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CC - Item 8A - City Transportation Program EnhancementsROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: JEFF ALLRED, CITY MANAGER DATE: JULY 26, 2011 SUBJECT: CITY TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS SUMMARY The City of Rosemead offers residents a public transportation program that includes curb -to -curb and fixed route shuttle services. Over the past several months, the City's Transportation Working Group (comprised of a City Council representative, Planning Commissioner, Traffic Commissioner, and staff) developed recommendations to enhance the fixed route portion of the transportation system. The Working Group also asked that the Traffic Commission and Planning Commission review and provide input on these recommendations prior to the City Council's consideration of this item. Both Commissions have reviewed this item and expressed support for the proposed enhancements. Staff Recommendation It is recommended that the City Council: 1. Concur with the Planning and Traffic Commission recommendations to implement the proposed enhancements to the City Transportation Program starting in September 2011; 2. Adopt City Council Resolution No. 2011- 39 (Attachment 1) appropriating funds and authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute necessary contract amendments to implement the proposed service enhancements; and 3. Authorize the staff proceed with improvements to existing transit drop -off areas at the Rosemead Community Recreation Center and at Rosemead Place Shopping Center. BACKGROUND The City's transportation contractor, Southland Transit Inc. provides fixed route and demand responsive services for Rosemead residents. This includes the management and operation of the City's Dial -A -Ride service and the Rosemead Explorer, a fixed route transit service within City limits. APPROVED FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: City Council Meeting July 26, 2011 Page 2 of 4 Rosemead Dial -A -Ride The Rosemead Dial -A -Ride provides primarily advance - reservation, curb -to -curb demand responsive transportation to senior residents age 55 and above and individuals with disabilities as certified by City staff. A request for service may be made up to 14 days in advance of the service day or may be set up as recurring appointments for trips made for the same day and time each week (i.e. doctor's appointments, grocery shopping trips). Same day and immediate trip requests are accommodated if capacity is available. Dial -A -Ride service operates the following days and hours: Weekdays (Monday — Friday): 6:00 am — 7:00 pm Weekends (Saturday and Sunday): 6:00 am — 7:00 pm Holidays: 8:00 am — 4:00 pm The Dial -A -Ride service operates 365 days a year, with reduced operation of only one (1) vehicle on these holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4 Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. The City reserves the right to direct the operation of reduced levels of service on unofficial holidays and during holiday periods. City policy requires that service be provided on request to any origin or destination within five miles of the City's limits. In addition, residents may utilize the service for medical appointments to Kaiser Hospital in Baldwin Park and Huntington Memorial in Pasadena. Fares for these services are $0.50 per trip for seniors and disabled residents and no cost for sight- impaired residents and aides. Rosemead Explorer The Rosemead Explorer is a general public, community fixed route service operating bi- directional on a single route through the city. Explorer services operate the following days and hours: Weekdays (Monday - Friday): 11:00 am — 8:00 pm Weekends (Saturday and Sunday): 10:00 am — 5:00 pm City Policy requires that shuttle services operate year- around, with the exception of Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day and New Year's Day. Two shuttle vehicles operate during each of these active periods. Fares for these services are affordable and straightforward, costing $0.50 per trip for the general public and no cost for seniors, disabled persons, and children under 5 years of age. Transportation Working Group Proposed Enhancements Over the past several months, the City's Transportation Working Group (comprised of a City Council representative, Planning Commissioner, Traffic Commissioner, and staff) developed recommendations to enhance the fixed route portion of the transportation system. These enhancements are designed to expand operating times for the Explorer Service and also provide a "Commuter Connection" to the local El Monte Transit Center and Metrolink Station. All enhancements would be funded using transportation City Council Meeting July 26, 2011 Page 3 of 4 revenues and would not rely on general fund contributions The proposed enhancements are described in greater detail below for your consideration: