Tulare County Regional Transit Agency

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RIDE Tulare County
ParentTulare County Association of Governments (TCAG)
FoundedAugust 17, 2020 (2020-08-17)
Service areaTulare County, California
Service typeBus service, Dial-a-Ride
Routes27[1]
DestinationsIntercity and local routes in Tulare County
HubsDinuba Transit Center, Porterville Transit Center, Tulare Transit Center, Visalia Transit Center
Websiteridetc.org Edit this at Wikidata

RIDE Tulare County (RIDETC) formerly known as Tulare County Regional Transit Agency, is a joint powers agency formed by all the cities in Tulare County, California (except Visalia) alongside the county government on August 17, 2020. It operates the public transportation systems within and connecting the respective member agencies, including the legacy systems Dinuba Area Regional Transit (DART, in Dinuba), Tulare InterModal Express (TIME, in the City of Tulare), and Tulare County Area Transit (TCaT, intercity routes). It is the largest single public transit agency in Tulare County.

History

The cities of Exeter, Farmersville, Lindsay, Porterville, Tulare, and Woodlake in partnership with the County of Tulare were the initial seven member agencies of RIDETC, which was formed by unanimously adopting the draft by-laws on August 17, 2020.[2] In September 2020, Dinuba joined RIDETC as the eighth member.[3]: 5–6  Collectively, these represent all the cities within Tulare County with the sole exception of Visalia, the largest city and county seat, which has chosen to retain its independent Visalia Transit agency. The consolidation is expected to result in uniform fares, more efficient routes, and easier intercity travel within Tulare County.[4]

Memoranda of understanding (MoU) were signed between RIDETC and the cities of Dinuba, Tulare, and Woodlake at the May 17, 2021 board meeting, transferring ownership, operation, and administration of public transportation systems in those cities to RIDETC.[5]: 27–44, 53–88  A similar MoU for Porterville signed at the same May meeting effectively allowed that city to provide transit operations and maintenance services for Woodlake.[5]: 45–52  The first legacy system to transition under RIDETC administration was the bus service in Woodlake, starting on July 1, 2021.[6] Porterville Transit loaned several minivans to Woodlake, replacing the minibuses that previously were operated by that city.[4]

Starting late April 2026, RIDETC began a systemwide branding transition from its original TCRTA identity to the unified RIDE Tulare County name, standardizing vehicle decals, rider materials, and digital route platforms under the RIDETC abbreviation. The rebrand also expanded emphasis on real-time route information and consolidated fare messaging across member systems, aligning legacy services under a single countywide identity.[7]

Services

Fixed routes

RIDETC has assumed operation of legacy fixed routes from Dinuba (DART), Porterville (Porterville Transit), the City of Tulare (TIME), and Tulare County (TCaT). Prefixes designate the legacy system from which the route was inherited.

