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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2004 0204 CC REG ITEM 09FTO: FROM DATE: MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT The Honorable City Council John Brand, Senior Management Analyst( ITEM q • F. January 14, 2004 (CC meeting of February 4, 2004) SUBJECT: Consider Providing Comments on Possible Unmet Transit Needs to the Ventura County Transportation Commission and Receive Report on Unmet Transit Needs Findings and Goals. SUMMARY On April 18, 2002, Council directed staff to prepare an annual report on Moorpark City Transit's performance regarding the findings and goals that VCTC adopts each year at the conclusion of the Unmet Transit Needs process. Attachment "A" serves as this year's annual report on Moorpark's performance and an overview of the Unmet Transit Needs process. The Council is being asked to review the annual report, provide comments, and direct staff to forward the comments to VCTC prior to February 9. DISCUSSION On February 2, 2004, the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) will hold its annual public hearing on Unmet Transit Needs at the Camarillo City Hall. The public may also fax, email, telephone, or mail comments to VCTC until February 9, 2004. The information on how to submit comments is on the attached flyer (Attachment B). Staff advertised the comment period in the Moorpark City Transit buses, on the City cable TV channel 10 character generator, and on the City web site. The, public was encouraged to submit their comments to VCTC. Additionally, information about the City Council's consideration of Unmet Transit Needs at its February 4, 2004 meeting was also distributed. Most public transit operators in Ventura County use Local Transportation Funds (LTF) to support portions of their system. The LTF is authorized by the Transportation Development Act (TDA) and its revenue is derived from .25cent of the 7.25 cent retail sales tax collected statewide. LTF is distributed to the cities and counties based on population. This revenue, often referred to as TDA funds, must first be spent on transit needs that are "reasonable to meet." After those needs are met, any remaining TDA funds may be used for streets 000058 Honorable City Council February 4, 2004 Page 2 and roads by the receiving jurisdiction. The specific requirement of the TDA act, Public Utilities Code (PUC) Section 99401.5 (c), requires that the local transportation planning agency (VCTC) hold at least one public hearing each year for the purpose of soliciting comments on the Unmet Transit Needs that may exist within the jurisdiction and that may be reasonable to meet by establishing or contracting for new public transportation or specialized transportation, or by expanding existing services. All Unmet Transit Needs that are deemed reasonable to meet must be funded before any allocation is made to streets and roads. The definition used to determine if a need is reasonable to meet is outlined on Attachment „C„ According to PUC, VCTC must decide, by adopting a resolution, either that: 1. There are no Unmet Transit Needs; 2. There are no Unmet Transit Needs that are reasonable to meet; or, 3. There are Unmet Transit Needs, including needs that are reasonable to meet. The resolution must include information that provides the basis for VCTC's decision. A number of the public comments received over the years do not fall into the category of "Unmet Transit Needs." However, VCTC recognizes that they may be attainable operational changes. VCTC adopts some of these comments as goals. These goals, where applicable, are included in the City's annual report and are differentiated from the Unmet Needs Findings. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Provide comments and direct staff to forward them to VCTC, prior to the end of the public comment period of February 9, 2004. Attachment "A ": Report of Performance 2003 -2004 Unmet Transit Needs Moorpark City Transit Attachment "B ": VCTC Do You Have Transit Needs? (Flyer) Attachment "C ": Unmet Needs Background and Definitions 000059 Attachment "A" Report of Performance 2003 -2004 Unmet Transit Needs Moorpark City Transit The following information identifies the Unmet Transit Needs Findings adopted by VCTC and the Commission's approved goals for FY 2003 -2004, and the City's efforts to meet the findings and goals where applicable. Adopted Findings. as stated Ma-r 2- 9nnI f frnm urTr mcc +i n.,1 Text of Finding Accomplishments and Status Moorpark City Transit continued its level of service: two fixed routes operating Monday - Friday. Fiscal Year 2002 -2003 was the third year of a demonstration project to expand transit from eight operating hours per day (1 route 7:15 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.) to twenty -three operating hours per day (2 overlapping routes 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) The year -end farebox ratio of 14.12° was short of the 14.95% established goal. On July Continue all 1, 2003, The city trimmed existing bus service by one hour per day. The services, including 