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A bus trip from Turlock can work perfectly until the connection in Modesto changes. That is why a regional service-cut proposal deserves attention here, even if you usually think of The S as the buses in the next town.
Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority, which operates The S, is developing changes for 2027. Reporting by the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, published in the Turlock Journal, describes a proposed 15% service reduction intended to address a $3 million shortfall. The report says a proposal is expected before the board on December 3, with changes targeted before July 1, 2027.
This is a planning story, not a notice that Turlock’s city buses have just been cut. The regional agency and Turlock Transit are separate operators, with separate plans underway. For today’s ride, keep using the current published schedules and service alerts.
What Is Being Proposed?
The regional project is called Connect the S. Its official site links to interactive maps comparing existing and proposed service, along with planning reports and outreach findings. Longer-term work also examines bus rapid transit, including ways to make busy corridors faster and more dependable.
There is a trade-off behind the maps. Concentrating buses where more people ride can make those corridors more useful, while leaving other passengers with a longer walk or a different transfer. A route line getting shorter on paper can mean a substantial change for someone carrying groceries, traveling with a child or reaching a medical appointment.
The financial pressure predates this week’s coverage. In its 2026-27 budget materials, StanRTA discussed seeking $4.2 million in Measure L rail-connection funding to sustain existing services while the short-range plan was developed. Those materials identified Routes 25, 70 and 90/100 as rail-related connections. They also warned of a potential 15% operating-service reduction without that funding. A funding request and an adopted route timetable are different steps; neither tells a passenger, by itself, which departure will operate next summer.
The Turlock Connections Worth Checking
The S already connects Turlock with destinations outside the city. These are useful starting points for reviewing your own trip, not a list of routes confirmed for elimination:
- Route 10: the Modesto/Turlock connection. The current timetable lists trips between the two transit centers.
- Route 29T: the connection through Ceres and Keyes to Turlock.
- Route 45: service linking Newman, Patterson and Turlock.
- Route 100: the weekday Turlock/Patterson BART connection, with a transfer to the Modesto BART coach near Corral Hollow Road in Tracy Hills.
Check the second bus as carefully as the first. A Turlock-to-Modesto departure can remain available while an onward journey becomes less convenient. Compare the destination stop, walking distance, transfer time and final trip home, rather than looking only for your familiar route number.
Turlock Transit Has Its Own Plan
The city’s Short-Range and Long-Range Transit Planning page describes a separate review of local fixed routes, paratransit, on-demand service and regional connections. Its published timeline puts recommendations in fall 2026 and completion of the short-range plan in winter 2026 or early 2027.
Evening service, Sunday service, technology and stop improvements appear among the subjects being evaluated. Those are possibilities under review, not promises that a Sunday bus or a particular new route has been funded. The city says future outreach will share draft recommendations.
For the basics of riding around town now, our Turlock Transit guide explains routes, fares and a first bus ride. The Roger K. Fall Transit Center guide covers the wider connections, including the separate Amtrak station in Denair.
How to Follow the Decision
December 3 is the date to watch in the regional reporting, but check the StanRTA Agenda Center before making plans to attend. The October 22 agenda lists the next regular meeting for December 3 at 1 p.m. and includes a proposal to revise that meeting’s location. It does not list approval of the route-cut plan for October 22.
Before sending feedback, open the comparison maps and write down one trip you actually need to make: where you board, your destination, the day and arrival time, and the connection home. If a proposed stop adds a difficult walk or misses a shift change, explain that specific problem. You can describe the trip without posting private medical or workplace details publicly.
Start with the official project maps and news-alert links. Keep the current routes and schedules bookmarked for travel today, and look for the December agenda when it is posted. That is where to check the actual proposal, meeting location and participation instructions.
Which Bus Connection Do You Rely on Most?
Share your experience in the Facebook discussion for this story.
