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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2018 0207 CCSA REG ITEM 09D ITEM 9.D. CITY OF MOORPARK,CALIFO;=R9@A City Council Meeting 02- 7-010/W MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL AC11ON: Cr'`''°e�`'�4 AGENDA REPORT ay_cmr BY: TO: Honorable City Council FROM: Sean Corrigan, City Engineer/Public Works Director G� Prepared by: Shaun Kroes, Program Manager ' DATE: January 24, 2018 (CC meeting of 02/07/18) 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, the City Council directed staff to prepare an annual report on the City's transit performance regarding the findings and goals that the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) adopts each year at the conclusion of the Unmet Transit Needs process. Attachment "A" serves as this year's annual report on the City's performance. The City Council is being asked to review the annual report, provide comments, and direct staff to forward the comments to VCTC prior to 5:00 p.m. on February 12, 2018. BACKGROUND On December 6, 2013, VCTC approved new Unmet Transit Needs definitions and adjusted its public participation input program. This revision was in response to VCTC's Regional Transit Study as well as the impacts of SB 716 and SB 203 (both of which became effective July 1, 2014). The revised definitions and public participation input program are detailed in Attachment "B" of this report. California Public Utilities Code (PUC) 99401.5(c) requires that VCTC hold at least one public hearing pursuant to PUC Section 99238.5 to solicit comments on Unmet Transit Needs that may exist within the jurisdictions 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 from TDA funds to the cities/county for streets and 55 Honorable City Council February 7,'2018 Page 2 roads pursuant to PUC 99401.5(e). Effective July 1, 2014, the remaining Ventura County cities that this is applicable to are Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark and Santa Paula (all cities with a population under 100,000 and not a member of the Gold Coast Transit District). Although there are now a limited number of cities that are affected by PUC 99401.5(e), VCTC must perform a countywide Unmet Transit Needs process. VCTC may identify an Unmet Transit Need in a service area not affected by PUC 99401.5(e) (such as Gold Coast Transit or the City of Thousand Oaks); however, it has no ability to require that Unmet Transit Need be implemented because the agency is already committing 100% of its TDA funding for existing transit services. DISCUSSION On February 2, 2018, VCTC will hold its annual public hearing on Unmet Transit Needs at Camarillo City Hall, during its regular Commission meeting. Staff will provide a summary of any comments made pertinent to Moorpark's transit services. VCTC will also hold three "listening sessions" one of which will be hosted at the Moorpark Civic Center on February 8, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Moorpark City Transit will have extended transit hours from bus and Dial-A-Ride services to give transit-dependent residents the opportunity to attend the meeting. The public may also submit written comments through VCTC's online Unmet Transit Needs survey, through email, telephone, or mail. Comments are due to VCTC by February 12, 2018. The information on how to submit comments is on the attached flyer, Attachment "C". Staff advertised the comment period in the City transit buses and on the City website. 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 7, 2018 meeting was distributed. According to the 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. Prior to VCTC's FY 2016/17 Transit Needs Assessment,VCTC would include an extensive list of transit goals that were not considered an Unmet Transit Need, based on comments submitted by the public. Goals that were applicable to Moorpark would be included in the City's Report of Performance. The VCTC report for FY 2016/17 no longer included a list of goals. Consequently, the City's Report of Performance has been revised to provide a 56 Honorable City Council February 7, 2018 Page 3 general report of transit services in Moorpark. The report also addresses any Moorpark- specific comments made during VCTC's Unmet Transit Needs process. FISCAL IMPACT None. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Provide comments and direct staff to forward them to VCTC, prior to the end of the public comment period. Attachment A— Report of Performance Attachment B — Unmet Needs Definition Attachment C — Unmet Transit Needs Flyer • 57 Attachment A Report of Performance 2017/18 Unmet Transit Needs Moorpark City Transit Moorpark City Transit FY 2016/17 Ridership Information: • Moorpark City Transit ended its transit demonstration service on August 1, 2016, due to lack of ridership. The hours of service became 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for Route 1, and 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Route 2. Days of service returned to Monday through Friday (Saturday service was eliminated). In FY 2016/17, ridership decreased 5.45% from 61,724 trips in FY 2015/16 to 58,361 trips in FY 2016/17 (excluding transit demonstration service trips). • Senior and disabled travel on Moorpark City Transit buses increased 41.65% in FY 2016/17 (from 9,137 trips to 12,943 trips). This is approximately 22.00% of all passengers on the buses. • In FY 2016/17 Dial-A-Ride services (both Intra and Inter-city services) provided 4,758 trips. This is a decrease of 6.98% compared to 5,115 trips in FY 2015/16. The continued decrease of service on Dial-A-Ride services may be attributed to the City implementing free bus service for , seniors and the disabled effective August 1, 2015. • The City's VCTC audited farebox ratio (including Moorpark City Transit, Beach Bus, and Dial-A-Ride services) was calculated at 34.33% for FY 2016/17. The high farebox ratio is attributed to the City's use of locally generated developer fees used as a "Route Guarantee" to provide transit services. Without the contribution, the City's farebox ratio would be 6.25%, well below the 20.00% requirement. 