 1st, 2024) and offers both fixed routes and dial-a-ride local service within Visalia. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 538,000, or about 2,000 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

Most routes operate out of the central transit center in Downtown Visalia. There are three secondary hubs located on the city's north, west, and south sides. Buses connecting Visalia's central transit hub to nearby census-designated places are handled by the Tulare County Regional Transit Agency including services to Dinuba (Route C10) and Woodlake (Route C30); Route C40 connects the southern hub in Visalia (Government Center) with Tulare and Porterville.

History

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Visalia Transit bus

Public transportation in Visalia was initially provided by the Visalia Electric Railroad, which operated streetcars between 1904 and 1924.[3]: 32–33  Local transit operations were taken over by the city of Visalia in 1981, spurred by growth in the city's size and population. The first routes were spokes radiating from a downtown hub; service expansion since then has included newer developments south and west of the original urban core, and routes to outlying communities such as Exeter, Farmersville, and Goshen.[3]: 32–33 

The Visalia Towne Trolley service, operating a circulation route in downtown Visalia, started in November 1998.[3]: 32–33  The Towne Trolley was discontinued in September 2017 due to low ridership and were made available for charter service, but low use led the City Council to sell four of the five trolleys in January 2019.[4][5]

Services

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Visalia Transit operates seven days a week, with no service on specific holidays (New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas) and limited service on other holidays (President's Day, Labor Day, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Eve). The agency serves a population of approximately 138,207 in its 40 square miles (100 km2) service area.[6]

In addition to its fixed-route and dial-a-ride transportation services within Visalia, the city operates two special long-distance routes (V-LINE to Fresno and Sequoia Shuttle to Sequoia National Park), a free intracity shuttle for at-risk youths (LOOP), and maintains The Greenline, where callers may request information about Visalia Transit and other local agencies within Tulare County. The Greenline call center is staffed Monday through Saturday.[7]

Fixed routes

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Most fixed routes connect to the Visalia Transit Center (VTC) near downtown Visalia; many of these routes connect to secondary hubs on the west (Visalia Medical Clinic), south (Government Center and Sequoia Mall), or north (Orchard Walk/Target Dinuba Road).

Visalia Transit fixed routes[8]
No. Route name Terminus[A] via Terminus[B] Typical headway (minutes) Notes / Refs.
1A/1B Mooney Visalia Transit Center Mooney Blvd Government Plaza (TCRTA transfer) 15 (weekday)
20 (weekend) 		[9][10]
2A/2B Caldwell/Court Court and Caldwell (Kaweah Delta Urgent Care) Visalia Medical Clinic 30 [11][12]
4A/4B Tulare Tulare 30 [13][14]
5A/5B Walnut Walnut 30–45 (weekday)
30 (weekend) 		[15][16]
6A/6B Murray Houston & Goshen 60 [17]
7A/7B Ferguson Visalia Medical Clinic Goshen & Ferguson Target (Dinuba Rd) 60 [18]
8A/8B Northeast Visalia Transit Center Noble, Lovers Lane, & McAuliff 30-45 [19]
9A/9B Exeter – Farmersville Ben Maddox, McAuliff, & Walnut Farmersville & Exeter 45 (weekday)
90 (weekend) 		[20][21]
11X Tulare Express SR 198 & 99 Tulare Transit Center 30 Jointly operated with TCRTA.[3]: 45 [22]
12A/12B Mooney Orchard Sequoia Mall Caldwell & Visalia Pkwy Farmersville (Roy's Park) 60 [23]
15A/15B Goshen – Mineral King Visalia Transit Center Mineral King/Noble (Visalia Medical Clinic) Goshen Elementary 45 [24]
16A/16B Demaree Sequoia Mall Demaree & Riggin North Target 30 [25]
17A/17B Plaza Visalia Medical Clinic Shirk, Riggin, & Plaza (Amazon Facility) San Joaquin Valley College 30 [26]
Notes
  1. ^ "A" route origin / "B" route destination
  2. ^ "A" route destination / "B" route origin

Fares

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Although exact cash fare is required, passes may be purchased at the farebox; change will be provided in the form of a change card, which is valid for one year after it was issued.[27] Visalia offers the Rider Rewards reloadable smart card, available for purchase from the Visalia Transit Center; value may be added to the Rider Rewards card online. Monthly pass users with a Rider Rewards card qualify for discounts from certain local merchants.[28][27]

Fare collection was temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, but has resumed as of February 1, 2021.[6]

Regular Veterans, Seniors (65+),
Disabled, and Medicare 		Children
(6 & younger)
Single Ride $1.75 $0.85 First two free, additional $1.75 each
All-Day Pass $3.50 $2.50
7-Day Pass $14 $7.50
Monthly Pass $50 $30
Regional T-Pass[a] $55[b] —
Notes
  1. ^ Allows riders to transfer to any fixed route within the county, excluding V-LINE and Sequoia Shuttle.
  2. ^ Price for a monthly pass. Discounted mid-month pass is $30, only sold after the 16th of each month.

