The following Unitrans service changes take effect on Monday, August 1st, 2022 for the 2022-2023 academic year. The changes focus on improving your ride by making it more reliable and adjusting to changing customer demand patterns as well as the critical Unitrans driver shortage. The changes were approved by the Unitrans Advisory Committee on April 28, 2022. Click here for full information and map.

Weekend West Villlage Service/Introducing the U Line - The V-MU line will be replaced by the new U line effective August 1, 2022. The U line will serve all West Village bus stops and operate via Highway 113 and Russell Boulevard to the MU Terminal directly. The line will serve the Cuarto Dorms and Dining Common, Trader Joes, and University Mall. The route will no longer operate on La Rue Road and will not serve the ARC. Click here for full information and map.

Bus Stop Discontinuation: The Sycamore at Chaparral Northbound/Outbound (#142) stop on G and J lines is discontinued effective August 1. Customers are directed to Sycamore Lane/Antelope (#140) or the North Sycamore Loop (#144) bus stops.

Minor Schedule Adjustments: Select K, L, M, Q, and W lines timepoints are adjusted by 1-3 minutes. Schedules available online now and on buses by Monday, July 25.

The following changes will be effective September 21, 2022 when the UC Davis academic year resumes. Service frequency reductions are necessary based on the critical Unitrans driver shortage.

V-EX & V-LT Implementation - The V-EX (West Village Express) and V-LT (West Village Limited) lines in West Village will resume 30 minute service effective September 21. The V-EX and V-LT will run from 7:00 AM to 8:10 PM. After 8:10 PM on Monday-Thursday, the regular V line will operate and serve ALL V-EX and V-LT stops.

Frequency Changes: The following service frequencies are planned for the academic year. Service frequencies may be reduced based on the critical driver shortage.

• A Line: Operate every 60 minutes
• B Line: Operate every 30 minutes
• C Line: Operate every 30 minutes
• D Line: Operate every 30 minutes
• E Line: Operate every 60 minutes
• F Line: Operate every 60 minutes
• G Line: Operate every 30 minutes
• J Line: Operate every 30 minutes
• K Line: Operate every 30 minutes
• L Line: Operate every 60 minutes
• M Line: Operate every 30 minutes
• O Line: Operate every 60 minutes on weekends/breaks only
• P Line: Operate every 30 minutes
• Q Line: Operate every 30 minutes
• T Line: Service adjusted to new Davis middle and high school bell times
• V-EX & V-LT: Operate every 30 minutes each
• W Line: Operate every 30 minutes
• Z Line: Operate every 60 minutes

On an annual basis and as needed, the City of Davis prepares a Program of Projects (POP) that forms the basis for grant applications submitted to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for funding.   The City submits and executes grant applications and agreements, and then passes funds through to Unitrans through a sub-recipient agreement.  FTA regulatory guidance requires the City to make the proposed POP available for public review and comment prior to its approval by the City Council.  All comments made on the POP by the deadline will be summarized and provided to the City Council when it reviews and takes action on August 30, 2022.

The deadline for submitting comments on the proposed POP is Thursday, July 28, 2022. 

To receive a copy of this notice in another language or alternative formats at no cost, please contact Unitrans by sending an email message to comments@unitrans.ucdavis.edu or by calling Unitrans at (530) 752-2877.  The City welcomes all comments from the general public and providers of other transportation services on this proposed program of projects in the most convenient format available.  The most common ways in which to submit comments include the following: 

1) Send an email message with the subject “Program of Projects” to comments@unitrans.ucdavis.edu

2) Send a letter addressed to Unitrans ATTN: AGMA, 1 Shields Ave, South Hall Room 5, Davis, CA 95616

3) Attend a public hearing on the Program of Projects at the Unitrans Advisory Committee meeting to be held on Thursday, July 28, 2022 at 4pm.

YCTD Operating Assistance

Description:  The Yolo County Transportation District (YCTD), as the provider of intercity bus services within Yolo County and to Sacramento, requests funding to pay for a portion of Yolobus services that directly benefit the City of Davis.  Once approved in the POP, YCTD will apply directly to FTA for these funds.

Proposed FTA Amount:    $   150,000 - FTA Section 5307 Formula Funds-FY2022

Other Funding:                  YCTD Operating Budget

Unitrans Operating Assistance

Description:  FTA Section 5307 funds, in combination with a variety of other funding sources, allow Unitrans to operate 18 weekday and seven weekend fixed routes approximately 360 days a year.  Unitrans carries about 4.0 million passenger trips annually, which is the second-highest ridership level in the six-county Sacramento metropolitan area.

