Stanislaus County transit authority says new plan is ‘least harmful way’ to cut back bus services next summer

The Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority is planning a 15% reduction in bus services for next summer to address a $3 million budget shortfall. The 'Connect the S' plan will consolidate and alter routes across Modesto, Ceres, and Riverbank. Officials describe the cuts as the least harmful approach to maintain free services for underserved communities, citing federal funding reductions and high fuel costs as primary drivers for the service changes.