Transfers

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Although Visalia Transit connects with Tulare InterModal Express (TIME), Tulare County Area Transit (TCaT), Greyhound, and Kings Area Regional Transit (KART), transfers are accepted without charge from TCaT connections onto VT Route 1 only.[29]

V-LINE

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V-LINE bus at the Visalia Transit Center

Visalia Transit operates the V-LINE commuter service, connecting Visalia with Fresno.[30]

V-LINE buses depart from the Visalia Transit Center and make stops at the Visalia Municipal Airport (main terminal), Fresno Yosemite International Airport, California State University, Fresno (near Maple & Shaw), and Courthouse Park in downtown Fresno, where riders can transfer to Fresno Area Express, Amtrak, and Greyhound Lines, before returning to Visalia.[31] Typical headways on V-LINE range from 120 to 240 minutes. V-LINE is operated seven days a week with the exception of certain holidays (New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day).[32] V-LINE passengers may park for free at the Visalia Airport for up to ten days.[33][34] The route charges a premium fare. As of February 2023, a one-way ride is $10 for the general public and $9 for qualified riders (students, seniors, disabled, and military veterans); multiple-ride "punch passes" are available, bringing per-ride costs down to $7 and $6 (for 40 prepaid rides), respectively.[35]

Sequoia Shuttle

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Visalia Transit operates the seasonal Sequoia Shuttle service, connecting Visalia with Sequoia National Park via Exeter, Three Rivers, and Lemon Cove.[36]

The Sequoia Shuttle takes passengers to the Foothills Visitor Center and Giant Forest Monument in Sequoia National Park, where they may transfer to the park's internal shuttles.[5] Due to the narrow roads to the park, Sequoia Shuttle buses are limited to 16 passengers, and reservations must be booked no later than 5 AM the day of travel as a result.[37] The fare for Sequoia Shuttle is $20 for a round-trip,[36] as approved by the Visalia City Council in 2019; it was the first fare increase since it was raised to $15 in 2008.[5] The shuttles were canceled for the 2020 and 2021 seasons because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in California.[38]

Fleet

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As of 2016[3]: 88–92 
Fleet no. (Qty) Year Mfr Model Length Fuel Notes
Fixed-route fleet
6267–6276 (10) 2008 Orion VII 35' CNG
6283–6286 (4) 2009 40'
6287–6289 (3) 35'
6292–6293 (2) 2009
1301–1304 (4) 2013 Gillig BRT Plus 40'
1601–1607 (7) 2016
1801–1803 (3) 2018 Proterra Catalyst 40' Battery electric
2101–2104 (4) 2021 35'
Trolley fleet
1829; 1874 (2) 2013 Freightliner / StarTrans Supreme Classic ? CNG 22 seats
Sequoia Shuttle fleet
6257–6259 (3) 2004 Gillig Low Floor 35' Diesel 31 seats
106–113 (8) 2007 Ford / Starcraft AllStar ? Gasoline 16 seats
114–115 (2) 2008 16 seats
116–117 (2) 2009 16 seats
1201–1204 (4) 2012 Gillig BRT 35' Diesel-electric hybrid 31 seats
1205–1206 (2) 29' 26 seats
118–119 (2) 2013 Ford / A-Z Buses cutaway ? Gasoline 16 seats
120 (1) 2015 Ford / Starcraft AllStar ? Gasoline 20 seats
121–126 (6) 2013 Ford / Glaval cutaway ? Gasoline 16 seats
1820–1821 (2) 2018 Gillig BRT 29' Diesel-electric hybrid
V-LINE fleet
1501–1503 (3) 2016 Starcraft AllStar ? CNG 20 seats
1930–1931 (2) 2019 Gillig BRT Plus 40'

Facilities

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The downtown Visalia Transit Center is at 425 E Oak Ave. Additional transfer points exist in the north (near the Orchard Walk shopping center), east (Ben Maddox and E Walnut), south (Sequoia Mall), and west (Visalia Medical Clinic).[3]: 55–56 

References

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  1. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Visalia Transit 2016 Short-Range Transit Plan (Report). Tulare County Association of Governments. November 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  4. ^ Cederlof, Calley (January 10, 2019). "Downtown Visalia trolley a 'downward spiral' money pit for city". Visalia Times Delta. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Ellis, Reggie (January 23, 2019). "Visalia City council dings trolley buses for lack of use". The Sun-Gazette. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Welcome to Visalia Transit!". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  7. ^ "The Greenline". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Fixed Bus Routes and Schedules". City of Visalia, California. October 10, 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Route 1A Map and Schedule". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Route 1B Map and Schedule". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Route 2A Map and Schedule". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  12. ^ "Route 2B Map and Schedule". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Route 4A Map and Schedule". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Route 4B Map and Schedule". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  15. ^ "Route 5A Map and Schedule". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Route 5B Map and Schedule". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Route 6 (6A/6B) Map and Schedule". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  18. ^ "Route 7 (7A/7B) Map and Schedule". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  19. ^ "Route 8 (8A/8B) Map and Schedule". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Route 9A Map and Schedule". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  21. ^ "Route 9B Map and Schedule". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  22. ^ "Route 11X (Northbound/Southbound) Map and Schedule". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  23. ^ "Route 12 (12A/12B) Map and Schedule". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  24. ^ "Route 15 (15A/15B) Map and Schedule". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  25. ^ "Route 16 (16A/16B) Map and Schedule". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  26. ^ "Route 17 (17A/17B) Map and Schedule". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  27. ^ a b "Fares & Passes". city of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  28. ^ "How it Works". Visalia Rewards. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  29. ^ "How to Ride". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  30. ^ "V-LINE: Your Valley Connection". RideVLINE. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  31. ^ "Stops". V-LINE. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  32. ^ "Schedule". V-LINE. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  33. ^ Gaytan, Marina (November 17, 2015). "Visalia Transit rolls out V-Line service". Visalia Times-Delta. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  34. ^ "V-LINE Stops". Visalia Transit. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  35. ^ "Fares & Passes". V-LINE. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  36. ^ a b "Let Sequoia Shuttle do the driving". City of Visalia, California. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  37. ^ "FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions". Sequoia Shuttle. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  38. ^ "2020 season of Sequoia Shuttle cancelled due to COVID-19". Sequoia Shuttle. May 26, 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
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