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Home My WebLink AboutAGENDA REPORT 1999 0203 CC REG ITEM 10DTO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: SUMMARY City of Moorpark AGENDA REPORT The Honorable City Council qCD .-) ITEM IX CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA City Cmincii Meeting, ACTION: A (Wed Ee5o . No . 19 -156 as amcndecl John Brand, Senior Management Analyst_ January 25, 1999 (CC meeting of February 3, 1999) Consider Resolution No. 99- , Establishing the Fares for the City Transit Bus, and Rescinding Resolution 98- 1514. If approved, this resolution would adjust the fares for the Moorpark City Bus to comply with a requirement that senior and disabled persons receive a half -price fare on the Moorpark City Bus System. On September 16, 1998 the City Council adopted Resolution 98 -1514, adjusting the fares for the Moorpark City Bus. At that time the Disabled fare was reduced from 75� to 40�, and the Senior fare was reduced from 50� to 40�. The Student /Regular fare was unchanged at 75�. The 75� regular bus fare has not been adjusted since 1992. The City bus service began in 1989. A recent FTA (Federal Transit Administration) Triennial Performance Review (audit) of VCTC (the Ventura County Transportation Commission) resulted in a ruling that VCTC had misinformed member agencies, including Moorpark, regarding the senior /disabled half - price fare requirement. Until the recent report from the FTA, it was thought that senior /disabled half -price fares could be rounded up to the nearest nickel (5�). VCTC now informs staff that the FTA 000030 Bus Fare Adjustment CC Meeting of February 3, 1999 Page 2 requires that the fare discount be exact. The City of Moorpark Bus service is funded in part with TDA (Transportation Development Act) funds for operating costs and FTA funds for 80% of capital costs. State and federal laws and regulations impose a variety of criteria and requirements in order to be eligible to receive funds from these sources. One requirement for TDA and FTA funding is that elderly and handicapped bus passengers receive a '-� price bus fare on the regular fixed route bus during non -peak hours. Previously, VCTC had informed cities that rounding the fare to the nearest nickel is acceptable, and that all of the City's operating hours (7:15 a.m. -- 4:45 p.m. weekdays) are "'non -peak hours." REGIONAL BUS FARES In considering the bus fare adjustment, it may be important to remember another state & federal requirement: the farebox ratio. This is the requirement that transit systems recover at least twenty percent of their total operating costs from fares paid by riders of the transit system. According to the 1997/98 audit, the City of Moorpark has a farebox ratio just at the 20% minimum requirement. The City's state and federal subsidies (TDA funds) could be withheld should the City fail to maintain the 20% requirement. MOORPARK BUS FARE OPTIONS Three basic options will meet the primary requirement of having a half -price Senior and Disabled fare. Option 1 raises the Senior /Disabled fare and help the City of Bus Fare Adjustment 1999 Regular /Student fare 25�, and lOG. This will meet the FTA Moorpark meet the fare box by the requirement, increasing 000031 ra Moorpark VISTA Thousand Oaks (proposed) Simi Valley Camarillo Regular Adult .75 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 Student (5 -20) .75 .75 1.00 1.00 1.00 Senior .40 .50 .50 .35 .50 Disabled .40 .50 .50 .35 .50 Children <4 Free Free Free Free Free In considering the bus fare adjustment, it may be important to remember another state & federal requirement: the farebox ratio. This is the requirement that transit systems recover at least twenty percent of their total operating costs from fares paid by riders of the transit system. According to the 1997/98 audit, the City of Moorpark has a farebox ratio just at the 20% minimum requirement. The City's state and federal subsidies (TDA funds) could be withheld should the City fail to maintain the 20% requirement. MOORPARK BUS FARE OPTIONS Three basic options will meet the primary requirement of having a half -price Senior and Disabled fare. Option 1 raises the Senior /Disabled fare and help the City of Bus Fare Adjustment 1999 Regular /Student fare 25�, and lOG. This will meet the FTA Moorpark meet the fare box by the requirement, increasing 000031 ra Bus Fare Adjustment