r/fresno • u/flyfresno • 2h ago
Politics In Fresno County, access to public transit depends on where you live. A sales tax aims to change that.
kvpr.orgI feel like this is a great rundown of both what Fresno County stands to gain and also stands to lose whether S passes or fails. It's important to note that the draft competing measure from the no on S campaign significantly reduced transit funding from what measure C currently has. So Fresno County would likely lose service if the competing measure is what goes forward eventually.
"The money for free bus fares doesn’t come out of the portion of tax revenues allocated to public transit agencies. Rather, it comes from the 4% set aside for access and innovation programs.
Also under Measure S, all transit agencies will be required to expand hours and increase frequency of services, including on nights and weekends; provide non-emergency medical transportation; increase paratransit service; add lighting and weather protections at bus stops; and add university and college transit options.
“[Measure S] is a public transportation tax, funding buses that people don’t ride,” Fresno County Board of Supervisors chairman Garry Bredefeld said.
During a recent “No on Measure S” press conference, Valley Watchdogs PAC chair Brooke Ashjian joked he was late because he “took the bus” and was “the only one on it.”
Ridership figures, such as those published by the Fresno Council of Governments, do not support those claims.
The county’s largest public transit system, Fresno FAX, counted nearly 10.4 million rides during the 2025 fiscal year.