2003 -04 mid -year farebox ratio all demonstration is estimated to be 15.5 %, above services. the required 14.95% farebox ratio requirement for Moorpark City Transit. Also, effective July 1, 2003, a new demonstration project was initiated by the City Council. The demonstration project provides service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; President's Day; Cesar Chavez Day; Veteran's Day; and the afternoon of Christmas Eve. 000060 Unmet Transit Needs Report FY 2003 -2004 Text of Finding Accomplishments and Status This fiscal year, senior and disabled services continued, including the senior and ADA disabled Dial A Ride service, Continue public the extended ADA -only Dial A senior and disabled Ride service to Thousand Oaks, services in all and discount rates on Moorpark jurisdictions in the City Transit for seniors and county. disabled. A workshop was held at the Moorpark Active Adult Center to maintain the public awareness of the senior and disabled programs available. Page 2 000061 Unmet Transit Needs Report FY 2003 -2004 The goals listed here are not a part of the formal Unmet Needs process. The goals were identified in FY 2003/04 as desirable by VCTC. The City's efforts to accomplish the goals, as they relate to Moorpark's transit system, are documented below. VCTC will also continue efforts to meet the followinc coals: Text of Goal Accomplishments and Status The City Council approved the design of a bus shelter and bench and authorized the installation of eight shelters and benches. Staff Pursue and identify has identified several funding funding to allow local sources for shelters, including, agencies to install more but not limited to, CMAQ, §5307 bus benches and FTA, local developer shelters. transportation mitigation fees, and LTF funds as possible sources. The current bus shelter installation is funded by CMAQ funds. Installation of the shelters is expected to be completed in late Spring. VISTA -East connects with Moorpark City Transit at three stops: Moorpark College, Princeton Avenue, and Moorpark Metrolink Station. City staff requested that Improve schedule Coach USA Ltd (CUSA) use the same coordination and radio frequency for both services transfer connections (VISTA and Moorpark City Transit) between different bus so that bus drivers can better systems where coordinate transfers between the operationally feasible. services. This has improved inter- city connections. Metrolink and Amtrak also connect with Moorpark City Transit and VISTA -East. City staff has adapted the Moorpark City Transit schedule so that commuters can link between the Page 3 000062 Unmet Transit Needs Report FY 2003 -2004 Page 4 OOOO63 local bus service and the commuter rail trains. Text of Goal Accomplishments and Status City staff assisted VISTA -East in relocating the Princeton stop to a Adjust VISTA stops and nearby Moorpark City Transit stop. schedules as needed and At Moorpark College, the two City operationally feasible. routes are designed to meet with VISTA -East buses, one just before the VISTA bus and one just after it, at peak times. Continue community VCTC continued its "Ask Gordon" TV outreach and marketing and radio promotion of VISTA. City efforts to increase staff promotes the City Transit, awareness of the VISTA, Metrolink, senior and ADA availability of transit disabled services in every edition services for the general of the quarterly City newsletter, public, seniors and the as well as on the City TV channel, disabled, to be the City web site, and at the coordinated by VCTC. monthly Active Adult Center and in its newsletter. The City of Moorpark heavily promotes public use of the Nextbus service, the online website (www.nextbus.com) that uses Global Continue implementation Positioning System (GPS) of NEXTBUS(c) countywide technology to monitor bus schedule and provide additional adherence. It provides the public NEXTBUS(c) signs at with the "real time" location of a appropriate locations. bus and Nextbus predicts the bus's arrival at a given stop based on actual bus performance measured over time. Staff uses the Nextbus agency management data to monitor schedule adherence and research public comments and complaints. Insure that bus stops Moorpark installed bus stop signs and bus signage are in with maps at all stops. The signs compliance with the ADA are placed at a height so that the requirements. signs are readable by a person in a wheelchair. Page 4 OOOO63 Attachment "B" DO YOU HAVE TRANSIT NEEDS? Ventura County Transportation Commission Announces Its Public Hearing On Transit Needs The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) would like to hear your views on public transit service needs within Ventura County, and between Ventura County and Los Angeles /Santa Barbara counties as part of its process to identify unmet transit needs which it can reasonably meet. Are transit services adequate, or are there specific areas in which unmet transit needs could be reasonable to meet through the expansion of existing transportation systems, by establishing new systems, or by contracting for service from