CITY ESTABLISHES ROGER K. FALL TRANSIT CENTER

On Tuesday, April 24, 2018 the Turlock City Council authorized the renaming of the Turlock Regional Transit Center at 1418 North Golden State Boulevard after former Transportation Engineering Supervisor Roger Kenneth Fall.  The new name of the site, to include the building currently under construction, shall be the Roger K. Fall Transit Center in recognition of his many years of public service to the City of Turlock and his numerous contributions to transit, both locally and regionally.  This recognition follows news of his sudden and untimely passing in mid-March 2018 at his home in Moscow, Idaho.

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“Although I did not know Roger Fall personally, I greatly appreciate his dedication and service to the City of Turlock and the many contributions he made to the transit division,” said Mayor Gary Soiseth.

During his 30 year career, spanning from November 1981 to his retirement in December 2011, Roger served in a variety of capacities, culminating in his position of Transportation Engineering Supervisor.  In that role he was responsible for management of traffic engineering issues and at the same time served as the transit manager for the City’s transit system (now Turlock Transit).  He assumed responsibility of the City’s Dial-a-Ride system while it was still relatively new and was instrumental in implementing the City’s first fixed route transit system, providing regular, dependable, and cost-effective transportation options to all citizens.  He also applied for and managed traffic and transit-related grants through State and federal sources, advocating for City needs and securing vital funds for infrastructure that benefits citizens’ to this day.

One of Roger’s signature accomplishments was the relocation of the City’s transit transfer point from Central Park to its current location at 1418 North Golden State Boulevard. During that process he played a key role in establishing the vision, securing the funds, purchasing the property, and constructing the first phase of improvements on the site.  Whether it’s a local transfer on Turlock Transit or a regional transfer to Stanislaus County Transit (StaRT) or Merced’s The Bus, the site continues to serve thousands of passengers each year.  Services are available to the general public, but particularly benefit transit-dependent riders that rely on the bus to travel to work, school, medical appointments, and other desired locations.

The changes approved by the City Council will be reflected in lettering attached to the overhang of the building under construction, a plaque that will be affixed to the site upon project completion, as well as monument signs that will be located at each of the three corners of the site.  All costs associated with making the specified changes will be paid with project funds already identified from transit-funding sources; no General Fund monies shall be used.  The change in name is early enough in the construction schedule that it is not expected to have any bearing on the project’s progress or opening date.  A formal building dedication shall take place following the conclusion of the current project later this year at a yet-to-be-determined date and time.