Loading...
CC - Item 5A - City of Rosemead Public Transit ServicesROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: BEN KIM, CITY MANAGER ?;'- DATE: NOVEMBER 12, 2024 SUBJECT: CITY OF ROSEMEAD PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICES On September 10, 2024, staff presented an analysis of current transit expenditures and ridership data, and a comparative analysis of implementing alternative ride -hailing services. This report was provided in response to a request at the meeting on July 23, 2024, to gain a better understanding of current expenditures and explore options to enhance transportation services. In response to the September presentation, staff was asked to provide additional information to explore the feasibility of supplementing or replacing our current transit services with alternative options. The data is presented in several implementation matrices, which provide several options to explore the possibility of improving efficiency, availability, and cost of transit services in the City. The City of Rosemead currently contracts with First Transit, Inc. ("First Transit") for Dial -A -Ride ("DAR") and Rosemead Explorer transit services. DAR is a curb -to -curb service for Seniors 55+ and disabled persons, and Rosemead Explorer is a fixed route bus service. The current agreement with First Transit is set to expire March 31, 2025. To prepare for the anticipated contract expiration date, staff evaluated First Transit operational costs and service data. Based on the findings, staff researched alternative transit services to improve accessibility and for potential cost savings. In response to the presented data, staff was directed to provide a transitional strategy that explored the feasibility of implementing alternative transit options to supplement or replace our current services. The implementation matrices detail several options to assess differences, trade-offs, and costs of each service. To aid in the understanding of each service type, the City's current transit services will be included in the implementation matrix for a comparative evaluation. Several considerations must be accounted for when evaluating implementation of any option. As staff structured each implementation matrix, the following considerations were accounted for in the development process. AGENDA ITEM 5.A City Council Meeting November 12, 2024 Page 2 of 8 ➢ First Transit service contract will sunset March 31, 2025. ➢ Proposition A funding will be available to fund transportation services. ➢ The City owns 7 propane shuttle buses. ➢ If any changes to transit services take place, community outreach will be included in the implementation plan to survey and educate the public. ➢ Regardless of any implemented option, seniors and ADA riders will need to renew every year to maintain their ridership status. ➢ First Transit expenditures to assess costs and trade-offs in maintaining services.* ➢ Cost per rider per trip based on ridership data and current expenditures. ➢ Projected costs to renew a contract with First Transit. * Charts provided below. First Transit expenditures - Based on current agreement costs. * VRH- total number ofhours the vehicle is in service multiplied by hourly rate. Costs cover driver wages, fringe benefits, and maintenance and repair of vehicles. * * Fixed - set monthly cost covering staff wages, fringe benefits, onboarding costs, facility lease, supplies, equipment, and insurance. First Transit expenditures - Grand total for actual expenditures from April 2023 - March 2024. Grand Total for Transit Year Apr. 2023- Mar. 2024 TotalEstimated 5 -year DAR Total VRH+Fuel+FixedCost -Revenue $690,079 Year (Apr. - Mar.) 20-21 21-22 22-23 23-24 24-25 Vehicle Revenue Hour(VRH)* $416,130 $442,230 $464,695 $553,555 $632,165 Fixed** $523,685 $541,820 $559,280 $621,825 $643,890 Total $939,815 $984,050 $1,023,975 $1,175,380 $1,276,055 * VRH- total number ofhours the vehicle is in service multiplied by hourly rate. Costs cover driver wages, fringe benefits, and maintenance and repair of vehicles. * * Fixed - set monthly cost covering staff wages, fringe benefits, onboarding costs, facility lease, supplies, equipment, and insurance. First Transit expenditures - Grand total for actual expenditures from April 2023 - March 2024. Grand Total for Transit Year Apr. 2023- Mar. 2024 Service Explorer DAR Total VRH+Fuel+FixedCost -Revenue $690,079 $545,882 $1,235,961 Miscellaneous Cost * $15,900 $15,900 $31,800 Grand total $705,979 $561,782 $1,267,761 * Miscellaneous costs include additional maintenance, fuel tax, and safety and compliance fees. City Council Meeting November 12, 2024 Paee 3 of 8 Cost per rider per trip — Based on ridership data from First Transit. Annual ridership totaled 55,436, with the Rosemead Explorer providing 48,131 (87%) trips and DAR providing 7305 (13%) trips. Of the 125 registered DAR users, 39 users utilized the services for transit year 2023-2024. DAR Riders RiderCost Per Total Trips Service No. of Riders Annually I Service Cost Cost rider per trip Explorer 48,131 $706,000 $14.67 DAR 7,305 $561,800 $76.91 700+ 55,436 $1,267,800 $91.58 DAR Riders & Total Trips Total Trips Number of Riders 1-49 28 50-99 4 100-300 4 301-600 2 700+ 1 Projected costs — Projected increases for FY 2025-2028, based on current contract costs. Projected Average Cost Year f or First Tra 2025-2026 nsit Services 2026-2027 2025 - 2028 2027-2028 Explorer VRH & Fuel Costs $474,300 $493,700 $514,000 Split Fixed Costs $345,100 $370,500 $398,300 Total $819,400 $864,200 $912,300 DAR VRH & Fuel Costs $299,700 $313,500 $328,000 Split Fixed Costs $345,100 $370,500 $398,300 Total $644,800 1 $684,000 1 $726,300 Grand Total 1 $1,464,200 1 $1,548,200 1 $1,638,600 Implementation Matrices To assess each transit type appropriately, a comparison chart is provided for each service, listing the differences, benefits, trade-offs, and more. City Council Meeting November 12, 2024 Page 4 of 8 Transit Service Options Option D E RH(ride-hailing) MT (micro transit) Service Type DAR Explorer Lyft or similar Freebee or similar Hourly rate per vehicle City Cost Hourly & Fixed Hourly & Fixed Per trip type All - except some Patrons Seniors&ADA All All Hours of Fixed Fixed 24/7 Fixed Operation Service Area 5 mi Radius Fixed Customizable Customizable Service Type Curb -to -curb Fixed route On -demand Fixed route/on-demand Seating 4-8 (City preference and Capacity 12+2 wheelchairs 16 + 2 wheelchairs 4-6 scalable) ADA Yes Yes Not fully compliant Yes Compliant On -demand No No Yes Yes Registration Yes No Yes Yes Required Capital Yes Yes No No Required Call Center Yes Yes Limited Yes • Free weekday • Predictable • Travel • Travel anywhere transportation • Seniors, ADA, & anywhere within service area to specific 5 years and within service or fixed locations medical under ride free area • Local business Benefits facilities w/transit ID • 24/7 advertisement • Subscription available in phone service application available • All electric fleet • Service is not • Fixed route— • NotfullyADA • Wait times will vary easily limited travel compliant - based on the scalable/ • Service is not must maintain availability of Customizable easily scalable/ otherADA vehicles; less • City must Customizable transportation vehicles in service Limitations/ purchase • City must • Limited number means longer wait Trade-offs vehicles purchase of rides per times vehicles person to • Requires control costs infrastructure installation for electric vehicle chargers City Council Meeting November 12, 2024 Page 5 of 8 The Implementation Matrix below details a combination of options to evaluate several transportation environments, and the approximate time it may take to transition from our current transit services. Approximate time to implement new transit services begins from the development of the request for proposal to transit service launch day. Scenario Option Services in Operation Approximate Time to Implement 1 E & D Explorer N/A DAR N/A 2 E & MT Explorer N/A Freebee or similar 6 months 3 D & RH DAR N/A Lyft or similar 4 months 4 MT Freebee or similar 6 months 5 RH & MT Lyft or similar 4 months Freebee or similar 6 months Considerations for each scenario: 1. Explorer & DAR only 2. Explorer and Freebee or similar service only o DAR services will end. o Freebee can prioritize seniors/ADA riders. During non -peak hours, vehicles can transition to on -demand service for all residents. 3. DAR and Lyft or similar service only o Explorer services will end. o To manage costs, Lyft usage will be managed by setting limits for service area boundaries, maximum rides per month per rider, and subsidized cost per ride. 4. Freebee or similar service only o Explorer and DAR services will end. o Fixed route and on -demand services can be supported. o Wait times will be dependent on number of vehicles in service, which is scalable during the contract period. o Freebee can prioritize seniors/ADA riders. During non -peak hours, vehicles can transition to on -demand service for all residents. City Council Meeting November 12, 2024 Page 6 of 8 5. Lyft and Freebee or similar only o Explorer and DAR services will end. o To manage costs, Lyft usage will be managed by setting limits for service area boundaries, maximum rides per month per rider, and subsidized cost per ride. o Freebee wait times will be dependent on number of vehicles in service, which is scalable during the contract period. o Freebee can prioritize seniors/ADA riders. During non -peak hours, vehicles can transition to on -demand service for all residents. Baseline costs, except for ride -hailing, are contingent upon number of vehicles in service and hours of operation specified in the Implementation Matrix. The cost basis for ride -hailing (Lyft or similar) services is based on number of trips multiplied by average cost per trip. The Implementation Cost Matrix details anticipated costs based on market rate increases, contract information, and current ridership levels. Scenario Vehicles in Hours of Operation FY 25 - 26 FY 26-27 FY 27-28 Service Explorer 2 M -F: 6am-8pm $819,400 $864,200 $912,300 Sat -Sun: 10am-5pm 1— E&D DAR 2 M -Sun: 6am-7pm $644,800 $684,000 $726,300 $1,464,200 $1,548,200 $1,638,600 Explorer 2 