FAX Celebrates International Transit Driver Appreciation Day

As our city shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FAX transit and Handy Ride paratransit bus drivers kept transporting their passengers to work, medical centers, stores, and back home, and continue to do so. Our drivers wake up before the sun rises and work long after the sun has set.

We honor our public servants who faithfully serve thousands of our city’s residents and our essential workers that keep the city running. On Thursday, March 18, 2021, we are celebrating International Transit Driver Appreciation Day.

If you are a FAX or Handy Ride passenger, we hope you will join us in thanking our drivers, as we know they would be most appreciative. If you want to show your appreciation, you can fill out a Driver’s Compliment Form or give them praise on social media. We ask that you include the bus number and the route your driver is operating, or the Handy Ride driver’s name and bus number, so we can ensure that they receive your compliment.

Transit drivers serving others

FAX and Handy Ride drivers work hard to get transit passengers to their destinations safely and on time. To keep Fresnans going:

  1. Our drivers support elderly and disabled riders helping them navigate the City. They lower and raise the wheelchair ramp for passengers that use mobility devices and help secure wheelchairs in place, when needed.
  • Our drivers operate under tight schedules. They not only operate their vehicles with timeliness and safety in mind, but they also inspect their vehicles for cleanliness and mechanical readiness every day.
  • Our drivers start their days early and end their days late, including on weekends and holidays. When others are at home on weekends or celebrating a holiday with family and friends, our drivers continue to transport their passengers to work, school, appointments, stores, and back home again.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, FAX AND HANDY RIDE DRIVERS!!!

For more input, please visit us here.

FAX Temporarily Suspending Fares Starting Monday

Effective Monday, March 1, 2021, Fresno Area Express (FAX) will provide free rides on its fixed route and Handy Ride paratransit vehicles.

This temporary fare-free service was approved by the Fresno City Council on February 18, 2021 to assist passengers experiencing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All passengers and bus drivers are required to wear masks. Due to social distancing requirements to help prevent the spread of COVID, seating is limited to 10 passengers per fixed route vehicle and 3 passengers per Handy Ride vehicle.

FAX and Handy Ride will continue disinfecting all vehicles on a nightly basis and expanding sanitizing efforts at major transit hubs around the city.

Further studies to determine the duration of the free rides will be conducted as required by the Federal Transit Administration and at the request of the City Council.

Ride for free, but stay COVID-safe.

RIDE FREE! Starting Monday, March 1, 2021, FAX will temporarily suspend fares.

Effective Monday, March 1, 2021, FAX and Handy Ride fares are temporarily suspended. FAX and Handy Ride passengers will be able to ride for FREE. Due to social distancing requirements to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, all passengers and bus drivers are required to wear masks, and seating is limited to 10 passengers per fixed route bus and 3 passengers per Handy Ride vehicle. All passengers must disembark from the bus at the end of the line. The ride is on FAX, but remember to stay COVID-safe!

Emergency Rental Assistance Application Process/Regulations under Review

Dozens of Fresno residents have already inquired about how they can apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. 

Mayor Jerry Dyer would like the community to know that the City of Fresno received 15.8 million dollars Wednesday from the Treasury Department. This money will help thousands of residents who are struggling to pay their rent and utility bills due to the pandemic.

We are currently reviewing the regulations and parameters set forth by the federal government. These requirements include specific conditions applicants must meet to receive these grants.

We will be working together with the City Council to establish a process to distribute these funds. Our commitment to the community is to get these much-needed grants out as soon as we can – to help our residents stay in their homes.

MLK Day Holiday Schedule for City of Fresno Offices

City of Fresno offices will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day on Monday, January 18, 2021.  Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, January 19.  Here is the schedule for City of Fresno operations for the holiday:

Airports:  Administrative offices closed; Terminal, concessions, and airlines normal operations otherwise.

Business License:  Office closed.  The Business Tax Web Renewal will be available for TOT (only) and new business tax online application submittals will be available throughout the MLK holiday.

City Clerk’s Office:  Closed.

City Hall Offices:  Closed.

Code Enforcement:  Closed.