58 Page 2 Findings adopted by VCTC May 12, 2017. There are no Unmet Transit Needs that are reasonable to meet. During the Unmet Transit Needs process, VCTC presented Findings; some of which included or involved transit service in Moorpark. Those Findings are provided below, with a brief response. In some instances, the response is directly from VCTC. Comment/Service Request Response Service between Fillmore and Moorpark VCTC Response: - Fillmore to Moorpark High As a public transit entity, federal law School/Chaparral Middle School currently prohibits public transit operators - Fillmore to Moorpark College from providing school bus service exclusively for the transportation of students and school personnel in competition with school bus operators. For that reason, VCTC could not consider requests for direct transit service to/from the unified district schools in Moorpark. When school bus service isn't available to/from a desired school, the school districts are encouraged to work with their constituents to work toward the best funding solutions for improved school bus service. Regarding general public transit/paratransit service between Fillmore and Moorpark, the Valley Express fleet and Moorpark City Transit fleet does not possess enough vehicles to run the service and maintain required vehicle spare ratios. For this reason, it is not considered reasonable to meet for FY 17-18. However, the demand that has been expressed for this service warrants additional analysis to determine if future service will meet cost-effectiveness and service effectiveness criteria. It is recommended that Valley Express Transit and Moorpark City Transit coordinate service analysis along this corridor to determine if the service would be reasonable to meet in future fiscal years. 59 Page 3 Moorpark Staff Comments: The City supports the concept of transit service between Fillmore and Moorpark and is happy to work with VCTC and City of Fillmore on potential transfer points and times. Based upon comments submitted from the public; this appears to be demand from Fillmore residents, not Moorpark residents. Funding for the transit service should be from FillmoreNCTC. Express service to Metrolink stations VCTC Response: Currently VCTC is evaluating service operations on the Highway 101/Conejo Connection and the East County routes. Proposed service changes would provide AM express service to Moorpark Station and coordinate AM and PM meet times at Oxnard and Camarillo Stations. VCTC will continue to monitor the degree of demand expressed for this service. Sunday service between Simi Valley and VCTC Response: Moorpark Demand expressed for this service has been limited. Based on the performance of Moorpark City Transit weekend demonstration service between 2013-2016, maintaining weekend service would not be reasonable to meet based on cost- effectiveness criteria. Out of 64 individual comments submitted, one was from an identified Moorpark resident. The request was for morning and afternoon peak hour service between Moorpark and the Ventura County Government Center. VCTC began providing this service as part of its East-West Connector transit demonstration service, which began November 10, 2017. The service provides six trips to the Ventura County Government Center from Moorpark and six trips from the Ventura County Government Center to Moorpark. 60 ATTACHMENT B "UNMET TRANSIT NEED" Public transportation services identified by the public with sufficient broad-based community support that have not been funded or implemented Unmet transit needs identified in a government-approved plan meet the definition of an unmet transit need. Sufficient broad-based community support means that persons who will likely use the service on a routine basis demonstrate support: at least 15 requests for general public service and 10 requests for disabled service. Includes: • Public transit services not currently provided to reach employment, medical assistance, shop for food or clothing, to obtain social services such as health care, county welfare programs and education programs Service must be needed by and benefit the general public. • Service expansions including new routes, significant modifications to existing routes, and major increases in service hours and frequency Excludes: • Operational changes such as minor route changes, bus stop changes, or changes in schedule • Requests for extended hour(less than one(1) hour • Service for groups or individuals that is not needed by or will not benefit the general public • Comments about vehicles, facilities, driver performance and transit organizational structure • Requests for better coordination • Requests for reduced fares and changes to fare restrictions • Improvements funded or scheduled for implementation in the following year • Future transportation needs • Duplication or replacement of existing service "REASONABLE TO MEET" Outcome Definitions Measures&Criterias The proposed service will not cause reductions in existing Measures:Vehicle revenue service hours Equity