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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2005 0202 CC REG ITEM 09CTO: FROM: DATE: MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT The Honorable City Council ITEM q • G - CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA City Council Meeting of a"oZ -02005 ACTION: /�- �� T2 ✓G TL c nom/ .d. - v John Brand, Senior Management Analyst January 26, 2005 (CC meeting of February 2, 2005) 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 "1" serves as this year's annual report on Moorpark's performance. The Council is being asked to review the annual report, provide comments, and direct staff to forward the comments to VCTC prior to February 14. DISCUSSION On February 7, 2005, 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 14, 2005. The information on how to submit comments is on the attached flyer Attachment "2 ". Staff advertised the comment period in the Moorpark City Transit buses, on the City cable TV channel 10, 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 2, 2005 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 $0.25 of every dollar of the 7.250 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 CC Meeting of February 2, 2005 Page 2 are "reasonable to meet." After those needs are met, any remaining TDA funds may be used for streets 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 "3 ". 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 RECOMIENDATION Provide comments and direct staff to forward them to VCTC, prior to the end of the public comment period. Attachment "1 ": Report of Performance 2003 -2004 Unmet Transit Needs Moorpark City Transit Attachment "2 ": VCTC Do You Have Transit Needs? (Flyer) Attachment "3 ": Unmet Needs Background and Definitions I)0003 Attachment "1" Report of Performance 2004 -2005 Unmet Transit Needs Moorpark City Transit The following information identifies the Unmet Transit Needs Findings adopted by VCTC including the Commission's approved goals for FY 2004 -2005, and the City's efforts to meet the findings and goals where applicable. Findings, as by VCTC adopted Mav 7. 2004 Text of Finding Continue all existing bus services, including all demonstration services. Accomplishments and Status Moorpark City Transit continued its previous levels of service, operating two fixed route buses Monday - Friday. Route 1 operates from 6:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M., and Route 2 operates from 6:40 A.M. to 6:10 P.M. Ridership grew to approximately 40,000 in FY 2003 -2004, and ridership is running 10% greater in 2004 -2005 YTD. The service met the target farebox ratio of 14.95% for the year. Text of Finding Continue public senior and disabled services in all jurisdictions in the county. Accomplishments and Status This Fiscal Year, Moorpark changed its senior and handicapped (ADA) dial a ride service provider to MV Transportation. All senior and disabled services continued, including the ADA disabled dial a ride service, extended disabled dial a ride service to Thousand Oaks, transportation to the congregate AAA meal site, and discount rates on Moorpark City Transit for seniors and disabled. A workshop was held at the Moorpark Active Adult Center to introduce the senior dial a ride service. Ninety -four seniors have signed up for the service. Ridership grew 9.8% in FY 2003 -2004 to 2,077 riders. However, YTD in FY 2004 -2005, ridership declined 12.30, primarily due to fewer limited -term participants so far this year. After adopting the recommendations listed above and based on the analysis of the written and verbal testimony provided to the Commission, the finding was that there are no unmet transit needs that are reasonable to meet. Unmet Transit Needs Report FY 2004 -2005 Notwithstanding efforts to meet the above findings, the following goals: VCTC will continue Text of Goal Pursue and identify funding to allow local agencies to install more bus benches and shelters, and transit information, where warranted and feasible. Accomplishments and Status The City installed eight bus shelters and thirteen (13) more are under construction and should be installed by February, 2005. The City uses its TDA transit allocation to pay for bus shelters. Transit information is posted at all bus stops, on board the buses, and on the City's web site. Text of Goal Continue to improve schedule coordination and transfer connections between different bus systems where operationally feasible. Accomplishments and Status VISTA -East connects with Moorpark City Transit. CUSA (the city's contractor) uses the same radio frequency for both services (VISTA and Moorpark City Transit) so that bus drivers can better coordinate transfers between the services. This has improved inter -city connections. Moorpark City Transit schedules are designed to optimize transfers between VISTA and Moorpark City Transit. The lack of a transfer ticket remains an impediment to linked trips using VISTA and local systems such as Moorpark City Transit. Text of Goal Continue to adjust VISTA stops and schedule as needed and operationally feasible. Accomplishments and Status City staff scheduled the Moorpark City transit routes so that each route connects with VISTA -East as closely as possible. In most instances, one Moorpark route arrives at the same stop just before VISTA, and the other Moorpark route arrives at the stop just after VISTA, allowing a rider to link up to the other service going in either direction. City staff requested that VISTA consult with the Moorpark City Transit prior to future schedule changes. VISTA reported that they make schedule changes in August of most years. Page 2 1)00',. 