To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Public Infrastructure
Staff Name and Phone Number: Johannes J. Hoevertsz, 707-565-2550
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
10:00 A.M. Public Hearing on Proposed Updates to Sonoma County Transit Bus Service
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Receive report on coordinated countywide transit service updates proposed under the Marin-Sonoma Coordinated Transit Service (MASCOTS) Plan Phase II by Sonoma County Transit, Santa Rosa CityBus, and Petaluma Transit
B) Conduct a duly noticed public hearing and receive public comments on proposed updates to Sonoma County Transit’s fixed-route bus schedules
end
Executive Summary:
This is a public hearing, required under Sonoma County Transit’s Title VI Program and Public Participation Plan, on proposed updates to fixed-route bus schedules. Staff has determined that the proposed updates to Routes 10, 20, 20X, 24, 26, 28, 30, 42, 44/48, 60, 60X, 62, 66, and 67 include “major service changes” under the Public Participation Plan (2025 Update, Attachment A, Section 8), which requires this formal public hearing, notice, and comment process. No fare changes are proposed as part of this action. Staff recommends the Board conduct the hearing and receive public comment. If approved, recommended updates would be effective February 14, 2027.
Discussion:
Background
The Marin-Sonoma Coordinated Transit Service Plan (MASCOTS), Phase II, is a joint planning effort among Sonoma County Transit, Santa Rosa CityBus, and Petaluma Transit to better coordinate routes across the three systems as if they were a single regional transit network. The effort is intended to better align routes, improve connectivity, reduce duplicative or overlapping coverage, coordinate transfers, improve on-time performance, and strengthen access to the regional SMART system.
By planning collaboratively, the three transit operators can make more efficient use of limited resources while maintaining effective transit coverage. This coordinated approach helps address growing financial challenges facing transit agencies while also identifying opportunities to reduce redundancy, improve connections between systems, and provide more reliable and sustainable service for riders.
Contract costs for both fixed route and paratransit services increased in Fiscal Year 2026-27 and operating expense increases are outpacing revenues, requiring Transit to utilize reserves to continue operations in the current year. The proposed changes support the goal of improving network reliability and connectivity while strategically reducing expenses for services that are duplicative or underperforming.
Sonoma County Transit’s Title VI Program and Public Participation Plan (2025 Update, Attachment A, Section 8, “Fares and Service Changes”) defines ‘major’ amendments to routes as the cancellation of more than two consecutive trips on a route, or the cancellation or re-routing of more than 50% of a route's total one-way mileage. For all major service changes, the Title VI Plan requires that a public hearing before the Board of Supervisors be held for further public review and comment.
Proposed Changes
|
Route Number |
District |
Proposed Updates |
|
10 |
2 Cotati |
Improve access to SMART station by changing one-way loop to two-way service |
|
20, 20X |
5 West County |
Re-time Route 20 and end service at the Santa Rosa Transit Mall, improving reliability and coordinating transfers to Santa Rosa CityBus Route 1. Improve service to high school and connections to SMART and Golden Gate Transit. Eliminate existing Route 20X due to low ridership and replace with increased 20X service between Sebastopol and Santa Rosa. |
|
24 |
5 Sebastopol |
Re-time Route 24 to better connect with Route 20 and based on ridership; minor stop adjustments for safety |
|
26 |
2, 5 Cotati, West County |
Increase service by adding two additional trips; re-time Route 26 to better serve schools and SMART station from West County |
|
28 |
5 West County |
Re-time Route 28 to improve reliability and create connections to Route 20. Minor stop changes; add Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve |
|
30 |
1 Sonoma Valley |
End service at the Santa Rosa Transit Mall, improving reliability and coordinating transfers to Santa Rosa CityBus Route 1 |
|
42 |
3 Santa Rosa |
Adjust service timing for efficiency |
|
44/48 |
2, 3 Petaluma, Cotati, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa |
Combine Routes 44 and 48 into a single route (Route 48) to reduce duplicative coverage and improve schedule reliability and legibility; adjust span of service based on ridership and in coordination with Santa Rosa CityBus |
|
60, 60X |
3, 4 Santa Rosa to Cloverdale |
Adjust to serve County Center; re-time service and eliminate duplicative deviation to Walmart to improve travel time and reliability; adjust 60X to serve Windsor SMART to Cloverdale |
|
62 |
3, 4 Santa Rosa to Windsor |
Eliminate service due to low ridership and duplication with SMART train and SMART Connect shuttle. |
|
66 |
4 Windsor |
Re-timing of route to improve reliability, better connect to SMART, and minor stop changes for safety |
|
67 |
4 Healdsburg |
Expansion of service utilizing Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) grant funding. |
Public Outreach and Notice
Between May and July 2026, extensive outreach was conducted for Sonoma County Transit’s Strategic Transit Plan through several channels including: stakeholder interviews, community and passenger surveys, and in-person and virtual public workshops which utilized live polling and comment cards. All materials were provided in English and Spanish, with live translation provided during the workshops. Participation included eight (8) stakeholder interviews representing local organizations and community perspectives, 245 respondents to a Community Survey, and 80 respondents to the Onboard Passenger Survey (paper and digital). The July workshop series included 19 participants at a virtual workshop and nearly 50 attendees across three in-person workshops held in Windsor, Sonoma Valley, and Sebastopol. Data was collected through live interactive Mentimeter polling and over 60 comment cards.