transit services that have an equal or higher priority and revenue service miles. Criteria:Transit vehicle service hours and miles will not be reduced on existing routes to fund the proposed service Criteria: Same as definition that proposed Timing The proposed service is in response to an existing rather service is in response to an existing rather than future transit need than future transit need;based on public input Measure:Vehicle spare ratio:Transit system must be able to maintain FTA's Feasibility The proposed service can be provided with the existing spare ratio requirement of 20%(buses in fleet or under contract to a private provider peak service divided by the total bus fleet cannot fall below 20%). If less than 20%, can additional buses be obtained(purchased or 61 Outcome Definitions Measures&Criterias leased)or can service be provided under contract to a private provider'? Measure&Criteria.Route inspection to Feasibility There are adequate roadways to safely accommodate determine adequacy of infrastructure to transit vehicles accommodate transit vehicles and passengers. Measure:Total estimate annual passenger The proposed service will not unduly affect the operator's fare revenue divided by total annual Cost Effectiveness ability to maintain the required passenger fare ratio for its operating cost(the entire service including system as a whole the proposed service)Criteria:fare revenue/operating cost cannot fall below the operator's required passenger fare ratio. The proposed service will meet the scheduled passenger Cost Effectiveness fare ratio standards described in Attachment A Measures and criteria in Attachment A. Measure: Passengers per hour Criteria: Projected passengers per hour for the Service Estimated passengers per hour for the proposed service proposed service is not less than 70%of the Effectiveness will not be less than the system-wide average after three system-wide average(without the proposed years. service)at the end of 12 month of service, 85%at the end of 24 months of service, and 100%at the end of 36 months of service. PASSENGER FARE RATIOS It is desirable for all proposed transit services in urban areas to achieve a 20% passenger fare ratio by the end of the third year of operation.A passenger fare ratio of 10% is desired for special services(i.e , elderly and disabled)and rural area services*. More detailed passenger fare ration standards, which will be used to evaluate services as they are proposed and implemented, are described below Transit service both urban and rural areas, per state law, may obtain an "intermediate" passenger fare ratio. Urban Service Rural Recommended Action Service New Service Performance Criteria: End of Twelve Months Less than 6% Less than 3% Provider may discontinue service 6% or more 3%or more Provider will continue service, with modifications if needed 62 New Service Performance Criteria: End of Twenty-four Months Less than 10% Less than 5% Provider may discontinue service 10%or more 5% or more Provider will continue service, with modifications if needed New Service Performance Criteria: End of Thirty-Six Months** Less than 15% Less than 7% Provider may discontinue service 15%to 19% 7%to 9% Provider may consider modifying and continue service 20%or more 10%or more Provider will continue service, with modifications if needed *Per statute the VCTC may establish a lower fare for community transit(dial-a-ride)services. **A review will take place after 30 months to develop a preliminary determination regarding the discontinuation of proposed services 63 Attachment C IVIDORPARIff Afee CITY TRANSIT SHARE YOUR IDEAS FOR NEW SERVICE WITH US! KNOW A MISSING LINK? WOULD A NEW BUS ROUTE HELP? Contact Us: 1 -800-438-1112 � C' cgrasty@goventura.org www.goventura.org g g \Agim41 OR TELL US IN PERSON: • January 17, 2018, 4:00 pm at Santa Paula Community Center, 530 W. Main Street, Santa Paula • January 31 , 2018, 4:00 pm at Camarillo City Hall, Council Chambers Room, 601 Carmen Drive, Camarillo • February 2, 2018, 9:00 am at Camarillo City Hall, Council Chambers Room, 601 Carmen Drive, Camarillo (Public Hearing) • February 7, 2018, 6:30 pm at Moorpark Civic Center, Council Chambers, 799 Moorpark Avenue, Moorpark • February 8, 2018, 4:00 pm at Moorpark Civic Center, 799 Moorpark Avenue, Moorpark Moorpark City Transit and Dial-A-Ride hours will be extended to 7:00 pm on February 8 for individuals who would like to use public transit to attend the meeting. Written public comments will continue to be collected until February 12, 2018. 64 piti {* � 0 / lilT! ,i i ACOMPARTA SUS IDEAS PARA EL NUEVO SERVICIO CON NOSOTROS! 4USTED SABE DE UN DESAJUSTE EN SERVICIO? ,LE AYUDARiA UNA NUEVA RUTA DE AUTOBOS? Contactenos: e , 1 -800-438-1112 _ O 'C cgrasty@goventura.org -4 www.goventura.org DIGANOS EN PERSONA: • 17 de enero del 2018, 4:00 pm, Santa Paula Community Center, 530 W. Main Street, Santa Paula • 31 de enero del 2018, 4:00 pm, Camarillo City Hall, Council Chambers Room, 601 Carmen Drive, Camarillo • 2 de febrero del 2018, 9:00 am, Camarillo City Hall, Council Chambers Room, 601 Carmen Drive, Camarillo (Audencia Publica) • 7 de febrero del 2018, 6:30 pm, Moorpark Civic Center, Council Chambers, 799 Moorpark Avenue, Moorpark • 8 de febrero del 2018, 4:00 pm, Moorpark Civic Center, 799 Moorpark Avenue, Moorpark El 8 de febrero, las horas de Moorpark City Transit y Dial-A-Ride se extenderan a las 7:00 p.m. para las personas que deseen utilizar el transporte publico para asistir a la reiunion. Los comentarios por escrito del publico seran recolectados hasta el 12 de febrero del 2018. 65