In 2009 San Joaquin RTD partnered with the City of Stockton to complete a Transit Gap Study. Conducted as part of the Comprehensive Operational Analysis, this gap study focused on the barriers to provide services that would compete with single occupancy vehicles for daily travel needs. The study included a public outreach plan that included community meetings and customer input.

The objective of the Transit Gap Study (Study) is to qualitatively identify what is missing from the existing public transportation system which will then be quantitatively reviewed and assessed in the Transit Program. The Study identifies what areas of improvement the City and RTD should address within the Transit Program of the Climate Action Plan to improve services at a level that will strategically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Study was formally adopted by the City of Stockton and the RTD Board of Directors in April 2010. This plan is available to the public in the link provided above.

The following is more background information that will help answer some frequently asked questions of RTD staff:

What is the purpose of a transit gap study? 

The purpose of a transit gap study is to identify areas of deficiency in a public transit network and provide a fundamental set of strategies necessary to address these deficiencies. The gap study can evaluate the “gaps” between a City’s current and future transit environment to determine the potential for providing efficient and effective transit service and to address existing and future population growth. These gaps can occur in various forms, including transit service‐based gaps, land use‐based gaps, policy and funding gaps. A gap study will lay out the challenges and opportunities for transit within a City market, and recommend a series of actions to make transit an efficient and effective travel option, ideally providing competition with automobile travel.

Why is Stockton doing a gap study?

In agreement with the Sierra Club and State Attorney General, the City of Stockton is performing a transit gap study as part of an overall Climate Action Plan to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from a variety of sources, including private automobile travel. The transit gap study will provide the basis for development of an overall Transit Program that addresses public transit deficiencies to make transit a more viable travel mode, thereby decreasing vehicle miles traveled by private automobile.

What will be the results of the gap study?

The gap study will provide:

• An assessment of the current transit service in Stockton.
• Identification of “gaps” in the transit environment under the current and future Stockton 2035 General Plan conditions.
• Guiding principles to create a more transit‐friendly environment within the City.
• Recommendations for improvements to the public transit system and strategies to increase transit use and reduce automobile vehicle miles traveled.

The results of the transit gap study will provide the basis for the development of an overall transit program to implement the policies and fund the desired improvements to transit service in Stockton.

Who makes up the Transit Gap Study team?

• City of Stockton
• Climate Action Plan Advisory Committee
• RTD Staff
• RTD customers
• San Joaquin Valley residents and visitors

How was the public involved?

RTD staff and independent consultants conducted public outreach throughout the Study process, from April to August 2009. The outreach process included:

• On-vehicle and online surveys
• Public forums throughout RTD’s service area
• Public meetings at various committees and public forums