City seeks input to make Madera Metro and Dial-A-Ride more flexible and reliable

The City of Madera is conducting a study of the current Madera Metro and Dial-A-Ride services to identify areas for improvement, evaluate cost-effectiveness, and ensure transit options meet the needs of the community. To gather input, the City is hosting workshops, distributing surveys, and providing outreach in multiple languages and accessible formats, ensuring every resident has the opportunity to contribute to the future of Madera’s transit system.

Madera Metro operates up to 18 twenty-passenger buses, offering four fixed routes on a set schedule and an on-demand option called Dial-A-Ride (DAR). The DAR program has five buses available during the week and one on weekends, with ADA Paratransit service providing curb-to-curb transportation through three vans during the week and one on weekends. Combined, these services support about 110,000 riders each year.

The study will also assess the feasibility of introducing a microtransit service, aiming to address service gaps, improve cost-effectiveness, and boost rider satisfaction, ultimately creating a more flexible and responsive transit system for the community.

“Our transit system touches thousands of lives every year, and this study is an opportunity to make sure it keeps pace with the community’s needs,” City Manager Arnoldo Rodriguez said. “The best ideas come from the people who use the service, so hearing directly from residents will guide how we improve reliability, flexibility, and access across the system.”

Residents are encouraged to take the survey and share their feedback online at https://maderametrostudy.com/.