Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Interlocal Agreement with Texoma Area Paratransit Systems, Inc. (TAPS) for Transit Services in Support of the McKinney Job Access/Reverse Commute (JA/RC) Shuttle Bus Service
Summary
MEETING DATE: September 6, 2011
DEPARTMENT: Development Services - Planning
Assistant to the City Manager - Grants Administration
CONTACT: Kevin Spath, AICP, CFM, Assistant Director of Planning
Jennifer Arnold, Senior Long Range Planner
Janay Tieken, Grants Administrator
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
· Approval of the Resolution.
ITEM SUMMARY:
· Under the federal Job Access/Reverse Commute Program (JA/RC Program), the City of McKinney has the opportunity to implement a three-year pilot program to provide round-trip commuter shuttle bus service between McKinney and the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Parker Road Rail Station in Plano, Texas (known as the McKinney JA/RC Shuttle Bus Service).
· The attached Resolution authorizes the City Manager to execute an Interlocal Agreement with Texoma Area Paratransit Systems, Inc. (TAPS) for transit services in support of the McKinney JA/RC Shuttle Bus Service.
· JA/RC Program provisions did not require the City to open the service contract for public bid.
· City Staff has reached an agreement with TAPS on the attached draft Interlocal Agreement, which includes the administrative and operational services associated with the provision of the McKinney JA/RC Shuttle Bus Service during the three-year pilot period.
· Per the agreement, TAPS will provide a minimum of two 28-passenger buses. Each bus will make two morning and two afternoon/evening round-trips from McKinney to the DART Parker Road Rail Station. Each round-trip will include a minimum of two stop locations within the City of McKinney.
· Per the agreement, TAPS will also provide all necessary staffing and administration for the service, including dispatch operations, access to the DART Parker Road Rail Station bus bay, sale and distribution of monthly passes, collection and accounting of revenue, and performance reporting.
· Earlier this summer, a short survey was included in the City's e-newsletter to help City Staff better understand what the local needs are for the McKinney JA/RC Commuter Shuttle Bus Service. City Staff received approximately 775 responses to the survey. A summary of the results are attached for reference.
· Following execution of the Interlocal Agreement, City Staff will continue to work with TAPS to determine and implement project details such as preferred routes, pick-up/drop-off locations, fare structure, and bus schedules.
· Project details have not yet been finalized. Based on public survey results, industry standards, and feasibility and efficiency recommendations from TAPS, City Staff is considering the following:
o A route along US 75 with possible pick-up/drop-off locations at US 75/Virginia Street (in the parking lot of the Westgate Shopping Center) and US 75/Eldorado Parkway (in the parking lot of the Craig Crossing Shopping Center).
o A route along SH 121 with up to two stop locations near key arterial intersections.
o Fares between $2.00 and $8.00 for single round-trip service.
o Discounted fares for senior citizens, veterans, the disabled, students, and those purchasing monthly passes.
· Farebox revenues collected by TAPS are considered program income for the City of McKinney and will be returned to the City's General Fund. Program income cannot be used as a local match for the JA/RC Program.
· City Staff anticipates launching service in January 2012. In advance of the anticipated launch date, City Staff will host a kick-off event promoting route details, pick-up/drop-off locations, hours of service, and the fare structure.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
· In late 2010, the City of McKinney received approval from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the award of $250,000 in JA/RC Program funds.
· The local match for this grant is 50 percent ($250,000), providing a total project amount of $500,000 for the implementation and operation of the McKinney JA/RC Shuttle Bus Service over the next three years.
· JA/RC Program funds will be distributed to the City on a reimbursement basis.
· Partial funding for the local match is already available in the General Fund and was budgeted in FY 2011. Because there were no program expenditures in FY 2011, those funds are expected to carry over to the next fiscal year. The proposed budget for FY 2012 also includes partial funding for the local match.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
· The JA/RC Program is a federal grant program, administered by the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), which provides funding for local projects designed to transport low-income individuals to and from employment and employment-related services, or to transport residents of urban, rural and suburban areas to suburban employment opportunities.
· In September 2009, the City of McKinney received approval by the Regional Transportation Committee (RTC) for $250,000 in federal grant funding, to be matched locally at 50 percent, under the JA/RC Program.
· Since that time, the NCTCOG has worked directly with the FTA to facilitate the administrative tasks necessary for awarding program funds to local JA/RC grant recipients. This process was completed in late 2010.
· In July 2011, City Staff issued a memorandum to City Council outlining the selection of the preferred service provider based on a number of different considerations, including access to the DART Parker Road Rail Station, marketing and advertising, and operational/management dependability.