Dog License Division:  Closed.

Finance Offices:  Offices closed. 

Fire/Police Departments:  Administrative offices and public counters will be closed.  Normal operations otherwise.

Fresno Area Express:  Sunday bus routes/schedule in effect.  Administrative offices remain closed; call (559) 621-7433 for details.  FAX route maps and schedules are available on the City’s website.

Parking Division:  No enforcement at parking meters and City parking facilities on MLK Day.  Office closed for citation payments.  Online services available at www.fresno.gov/parking.

Parks and Recreation (PARCS):  Administrative offices closed.  Woodward and Roeding Parks will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Holiday parking fee of $7 per car will be collected.  All other parks will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Picnic shelters, recreation centers, and the Regional Sports Complex remain closed due to COVID-19.

Personnel:  Closed. Online applications accepted at www.fresno.gov/jobs.

Planning and Development:  Office closed.  Permit applications can be submitted, and progress can be monitored, online through our FAASTER portal at any time during the MLK holiday.

Public Utilities:  Offices closed.

Public Works:  Offices closed.

Purchasing:  Office closed; Bid opportunities and updated information are available on the City’s website, under the “For Businesses” tab, then click on bid opportunities.

Rental Housing:  Closed

Residential Solid Waste:  Administrative offices closed.  Normal residential and commercial collection schedule; for questions regarding residential solid waste collection, please call the Solid Waste Management Division at (559) 621-1452.

Utility Payments:  Payment counters closed (Fresno City Hall and Manchester Center) remain closed due to COVID-19.  Online and phone transactions available for utility payments.

For urgent matters during the MLK Day holiday, please call 3-1-1 or use our FresGO mobile app.

New Year’s Holiday Schedule for City of Fresno Offices

City of Fresno offices will be closed in observance of the New Year’s holiday on Friday, January 1, 2021.  Normal operations will resume on Monday, January 4.  Here is the schedule for City of Fresno operations for the holiday:

Airports:  Administrative offices closed;  Terminal, concessions and airlines normal operations otherwise.

Business License:  Office closed.  The Business Tax Web Renewal will be available for TOT (only) and new business tax online application submittals will be available throughout the New Year’s holiday.

City Clerk’s Office:  Closed.

City Hall Offices:  Closed.

Code Enforcement:  Closed.

Dog License Division:  Closed.

Finance Offices:  Offices closed.  Business Tax TOT (only) Web Renewal and new business tax online application submittals will be available throughout the New Year’s holiday.

Fire/Police Departments:  Administrative offices and public counters will be closed.  Normal operations otherwise.

Fresno Area Express:  Sunday bus routes/schedule in effect.  Administrative offices remain closed; call (559) 621-7433 for details.  FAX route maps and schedules are available on the City’s website.

Parking Division:  No enforcement at parking meters and City parking facilities on New Year’s Day.  Office closed for citation payments.  Online services available at www.fresno.gov/parking.

Parks and Recreation (PARCS):  Administrative offices closed.  Woodward and Roeding Parks will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Holiday parking fee of $7 per car will be collected.  All other parks will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Picnic shelters, recreation centers, and the Regional Sports Complex remain closed due to COVID-19.

Personnel:  Closed. Online applications accepted at www.fresno.gov/jobs.

Planning and Development:  Office closed.  Permit applications can be submitted, and progress can be monitored, online through our FAASTER portal at any time during the New Year’s holiday.

Public Utilities:  Offices closed.

Public Works:  Offices closed.

Purchasing:  Office closed; Bid opportunities and updated information are available on the City’s website, under the “For Businesses” tab, then click on bid opportunities.

Rental Housing:  Closed

Residential Solid Waste:  Administrative offices closed.  There will be no collection service on New Year’s Day.  On Saturday, January 2, the regular schedule for Friday trash, recyclables, and green waste collection will be followed.  For questions regarding residential solid waste collection, please call the Solid Waste Management Division at (559) 621-1452.

Utility Payments/Business Tax:  Payment counters closed (Fresno City Hall and Manchester Center) remain closed due to COVID-19.  Online and phone transactions available for utility payments.