FY 2023 Operating Assistance (for the Period 7/1/2022 through 6/30/2023)

Total Estimated Budget: $8,708,677

Proposed FTA Amount: $910,163 – FTA Section 5307 Formula Funds-FY 2022

Other Funding: $2,000,000 – FTA Section 5307 Formula Funds-CARES Act

                         $5,538,514 – ASUCD Student Fees

                         $260,000 – Covered by Fare Revenue, Advertising and Other Misc. Revenue

FY 2024 Operating Assistance (for the Period 7/1/2023 through 6/30/2024)

Total Estimated Budget: $8,775,000

Proposed FTA Amount: $1,700,000 – FTA Section 5307 Formula Funds-FY 2022

Other Funding: $925,000 – FTA Section 5307 Formula Funds-CARES Act

                         $5,700,000 – ASUCD Student Fees

                         $450,000 - Covered by Fare Revenue, Advertising and Other Misc. Revenue

DCT Paratransit Bus Replacement

Description:  Replace one paratransit vehicle to maintain service quality for the City’s complementary ADA paratransit service.

Total Estimated Budget: $100,000

Proposed FTA Amount: $80,000 - FTA Section 5307 Formula Funds-FY 2022

Other Funding: $20,000 - City of Davis Local Funds

Unitrans Miscellaneous Equipment Purchases

Description:  Purchase new and replacement maintenance, administration, and operations equipment to efficiently run bus service and maintain/ repair vehicles and facilities.

Total Estimated Cost: $250,000

Proposed FTA Amount: $200,000 – FTA Section 5307 Formula Funds-FY 2022

Other Funding: $50,000 – ASUCD Student Fee Funds

Unitrans Maintenance Facility Rehabilitation & Improvement Project – Pavement Rehabilitation & Security Improvements

Description: Major rehabilitation activities at the Unitrans Maintenance Facility including repaving the northern half of the facility with asphalt, replacing six-foot security fencing with taller fencing, mechanizing access gates to secure facility access, and future additional infrastructure to support battery electric buses.  In addition, Unitrans will initiate efforts to expand the facility to consolidate all Unitrans functions onto one site.

Total Estimated Budget:    $3,761,110

Proposed FTA Amount:    $2,783,724 – FTA Section 5307 Formula Funds-FY 2022

                                           $225,164 – FTA Section 5339 Formula Bus/Bus Facility Funds-FY 2022

Other Funding:  $752,222    – ASUCD Student Fee Funds

Note:  Unitrans will seek federal and state discretionary grants for continued repair, rehabilitation, and expansion of the Unitrans Maintenance Facility.  As such awards are made, Unitrans will revise the project funding plan accordingly.

On Monday, July 4, Unitrans will operate weekend service in observance of Indepedence Day. 

Starting Friday, June 10, Unitrans will operate modified summer service through summer session 1. See below for details. Unitrans may reduce service further as needed based on driver staffing. Check back to unitrans.com for updates.

Tuesday, June 21 through July 29: Summer service with the following modifications:

K & M lines every 30 minutes from 7:00 AM to 8:10 PM

No D & W lines (use K & M lines instead)

A Line will be operated by Unitrans every 60 minutes

In support of UC Davis commencement ceremonies on Friday, June 10 through Sunday, June 12, Unitrans will operate a free parking shuttle from the Mondavi Center/Gateway Parking Structure/Lot 1/Lot 2 to Lot 48 near UC Davis Health Stadium. The shuttle will operate from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM approximately every 10 minutes. The bus shuttle will serve two stops - directly in front of the Mondavi Center on Mrak Hall Drive and one in Lot 48, a short walk to UC Davis Health Stadium. Expect long delays on Friday-Sunday, particularly at the Silo Terminal.

Due to the Unitrans driver shortage and with a large portion of the drivers graduating, Unitrans will be unable to provide additional public transit service on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Friday transit service will begin at 7:00 AM with the V line serving stops at/near UC Davis Health Stadium. On Saturday and Sunday, transit service does NOT start until approximately 8:30 AM and as a result, will not be able to get you to commencement on-time.

For more information on transportation options, click here: Commencement Parking and Transportation | Transportation Services (ucdavis.edu)