Consistent with the Public Participation Plan, staff provided notice of the proposed service updates through several methods including a legal notice published in the Press Democrat including a bilingual (English/Spanish) display advertisement, bilingual interior bus advertisements, and social media posting (Instagram, Facebook). A bilingual public outreach survey related to MASCOTS policy priorities took place in Fall 2025, with 740 surveys completed. The survey was promoted by transit agencies through pop-ups, social media, e-blasts, bus stop flyers, and public open houses. The survey results indicated strong support for the restructuring of the regional transit system around SMART introduced in Phase I of MASCOTS. Riders wanted stronger east-west connections and access to SMART from the North. Respondents were asked specifically about updates to the 44/48, with strong support (64%) shown for a faster, more streamlined service even if transfers were required. Regarding the re-alignment of SCT Route 44 to Petaluma Blvd, 84% of respondents indicated this would work if Petaluma Transit provided increased service on N. McDowell Blvd, as proposed in this service update.
The proposed service updates were reviewed by the Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authority’s Planning Advisory Committee (PAC), Transit Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC), and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The Board of Supervisors will also receive public testimony on the proposed updates during this public hearing.
Public Comments Received
Outreach conducted to date for the Strategic Transit Plan showed that respondents prioritized increased frequency, predictability and reliability of the most essential routes over maintaining lower levels of services on a wider range of routes. SMART and other regional connectivity is highly desired, with 60% of respondents prioritizing SMART connections.
Equity Considerations
Although a formal quantitative Service or Fare Equity analysis is not federally required, staff are coordinating with the Office of Equity (OOE) to see guidance on evaluating potential impacts on historically underserved communities. The proposed updates are intended to maintain transit coverage in these areas and will improve connections to SMART and other regional transit services.
Implementation Timeline
If approved, final schedules will be completed by November 15, 2026, bilingual on-board notices will be posted by January 31, 2027, in accordance with the Public Participation Plan, and the new schedules will take effect February 14, 2027.
Public Hearing
In accordance with SCT’s approved Title VI Plan, a public hearing is to be noticed and held before the County Board of Supervisors to ensure adequate opportunity for public review and comment At the public hearing, public comments are received and all correspondence regarding the proposed service update action is read and forwarded to the Clerk of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors for the record. Upon request prior to the meeting, Spanish-language interpreters are provided at the public hearing.
The public hearing is to be noticed in the county’s largest daily paper of general circulation, via advertisements to passengers on SCT buses, and as otherwise required by law. The required publications, advertisements, and notices were duly provided for this public hearing, as required by and in accordance with the terms under the Title VI Plan.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Transit is working with the Office of Equity for a Racial Equity Analysis and hope to have one completed prior to the proposed route changes taking effect.
Prior Board Actions:
04/14/26 - Awarded the operating agreement to Transdev Services, Inc. to operate Sonoma County Transit from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031, in an amount up to $82,065,107, and delegated authority to the Director of Public Infrastructure to execute the agreement.
05/13/25 - Adopted Resolution No. 25-0247 approving the 2025 Title VI Civil Rights Program Update for Sonoma County Transit.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY26-27 Adopted |
FY27-28 Projected |
FY28-29 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
($288,301) |
($768,804) |
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
($288,301) |
($768,804) |
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
($288,301) |
($768,804) |
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
($288,301) |
($768,804) |
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Based on MASCOTS Phase II planning-level modeling, the re-timed network is estimated to change SCT's annual service hours from approximately 109,920 to approximately 99,669 hours, resulting in an anticipated $288,301 in reduced expenses in FY 2026-27, and $768,804 in FY 2027-28.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None.
Attachments:
Attachment A - PowerPoint Summary of Proposed Route and Schedule Updates
Attachment B - Public Hearing Notice / Legal Ad
Attachment C - Outreach Findings and Proposed Service Updates
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Mascots Survey