3; , Unmet Transit Needs Report FY 2004 -2005 Text of Goal Continue implementation of NEXTBUS(') countywide and provide additional NEXTBUS(c) signs at appropriate locations. Accomplishments and Status The NEXTBUS(c) web pages are promoted on the Moorpark City buses, web site, Ride Guide and bus stops. Text of Goal Insure that bus stops and bus signage are in compliance with the ADA requirements. Accomplishments and Status Moorpark City Transit has placed route maps and timetables on poles at bus stops to make them readable by a person sitting in a wheelchair. Bus stops are ADA compliant. Comments received affecting Moorpark. Moorpark City Transit There was a comment that City Moorpark City Transit bus stops needed route and schedule information. Accomplishments and Status Color route maps and detailed timetables of the bus route schedules are installed at every Moorpark City Transit bus stop. VCTC Response: This is not an Unmet Transit Need, but an operational improvement. Page 3 Attachment "2" 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. There are several ways you can submit your comments: Send them by mail to the Ventura County Transportation Commission, Unmet Transit Needs Process, 950 County Square Drive, Suite 207, Ventura CA 93003 Fwe E -mail us at vkamhi @goventura.org or through our web site at www.goventura.org 7� rr:• �� Fax us at (805) 642 -4860 Call us at 1- 800 - 438 -1112 Come to our public meeting: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2005 7:00 P.M. MOORPARK CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS 799 MOORPARK AVENUE MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7.2005 1:30 P.M. Je.t C . CAMARILLO CITY HALL — COUNCIL CHAMBERS 601 CARMEN DRIVE CAMARILLO, CALIFORNIA We look forward to hearing from you. All comments must be received by February 14, 2005. 0 O 0 13 1.0-'1 Attachment "3" December 3, 2004 Item # 11 (e) ACTION TO: VENTURA COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION FROM: GINGER GHERARDI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARY TRAVIS, VCTC STAFF SUBJECT: FY 05/06 TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT (TDA) UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE, PROCEDURES AND DEFINITIONS OF "UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS" AND "REASONABLE TO MEET" RECOMMENDATION: • Approve the schedule, procedures and definitions of "Unmet Transit Needs" and "Reasonable to Meet" for the FY 05/06 Transportation Development Act (TDA) Unmet Transit Needs Public Hearing. DISCUSSION: The purpose of this annual public hearing, which is required by the State Transportation Development Act (TDA), is to take testimony on local and /or regional transit needs, and then develop findings that ensure that all "reasonable" transit needs are satisfied before TDA funds are allocated for street and road purposes. It is recommended that the FY 05/06 public hearing be held on Monday, February 7, 2005 at 1:30 PM in the Camarillo City Hall Council Chambers. A detailed schedule for the FY 05/06 public hearing activities is included as Attachment # 1 to this item. The procedures for the hearing will be the same as in past years, that is, volunteers from the Commission will be sought at the January 7, 2005 meeting to sit as the hearing board for this purpose and testimony will be solicited from citizens and local agencies interested in public transportation. Community flyers, mailed notices and public advertisements will announce the hearing date and location, and also, alert the public that comments can be submitted in several ways i.e. at the hearing, at any local community meetings that might be arranged by the cities /County for this purpose, by letter or by email /phone call to VCTC. After the hearing, the public record is left open a week for any additional comments or follow -up. All of the comments will be reviewed by VCTC staff and local transit providers. The testimony will be analyzed in the context of VCTC's adopted definitions of "unmet transit needs" and "reasonable to meet ". Findings are then developed by staff which are reviewed by the Commission's advisory committees and the Hearing Board, and finally, presented to the Commission for action and submittal to the Caltrans Division of Mass Transportation in compliance with TDA regulations. Last year, a thorough discussion took place at the Citizen's Transportation Advisory Committee /Social Services Transportation Advisory Council (CTAC /SSTAC) about the required definitions of "unmet transit needs" and "reasonable to meet ". Included as part of the discussion was a review of how other counties