Transit Advisory Committee

Transit Advisory Committee — February 17, 2026

This was a regular meeting of the Transit Advisory Committee, held in City Hall Council Chamber. The most substantive discussion centered on proposed service modifications, including a significant recommendation regarding Route 10.

Approval of Minutes — December 16, 2025

The minutes from the previous meeting were approved without changes.

2026 Petaluma Paratransit Rider Guide Update

Staff presented updates to the Paratransit Rider Guide for 2026. Committee members Vazquez-Izaguirre and the Chair asked questions of staff. Following discussion, the item moved to committee comment later in the meeting, where Culross offered a comment and Vazquez-Izaguirre raised an additional question. The minutes do not detail the specific substance of questions or changes to the guide.

TDA/State Transit Assistance Funds Application — FY 2025/26

Staff presented a recommendation that the Transit Advisory Committee forward to City Council a resolution authorizing the filing of a funding application with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for Transportation Development Act (TDA) and State Transit Assistance (STA) funds for Petaluma Transit services in Fiscal Year 2025/26. This is a routine annual action required to access state transit funding. Committee members Quint and the Chair asked clarifying questions.

Vote: Passed unanimously (all yes).

Service Modification Recommendation

This was the most discussed item of the evening. Staff presenter Hall delivered a presentation on proposed service modifications to Petaluma Transit routes. Several committee members — Alden, Culross, Vazquez-Izaguirre, and Quint — asked multiple rounds of questions.

Two members of the public spoke during public comment:

During committee discussion, members worked through the proposals via a series of straw votes to gauge consensus before forming final recommendations to Council:

1. Route 10 — Eliminate except for school tripper service: The committee voted 5 yes, 1 no, 1 absent in favor of recommending elimination of Route 10 with the exception of school tripper trips. This is the most consequential action from the meeting, as it would effectively end regular Route 10 service.

2. Tightening up recommendations to Council: The committee voted 6 yes to refine and sharpen the language of its recommendations to Council.

3. Three-year service plan support: The committee voted 6 yes to express support for a three-year planning framework.

4. Pilot program — Expanded weekend hours on Route 24: At Vazquez-Izaguirre's request, the committee voted 6 yes to recommend a pilot program increasing weekend service hours on Route 24 for a limited time in order to collect ridership data on the effect of the expansion.

Transit Manager Report

Staff member Alden proposed postponing the Transit Manager Report given the late hour of the meeting. The Chair briefly commented in general terms about an upcoming climate action meeting (referenced during general public comment by Deb Fox). The report was not delivered.

Key Takeaways