M -F: 6am-8pm $819,400 $864,200 $912,300 Sat -Sun: 10am-5pm 2 E & MT Freebee 2 M -Sun: 6am-8pm $429,200 $442,100 $455,400 or similar $1,248,600 $1,306,300 $1,367,700 DAR 2 M -Sun: 6am-7pm $644,800 $684,000 $726,300 3- Lyft or unlimited 24/7 $500,000 $550,000 $600,000 D & RH similar $1,144,800 $1,234,000 $1,326,300 4 -MT Freebee 6 M -Sun: 6am-8pm $1,287,700 $1,326,300 $1,366,100 or similar Lyft or Unlimited 24/7 $500,000 $550,000 $600,000 similar 5 RH & MT Freebee 4 M -Sun: 6am-8pm $858,500 $884,300 $910,800 or similar $1,358,500 $1,434,300 $1,510,800 City Council Meeting November 12, 2024 Page 7 of 8 Based on direction provided to staff, a projected timeline is provided below for a visual representation to implement new transit services. Tacks I Nov I Dec I Jan I Feb I Mar I Apr I May In summary, it should be noted that any current or new transit service implemented would operate alongside several other transportation services currently servicing Rosemead, as listed below. • Metropolitan Transportation Authority — LA County fixed route service operates 4 routes that service Rosemead. • Montebello Transit — The City of Montebello's fixed route service operates 1 route that services Rosemead. • Metro Mirco - is an on -demand rideshare service, supplemental to the existing bus and rail system in Los Angeles County. Services Rosemead east of Walnut Grove Avenue from Rush Street to Grand Ave. • Access Services - LA County's Americans with Disabilities Act mandated paratransit is a shared ride curb -to -curb service that operates 24n. Implementing a ride -hailing or micro -transit service will provide an enhanced mobility option that focuses on equitable and accessible transportation services. The goal of reimaging transportation options in Rosemead is to prioritize an efficient transportation environment that is budget - conscious, and rider focused. If direction is provided to supplement or replace any of our current transit services, the City could see cost savings between $100,000 - $300,000 for each Fiscal Year within 2025-2028, based on current ridership levels. If new transportation options are implemented, staff will monitor ridership data and report back with additional program modifications as needed. Develop RFP 0 i Post RFP 0 i Community RFP Stage Outreach i Review Proposals Interview Operators i Award Contract 0 or similar i Project start- upphase up Freebee or similar Lyft or similar Services available to the Freebee or similar j public i In summary, it should be noted that any current or new transit service implemented would operate alongside several other transportation services currently servicing Rosemead, as listed below. • Metropolitan Transportation Authority — LA County fixed route service operates 4 routes that service Rosemead. • Montebello Transit — The City of Montebello's fixed route service operates 1 route that services Rosemead. • Metro Mirco - is an on -demand rideshare service, supplemental to the existing bus and rail system in Los Angeles County. Services Rosemead east of Walnut Grove Avenue from Rush Street to Grand Ave. • Access Services - LA County's Americans with Disabilities Act mandated paratransit is a shared ride curb -to -curb service that operates 24n. Implementing a ride -hailing or micro -transit service will provide an enhanced mobility option that focuses on equitable and accessible transportation services. The goal of reimaging transportation options in Rosemead is to prioritize an efficient transportation environment that is budget - conscious, and rider focused. If direction is provided to supplement or replace any of our current transit services, the City could see cost savings between $100,000 - $300,000 for each Fiscal Year within 2025-2028, based on current ridership levels. If new transportation options are implemented, staff will monitor ridership data and report back with additional program modifications as needed. City Council Meeting November 12, 2024 Page 8 of 8 STAFF RECOMMENDATION Receive and provide direction to staff. FINANCIAL IMPACT None. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW None. STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT None. PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process. Prepared by: Amanda Moreno, Senior Management Analyst Attachment A: PowerPoint Presentation Attachment B: Staff Report, September 10, 2024 Attachment A PowerPoint Presentation :1 J U Z cz O M LL � • U) V o N O Z3 o .V .0 m � 2: UCLcnO°Z W ,+ cn co W E O cn CC O cn co :3 T 0 i co O E N cn w EZN U O O U a U N N O L cn^r� W W C c6 co C6 +� CD 0 O U Q i 0 cn O U O cz Co +� E O O 4 -- co co O O O A:- O 0 U _0 co c W CO O W V Cr •r J U E O cn O � U � A cn U o s•: bA O O Q o �= � U U cn O O O � � O N cn O cn X m O -1 O A +-i U O 'C: U +-j 0 - ca E/ \V m (DczJ /0 J cc ca cc cu � U L Q N � U CO a) m • = L M C C: O O � cu 4-J cu Lo 4-J O QN +j N U) E U) COca 0- cu E F— U L' 70 + i cu N }, O U a) _ :3 co m -0 U U cn cu U (u - COCU - }, O U C6 Q U L N — O U -0 _ U Q O U O 'E O iQ cOn Q cn O N No ate+ +-+ i +-+ cn U cn cn O O =3 cn C 0-0 }' E +' U I— O U CD O U i 0 iia co 0- U- 0 LE C co Lr) O N i 0 LE 0 LO Lr) O N (p N N O M M N Lr) M N tf) M O N Cvj ' N N N O N Lo • N � N co O 409 LO 00 • N O O M N O L c� Q coi cc >- H 0 DL L N Q L 70 Td - m L a +-i 30, U O w + W L m CL •L O CL 00 •L r I� � } {f} 40 CL N O U • o o V 00 O oo ^ VJ •� O CO N i I, Lo ^ � 1 co C a o 00 LO o� 0 6 Z (D L o N /y •V 0 V/ x w m co LL L +—J U cu C O U ca N c O L- 00 70 • N U Q) N O 00 .