Agenda Item Wording:
title
Authorization to assist the Tulare County Association of Governments in preparing and submitting a joint regional application for Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program Cycle 8 State grant funds - Authorize the City’s assistance and participation in preparing a joint regional application with the Tulare County Association of Governments and Tulare County Regional Transit Agency (TCRTA) for Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program Cycle 8 State grant funds for capital improvements to the planned Cross Valley Express and Mooney Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit systems.
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Agenda Date: 05/04/2026
Prepared by:
John Lollis, Assistant City Manager, John.Lollis@visalia.gov, (559)713-4323
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City’s assistance and participation in preparing and submitting a joint regional application with the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) and Tulare County Regional Transit Agency (TCRTA) for Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) Cycle 8 State grant funds for capital improvements to the planned Cross Valley Express and Mooney Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit systems.
Summary:
Authorize the City’s assistance and participation in preparing a joint regional application with TCAG and TCRTA for TIRCP Cycle 8 State grant funds for capital improvements to the planned Cross Valley Express and Mooney Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit systems, including opportunity charging infrastructure at the Farmersville, Tulare and Visalia transit centers, additional charging capacity at the Visalia Transit Operations Yard, and sixteen (16) zero-emission battery-electric transit buses.
Background Discussion:
The Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) was created by an act of the Legislature in 2014 to provide grants from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) to fund transformative capital improvements that will modernize California’s intercity, commuter, and urban rail systems, and bus and ferry transit systems and deliver benefits such as improved air quality and reduced congestion.
The City, TCAG and TCRTA have successfully pursued competitive TIRCP grants in the past, most recently in Cycles 5 and 7. In Cycle 5 (2022), the City and TCRTA were awarded a combined $8,591,000 for zero-emission transit buses and construction of the future Lindsay Transit Center, as part of a larger joint application with Kings Area Regional Transit (KART). In Cycle 7 (2024), TCAG was awarded $59,100,000 which provides most of the capital funding needed to implement Phase 1 of the Cross Valley Corridor, including the Cross Valley Express and Mooney Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit systems.
The proposed Cycle 8 application by TCAG would incorporate many of the project components which funding was requested but unawarded in a federal application last year to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Low or No Emission Grant Program, including opportunity charging infrastructure at the Farmersville, Tulare and Visalia transit centers, additional charging capacity at the Visalia Transit Operations Yard, and sixteen (16) zero-emission battery-electric transit buses. The TCAG Board of Directors approved the submittal of the grant application at its meeting on April 20, 2026, with the grant application deadline being May 14, 2026.
Fiscal Impact including annual maintenance and operating costs:
If awarded, the TIRCP grant funds would allow additional discretion and flexibility by TCAG of Senate Bill 125 transit funds to be reprogrammed for other high priority transit projects, including for the City of Visalia.
Prior Council Action:
1. April 20, 2026: Authorization to execute agreements with Tulare County Association of Governments and Caltrans for capital infrastructure
2. March 16, 2026: Appropriation of State Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) funding
3. November 3, 2025: City’s Participation as the Project Lead and Primary Operator of the Regional Express Transit Service Project
4. November 1, 2021: Authorize staff to enter into a MOU for the purpose of collaborating on Cross Valley Rail efforts to provide thruway bus service and connectivity to the future High-Speed Rail.
Alternatives:
Not authorize the City’s assistance and participation in preparing the joint regional application with TCAG and TCRTA.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the City’s assistance and participation in preparing and submitting a joint regional application with TCAG and TCRTA for TIRCP Cycle 8 State grant funds for capital improvements to the planned Cross Valley Express and Mooney Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit systems.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 05/04/2026
Attachments:
1. TCAG Board of Directors Agenda Staff Report - April 20, 2026
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Check all that apply.
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