StaRT Passengers to Benefit from Solar-Powered Lighting

The Stanislaus County Public Works Transit Division, which manages Stanislaus Regional Transit (StaRT), has completed installation of solar-powered lighting in a number of bus shelters located throughout the county’s service area.  StaRT is the county’s public transit system that provides transit services in incorporated cities and unincorporated communities of the county.  The completed project is part of the county’s transit capital improvement projects approved by the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors.    

StaRT has approximately 167 bus stops installed in the communities served and this project is part of the county’s bus stop improvement program intended to enhance security in transit amenities installed in StaRT’s service area.   Additionally, this project is aimed at improving the safety of StaRT’s passengers and employees.  The solar-powered lighting was installed in 32 bus shelters located in the cities of Riverbank, Oakdale, Turlock, Ceres, Patterson, Waterford and Modesto, as well as the communities of Westley and Grayson.

This project was funded with Proposition (Prop) 1B Transit Security Program Funds awarded to the county’s public works transit division by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.  The Prop 1B Program was created by the Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act of 2006.  Additional funds from the Transportation Development Act were also used in funding the project.

The security enhancements included installation of lighting at bus stops with no illumination and entailed retrofitting select bus shelters to include a solar-powered LED lighting system.  The project was completed in two phases with additional solar-powered lightings to be installed in the future.