• • N • N Lf) O • N ' O v L O N C • � .• F- 0 O U • Q Sao • c • L a Q O L CL , M � � O � � 0 � V .� i � cn -W � LM FM c � MX ■ ■ # / S 2 2 Q� 0 7 / ) § + 0 { ( k S k / 2 •- Q 2f`7 A 0 \ = E)2= /==G2§ 2 ¥ f \ ƒ\ƒƒ06ƒƒ < \ _ / e > = a .a \\\o x > 2 \ ELL=a$E . 0 cocu =5// c > = o /E \ G @ < = o = _ \-0 t § _ E o o C-400aeo ■ k j v U 3 0 ƒ \ / _ 7 0 / 2 = o \ t \ > \%\/2S\ g EG § 2 7 m $\/\ƒ222 \ = e = o = 9 0 0 = o \ o _ e$ 9\ 3 t� j 0 )� § » R C)- 5 2 2 \j / \) U) ; .= o x 2 0 E==mC)LZ / S 2 2 Q� 0 7 / ) § + 0 { ( k S ° / 2 •- Q 2f`7 -0 > = CUM 0 \ = E)2= /==G2§ 2 ¥ f \ ƒ\ƒƒ06ƒƒ » \ _ / e > = a + \\\o x ELL=a$E k j v U 3 0 ƒ \ / _ 7 0 / 2 = o \ t \ > \%\/2S\ g EG § 2 7 m $\/\ƒ222 \ = e = o = 9 0 0 = o \ o _ e$ 9\ 3 t� j 0 )� § » R C)- 5 2 2 \j / \) U) ; .= o x 2 0 E==mC)LZ � >1 \� �\ \ + 0 { ( k § = \ \ 0 _ �.0 2 •- _ \ > -0 > = CUM 0 \ = + 2 ¥ f \ ƒ\ƒƒ06ƒƒ » \ $ / 0 3 0 EN W fl- a a ca c o m m U U a) (D 0) > X N O -0 O O O O Z O (DU Q i a -+J o a) ar M O_ U L Z a% X o0 o ii T Q Q N m E ' co cu E co O O O a 0U O } N } z a O N O a 2:1 J U O p �- (D U o Z Q a m X U iz co —' W 0 00 N CO O O Vl rn Q X .?5 X o L O i Z Z O i a) >- i Il X O LL 2 t CD a X 7 iz Q 7 c0 dS 06 O O O + U CO CDZ O O } O a) O a)o J L LL a) 0 in E LO U 3 c as r C a c L p c 2 cc E Co C (� O C` O of a) V •L a) V •L to . Z cc o .O d O as d M 01 m O- a ' M a a Q R 0 0- a) d d Co io = d N O d O U a 2 O cn cn cn 0 Q 0 cc cc 0 oc U 7 § 0 u U ■ � k LUCL / LU 0 0 /»k C" # / <_ % \ _ \ / \ 2 = Z3 \ / o = \\ * 0 £ § u 2 >/ / e© _•/ r2f% \� � o f 0 # S $ Cl 2 % §..cE U) 2 ± _ 7 \ _ r @ \ 7 0 12 = ) E / 2 > > =o o = > = 3 \ / ) / 3 z < k LUCL / LU m 0 0 /»k C" # / <_ % \ _ \ / \ o0 Co Z3 \ / 2 < _ * 0 £ § u 2 / ƒ _•/ \� � o o # \ ki _ 0- a U) 2 ± > r m 0 0 2 C" # / <_ % \ _ \ / \ S \ Co < /k{E2\/ # z \ / z ® E 0 / e » % -= 0 £ § u 2 / ƒ _•/ ± � o o # \ \ _ \ a n 2 ± > = = m ®= Cl) s ) E / b 3 4sn= / 2 ® 0> uo � 3 2 ' > S ® ° 7 % E � o� < �: o � � 7 = 2 ° _ # 2 a®=7=®= ®0. 4 § \ 2 I / > m 0 0 2 # / <_ % \ _ \ / \ S \ Co < /k{E2\/ # z \ / z ® E 0 / $ & a » % -= 0 £ § u m CD 0> = / E=@ooe= e \ 2 2 \ 2 %) $ c® u— < E 0 2� mm =3/ E 5 > _ \ ƒ m 2 ° ƒ D a \ g = 7 \ { i 2 7 / 2 > _ � 3 E ' > § = 5 ® { o < $ o u $� 7 % @ 7 = _ ®0. °°0E7 °= o— = a 2 5 C/) e U 2 E// S $ S/\ E ch / k § W CL p 2 I % k � \ m O L ^c^ V/ O cc i.. W E 0 mmo CL E 0 co N N O 0OCli0 cq O N p M cC N >- LL N EA OD00 4& O N CO N i N LL Iq � 000 O O N d' tC d O E LO QL O oo O" 0 m O m o O C C y LL 7 7 L 7 O M 2 cn N N U U U L t U U N N > C .= C O L Ufa L L C O O Q. LV Q Q 0 O E 0 r E Nco N Q O N � O� LO O Q M {f} N O O 0 M cb } LL 00 <A (a M N N >- LL O co � O � toG N {E} 11 O ' O • +' E Lo CL � O Q' ' E co M r M m (D O cn u C/) an cC/) 2 U) N � V V i t � N N N > c y O / \ (� V L y O i O a w O L N N C � C L.L Co J W CO L I Q O O U i C O co L Q0 E a) •L I 0 O Q 0 i 0 0= cn cn C co N a--1 ca O U a) J O U U uj -0 c L O O U- L . E CU 0- 0 O CA E i a)CQ (U Q) co co E E Z5 Q� � � X CU cc to cn 0 - co co ,a) +-F� m O }, -0 U C -0 J 0 N p L U � � U CU cn U -0 C co Co a) E cn U L O L N co 0 0 N O� 0 M N 04 N c M tf- O N 0 00 O N U) 00 6 LO N LCL •' O CD O ' N 0 O o0 O N N 0 U. E a r- 0 O c. = O o N V V L N E t � N - c O > _ D U)O a� +� oc Co o v Q +, J '� i Q O . E CU 0- 0 O CA E i a)CQ (U Q) co co E E Z5 Q� � � X CU cc to cn 0 - co co ,a) +-F� m O }, -0 U C -0 J 0 N p L U � � U CU cn U -0 C co Co a) E cn U L O L N cc E mma CL E O O0 N n O N M Co Co J J Ca U. 70 0 L 0 N M N M O U LUL r 44 Q 0 m o Cf)L N n 70 1O O co 0 N N } LL r U -0 Ark O E cn E _ co U ca H 0 CD i N O O O Q a W _ O E i U) -0 O p � y .V O V L O ' � Cu i (.0 70 t � L =3 N N � C 70 *+-1 C O = o O co U y ,a� m ->+ `y V N cu L � C U C(n L Q. N U O I1 N U i Co Co J J Ca '^ V/ 70 L 0 O U Q O Cf)L 70 70 O O 0 U -0 Q O O cn E U ca 0 i OO O O O Q a--+ W +-' U i -0 O p O O O 0- O ' � Cu i 70 O L =3 N +-j _0 70 *+-1 C O O co U ->+ `y W cu > CB U N U fU O E c O > i .+ c X CO � ' p /////'''fi LE f I in���� WN ca cn O co N00 cc 0 O al Or U N 00 O N � � O U U. � O Ok U 70 O U i •U N00 > M Q i i N CT cn U LO LO co c O � LL Ecn J O^, W yJ VOT . N O O O Y O LO O N 0 LO M O >- LO co O • U. ja Co _0i � E 0 - C O co O O Q 1 Cts caN N CD O Q. = _a C �C: p a� - O O O N Q O N (1) V _0 (1) O O O V i E cn O -0 t O N - C N =3-O N m U U > C =:� +-z co: N 2 i o f/1O O +0 i O i U U V E� > OO .E �— 00 X Q J Fn N to N O LL a WN ca cn c co cc U � � O U O U 70 (D U i •U > i O Q i i a U Q D U O U C O � Ecn J O^, W yJ V Y / O U U O O A 70 C O C NE Co _0i � � C O (B E Q C O O CD _a i �C: _0 a� - O O O O O Q O O O O O i O U cn O -0 U a) N =3-O m U U 'i E =:� +-z co: N 2 J U U OO �— 00 X E +J cc bo a C U E O O to U O -0 cB U O N N C O E co C/5 O O U A E C2. co u p Nt1 ? m %lo � k & < / . lw� 2 � ± -- _ 0 0 z � k 0 k / / f /o/ i / / ' CLCL § f & > / \ \ \ / o = / a ± o m O U\ \ \ o a / / ƒ 2 -j 2 cc ° 0 ? ° 2 § 0 2 0 t� \/\ ƒ � 9 $ � /_ � � � m cc 0 E CIP 0y li cn • L rm .0 cc ^O^ cc Lm tp c > E E E E a w o o o 0 cD cm Ln o co � 0 c_ E s O s o O M LL E E E Lo Lo o E oU co Z O O L- W � • , •• J = O O • J •. \ d cLn J ... O m _ R X 0 S J f K Y Zbti F- BALDWIN ry O C d cLn J Li R X 0 o o �� TEMPLECITY J W a _O ROSEMEAD q_���_ 0 z ROSEMEAD Q P x c 3z c W > a o Q Ln WALNUT a WALNUT v GROVE _ GROVE 2 0 Z Z W J S tiQ SAN GABRIEL000 LL a SAN GABRIEL ,o 6 m a od�o �dtib <DELMAR m a a JACKSON Z a no cc 0 E O cc ►.M 1 Fro A • • N 'U) V v Q Ml— cu cu U a) E _O C D U J • a) co co E U N a) J Q co co I& a� U L a) O a) a) L co cn U C as L co L co 0 - Cl) O a) 4--+ co L- a) a) Q O N i O H Attachment B Staff Report Dated September 10, 2024 ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: BEN KIM, CITY MANAGER DATE: SEPTEMBER 10, 2024 SUBJECT: CITY OF ROSEMEAD PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICES BACKGROUND On July 23, 2024, Staff presented a high-level overview of the City's transportation services, including program operations, cost, and ridership information. City Council requested additional information to gain a better understanding of current expenditures and explore options to enhance transportation services. Staff has conducted a thorough analysis of the requested information and will provide a comparative analysis of potential cost savings by utilizing alternative ride -hailing options to supplement our current transportation options. DISCUSSION The City of Rosemead's Dial -A -Ride ("DAR") and Rosemead Explorer Fixed Route transit services are managed and operated by First Transit, Inc. DAR is a curb -to -curb service for individualized transportation needs and Rosemead Explorer is a fixed route bus service. Both services operate 365 days a year with the use of city -owned propane fuel buses. Transit services are funded through the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority Proposition A and Proposition C Local Return programs. For Fiscal Year 2024-25 the City allocated $420,000 in Proposition A and $1,000,000 in Proposition C funding. The current agreement with First Transit, Inc. is set to expire March 31, 2025. Based on prior discussions, staff has conducted a comprehensive analysis of the following information requests from City Council: • Detailed expenditure analysis of contract costs for DAR and Rosemead Explorer Fixed Route transit services. • Detailed ridership information including number of users and most frequented locations. • Research neighboring cities that currently utilize alternative ride -hailing options. • Comparative analysis of utilizing alternative ride -sharing options to replace or enhance transit services. AGENDA ITEM 7.11 City Council Meeting September 10, 2024 Page 2 of 11 Transit service expenditures are broken down into two general categories, hourly service costs and fixed costs. The hourly service costs are based on projections of the total number of hours the vehicle is in service, referred to as Vehicle Revenue Hour ("VRH"). VRH is defined as follows for each service during the established hours of operation: Rosemead Explorer fixed route services - any 60 -minute increment a vehicle is in revenue service; DAR services — any 60 -minute increment when a vehicle is available for passenger transport (from arrival at first pick-up address to completion of last passenger drop-off). VRH is charged at an hourly rate multiplied by the service hours. VRH costs cover driver wages, fringe benefits, and maintenance and repair of vehicles. The 5 -year contract analysis chart below shows the hourly annual rate, projected service hours, and annual increases. 5 -year Contract Year (Apr. -Mar.) Analysis - 20-21 Vehicle Revenue 21-22 Hour ("VRH") 22-23 Cost 23-24 24-25 CostperVRH $27.10 $28.80 $30.26 $36.05 $41.17 $46,607 $51,819 $53,657 Annually $523,683 $541,819 $559,279 Annual Increase $643,887 $1.70 $1.46 $5.79 $5.12 Annual Increase 6% 5% 19% 14% 3.5% 1 3.2% 1 11.2% 1 3.5% Projected VRH 15355 15355 15355 15355 15355 Projected Annual Cost $416,130 $442,230 $464,695 $553,555 $632,165 Fixed costs cover a range of administrative services such as: staff wages, fringe benefits, onboarding costs, facility lease, supplies, equipment, and insurance (Attachment D). A 5 -year contract analysis chart below shows the fixed costs and annual increases. Based on our current agreement, a combined total of VRH and fixed costs are detailed below. Total costs can vary based on overall ridership levels. The City funds services primarily through restricted transportation funds. 