in California define the terms; it was reassuring to discover that Ventura is setting the model for many other areas. At their November 9th meeting, the CTAC /SSTAC considered the FY 05/06 hearing schedule and definitions, and recommended they be forwarded to the Commission for review and approval. '➢00')35 December 3, 2004 Item #11(e) Page #2 The VCTC definitions for "Unmet Transit Need" and "Reasonable to Meet" are as follows: "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 local Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit plans and /or in the Regional Transportation Plan that have not yet been implemented or funded. "Reasonable to Meet ": 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, is: An unmet transit need shall be considered "reasonable to meet" if the proposed service* 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. Timina The proposed service is in response to an existing rather than future transit need. Feasibility 1. The proposed service can be provided within available funding. ** 2. The proposed service can be provided with the existing fleet or under contract to a private provider. Performance 1. 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 similar 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. * 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". ** 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. Y )0013;mil December 3, 2004 Item #11(e) Page #3 RECOMMENDED BENCHMARKS FOR PASSENGER FAREBOX RECOVERY RATIO FOR NEW TRANSIT /PARATRANSIT SERVICES IN VENTURA COUNTY. the State has established a basic requirement in Section 99268 of the Public Utility Code for all proposed transit services in irban areas. This requirement is to achieve a 20% passenger fare ratio by the end of the third year of operation. A similar argeted passenger fare ratio of 10% exists for special services (i.e. elderly and disabled) and rural area services. (1) /CTC has established more detailed interim passenger fare ratio standards, which will be used to evaluate services as they are proposed and implemented, which are described below. Transit serving both urban and rural areas, per state law, may )btain an "intermediate" passenger fare ratio. Performance Level Jrban Service Rural /Special Services .ess than 6 % i% or more Less than 3 % 3% or more END OF TWELVE MONTHS Recommended Action Provider may discontinue service Provider will continue service, with modifications if needed END OF TWENTY -FOUR MONTHS Performance Level Urban Service Rural /Special Services Less than 10% 10% or more Less than 5% 5% or more Recommended Action Provider may discontinue service. Provider will continue service, with modifications, if needed END OF THIRTY-SIX MONTHS (2) Performance Level Urban Service Rural /Special Services Less than 15% 15 -20% Less than 7% 7 -10% Recommended Action Provider may discontinue service Provider may consider modifying and continuing service 20% or more 10% or more Provider will continue service, with modifications if needed (1) Per statute the VCTC may establish a lower fare ratio for community transit (dial -a -ride) services. (2) A review will take place after 30 months to develop a preliminary determination regarding the discontinuation of proposed services. '_)CSC➢ )4C, Attachment # 1 Fiscal Year 05/06 Unmet Transit Needs Public Hearing and Process Schedule November 9, 2004 CTAC /SSTAC reviews and approves FY 05/06 unmet transit needs public hearing process, schedule and definitions December 3, 20004 VCTC approves FY 05/06 unmet transit needs public hearing process, schedule and definitions December 6, 2004 Letters /flyers are sent to cities /County, community groups, social service agencies, transit operators, and the general public to announce the public hearing and information is posted on the www.aoventura.org website January 3, 2005 Legal notice for public hearing published January 7, 2005 VCTC meeting — commissioner volunteers requested for Hearing Board January 24 and 31, 2005 Display advertisements on public hearing published in local English and Spanish language newspapers January 24, 2005 Reminder notices on the public hearing sent to agencies /citizens February 7, 2005 Public Hearing, 1:30 p.m. at Camarillo City Hall February 14, 2005 5 PM, hearing record closed - no further public testimony accepted March 17, 2005 Transit Operators Advisory Committee (TRANSCOM) reviews testimony and makes recommendations regarding the staff proposed findings; Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) invited to meeting March 24, 2005 (Tentative Date) Managers Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC) reviews testimony and makes recommendations regarding the proposed findings April 12, 2005 CTAC /SSTAC reviews testimony and makes recommendations regarding the staff proposed findings April 18, 2005 1:30 p.m. at Camarillo City Hall - Hearing Board reviews and approves findings May 6, 2005 10:00 a.m. at Camarillo City Hall - VCTC adopts FY 05/06 Unmet Transit Needs Public Hearing Findings May 9, 2005 Adopted findings are forwarded to the State for review August 15, 2005 Deadline for State review of findings 000041