Driver strike threatened to disrupt Visalia Transit services
A possible strike by transit drivers threatened to stall services in at least three Tulare County cities.
Transdev, the transit service operator for Visalia Transit, informed Visalia Transit on Friday they hadn't reached an agreement with its drivers.
A strike was anticipated to begin at midnight Saturday.
However, as of Saturday morning, there were no "anticipated interruptions" in service for Visalia Transit including Fixed Route, Dial-A-Ride, V-Line and Sequoia Shuttle.
Here's what we know...
With negotiations underway, all bus routes and services are dependent on whether an agreement can be reached.
It's unclear if Transdev has reached an agreement with the union representing its drivers.
If a work stoppage does happen, services would be suspended until Transdev is able to find "qualified drivers and dispatchers," city officials stated on Friday.
"Priority is essential services, such as Dial-A-Ride, the on-demand service primarily intended to provide elderly and individuals with disabilities with transit service," city officials said. "... the city of Visalia urges riders to identify other transportation options out of an abundance of caution as the situation continues to evolve."
Transdev is the largest private operator of multiple modes of transportation in the U.S., and employs more than 102,000 people globally, according to the company's website.
For all service disruptions and the latest updates, riders can check online at www.visaliatransit.com. Riders can also call 1-877-404-6473 for information, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Updates will also be made available on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @visaliatransit.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Driver strike threatened to disrupt Visalia Transit services