5 -year Contract Analysis - Fixed Cost Year (Apr. -Mar.) 20-21 21-22 22-23 23-24 24-25 Monthly $43,640 $45,152 $46,607 $51,819 $53,657 Annually $523,683 $541,819 $559,279 $621,823 $643,887 Annual Increase $18,136 $17,460 $62,544 $22,064 3.5% 1 3.2% 1 11.2% 1 3.5% Based on our current agreement, a combined total of VRH and fixed costs are detailed below. Total costs can vary based on overall ridership levels. The City funds services primarily through restricted transportation funds. City Council Meeting September 10, 2024 Page 3 of 11 To further understand the cost of each program, staff analyzed invoices for the April 2023 - March 2024 transit year to provide data on actual costs. Each chart below distinguishes annual VRHs, fuel costs, revenue, and fixed costs, providing a grand total for each transit service. VRH & Fuel Costs for Transit Year Service Explorer Apr. i2024 DAR Total Fixed Cost 5979 Year (Apr. -Mar.) 20-21 Total Contact Cost 21-22 - VRH and Projected5-year 22-23 23-24 24-25 VRH $416,130 $442,230 $464,695 $553,555 $632,165 Fixed $523,685 $541,820 $559,280 $621,825 $643,890 $627,913 Total 1 $939,815 1 $984,050 1 $1,023,975 $1,175,380 $1,276,055 To further understand the cost of each program, staff analyzed invoices for the April 2023 - March 2024 transit year to provide data on actual costs. Each chart below distinguishes annual VRHs, fuel costs, revenue, and fixed costs, providing a grand total for each transit service. VRH & Fuel Costs for Transit Year Service Explorer Apr. i2024 DAR Total TotalAnnuatVRH 8393 5979 14372 VRH Rate $36.05 $36.05 VRH +Fuel + Fixed Cost- Revenue Total VRH Cost $302,567 $215,534 $518,101 Miscellaneous Cost $15,900 $15,900 Annual Fuel Costs $86,805 $23,007 $109,812 $561,782 $1,267,761 Overall Total Cost $389,372 $238,540 $627,913 Grand Total for Transit Year Apr. 2023 -Mar. 2024 Service Explorer DAR Total VRH +Fuel + Fixed Cost- Revenue $690,079 $545,882 $1,235,961 Miscellaneous Cost $15,900 $15,900 $31,800 Grand total $705,979 $561,782 $1,267,761 Miscellaneous costs include additional maintenance, fuel tax, and compliance fees (safety and compliance). City Council Meeting September 10, 2024 Page 4 of 11 Based on the 5 -year historical data of annual increases in VRHs rates and fixed cost, if the City maintains services as is, staff has projected the following increases for each service. VRH rates - Based on historical increases of 5% - 19% per year, rates may increase by $2.07 - $12.84, resulting in hourly rates between $43.23 - $54.01 per year. Fixed Costs - Based on historical increases of 3.2% - 11.2% per year, fixed costs may increase by $20,600 - $89,200 annually, resulting in a total cost between $664,500 - $885,400 per year. If VRHs and fuel costs remain stable in the upcoming years, 2023-2024 transit service data will help us project VRH and fuel costs, if the City would like to maintain these services. The chart below provides projections of VRH and fuel costs for each transit service for the next 3 years based on min/max historical increases of our current 5 -year contract. Projected costs are based on the following increases, between 5%-19% for VRH rates and 3.2% - 11.2% for fixed costs. Year Projected VRH & Fuel Cost 25-26 for 2025-2028 26-27 27-28 Cost per VRH (5%-19%) $43.23 - $48.99 $45.39 - $51.44 $47.66 - $54.01 Overall Fixed Cost $664,500-$716,000 $685,800-$796,200 $707,700-$885,400 Est. Annual VRHs Explorer 8400 8400 8400 DAR 6000 6000 6000 Projected VRH cost Explorer $363,000-$411,500 $381,300-$432,100 $400,300-$453,700 DAR $259,400 - $294,000 $272,300 - $308,700 $286,000 - $324,000 Average Fuel Costs Explorer $87,000 $87,000 $87,000 DAR $23,000 $23,000 $23,000 Projected Overall Cost Explorer $450,100-$498,500 1 $468,300-$519,100 $487,300-$540,700 DAR $282,400 - $317,000 1 $295,300 - $331,700 $309,000 - $347,000 Year Projected Fixed Cost 25-26 for 2025-2028 26-27 27-28 Annual Increase (3.2%-11.2%) $20,600-$72,100 $21,300-$80,200 $22,000-$89,200 Overall Fixed Cost $664,500-$716,000 $685,800-$796,200 $707,700-$885,400 Each service $332,250 - $358,000 $342,900 - $398,100 $353,850 - $442,700 City Council Meeting September 10, 2024 Page 5 of 11 Based on historical rate increases and data completed using min/max costs to project an inclusive of VRH rates, fuel, and fixed costs. ridership levels. for the transit year 2023-2024, calculations were overall average cost to maintain each program, Total costs may be higher or lower depending on Projected Average Year Cost for Transit 2025-2026 Services 2025 2026-2027 - 2028 2027-2028 Explorer Dial -a -ride Patrons All residents VRH & Fuel Costs $474,300 $493,700 $514,000 Split Fixed Costs $345,100 $370,500 $398,300 Total $819,400 $864,200 $912,300 365 days Routes Fixed Curbside Win 5mi radius of City limits; DAR Two Two Exceptions/Benefits VRH & Fuel Costs $299,700 $313,500 $328,000 Split Fixed Costs $345,100 $370,500 $398,300 Total 1 $644,800 $684,000 $726,300 Grand Total 1 $1,464,200 1 $1,548,200 1 $1,638,600 In addition to analyzing costs, staff detailed the differences between each service and gathered ridership data. It is important to note these differences to determine the benefits/costs of exploring alternative ride sharing services to supplement or replace our current transit services. Rosemead Transit Services Explorer Dial -a -ride Patrons All residents 55+ or w/ permanent disabilities Cost per trip $0.50 $0.50 M - F: 6am - 8pm M - Sun: 6am -7pm Sat - Sun: 1Oam-5pm Holidays: 8am-4pm Hours of Operation 365 days 365 days Routes Fixed Curbside Win 5mi radius of City limits; Vehicles