CC Meeting of February 3, 1999 Page 3 revenue. VCTC has encouraged the adoption of a $1.00 /50C fare structure because it is most consistent with the other systems in the County. Option 2 raises the Regular /Student fare a nickel. It may not help the farebox ratio to a measurable degree. Option 3 would lower the Senior /Disabled fare 5�. It would cause a reduction in revenue, and that will have an adverse impact on the farebox ratio. However, this adjustment alone is not likely to cause the failure of the system to meet the farebox ratio. Staff believes that at this time the most prudent option is Option 1. It will better position the Moorpark City Bus to meet its fare box ratio obligation, and provide better consistency among all transit systems within the County as encouraged by VCTC. Additionally, the regular fare has not been adjusted in over six years and difficulties over the exact change for the bus fare are more easily avoided by more rounded amounts provided in Option 1. In the same report, the FTA ruled that the City must add language to the City Bus schedule indicating that a Medicare card is sufficient identification to receive the ',� price fare on the City bus. (A special ADA eligibility card is required for the subsidized taxi service.) Staff is preparing to reprint the Ride Guide, with the new fares and the additional language required by the FTA. A resolution is provided for consideration. RECOMMNDATION (Roll Call Vote) Adopt Resolution No. 99- , establishing bus fares as identified in Option 1, and rescinding Resolution 98 -1514. Bus Fare Adjustment 1999 00003' Current Fare Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Regular Adult .75 1.00 .80 .75 Student (5 -20) .75 1.00 .80 .75 Senior .40 .50 .40 .35 Disabled .40 .50 .40 .35 Children 54 Free Free Free Free Staff believes that at this time the most prudent option is Option 1. It will better position the Moorpark City Bus to meet its fare box ratio obligation, and provide better consistency among all transit systems within the County as encouraged by VCTC. Additionally, the regular fare has not been adjusted in over six years and difficulties over the exact change for the bus fare are more easily avoided by more rounded amounts provided in Option 1. In the same report, the FTA ruled that the City must add language to the City Bus schedule indicating that a Medicare card is sufficient identification to receive the ',� price fare on the City bus. (A special ADA eligibility card is required for the subsidized taxi service.) Staff is preparing to reprint the Ride Guide, with the new fares and the additional language required by the FTA. A resolution is provided for consideration. RECOMMNDATION (Roll Call Vote) Adopt Resolution No. 99- , establishing bus fares as identified in Option 1, and rescinding Resolution 98 -1514. Bus Fare Adjustment 1999 00003' RESOLUTION NO. 99- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA, RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 98 -1514, AND ESTABLISHING THE FARES FOR THE CITY TRANIST BUS. WHEREAS, it is appropriate for the City to establish fees and charges for City services which fully reimburse the City for the associated services, unless specified otherwise by the City Council; and WHEREAS, the City provides fixed route bus service throughout the residential and commercial areas of the City; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The regular fare for a one -way bus ride is $1.00. SECTION 2. The student fare, ages 5 through 20 years, for a one -way bus ride is $1.00 SECTION 3. The senior fare for an elderly person aged 62 or older, for a one -way bus ride is 50C. SECTION 4. The disabled /handicapped fare for persons with disabilities, for a one -way bus ride is 50�. SECTION 5. Children aged four and younger ride free. SECTION 6. The City paratransit fare for a one way ADA Dial - a -Cab ride is $1.50. SECTION 7. That Resolution No. 98 -1514 is hereby rescinded. SECTION 8. This Resolution shall become effective March 1, 1999 and shall remain in effect until rescinded by the City Council. SECTION 9. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of the resolution and shall cause a certified resolution to be filed in the book of original Resolutions. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 3rd day of February, 1999. Patrick Hunter, Mayor ATTEST: Deborah S. Traffenstedt, City Clerk 000033