Manteca is in the process of determining ways to improve in-city transit services over the next five years.

Officials are gathering input during two community workshops on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at the Manteca Transit Center, 220 Moffat Blvd.

Workshops are from 1 to 2 p.m. and then 5 to 6 p.m.

The city has also conducted onboard surveys of transit riders and will be sharing that information at the workshops.

The effort will cover route changes to improve service and expand service into developments in southwest Manteca where the bulk of the 1,306 home starts were last year in the city.

Manteca, in late 2026 or early 2027, will also be able to connect with ACE trains at a loading platform adjacent to the downtown transit center

The city current runs service to the Lathrop/Manteca ACE station on West Yosemite Avenue.

Overall ridership is up 70 percent since 2019.

Student ridership now accounts for a third of the 8,000 or so passenger boardings each month.

A big reason for the jump in student ridership is a state grant that allows middle school and high schools with a student body card to ride free.

Other contributing factors:

*Manteca Unified does not provide bus service to students that reside within 2.5 miles of their assigned high school 

*Growth south of the 120 Bypass where many households that have moved to Manteca from the Bay Area already are used to using public transit to reach school.

*Safety issues involved when students have to cross the 120 Bypass bridges - specifically Airport Way to reach Sierra High.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com