Agenda Item Wording:
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Appropriation of State Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) funding - Authorize the appropriation of $1,246,000 from the Transit Capital Fund for funding allocated from the State Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program for the project approval and environmental document phase of the Cross Valley Express project.
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Agenda Date: 03/16/2026
Prepared by:
Dolores Verduzco, Financial Analyst, dolores.verduzco@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4540
Chris Crawford, City Engineer, chris.crawford@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4331
Jason Huckleberry, Engineering & Building Director, jason.huckleberry@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4495
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends the City Council authorize the appropriation of $1,246,000 of funding allocated from the State Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) for the Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED) phase of the Cross Valley Express project. The PA&ED phase is the planning and environmental clearance required to proceed to the full design phase.
Summary:
The Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) received an award of $59,100,000 from the State Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) for improvements to implement a high-frequency transportation corridor as part of Phase 1 of the Cross Valley Corridor Plan. At is meeting on November 3, 2025, the City Council approved for the City to participate and serve as the project lead of the Cross Valley Corridor project. Staff recommends the appropriation of $1,246,000 of the $59,100,000 for the PA&ED phase for project planning, preliminary engineering, and the preparation of environmental documents. The PA&ED phase of this project will include the thirty percent (30%) level engineering design of the project.
Background Discussion:
The Cross Valley Corridor Plan is a long-term plan to provide an express regional transit service within the Tulare and Kings Counties. The proposed regional transit service will link cities east to west between Porterville-Lindsay-Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore-Huron. TCAG has submitted multiple grant funding applications and is coordinating with various agencies to secure funding for capital improvements to support the implementation of the Cross Valley Corridor Plan. TCAG received an award of $59,100,000 from TIRCP, Cycle 7, for the Cross Valley Express project.
The Cross Valley Express project is part of the implementation of Phase 1 of the Cross Valley Corridor. Phase 1 focuses on improving transit service and addressing current transit service gaps to key locations in Kings and Tulare County. Phase 1 will be implemented over the course of ten (10) years, involving multiple agencies. The City of Visalia will implement the Cross Valley Express project. The Cross Valley Express project includes the procurement of vehicles and capital infrastructure improvements such as electrical charging infrastructure, road improvements, transit signal priorities and passenger shelters to support a new bus rapid transit (BRT) service between Tulare and Visalia via State Route 63 and a cross valley express (CVX) transit service between Visalia and Hanford (see attached exhibit for specific phasing). The City will coordinate with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), TCAG, and the Tulare County Regional Transit Agency (TRCTA) for the Cross Valley Express project. Staff is currently working on the draft agreements for interagency project coordination and for operation of facilities post project completion. Staff will return to Council at a later date for the approval of the necessary interagency agreements for capital improvements and operations.
TIRCP funding for each project is separated into phases consisting of the Project Approval & Environmental (PA&ED) phase, Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) phase, Right-of-Way (ROW) phase and the Construction (CON) phase. For the Cross Valley Express project, no right-of-way or property acquisition is anticipated. Staff recommends the appropriation of $1,246,000 allocated to the PA&ED phase to allow staff to finalize design concepts, begin preliminary engineering, and begin the environmental review process. For the proceeding phases, PS&E and CON, staff is requesting appropriation of TIRCP funding as part of the City’s next 6-Year Capital Improvement Plan.
Fiscal Impact including annual maintenance and operating costs:
The City is the implementing agency for the total amount of $59,100,000 in TIRCP funding received for the Cross Valley Express project. Staff recommends appropriating $1,246,000 and creating a capital project in the Transit Fund for the PA&ED. This project will be reimbursed from the TIRCP funding. Below is a summary of the funding allocated by phase and the staff recommended appropriation by fiscal year.
|
Phase |
TIRCP Funding |
Fiscal Year |
|
PA&ED |
$1,246,000 |
2025/26 (appropriate) |
|
PS&E |
$1,269,000 |
2026/27 (will be considered for approval of appropriation as part of the next 6-Year Capital Plan) |
|
CON |
$56,585,000 |
2028/29 (will be requested for appropriation in a future fiscal year, construction schedule to be further refined) |
|
Total |
$59,100,000 |
|
The maintenance and operating costs that will be incurred by the City will be identified during the PS&E phase.
Prior Council Action:
November 3, 2025
Approved the City’s participating in and serving as the project lead and primary services operator of the Regional Express Transit Service Project, approved the draft Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Master Agreement and Program Supplement for Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program Funding (TIRCP), and authorized the City Manager, in coordination with the City Attorney, to draft necessary agreements with the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG), Tulare County Regional Transit Agency (TCRTA) and Caltrans for the Council’s formal approval.
Alternatives: None.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the appropriation of $1,246,000 from the Transit Capital Fund for funding allocated from the TIRCP for the PA&ED phase of the Cross Valley Express project.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 03/16/2026
Attachments: CVX and Mooney BRT - System Map Exhibit
Strategic Goal:
|
☒ Economic Vitality |
☐  Organizational Excellence |
☐ Fiscal Strength |
☒  Infrastructure & Growth |
☒  Quality of Life |