Specifications include, but are not limited to: The Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG), as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) for Tulare County, is requesting proposals from qualified consultants for the preparation of the Cross Valley Corridor Phase 1 Operations Plan (CVCP1 OP). The Cross Valley Corridor Phase 1 Operations Plan (CVCP1 OP) will pave the way for a connected and coordinated public transportation system in the Central San Joaquin Valley, primarily in Kings and Tulare Counties. The CVCP1 OP will evaluate and make specific recommendations for public transportation in the region, including, bus, other specialized public transportation services, and active transportation connections. Through a more focused level of analysis, the operations plan will outline a phased approach to the implementation of the Phase 1 system outlined in the 2018 Cross Valley Corridor Plan, starting from short-term bus service expansion to an express bus service in preparation for a future regional rail service connected to the statewide high speed rail system. Phase 1 Task: Existing Conditions and Needs Assessment An inventory and catalogue of all existing and planned transportation services and facilities along the CVC corridor will be completed. This information is necessary to understand the extent of services provided and where gaps of services exist along the corridor. Establishing the baseline existing conditions will occur through gathering information from existing data and documents such as current transit plans, financial statement data, performance data, etc., and discussions with the CVC Working Group. A needs assessment will be developed based on the services proposed in the 2018 CVC Plan. Developing the needs assessment will require analysis of relevant sources of information, such as demographic data and projections, future land uses and major expected developments, the plans and projects of other agencies such as the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority and California High-Speed Rail, expected regulatory changes, and more. The needs assessment will consider equity, health impacts, and the needs of disadvantaged communities in its development and will be informed by input received from stakeholders and the public. Task: Public Participation and Stakeholder Feedback Public participation and outreach will occur through two complementary methods. Partner agencies will identify stakeholders from their respective areas to be involved in focused activities such as an ongoing stakeholder committee, individual or small group stakeholder interviews, and surveys. Stakeholders will represent specific interests in the region and will come from organizations in the community with close ties to residents and groups of people who live and/or work in the region. Stakeholders are expected to represent their community members, and share their perspectives, needs, and concerns. General public outreach will also occur, with a focus on ensuring that the input and opinions of historically underrepresented groups are actively sought. Outreach may occur at public events, in public and private venues, through general social media, print outreach, and other forms of advertising, and through presentationsto community groups and agencies with open forums for outreach and information sharing. A key component of outreach will be to increase awareness of the CVC P1 project prior to implementation of HSR Interim Service.
