Title
Recommendation to Approve a Funding Agreement with Alameda-Contra Costa Transit for Continued Supplemental 20-Minute Service during Peak Commute Periods on Line 19 for 30 Months Starting July 1, 2018 through December 31, 2020 Up to a Total Cost of $491,215; and
Adoption of Resolution Amending the General Fund, Measure B and Transportation Funds Budget for Fiscal Year 2017/18 to Fund the Continued Supplemental 20-Minute Service During Peak Commute Periods on AC Transit’s Line 19, Totaling $177,000. (Transportation Planning 4227287)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jill Keimach, City Manager
Re: Recommendation to Approve a Funding Agreement with Alameda-Contra Costa Transit for Continued Supplemental 20-minute Service during Peak Commute Periods on Line 19 for 30 Months Starting July 1, 2018 through December 31, 2020 Up to a Total Cost of $491,215; and Adoption of Resolution Amending the General Fund, Measure B and Transportation Funds Budget for Fiscal Year 2017/18
BACKGROUND
In 2015, the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) developed a district-wide Service Expansion Plan (SEP) amounting to $25.4 million annually. The SEP aims to improve the existing service network by trying to better meet demand and by providing frequent and reliable service to the densest residential and commercial neighborhoods. After an extensive public input process involving an October 2015 community meeting in Alameda, November 2015 public hearings, January 2016 Transportation Commission, the City Council approved AC Transit’s SEP on February 2, 2016, which was the Buena Vista Avenue/Line 19 alternative. One of the factors considered in selecting the Line 19 alternative was its proximity to new developments in the Northern Waterfront area and its ability for existing and future developments to provide supplemental funds to allow AC Transit to supplement the 30-minute service with 20-minute service during the peak commute periods.
Line 19 runs between Fruitvale BART, Bridgeside Center/Nob Hill Market, the Northern Waterfront Priority Development Area (PDA) along Buena Vista Avenue, Atlantic Avenue/Marina Village and Webster Street/College of Alameda and Downtown Oakland BART. The Line operates from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week at 30-minute frequency. Due to the 2016 supplemental funding agreement between AC Transit and Tim Lewis Partners (developer of the Del Monte Project) and Lennar Homes (Marina Shores Project) (Funding Agreement), AC Transit was able to provide the supplemental 20-minute service during the peak commute period. The Funding Agreement was established such that the Alameda Transportation Management Association (Alameda TMA), upon its formation and receipt of funds, would assume the obligation to fund the increased frequency service. The Alameda TMA now has been formed.
In January 2018, Alameda TMA informed the City and AC Transit that due to delays with the Del Monte project, the Alameda TMA will not be able to continue to contribute funds for the enhanced service until such time that the Del Monte Project is occupied, consistent with the City’s approvals. Pursuant to the terms of the Funding Agreement with AC Transit, Alameda TMA will continue to fund the supplemental service through June 30, 2018. Upon termination of the 20-minute service in June, the AC Transit Line 19 service will become a 30-minute service at all times of the day.
DISCUSSION
City staff, AC Transit staff and the Northern Waterfront Project Area Committee, comprised of Tim Lewis Communities, the Marina Shores Project HOA, and Wind River Company, have been exploring strategies to retain the supplemental 20-minute service until such time that other partners or the Del Monte Project is able to provide the necessary funding.
As of fall 2017, this route had 804 daily boardings with 45 percent of the boardings during the peak period, which totals 362 daily boardings during the peak period (Exhibit 1). As shown in the attached exhibit, ridership on the restored and reconfigured Line 19 has been growing since its initiation in December 2016, which demonstrates the need for the service in this area of the City. It is expected that ridership during the peak period would be reduced if the peak period frequency were reduced from the current 20 minutes to 30 minutes, although staff is not certain by how much exactly.
To preserve the 20-minute service for the next 30 months:
• AC Transit staff has agreed to recommend to their Board that AC Transit maintain the existing reduced operating costs for the City of Alameda for the supplemental service of $177,000 per year for the next 30 months with a four percent cap on annual escalation;
• Marina Shores HOA, the new Mulberry HOA (52 units nearing completion on Clement Avenue) and Wind River will continue to contribute their City-required TDM funds for Line 19 Supplemental Services and AC Transit Easy Passes.
• City staff will continue to work with Northern Waterfront property owners and regional agencies to identify additional funding sources. Any funds contributed by any one of these properties during the next 30 months would reduce the City’s $491,215 contribution.
In conclusion, City and AC Transit staff believe that with a funding agreement between the two entities for up to a total of $491,215 (City Funding Agreement), the City and AC Transit will be able to preserve the Line 19 supplemental 20-minute service for at least 30 additional months or until January 2021, at which time all parties believe additional funding will be available for the services.
AC Transit requires a decision by the City by mid-March to give AC Transit time for a potential service change in June 2018. Given AC Transit’s operational deadlines, it is necessary for the City Council to make a decision on the City Funding Agreement at the March 6, 2018 meeting. In the absence of a decision, AC Transit will be required to begin the process to discontinue the 20-minute supplemental service in June 2018.
Finally, the City Council and the community should be aware that the Line 19 is not the only high priority projects, which is either unfunded or underfunded. Other important transportation projects consistent with the recently approved Transportation Choices Plan that would benefit from additional City funding include the Main Street bikeway gap closure, the Otis Drive complete street project, Easy Pass expansion, Harbor Bay ferry terminal access, transportation awareness campaign and a bridge/tube expansion study.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The total expenditure for the work under this Agreement is not to exceed $491,215. The first 12 months is at the current hourly rate of $101, which totals $177,000. This agreement will commit the first 12 months in FY 17-18 and will require an amendment to FY 17-18 budget. The subsequent years are not allowed more than a four percent increase in the hourly rate, which means the hourly rate for year two is $105 and for the first six months of year three is $109 and total $206,850 and $107,365, respectively and will be included in the future budgets. A resolution amending the City’s FY 17-18 Fund Budget has been prepared for City Council adoption to fund this contract with Measure B/BB funds that would have been used on Pavement Management and the General Fund.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
General Plan Transportation Element policies support transportation design solutions that improve safety and balance the needs of all modes of transportation, including pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and automobile facilities. In 2001, the City Council adopted a Transit First Policy to increase the use of transit. In January 2018, the City Council approved the Transportation Choices Plan, which lists “Increase Frequency and Span of Service for Local Bus Routes” as a mid-term completion and high priority project.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
AC Transit is the lead agency, and concluded that the SEP would have no significant impact on the environment, as set forth in a Draft Initial Study/Negative Declaration. The AC Transit Board approved the Initial Study/Negative Declaration on January 13, 2016.
RECOMMENDATION
Consider approving a funding agreement with Alameda-Contra Costa Transit for continued supplemental 20-minute service during peak commute periods on Line 19 for 30 months starting July 1, 2018 through December 31, 2020 up to a total cost of $491,215; and adoption of resolution amending the General Fund, Measure B and Transportation Funds for Fiscal Year 2017/18.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Ott, Director of Base Reuse and Transportation Planning
By,
Andrew Thomas, Assistant Community Development Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Edwin Gato, Acting Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Line 19 Average Boardings
2. Draft Funding Agreement