in Service Two Two Exceptions/Benefits 1. two children 5 y/o & under 1. Free weekday transportation to Kaiser in travel free with adult Baldwin Park and Huntington Memorial in Pasadena 2. Subscription service available 3. Translation & rider escort services available 4. Two children 5 y/o & under travel free with adult 5. Visually impaired, aides/companions ride free Note Seniors & Disabled persons Application required w/ transit ID ride free City Council Meeting September 10, 2024 Page 6 of 11 To further understand how many patrons are using transit services, staff compiled and analyzed the number of riders per year per service. Annual ridership totaled 55,436, with the Rosemead Explorer providing 48,131 (87%) trips and DAR providing 7305 (13%) trips. If patrons would like to use Rosemead Explorer services, they simply wait at the designated stops on the fixed route and then pay the fare to board the bus to their destination. DAR services are provided for seniors 55+ and individuals with permanent disabilities. First Transit, Inc. ensures compliance with the provision of service requirements of the American with Disabilities Act ("ADA") and requires patrons to submit an application to utilize this service. Once the application is approved, they are issued a transit ID that they may also use to board the Rosemead Explorer for free. Currently, there are 125 registered users and 48 passengers with subscriptions. Staff conducted an in-depth review of ridership information for Fiscal Year 2023- 2024 provided by the vendor and concluded that 39 individuals of the 125 registered users utilize DAR. The data for the 39 riders provides detailed information on a total of 3,040 trips/passengers and destinations. This data does not account for aids or guests that may accompany the main rider. This additional data is hand -calculated and reported in the monthly invoices. Staff noted a difference of 7,305 passengers reported during the transit year (Apr. — Mar.) in monthly invoices vs. 3,040 passengers provided in the data for FY 23-24. Both periods cover 12 -months and the vendor explained the variance of passengers can be accounted for with the hand -calculated data. The charts below detail the number of trips taken by 39 DAR riders. If the rider has more than 100 trips per year, the chart will detail the exact number of trips per rider. Any rider with less than 100 trips per year has been condensed into a category of trip volume. City Council Meeting September 10, 2024 Page 7 of 11 Below are charts summarizing frequented destinations and pick-up locations of DAR riders from Julv 2023 — June 2024. City DAR D•2024 Destinations Rider00 + Trips fort Percent Outside Rider Annual Total Approx. Monthly Total Approx. Daily Total Roundtrips Per Year 1 717 60 2 358.5 2 587 49 1.6 293.5 3 333 28 0.9 166.5 4 268 22 0.7 134 5 225 19 0.6 112.5 6 158 13 0.4 79 7 108 9 0.3 54 Totals 2396 200 6.5 1198 Below are charts summarizing frequented destinations and pick-up locations of DAR riders from Julv 2023 — June 2024. City DAR D•2024 Destinations Trips Percent Outside Adult School 69 2% Outside Bank 47 2% Outside Church 75 2% Outside Dining 8 0% Outside Doctor/Medical 85 3% Outside Grocery/Shopping 256 8% Outside Gym 15 0% Outside Misc 123 4% Outside Senior Center 180 6% Baldwin Park Kaiser 45 1% 903 30% Rosemead Bank 9 0% Rosemead Dining 23 1% Rosemead Doctor/Medical 28 1% Rosemead Grocery/Shopping 230 8% Rosemead Gym 374 12% Rosemead Misc. 49 2% Rosemead Senior Housing 11 0% Rosemead Home 1413 46% 2137 70% Grand Total 3040 City Council Meeting September 10, 2024 Page 8 of I I DAR Pick-up City Locations for July 2023 - June Total 2024 Percent Rosemead 2138 70% Alhambra 106 3% Arcadia 47 2% Baldwin Park 45 1% El Monte 176 6% Irwindale 9 0% Montebello 212 7% Monterey Park 170 6% Pasadena 3 0% San Gabriel 91 3% South El Monte 3 0% Temple City 40 1% $99.49 Total 3040 It is important to understand ridership usage and behavior to determine if our current transit services meet the needs of our residents and are cost-effective. Based on actual expenditures from transit year 2023-2024, the chart below provides the average cost the City paid for each service per passenger per trip. .• Program Costs $706,000 Program Costs $561,800 Annual Trips 48,131 Annual Trips 7,305 Per Passenger $14.67 Per Passenger $76.91 Based on the projected average expenditures for 2025 — 2028 and an assumption that ridership remains relatively stable, per -passenger costs are anticipated to increase due to increasing costs seen each year. If ridership increases, per passenger costs may decrease, and if it decreases then cost per passenger may increase more. Projectedper 2025-2026 i 2026-2027 2027-2028 Explorer Cost $819,400.00 $864,200.00 $912,300.00 Trips/Passengers 48,000 48,000 48,000 Per Passenger $17.07 $18.00 $19.01 DAR Cost $644,800.00 $684,000.00 $726,300.00 Trips/Passengers 7,300 7,300 7,300 Per Passenger $88.33 $93.701 $99.49 City Council Meeting September 10, 2024 Page 9 of 11 Due to the significant cost of maintaining DAR services, staff has researched if using alternative transit services