RIDETC Fixed Routes
Route Name Legacy system Terminus Via Terminus Typical headway Notes
C10 North County TCaT Visalia (Visalia Transit Center) Seville, Cutler, East Orosi, Orosi, Sultana[8] Dinuba (Dinuba Transit Center) 60–120 minutes
C20 South County TCaT Tulare (Tulare Transit Center) Matheny Tract, Tipton, Pixley, Teviston, Earlimart, Delano[9] Richgrove 60–150 minutes
C30 Northeast County TCaT Visalia (Visalia Transit Center) Ivanhoe, Woodlake, Lemon Cove, Three Rivers[10] Visalia (Visalia Transit Center) 30–70 minutes Some buses turn back at Woodlake Whitney Transit Center.[10]
C40 Southeast County TCaT Visalia (Tulare County Government Plaza) Tulare, Lindsay, Strathmore[11] Porterville (Porterville Transit Center) 60–172 minutes
C70 Porterville – Springville TCaT Porterville (Porterville Transit Center) Springville, Highway 190 foothill corridor[12] Porterville (Porterville Transit Center) 90–120 minutes Uses the same bus as C80 & C90
C80 Porterville–Terra Bella–Ducor TCaT Porterville (Porterville Transit Center) Terra Bella, Ducor[13] Porterville (Porterville Transit Center) 90–120 minutes Uses the same bus as C70 & C90
C90 Lindsay – Strathmore – Plainview – Woodville – Poplar – Porterville TCaT Lindsay Strathmore, Plainview, Woodville, Poplar-Cotton Center, Poplar[14] Porterville (Porterville Transit Center) 90–120 minutes Uses the same bus as C70 & C80
TR Tule River Indian Reservation PT Porterville (Porterville Transit Center) Highway 190 Park-n-Ride, Old Casino, Old Mill, Tule River Indian Reservation[15] Porterville (Porterville Transit Center) ~120 minutes Only five scheduled trips per day
11X Tulare–Visalia TIME Tulare Transit Center State Route 99, State Route 198, Mooney Blvd corridor[16] Visalia (Visalia Transit Center) 30–60 minutes Operated jointly with Visalia Transit.
DC Dinuba Connection DART Dinuba Transit Center Tulare WORKS, Reedley Shopping Center, Adventist Medical Center, Reedley College, Reedley Palm Village, Reedley DMV, Dinuba Walmart[17] Dinuba Transit Center 60 minutes
DL Dinuba Loop N/A Dinuba High School Delgado Park, St. Michael’s, Saginaw & Viscaya Pkwy, Viscaya Gardens, Nebraska Dog Park, Northpark Apartments, Lincoln Elementary School, Washington Intermediate / JFK, Olive Way, Jefferson School, Rancho Vista, Wilson Elementary School[18] Dinuba High School >7 hours Limited to two scheduled trips per day
D1 Northeast Dinuba DART Dinuba Transit Center Dinuba Walmart, Dollar Tree, St. Michael’s, Tulare WORKS, Parkside Village, Grace & Laughter, Saginaw & Viscaya Pkwy, Roosevelt Elementary School[19] Dinuba Transit Center 60 minutes
D2 Northwest Dinuba DART Dinuba Transit Center Dinuba Senior Center, Lincoln Elementary School, Nebraska Dog Park, Northpark Apartments, Sierra Village, Washington / JFK Schools, Dinuba Downs[20] Dinuba Transit Center 60 minutes
D3 Southeast Dinuba DART Dinuba Transit Center Olive Way, Jefferson School, Rancho Vista, Department of Public Works, Platinum Theaters, Rabobank[21] Dinuba Transit Center 60 minutes
D4 Central Dinuba DART Dinuba Transit Center Dinuba Walmart, Gregory Park, Housing Authority, Wilson Elementary School, Delgado Park, O Street[22] Dinuba Transit Center 60 minutes
T1 North Tulare TIME Tulare Transit Center Regional Medical Center, Sports Park, Pleasant School, Maple School[23] Tulare Transit Center 40–50 minutes
T2 Southeast Tulare TIME Tulare Transit Center Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, Bardsley Ave, Cypress Elementary School, Blackstone St corridor[24] Tulare Transit Center 40–60 minutes
T3 West Tulare TIME Tulare Transit Center Pleasant Ave, Valley Oak Apartments, Senior Center, Sacramento St, Pratt St[25] Tulare Transit Center 40–60 minutes
T4 Northeast Tulare TIME Tulare Transit Center Prosperity Ave, Target, Walmart, Tulare Outlets, Merritt Ave[26] Tulare Transit Center 40–60 minutes
T5 Southwest Tulare TIME Tulare Transit Center H Street, Parkwood Meadows Park, O’Neal Ave, Family HealthCare Network, Tulare City Hall[27] Tulare Transit Center 40–60 minutes
T6 East Tulare TIME Tulare Transit Center Tulare Ave, Laspina St, Highway 137, College of the Sequoias, Kohn Elementary School[28] Tulare Transit Center 40–50 minutes Formerly designated as route T7

Legacy systems

Dinuba

Under Dinuba Area Regional Transit (DART), Dinuba operated four routes, including one longer-distance route ("Dinuba Connection") connecting Dinuba to Reedley in Fresno County, two flexible routes ("North" and "South") allowing deviations to serve dial-a-ride passengers between nominal fixed route stops, and a fare-free single fixed route ("Jolly Trolley") serving popular businesses.[29]

Exeter

The City of Exeter began operating a dial-a-ride intracity on-demand transit service in 1991. Service to its larger neighbor Visalia is provided by Visalia Transit.[30] On July 1, 2017, Visalia Transit took over intracity dial-a-ride services within Exeter.[31] The steep fare increase, from $1 under Exeter to $2.25 under Visalia, resulted in citizens berating the City Council.[4]

Farmersville

The City of Farmersville also relied on Visalia Transit for public transportation connections to Visalia, with Farmersville compensating Visalia annually from its transportation funding allocation.[32]

Lindsay

Dial-a-ride services within Lindsay were provided under annual agreements with Tulare County.[33]: Res.19-13  TCaT also provided service for circulation within Lindsay (Route 60)[34] and connections to Porterville and the neighboring unincorporated communities of Plainview, Poplar-Cotton Center, Strathmore, and Woodville (Route 90).[35]

Porterville

Porterville Transit operates six fixed routes within Porterville; there were nine fixed routes prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, with one of the fixed routes providing service to the Tule River Indian Reservation. The service reopened sometime after the pandemic, now run under RIDETC administration.[15]

Tulare

The City of Tulare operated the Tulare InterModal Express (TIME) transit service, which provided six fixed routes within Tulare and one express route, jointly operated with Visalia Transit, that connected those two cities.[36][37] The six fixed routes within Tulare were named for their geographical coverage (#1 Northwest; #2 Southeast; #3 West; #4 Northeast; #5 Southwest; and #7 East); all routes, including Tulare–Visalia service (#11X) met at the central Tulare Transit Center (360 N. K St).[38] Sunday service was added in 2015.[39] The 7 number got switched to T6.[28]