Rosemead Explorer Service Hours Hours of service for the Rosemead Explorer would be extended on weekday mornings. Currently, the service starts at 11 AM on weekdays. The proposed improvements would allow school -aged children to take the Explorer to school sites (i.e. Rosemead High School) in the morning and would allow commuters the opportunity to connect to the El Monte Transit Center (via the proposed Commuter Connection described below). The estimated annual cost to implement these improvements $86,433 annually. If approved by the City Council, the expected start date would be September 1. Rosemead Commuter Connection This service would allow residents to connect from the Rosemead Place Shopping Center to both the El Monte Transit Center and the El Monte Metrolink Station. The proposed service would be geared towards residents that commute to work. It is expected that this service would provide connections to other nearby public transportation services via Metrolink and Metro bus lines (including Downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach, among others). Monday- Friday Saturday - Sunday Current Hours of Operation 11 AM - 8 PM 10 AM - 5 PM Proposed Hours of Operation 5 AM - 8 PM 10 AM - 5 PM The estimated annual cost to implement these improvements $86,433 annually. If approved by the City Council, the expected start date would be September 1. Rosemead Commuter Connection This service would allow residents to connect from the Rosemead Place Shopping Center to both the El Monte Transit Center and the El Monte Metrolink Station. The proposed service would be geared towards residents that commute to work. It is expected that this service would provide connections to other nearby public transportation services via Metrolink and Metro bus lines (including Downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach, among others). The estimated annual cost to implement these improvements $34,297 annually. If approved by the City Council, the expected start date would be September 1. Transit Stop Enhancements Both the Rosemead Community Recreation Center and the Rosemead Place Shopping Center currently house transit stops for the City's transportation program. Proposed improvements include the installation of new bus shelters to enhance the aesthetics and provide additional amenities to bus riders (solar lighting, covered seating areas, trash receptacles, route maps, etc). Monday - Friday Proposed Morning Hours of Operation 6 AM - 9 AM Proposed Evening Hours of Operation 4 PM - 7 PM The estimated annual cost to implement these improvements $34,297 annually. If approved by the City Council, the expected start date would be September 1. Transit Stop Enhancements Both the Rosemead Community Recreation Center and the Rosemead Place Shopping Center currently house transit stops for the City's transportation program. Proposed improvements include the installation of new bus shelters to enhance the aesthetics and provide additional amenities to bus riders (solar lighting, covered seating areas, trash receptacles, route maps, etc). City Council Meeting July 26, 2011 Paqe 4 of 4 Additionally, route maps /schedules would be installed at 12 heavily used bus stop locations to provide residents with more information related to Rosemead transit services. FINANCIAL REVIEW Funding for the proposed transit service enhancements would come from available transportation funds, including Proposition C and Proposition A. The total financial impact of enhancing services is projected as follows: Service Enhancements Description Annual Cost Explorer Hours Expansion $ 86,433 Commuter Connection Service $ 34,297 Program Marketing $ 10,000 Total Annual Cost $ 130,730 Infrastructure Enhancements Description One -Time Cost Rosemead Place Bus Stop $ 20,000 RCRC Bus Stop $ 20,000 Route /Schedule Maps (12 locations) $ 7,500 Total One -Time Cost $ 47,500 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301 (c) of the CEQA Implementing Guidelines. PUBLIC NOTICE This - agenda item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process. Prepared-by: _Ok� Chris Marcarello Public Works Director Attachments: (1) Resolution 2011 -39 (2) Transit Improvement Option Tables (3) Transportation Program Brochure ATTACHMENT RESOLUTION NO. 2011- 39 A RESOLUTION OF THE ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA CITY COUNCIL APPROPRIATING $178,230 FOR ENHANCEMENTS TO THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM WHEREAS, after completing a competitive request for proposal process, the City Council approved an agreement with Southland Transit, Inc. to provide transportation services from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2013; WHEREAS, the City's public transportation program includes curb -to -curb and fixed route shuttle services; WHEREAS, the City formed a Transportation Working Group to monitor the performance of transportation programs and develop