| ITEM #: 6. DATE: 06/12/2023 AI #:1539 |
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CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
| SUBJECT: | APPROVE AMENDMENT 12 TO THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT (IGA) BETWEEN THE CITY OF GOODYEAR AND THE REGIONAL PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY FOR THE CONTINUED PROVISION OF ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT SERVICES |
| STAFF PRESENTER(S): | Christine McMurdy, Project Management Coordinator |
SUMMARY
The twelfth amendment to the IGA will renew Valley Metro’s obligation to provide express bus trips at the Goodyear Park and Ride, fixed route bus service on Route 3 and Route 17, and Paratransit/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) services via Dial a Ride and the RideChoice program. Small Urbanized Area federal transit funding will offset $288,344 of the city’s cost to provide FY2023 Dial a Ride and RideChoice services, requiring a city share of $271,859.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
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RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to approve Transit Services Amendment 12 between the City of Goodyear and the Regional Public Transit Authority (RPTA) for the continued provision of transit services in Goodyear and related FY2024 budget transfer. (Christine McMurdy, Project Management Coordinator)
FISCAL IMPACT
The FY2024 total cost of the city’s share of services under this agreement is $271,859 which is composed of $69,466 for Regional Paratransit and $202,393 for RideChoice services.
The FY2024 estimated city share of the cost of federally mandated regional Paratransit service (Dial a Ride) is $69,466 after fare revenue, federal operating funds, and $16,485 in Public Transportation Funds (Prop 400) is deducted.
The FY2024 city share of the cost to provide RideChoice service is $202,393 after fare revenue and federal operating assistance funding is deducted.
Staff is requesting a budget transfer of $271,859 from the Arizona Lottery Fund (ALF) to cover the cost for FY2024 transit services.
The FY2024 estimated city share of the cost of federally mandated regional Paratransit service (Dial a Ride) is $69,466 after fare revenue, federal operating funds, and $16,485 in Public Transportation Funds (Prop 400) is deducted.
The FY2024 city share of the cost to provide RideChoice service is $202,393 after fare revenue and federal operating assistance funding is deducted.
Staff is requesting a budget transfer of $271,859 from the Arizona Lottery Fund (ALF) to cover the cost for FY2024 transit services.
BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS
Schedule A of the Amendment refers to regionally funded Fixed Route Bus Service, which includes the Route 562 Express bus operating out of the Goodyear Park and Ride Monday through Friday, and Route 17 (McDowell Road) and Route 3 (Van Buren), which operate Monday through Saturday. RPTA Funds (Prop 400) pay for these services.
Schedule C refers to federally mandated ADA Paratransit (Dial a Ride) service, which is required to be provided within ¾ miles of Route 17, and Route 3. Schedule C of the Amendment shows that after the city’s allocation of Proposition 400 Paratransit funds (identified in Schedule E), and federal operating assistance are applied, the city’s cost for Paratransit service in FY2024 is $69,466.
Schedule D refers to the RideChoice program, which offers ADA certified residents of Goodyear a trip to work, school or medical appointments for $3 for up to 8 miles, with any additional miles costing $2 per mile or a mileage-based option that allows customers up to 400 miles per month, for trips of up to 50 miles in length, for $3 per trip. The cost of service for FY2024 is $202,393. The City pays for RideChoice services using advertising revenue from the digital marquee at the Park and Ride.
Schedule E refers to the City’s allocation of Public Transportation Funds (PTF) available for offsetting the cost for ADA trips in Goodyear. The maximum amount available, $16,485 is applied to the City’s Dial a Ride expenses, noted in Schedule C.
Schedule C refers to federally mandated ADA Paratransit (Dial a Ride) service, which is required to be provided within ¾ miles of Route 17, and Route 3. Schedule C of the Amendment shows that after the city’s allocation of Proposition 400 Paratransit funds (identified in Schedule E), and federal operating assistance are applied, the city’s cost for Paratransit service in FY2024 is $69,466.
Schedule D refers to the RideChoice program, which offers ADA certified residents of Goodyear a trip to work, school or medical appointments for $3 for up to 8 miles, with any additional miles costing $2 per mile or a mileage-based option that allows customers up to 400 miles per month, for trips of up to 50 miles in length, for $3 per trip. The cost of service for FY2024 is $202,393. The City pays for RideChoice services using advertising revenue from the digital marquee at the Park and Ride.
Schedule E refers to the City’s allocation of Public Transportation Funds (PTF) available for offsetting the cost for ADA trips in Goodyear. The maximum amount available, $16,485 is applied to the City’s Dial a Ride expenses, noted in Schedule C.
STAFF ANALYSIS
The addition of WeRIDE Microtransit service in central Goodyear is expected to offset some Dial a Ride and RideChoice services. Regional accessible services offered by Valley Metro pick up customers at their door and deliver them to the front door of their destination, while WeRIDE functions via a virtual stop arrangement, requiring customers to walk a short distance for their pickup/drop-off. Accordingly, as long as regional fixed-route buses travel to Goodyear, it will be necessary to offer at least Dial a Ride to comply with the ADA. RideChoice will also be necessary for areas of Goodyear that are not served by a Microtransit zone and/or the customer requires and is certified for door to door transportation.
Paratransit and fixed route service costs for both East and West Valley have increased to address contractor high vacancy rates caused by severe labor shortages. The Valley Metro Board of Directors approved contract changes in the form of offering higher salaries to vehicle operators and mechanics to address this issue. Transit operators are required to maintain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), which can dissuade potential operators from seeking these jobs when many other occupations do not require this level of certification.
Higher costs for Dial a Ride and RideChoice services, plus the addition of Microtransit are depleting the two funds (Park and Ride and Arizona Lottery Funds) the City has relied on to cover the cost of transit services in Goodyear. This is also the last year that the City can rely on operating support from the Federal Transit Administration because the Avondale/Goodyear Urbanized Area (UZA) was absorbed into the larger Phoenix West-Goodyear-Avondale Urban Area as a result of the 2020 Census, making federally supported transit operations ineligible. Staff is working with the Budget Division to forecast transit funding for the longer term.
Paratransit and fixed route service costs for both East and West Valley have increased to address contractor high vacancy rates caused by severe labor shortages. The Valley Metro Board of Directors approved contract changes in the form of offering higher salaries to vehicle operators and mechanics to address this issue. Transit operators are required to maintain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), which can dissuade potential operators from seeking these jobs when many other occupations do not require this level of certification.
Higher costs for Dial a Ride and RideChoice services, plus the addition of Microtransit are depleting the two funds (Park and Ride and Arizona Lottery Funds) the City has relied on to cover the cost of transit services in Goodyear. This is also the last year that the City can rely on operating support from the Federal Transit Administration because the Avondale/Goodyear Urbanized Area (UZA) was absorbed into the larger Phoenix West-Goodyear-Avondale Urban Area as a result of the 2020 Census, making federally supported transit operations ineligible. Staff is working with the Budget Division to forecast transit funding for the longer term.