Title
Recommendation to Endorse the Draft Goals for AC Transit’s Comprehensive Operations Analysis. (Transportation 4227287)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
At the request of the AC Transit/City of Alameda Inter-Liaison Committee (ILC), AC Transit is beginning a comprehensive operations analysis (COA) to improve and expand AC Transit services in the City of Alameda (City). At this time, staff is requesting that the City Council endorse the draft COA service goals for future bus services in the City.
BACKGROUND
The City’s 2018 Transportation Choices Plan and 2019 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan set goals for significant mode shift for existing Alameda residents, employees and visitors requiring enhanced and expanded transit options to successfully achieve these goals (Exhibit 2). Additionally, as new residential and commercial developments create new transit-oriented mixed-use neighborhoods in Alameda Point and other areas, the transit network must expand to serve these growing areas to facilitate seamless travel both on and off the island.
AC Transit is beginning a comprehensive operations analysis (COA) to improve and expand AC Transit services in the City. AC Transit does not currently have the financial resources available to provide service at the levels described by the draft service goals described below. Nevertheless, a primary purpose of the COA effort is to identify the funding that would be necessary to provide the services needed to meet the service goals. Once AC Transit and the City know the costs to provide the services, the City can more effectively assist AC Transit regionally and locally in the effort to identify and pursue the necessary funds. The City and the local development community are currently providing funds to AC Transit for the supplemental services and EasyPasses in the Northern Waterfront and for EasyPasses in Alameda Point, and will be providing financial support for additional service and EasyPasses to Alameda Point and Alameda Landing in 2020.
DISCUSSION
As one of the first steps of this COA planning process, the Transportation Commission reviewed the draft COA service goals for future bus services in Alameda on November 20, 2019. Staff would also like to invite the City Council to review and endorse the service goals as an initial step in this joint planning effort between the City and AC Transit.
The draft service goals are intentionally aspirational. If achieved, these goals would support significant mode shift in the community, thereby reducing congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. Based on these ultimate service goals, AC Transit in conjunction with the City will develop service alternative proposals to bring about a more cohesive and expansive bus system.
The draft service goals for the COA are:
To provide frequent, rapid, reliable and cost-effective bus transportation that ensures:
• 85% of Alameda residents on the main island and 50% on Bay Farm Island live within ¼ mile of high-frequency, high-quality bus service.
• Peak hour bus service frequency of 10 minutes or less by 2030.
• Transbay services provide seats for all passengers.
The Transportation Commission reviewed these goals on November 20, 2019, and stressed the need for reliable and cost effective bus service and cautioned about setting the City up for needing to increase subsidies to AC Transit.
The next phases of planning involve analyzing existing conditions, preparing a market analysis and developing service alternative proposals to be incorporated into a draft and then final COA with expected completion in fall 2021.
Exhibit 1 is the draft COA work scope. Exhibit 2 lists the AC Transit-related projects in the City’s Transportation Choices Plan. Exhibits 3 and 4 show the existing ridership for Alameda bus lines and how AC Transit funds align with the populations of local jurisdictions, respectively.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Endorse the draft service goals as recommended.
2. Revise and endorse the draft service goals.
3. Direct staff and the ILC representatives to request that AC Transit not proceed with a COA to improve services in the City.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The COA will be prepared by AC Transit. The City will provide support with staff time and resources, currently budgeted for work on citywide multimodal transportation improvements and plans. Preparing the COA study does not commit the City General Fund or other financial resources to fund additional transit services.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
The long-term planning efforts by AC Transit are consistent with the following City documents and policies:
• The Transportation Element of the General Plan:
o Support a convenient, cost-effective public transit system to serve the mobility needs of all segments of the population, including citizens with disabilities, to and from major destinations in Alameda and throughout the region. (4.1.1.e)
o Employ transportation system management measures to improve traffic and transit movements and safety for all modes of travel. For example, coordinating and synchronizing signals. (4.1.1.o.1)
o Continue to support the fixed-route AC Transit system to provide mobility for all, including those without access to personal transportation. (4.1.5.c)
o Update and implement the recommendations of the Alameda Long Range Transit Plan. (4.3.1.a)
o Actively encourage increases in public transit, including frequency and geographic coverage. (4.3.1.c)
o Implement queue jump lanes and other strategies for improving transit operations. (4.3.1.j)
• The City’s Transportation Choices Plan lists the Alameda Point Bus Rapid Transit Service as project #19, Crosstown Express Bus Service as project #22 and Regional Transit Hub Connector Bus Service as project #28.
• The City’s declared climate emergency in that transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Alameda expected to amount to 70 percent by 2020 and a mode shift to riding the bus from solo driving would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Adoption of the draft goals is not a project under Public Resources Code section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines section 15378 because it does not have the potential to cause either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
CLIMATE IMPACTS
Transportation is Alameda’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in approximately 70 percent of the community’s total emissions. Implementation of AC Transit improvements and increased transit ridership in the community is essential if the City is to meet its greenhouse gas emission reduction goals as established by the 2019 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation to endorse the draft goals for AC Transit’s Comprehensive Operations Analysis.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
As stated in the report these are aspirational or visionary goals. If approved we are looking for AC Transit to bring back a plan with funding/costs associated with the plan. At that time, the City Council would need to evaluate how the plan can be funded and what if any the budgetary impacts would be to Alameda.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew Thomas, Planning, Building and Transportation Director
By,
Gail Payne, Senior Transportation Coordinator
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. AC Transit Comprehensive Operations Analysis Draft Work Scope
2. AC Transit-related Projects in the City’s Transportation Choices Plan
3. AC Transit Ridership Analysis for Alameda Bus Lines
4. AC Transit Service Hours by Population
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager