Y-S Transit selects new service provider

Storer Transit Systems to replace Transdev, first contract change in 21 years

Yuba-sutter Transit selected a new service contract provider – Storer Transit Systems – to take over operations and maintenance of its fleet of buses and vehicles staffed with 88 employees.

Keith Martin, manager for Y-S Transit, said this is the first time in 21 years there has been a service contractor change. The vehicles are owned by Y-S Transit, but the operating staff is provided by a contracting company.

“The terms of that contract are that everyone who currently works for Transdev (the former contractor) will be offered employment at or above their current wage rate,” Martin said.

Storer Business Development manager Sarah Storer said all current employees will keep their original hiring date and that will correlate to a new pay scale and benefits package.

“Anyone right now that has benefits and is transitioning will keep their benefits,” Storer said. “The whole goal is to have the service running better than ever and have the employees happier than ever.”

Four organizations submitted bids and Storer Transit Systems won out against the current service contract provider Transdev, and bids from RATP Dev USA and First Transit.

Storer Transit Systems, based out of Modesto won the bid through a variety of factors, Martin said, including competitive pay scales and paid time off as well as the lowest overall cost – saving Yuba-sutter Transit $465,135 over the four years of the contract’s terms.

“They specialize in the smaller transit operations like ours,” Martin said. “Three of (the bidders) were international firms – Storer was the only one that was smaller and California based.”

Storer will begin the four-year contract on Oct. 1, and has scheduled informational meetings with current employees to share information ahead of the change.

Martin said he hopes the only change riders notice is new uniforms. “That’s pretty much the difference our passengers will see,” he said.