Agenda Item Wording:
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Authorization to execute agreements with Tulare County Association of Governments and Caltrans for capital infrastructure - Authorize the City Manager to execute the memorandum of understanding for capital infrastructure delivery between the City of Visalia and the Tulare County Association of Governments, and the cooperative agreement between the City of Visalia and the California Department of Transportation related to improvements to implement the Cross Valley Express bus prioritization project.
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Agenda Date: 04/20/2026
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 that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for capital infrastructure delivery between the City of Visalia and the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG), and the Cooperative agreement between the City of Visalia and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) related to improvements to implement the Cross Valley Express bus prioritization project.
Summary:
The City of Visalia, TCAG, and Caltrans have partnered to deliver the Cross Valley Express bus prioritization project which is part of a larger Regional Express Transit Services Program. TCAG has secured $59.1 million in funding from the State Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) for improvements to support Phase 1 of the Cross Valley Corridor Plan, which will establish a high-frequency bus transit corridor. To facilitate implementation of the Regional Express Transit Services Program and ensure continued interagency coordination, agreements have been drafted outlining the roles and responsibilities of each participating agency.
Background Discussion:
The Cross Valley Corridor Plan is a long-term plan to provide an express regional transit service within Tulare and Kings Counties. The proposed regional transit service will link cities east to west between Porterville-Lindsay-Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore-Huron.
TCAG received an award of $59.1 million from the TIRCP, Cycle 7, for the Cross Valley Express project for capital improvements within Tulare County to support implementation of the Regional Express Transit Services Program. On November 3, 2025, the City Council approved the City’s participation in the Cross Valley Corridor project, identifying the City of Visalia as the project lead. On March 16, 2026, the City Council approved the appropriation of $1,246,000 of funding allocated from the TIRCP for the project approval and environmental document phase for 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 the City of Tulare and Visalia via State Route 63 and a cross valley express (CVX) transit service between Visalia and Farmersville. The City of Visalia will coordinate with TCAG and Caltrans to deliver the Cross Valley Express project.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Capital Infrastructure Delivery
TCAG is the agency responsible for overall transportation planning and transportation funding in Tulare County. TCAG is coordinating with various agencies in Tulare County and Kings County to secure funding for capital improvements to support the implementation of the Regional Express Transit Service. The MOU between the City of Visalia and TCAG outlines the roles and responsibilities in delivering the project scope for the $59.1 million received for the Cross Valley Express project. The draft MOU is attached for reference.
The City will be responsible for delivering the design and construction of the capital infrastructure and improvements for the Cross Valley Express project. The City will ensure compliance with the TIRCP guidelines for project implementation and will comply with applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations. The City will coordinate with TCAG for any potential changes to the project scope and schedule. TCAG will provide project oversight through the design and construction phases. The City and TCAG will meet quarterly for continued coordination and project updates. TCAG will reimburse the City for eligible costs incurred in fulfillment of the project scope and not reimbursed by the TIRCP grant.
Cooperative agreement between the City of Visalia and Caltrans.
A cooperative agreement is required with Caltrans as the Cross Valley Express project will include improvements to the State Highway System (SHS), along SR 63 and SR 198, for the installation of bus stops with shelters, the upgrade to traffic signals for transit signal priority, and other related improvements.
The cooperative agreement defines roles and responsibilities to plan, design, and construct. The city is identified as the implementing agency, responsible for the planning, design and construction of the project to include managing the scope, cost and schedule. Caltrans will act in a quality management role for work within the SHS to include conducting quality management assessment efforts, reviewing environmental documents, and providing required approvals as the system’s owner/operator. Construction change orders on the state highway system will require Caltrans’ written concurrence prior to implementation. The draft cooperative agreement is attached for reference.
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.
MOU
The MOU with TCAG identifies that of the $59,100,000 in TIRCP funding for the Cross Valley Express project, $2,000,000 will be allocated to TCAG to fund their costs incurred for project implementation. In addition, costs incurred by the City that are not reimbursed by the TIRCP grant will be reimbursed by TCAG. TCAG will also be responsible for project cost increases exceeding the amounts funded by the TIRCP grant.
Cooperative agreement
The cooperative agreement identifies that each agency is responsible for the costs they incur for project implementation.
Maintenance and operating costs
Any required maintenance agreements will be evaluated during the planning and design phase of the project.
Prior Council Action:
March 16, 2026
Authorized the appropriation of $1,246,000 from the Transit Capital Fund for funding allocated from the State Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) for the project approval and environmental document phase of the Cross Valley Express project.
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 City Manager to execute the memorandum of understanding for capital dnfrastructure Delivery between the City of Visalia and the Tulare County Association of Governments, and the cooperative agreement between the City of Visalia and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) related to improvements to implement the Cross Valley Express bus prioritization project.
Environmental assessment status: Will be completed during design.
CEQA Review: Will be completed during design.
Deadline for action: 04/20/2026
Attachments:
1. CVX and BRT system map exhibit
2. Memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the City of Visalia and TCAG
3. Cooperative agreement between the City of Visalia and Caltrans
Strategic Goal:
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