For urgent matters during the New Year’s holiday, please call 3-1-1 or use our FresGO mobile app.

Christmas Holiday Schedule for City of Fresno Offices

City of Fresno offices will be closed in observance of the Christmas holiday on Friday, December 25, 2020.  Normal operations will resume on Monday, December 28.  Here is the schedule for City of Fresno operations for the holiday:

Airports:  Administrative offices closed;  Terminal, concessions and airlines normal operations otherwise.

Business License:  Office closed.  The Business Tax Web Renewal will be available for TOT (only) and new business tax online application submittals will be available throughout the Christmas holiday.

City Clerk’s Office:  Closed.

City Hall Offices:  Closed.

Code Enforcement:  Closed.

Dog License Division:  Closed.

Finance Offices:  Offices closed.  Business Tax TOT (only) Web Renewal and new business tax online application submittals will be available throughout the Christmas holiday.

Fire/Police Departments:  Administrative offices and public counters will be closed.  Normal operations otherwise.

Fresno Area Express:  Administrative offices closed.  FAX service is closed on Christmas Day but will resume service on Saturday, December 26.  Administrative offices remain closed; call (559) 621-7433 for details.  FAX route maps and schedules are available on the City’s website.

Parking Division:  No enforcement at parking meters and City parking facilities on Christmas Day.  Office closed for citation payments.  Online services available at www.fresno.gov/parking.

Parks and Recreation (PARCS):  Administrative offices closed.  Woodward and Roeding Parks will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Holiday parking fee of $7 per car will be collected.  All other parks will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Field and park lights are turned off at 5:00 p.m.  Picnic shelters, recreation centers, and the Regional Sports Complex remain closed due to COVID-19.

Personnel:  Closed. Online applications accepted at www.fresno.gov/jobs.

Planning and Development:  Office closed.  Permit applications can be submitted, and progress can be monitored, online through our FAASTER portal at any time during the Christmas holiday.

Public Utilities:  Offices closed.

Public Works:  Offices closed.

Purchasing:  Office closed; Bid opportunities and updated information are available on the City’s website, under the “For Businesses” tab, then click on bid opportunities.

Rental Housing:  Closed

Residential Solid Waste:  Administrative offices closed.  There will be no collection service on Christmas Day.  On Saturday, December 26, the regular schedule for Friday trash, recyclables, and green waste collection will be followed.  For questions regarding residential solid waste collection, please call the Solid Waste Management Division at (559) 621-1452.

Utility Payments/Business Tax:  Payment counters closed (Fresno City Hall and Manchester Center) remain closed due to COVID-19.  Online and phone transactions available for utility payments.

For urgent matters during the Christmas holiday, please call 3-1-1 or use our FresGO mobile

Mayor, Mayor-Elect Issue Statements on Southwest Airlines Announcement

Mayor Lee Brand and Mayor-elect Jerry Dyer today issued the following statements in response to the news that Southwest Airlines announced their intention to launch its first-ever air service at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) in Spring 2021:

“This is the best holiday present that Fresno could have imagined. Local travelers have been waiting patiently for quite some time for this announcement and Southwest service has been, by far, the most talked-about and requested amenity in the Central Valley,” said Mayor Brand.  “This is a big step in the right direction for Fresno, and with this increase in connectivity our airport is now poised to play a key role in our economic recovery. It’s a huge win for everyone.”

Mayor-elect Dyer stated, “Landing Southwest Airlines is a game-changer for Fresno in terms of economic development, as well as flexibility and convenience for leisure travel.  I look forward to continuing our discussions with Southwest Airlines officials as destination airports are finalized.” 

Route Changes Coming On January 4, 2021

Starting Monday, January 4, 2021, changes go into effect on three routes….

Routes 12 and 35 will connect at Shields and Brawley.  Route 12 will no longer operate on Clinton, Blythe, and Shields.  Route 38 will operate on increased frequencies.  All of Route 38 will operate on 15-minute frequencies from approximately 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Rt 12-35-38 Announcement Flyer – ENGLISH

Rt 12-35-38 Announcement Flyer – SPANISH