may be a more cost-effective subsidized transportation in the City. The City of Monrovia has established a public-private partnership with Lyft to provide subsidized trips for non -ADA related trips at $3.00 for a classic ride (up to four passengers) and $0.50 for shared rides and ADA -related trips. Riders who change the destination mid -ride or get picked up or dropped off outside the coverage area will not qualify for the subsidized fare. The program allows riders 18 and over to request a ride through the phone app or via telephone (pre -registration required). If the rider is requesting a ride via telephone and they have a cellphone, they will be sent a text message with info about the driver and vehicle information. If the telephone option is utilized versus the phone app, charges will be billed at the end of each month. Lyft also offers Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV) that can be accessed via the app. In addition to Lyft services available to all residents, in July 2023, Monrovia made their transportation option specifically for seniors (62+) and passengers with disabilities, accessible via the Lyft app to ensure ADA accessible vehicles are readily available. Since the implementation of the Lyft subsidized transportation services, staff reported ridership levels increased by over 1,220% since the program was initiated in March 2018. Based on reported average trip costs of $6.00 and ridership levels at 31,000 per month, the projected annual cost for the Lyft program was approximately $2.2 million. Using the data from Monrovia, Lyft's pricing model, and historical data of our transit services, staff believes the average subsidy will cost the city $10/trip. For comparative purposes, the average subsidy per ride through the City's current services is $14.67 for Explorer and $76.91 for DAR service. This means that the Lyft model offers cost savings of over 80% for Explorer and 800% for DAR services at the current ridership levels. A chart is provided below to project the costs of providing transit services with Lyft. Projected Explorer DAR City Cost per Trip $10 $30 @Current Trips Levels 48,000 7,300 Total $480,000 $73,000 $553,000 It should be noted that Lyft can provide a customizable service but the costs are not fixed unless the City sets limits for service area boundaries, maximum rides per month per rider, and subsidized cost per ride. It is also unknown whether ADA compliance can always be met due to varying availability of vehicles. Monrovia contracted with an additional company to manage the ADA fleet and ensure compliance. Due to these varying factors, staff researched an additional transportation company that offered similar services with a fixed costs model. Staff reached out to Freebee, a sustainable micro -transit company based out of Miami, Florida that offers on -demand transportation services through an all -electric fleet, compliant with ADA. Riders can access this ride -sharing service through a phone application or via a dispatch line. Currently the company primarily services south Florida but can provide services in California. Their pricing structure is solely based on hours of operation and charges per hour. This unique pricing structure City Council Meeting September 10, 2024 Page 10 of 11 differentiates itself from other vendors because all costs are fixed, regardless of ridership levels. Based on their cost model and our current hours of operation, the chart below details projected costs to fund this alternative transit service. The hourly rate is all inclusive and does not require additional costs, such as City owned vehicles, insurance, maintenance, fuel, etc. The service levels (i.e., number of vehicles, hours of operation, service area perimeters, etc.) are customizable and can be adjusted based on the City's needs. Hours of Operation Monday -Sunday 6am - 8pm Hours No. of Vehicles in His. per Day per Day Service I Vehicles 1 14 1 4 1 56 1 Total Hours per Week 392 Est. Hourly Rate $42 Weekly Cost $16,464 Annual Cost $856,128 Staff needs further time to determine the pros and cons of full implementation of alternative transit services. Based on past and projected expenditures of our current transit services, utilizing these alternatives could present a cost savings with an assumption that the current ridership level remains consistent. However, any cost savings would ultimately depend on possible increases in future ridership levels. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Receive and provide direction to staff. FINANCIAL IMPACT None. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW None. STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT None. PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS City Council Meeting September 10, 2024 Page 11 of 11 This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process. Prepared by: Amanda Moreno, Senior Management Analyst Attachment A: PowerPoint Presentation Attachment B: Staff Report, July 23, 2024 Attachment C: First Transit Invoice Summary Attachment D: Rosemead Transit Cost Proposal Attachment E: Freebee Information