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
Go Sonoma Funding for Fare-Free Transit Program
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Delegate authority to the Director of Public Infrastructure to execute the proposed, revised cooperative agreement with the Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authority, allocating Go Sonoma Fare-Free Transit Program funds annually to Sonoma County Transit for its Youth Fare-Free program and local fare-free routes.
end
Executive Summary:
Sonoma County Public Infrastructure, Transit Division, recommends entering into a cooperative agreement with the Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authority (SCTCA) to receive annual allocations of Go Sonoma Fare Free Transit Program funds for its Youth Fare-Free program and local fare-free routes.
Discussion:
Sonoma County Transit currently offers free youth fares systemwide. Since July 2023, these fares were funded by Sonoma County Climate Resiliency Funds, providing fare-free rides for youth (K-12) on all routes for a two-year period. This program concluded in June 2025. However, a portion of Go Sonoma funds from a ¼ sales tax for transportation administered by the Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authorities are available to continue the Youth Fare-Free program during the life of the sales tax.
Approval for this funding was brought to your Board on August 26, 2025; however, the version approved by your Board did not match the form of agreement that SCTCA requires for the Fare-Free program., Authority is now required for the County to execute the SCTA-required agreement form.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
08/26/25: Board Approved Go Sonoma Funding for Fare-Free Transit Program
10/25/22: Board Approved Climate Resilience Funding Round # 2 Recommendations
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$340,000 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$340,000 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$340,000 |
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$340,000 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
There is no change in fiscal impact from the prior Board action. This item is solely to make minor administrative revisions to the agreement, and the Go Sonoma funds of $340,000 remain incorporated into the adopted FY2025-26 Transit budget to offset eligible operational expenditures. The agreement will remain in effect until June 30, 2046, unless discharged, and future appropriations will be requested through the annual budget process
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Cooperative Funding Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None