recommendations to help enhance services available to Rosemead residents; WHEREAS, the City desires to expand hours /services to its Rosemead Explorer fixed route shuttle service, create a Commuter Connection service for Rosemead residents, and install amenities to improve bus stop locations; WHEREAS, Southland Transit has met with the City Transportation Working Group and agreed to terms and service level enhancements for the City of Rosemead transportation program; WHEREAS, the City will utilize undesignated transportation monies to fund service enhancements to the City's transportation program starting on September 1, 2011; WHEREAS, the City authorizes the City Manager, ordesignee to execute necessary documents to implement the desired transportation program enhancements; ATTACHMENT NOW THEREFORE, the following account number and appropriation are amended to include the amounts listed in the following table: Org Mject /Acct Pro'/Fund ' Description Increase Decrease Transfer: 215 -30505 Transfer from Proposition A Funds $130,730 220 -30505 Transfer from Proposition C Funds $47,500 Expenditure:, 215 3040 5470 Transportation Services $120,730 215 3040 5440 Advertising $ 10,000 220 3040 5815 Improvements Other Than Buildings $ 47,500 The additional appropriation is made a part of the approved FY 2011 -12 budget as though it were a part of the initial approved budget fully set forth. PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 26 « ' day of July 2011. Steven Ly, Mayor ATTEST: Gloria Molleda, City Clerk City of Rosemead Transit Improvement Options Operational Impr Updated: 7/11/2011 .1[]t . , ;; Imp�ovement_,Option r �1i' ^ 11 0 , �1*Nt �,; !�. '� Discussioni I1,a (� y,,. q� Estimated Cost- Needed ,Actions / �d n Implementation Timing` • Could be implemented in Presently, the Explorer operates Monday- Friday September 2011 if approved Extend Rosemead Explorer 11:00 am to 8:00pm and Sat/Sunday from • Pilot would run through June Service Hours 10:00am to 5:00pm. To facilitate commute and Annual cost of $86,433 30, 2012 school trips, this option would begin weekday • Marketing program would services (except holidays) at 5:00am. inform public and existing riders of new service Annual cost of $34,297 Commuter Connection to Service would operate from Rosemead Square in addition to cost of El Monte Metro and on the hour to the El Monte Metro Terminal and Extended Explorer Same as with Extended Hours Metrolink Stations Metrolink Station Monday- Friday during peak service hours above am /pm hours only. [Total = $120,730/yr] • Marketing will use local media Marketing Program for Marketing program will be needed to inform Estimated Cost of and existing City facilities and Operational Improvements Rosemead residents and existing riders of the marketing program communications new services. $10,000 • Campaign begin 30 days prior to service initiation City of Rosemead Transit Improvement Options Infrastructure Improvements Updated: 7/11/2011 Improvement,` Option o II " iscussion Estimated Cost Needed Actions/ 9m Iementation.Timin Shelters at 55 Explorer bus stops within the city were upgraded in 2007. It is recommended that Institute Regular cleaning /maintenance levels be increased to Annual cost estimated Cleaning program could begin Cleaning /Maintenance of improve the appearance, use and acceptance by City staff at $30,000. upon Council approval. Rosemead Bus Shelters of shelters by adjacent residential and commercial neighbors. Work will be done by City Public Works staff. City has met with Rosemead Square management Install Shelter at Rosemead A wide range of design options exist for a free- $20,000 - $40,000 regarding installation of shelter Square Terminal standing shelter, with or without solar lighting, installed, depending on with positive response. seating and trash receptacle. design and amenities • Procurement and installation expected to be less than 1 year from decision to proceed. Construct Transit Drop -off The drop -off area at the Center has no shelter $20,000 - $80,000 City staff to coordinate Area at Rosemead for those being dropped off or awaiting pick -up. installed, depending on shelter /drop -off project with the Community Recreation A shelter could be added as part of the civic the design, amenities civic center improvement project. Center center redesign presently under way. and hardscape. Posting Explorer route and schedule information Estimated cost of $240 - Install Route and Schedule at key stops will improve awareness of the $400 per stop for holder Estimated at 5 -6 months to Information at Selected services and attract new riders through readily- plus install and graphics procure and install the information Rosemead Explorer Stops available info on how to use the services. holders and develop the Posted information will need to be multi - lingual Cost for 12 stops would information to be posted. and also in braille. be $4800 - $7400