|  By: Kyle Lazarus, Selma Enterprise
Source: www.selmaenterprise.com
The city of Selma has changed its transit system to a system run by the Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission.
The transition itself began July 1. The transit system will be reviewed yearly by the Selma City Council.
The fixed-route system which was approved by the city council April 20 could potentially save the city roughly $50,000.
Funds saved from this transition, by law, will be directed to Selma's street maintenance fund.
The transition will not affect the operating times, staffing, telephone numbers, vehicles and dispatcher office location at the Selma Senior Center. Selma has four full-time drivers and one part-time driver.
There will still be one fixed-route bus in Selma that covers downtown and shopping centers.
There is the potential that Selma could move to a complete fixed-route system sometime in the future.
Community services director Mikal Kirschner said he expects the council to possibly examine a fixed-route system sometime over the next year.
Selma's current system is a pick-up system, where passengers call in to the Selma Senior Center to have a bus pick them up.
Additionally, service would be much more consistent with new service system because the Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission has a fleet of drivers, including on-call drivers that are able to fill in for sick or vacationing Selma drivers.
"One of our biggest complaints is how long it takes people to get picked up," said Kirschner.
Out of 18 operations in Fresno County, only four cities still operate their own transit systems.
Measure C funds will also be directed to Selma. Benches and overhangs for bus stops are potential additions the city could see from Measure C.
Already, the drivers on Saturday are employed by Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission.
"The dispatchers would remain at the senior center because people are used to that," Kirschner said. "The only difference the public will see now is the uniforms."
Lauri Linder, senior program coordinator at the Selma Senior Center, said that seniors rely heavily on the door-to-door pick-up service.
"They need to walk out their front door and get into a vehicle," said Linder. "They truly do depend on it, especially the frail."
City officials said that they have received a variety of complaints over the years and know that while the fixed-route system might be more consistent, it will be tough for many of the passengers to adjust.
On April 20, when the transit system was approved by the city council, Selma Mayor Dennis Lujan said that there is always challenge bringing a new system to people used to an old one. Lujan said he was pleased that the buses will be consistent. He was also happy that no Selma transit employees lost their jobs.
"We have high expectations for transit and [the Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission] in their leadership and ability to provide transit services, including their track record and look for continued success in transit," he said. "We are very pleased that [the Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission agreed upon the transferring of our current employees so that no employees lost their jobs".
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