The Fresno County community-census-designated place of Biola, CA, one of the poorest U.S. communities with a 42 percent poverty rate and some of the worst air pollution, lacks a fully-developed infrastructure with social amenities and requires that residents travel to nearby cities for essential services such as groceries, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare, without a reliable transit option. Residents rely on private vehicles for travel, and many spend a disproportionately high percentages of their income on transportation.
To address the poverty issue, Walker worked with the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA) to plan and implement an innovative, low-cost electric vehicle micro-transit service. The micro-transit service includes transportation provided on demand and without adherence to a fixed schedule. A generous grant supplied by the League of Women Voters of Fresno is helping subsidize rides for residents. This micro-transit service provides a lower-cost alternative to traveling via private automobile.
The plan’s outcome resulted in the addition of a dedicated micro-transit electric vehicle and EV charging station located at the Biola Community Services Center.
Walker’s plan development included multiple outreach efforts in Biola to gain input to plan the electrified, micro-transit service.