Tulare County

Tulare County Area Transit (TCaT) provided mainly intercity routes, linking cities and communities within Tulare County.[40]

Woodlake

Woodlake operated a dial-a-ride service within the city limits and unincorporated areas of the county starting in 1999; fixed intercity routes serving Woodlake were previously operated by Orange Belt Stages and TCaT.[41]: 14 

The Woodlake dial-a-ride service typically operated one of the city's three 16-passenger cutaway minibuses with the other two left in reserve.[41]: 17  The Woodlake city bus connected with TCaT Route 30 at the Whitney Transit Center, which opened in October 2013 at 201 E Lakeview in downtown Woodlake;[42] in total, there were four bus shelters: one at Whitney and the others at local schools (Woodlake High School, F.J. White Learning Center, and Castle Rock Elementary).[41]: 18–20 

Structure

Each member agency appoints one elected official and one alternate representative to serve on the RIDETC Board of Directors. RIDETC holds one meeting per month, scheduled for the third Monday at 3 PM.[43]

Fleet and facilities

Facilities

The Tulare County Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility (TOMF) held a grand opening on September 23, 2021. The TOMF can accommodate up to 25 buses with a 26,000 ft2 (2,400 m2) building that includes administration, operations, dispatch, and maintenance facilities.[44] It is located near the county's Visalia Road Yard, at the intersection of Avenues 256 (Sierra) and 140 (South Lover's Lane).[45]

References

  1. "TCRTA Bus Schedules and Maps". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  2. "Agenda for Organizational Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Tulare County Regional Transit Agency". Ride Tulare County. August 17, 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  3. "Agenda: Tulare County Regional Transit Agency". Ride Tulare County. September 21, 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  4. Myers, Paul (July 28, 2021). "Woodlake opts for minivan, holds off on bus for in-city riders". The Sun-Gazette. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  5. "Agenda: Tulare County Regional Transit Agency". Ride Tulare County. May 17, 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  6. Ellis, Reggie (February 24, 2021). "Wheels are in motion for countywide transit". The Sun-Gazette. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  7. Staff, The Sun-Gazette (2026-04-29). "TCRTA reveals new logo, name". The Sun-Gazette Newspaper. Retrieved 2026-05-23.
  8. "C10 North County". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  9. "C20 South County". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  10. "C30 Northeast County". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  11. "C40 Southeast County". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  12. "C70 Porterville–Springville". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  13. "C80 Porterville-Terra Bella-Ducor". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  14. "C90 Lindsay–Strathmore–Plainview–Woodville–Poplar–Porterville". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  15. "TR Tule River Indian Reservation". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  16. "11X Tulare-Visalia". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  17. "DC Dinuba Connection". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  18. "DL Dinuba Loop". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  19. "D1 Northeast Dinuba". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  20. "D2 Northwest Dinuba". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  21. "D3 Southeast Dinuba". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  22. "D4 Central Dinuba". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  23. "T1 North Tulare". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  24. "T2 Southeast Tulare". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  25. "T3 West Tulare". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  26. "T4 Northeast Tulare". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  27. "T5 Southwest Tulare". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  28. "T6 East Tulare". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  29. "Dinuba Area Regional Transit Guide" (PDF). City of Dinuba. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  30. Moore & Associates (May 2014). City of Exeter Transit Development Plan (PDF) (Report). City of Exeter. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  31. "Dial-A-Ride". City of Exeter. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  32. "Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2020–2021". City of Farmersville. May 2020. p. 14. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  33. Camarena, Michael (April 9, 2019). "Resolution No. 19-13" (PDF). Lindsay City Council Meeting: Regular Meeting (PDF) (Report). City of Lindsay, California. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  34. "Route 60 Lindsay". Tulare County. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  35. "Route 90 Lindsay – Strathmore – Plainview – Woodville – Poplar – Porterville". Tulare County. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  36. "Transit". City of Tulare, California. Archived from the original on July 3, 2016.
  37. City of Tulare (June 2019). City of Woodlake Short-Range Transit Plan Extension (Report). Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  38. "Tulare InterModal Express Rider's Guide". City of Tulare, California. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  39. Hernandez, Luis (August 5, 2015). "Tulare's bus system adds Sunday service, changes route time". Visalia Times Delta. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  40. "Tulare County ADA Card Program | Tulare". tularecounty.ca.gov. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  41. Moy and Associates (August 12, 2019). City of Woodlake Transit Development Plan (Updated through 2021) (Report). Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  42. "Transit Center pulls up City's downtown". The Sun-Gazette. October 23, 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  43. "Board of Directors". Ride Tulare County. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  44. "County touts new, bigger transit center". The Sun-Gazette. September 29, 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  45. Ride Tulare County (June 2015). County of Tulare 2015–2020 Transit Development Plan (Report). County of Tulare, Resource Management Agency. Retrieved 4 April 2022.