The Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority (StanRTA) plans to build a new headquarters and bus yard on a 29-acre site at the northwest corner of Crows Landing Road and Service Road. The board approved the $8.72 million land purchase in a unanimous vote on September 25. This move will allow StanRTA to double its current capacity, accommodating up to 200 vehicles compared to the existing downtown Modesto facility.
Adam Barth, Chief Executive Officer of StanRTA, said that about $66 million has been secured toward the estimated $100 million total cost for the project. Completion could happen by 2029 if additional funding is obtained, though construction may be phased if necessary.
The expanded facility supports StanRTA’s efforts to comply with state requirements for reduced emissions. The agency has selected hydrogen fuel technology as part of its transition from diesel-powered buses, aiming for full conversion by 2040.
“The first three of the hydrogen buses will enter service early next year, fueled by a portable system at the current yard,” Barth said. The temporary fueling station will be established under a $6.54 million contract with Linde Services Inc., which includes weekly deliveries over five years and an option for two more years.
Angela Swanson, capital project manager, noted that “the new yard will be centrally located in Stanislaus County.” She added that the current site was built for 100 buses but now houses 139 due to the merger that formed StanRTA in 2021 from Modesto Area Express and Stanislaus Regional Transit.
StanRTA also operates commuter routes connecting riders to Bay Area transit hubs such as Dublin BART station and Altamont Corridor Express at Manteca-Lathrop border.
Transdev holds the contract for driving and maintaining buses, employing 267 people; agency staff currently work out of leased offices but will relocate to the new headquarters once complete. The present bus yard is leased from the city of Modesto.
For passengers, service at the Modesto Transit Center on Ninth Street remains unchanged. That hub underwent renovations in 2023 and is set to support future ACE train expansion.
While some vehicles use electric batteries, hydrogen fuel cells are central to long-term plans. The future facility will feature a permanent 15,000-gallon hydrogen tank supplied externally; each bus’s fuel cell generates electricity with water vapor as its only emission.
The planned site forms part of a larger parcel owned by G3 Enterprises, which intends warehouse development nearby. Finalization depends on approval from Ceres City Council regarding a parcel split scheduled for October 21.
In addition to serving as operational headquarters, “the StanRTA headquarters will have a boardroom available for community events,” according to agency officials. It will also become a stop on Route 42 between Ceres and downtown Modesto.
Initial funding included a $16.1 million state grant covering land acquisition and planning costs; another $47.5 million was allocated by California toward construction expenses. Efforts continue to secure an additional $36.4 million from government sources.