private operators? VCTC is especially interested in hearing about the specific transit needs of senior citizens, persons with disabilities, persons of low income, and for environmentally sensitive areas. ANAL There are several ways you can submit your comments: Y P Send them by mail to the Ventura Count Transportation Commission, Unmet Transit Needs Process, 950 County Square Drive, Suite 207, Ventura CA 93003 E -mail us a ; ` _, , or through our web site at www.goventura.org Fax us at (805) 642 -4860 Call us at 1 -800- 438 -1112 and ask to make a customer comment. Come to our public hearing (and check our web site for opportunities to provide comments directly to City Councils and the County Board of Supervisors) MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2004 1:30 P.M. - 3:30 P.M.-- ..�r,�• CAMARILLO CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS - _ ---- 601 CARMEN DRIVE CAMARILLO, CALIFORNIA We look forward to hearing from you. All comments must be received by February 9, 2004. 000064 Attachment "C" UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS BACKGROUND AND DEFINITIONS California Public Utilities Code (PUC) Section 99401.5 (c) requires that the local transportation planning agency (VCTC) hold at least one public hearing pursuant to Section 99238.5 for the purpose of soliciting comments on the unmet transit needs that may exist within the jurisdiction and that may be reasonable to meet by establishing or contracting for new public transportation or specialized transportation or by expanding existing services. All unmet transit needs that are reasonable to meet must be funded before any allocation is made to streets and roads pursuant to PUC Section 99401.5(e). Section 99238( c ) (1) (2) the Public Utilities Code specifies that the local social service transportation advisory council (CTAC /SSTAC in Ventura County) has the responsibility to participate in the annual process and must review and recommend action to VCTC on the findings. According to the California Public Utilities Code (PUC) Section 99401.5(d), prior to allocation of any Transportation Development Act Local Transportation Fund monies for street and road purposes, the Commission must decide by adopting a resolution either that: 1. There are no unmet transit needs; 2. There are no unmet transit needs that are reasonable to meet; or, 3. There are unmet transit needs, including needs that are reasonable to meet The resolution must include information that provides the basis for the Commission decision. In accordance with PUC Section 99401.5( c ) the Commission adopted definitions of "Unmet Transit Need" and "Reasonable to Meet" as follows: VCTC UNMET TRANSIT NEED DEFINITION and CRITERIA "Unmet Transit Need ": "Unmet transit needs" are, at a minimum, those public transportation services that have been identified by substantial community input through the public hearing process or are identified in a Short Range Transit Plan, in adopted Americans with Disability Act (ADA) plans or the Regional Transportation Plan and have not yet been implemented or funded. "Reasonable to Meet": Following is the VCTC adopted definition of "Reasonable to Meet' including the recommended benchmarks for the passenger farebox recovery ratio for new transit services in Ventura County. An unmet transit need shall be considered "reasonable to meet' if the proposed service (1) is in general compliance with the following criteria: E uit 1. The proposed service will not cause reductions in existing transit services that have an equal or higher priority. 2. The proposed service will require a subsidy generally equivalent to other similar services. Timing 1. The proposed service is in response to an existing rather than future transit need 000065 Feasibility The proposed service can be provided within available funding. (2) 2. The proposed service can be provided with the existing fleet or under contract to a private provider. Performance The proposed service will not unduly affect the operator's ability to maintain the required passenger fare ratio for its system as a whole. 2. The proposed service will meet the scheduled passenger fare ratio standards as described in the recommended benchmarks for the passenger farebox recovery ratio for new transit services in Ventura County. 3. The estimated number of passengers to be carried will be in the range of other similiar services, and /or, the proposed service provides a "link" or connection that contributes to the effectiveness of the overall transit system. Community Acceptance The proposed service has community acceptance and /or support as determined by the unmet needs public hearing record, inclusion in adopted programs and plans, adopted governing board positions and other existing information. (1) Proposed Service is defined as the specific transit service identified as an unmet need (as defined) and which requires evaluation against this definition of "reasonable to meet ". (2) Per state law, the lack of available resources shall not be the sole reason for finding that a transit need is not reasonable to meet. 000066