HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-09-10 - AGENDA REPORTS - STUDENT PASS DIAL A RIDE (2)PUBLIC HEARING
DATE:
SUBJECT
DEPARTMENT:
BACKGROUND
AGENDA REPORT
City Manal
Item to be
Ron Kilcoyne
September 10, 1996
STUDENT MONTHLY PASS AND DIAL -A -RIDE FARE STRUCTURE
CHANGE
Public Works
Currently, Santa Clarita Transit charges youths and students ages 5 through 17, and full time high
school and college students over 17 years of age a $.50 cash fare and $10 for a monthly pass on local
buses. The current rate for the pass represents a 50% discount if the user makes 40 trips per month
and is also 50% less than the fee charged by the Hart School District for use of their school buses.
Originally, the City approached the Hart School District with the intent of equalizing pass fares in
order to better balance the number of students choosing to ride each system. Currently, the school
buses have excess capacity while city buses have insufficient capacity. The Hart School District
opted not to participate in a bus fare equalization program. Staff believes that it is prudent to pursue
an increase in the student pass, even without the participation of the Hart School District, in order
to bring the pass discount more in line with those offered to adult full fare and senior/disabled pass
customers. Even with the increase in pass fares, a 25% discount is still available compared to both
Hart School District fees and the cash fare on local buses. Furthermore, Santa Clarita Transit will
still provide the lowest student fares in the area. For example, student passes in the San Fernando
Valley are $20.00 per month, Antelope Valley passes are $21.00, and Simi Valley passes are $24.00,
The Santa Clarita Transit dial -a -ride service currently generates approximately 2% of its operating
costs from passenger fares.; Staff has conducted surveys of similar services and fare structures within
Los Angeles County. At this time, Santa Clarita has one of the lowest dial -a -ride fares while enjoying
a much higher median household income than many areas charging higher fares. The dial -a -ride fare
in Santa Clarita is $ .75, and in the Antelope Valley is $1.50.
Dial -a -ride service improvements required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will take
effect in Santa Clarita on October 1, 1996, These changes are the sixth and final phase of a
county -wide program. These improvements will be fully funded by Access Services, Incorporated
(ASI), the agency responsible for meeting ADA requirements. In all other areas of the county, ASI
charges double the base cash fare for fixed route service - the maximum allowed by the ADA.
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At this time, staff plans to recommend an October 1, 1996 dial -a -ride base fare of $1.50 in order to
improve the farebox recovery ratio, and also to be consistent with fares charged by ASI and the
Antelope Valley Transit Authority. Recommended fares to the San: Fernando Valley and the
Antelope Valley (new service effective in October) are recommended to be $5.00 and $6.00,
respectively. All of these fares represent double the cash fare for the equivalent fixed route services
in each respective service area.
We will continue to administer a reduced fare multi -ride ticket program through the Senior Center
for customers who meet income requirements. The ten ride tickets are recommended to increase
from $5 to $7.50 and the twenty ride ticket to increase from $10 to $15. In both cases this represents
an increase from $.50 per ride to $.75 per ride. Additionally, the senior/disabled $ .25 fare will
remain unchanged on local fixed route service. During the summer, staff met with representatives
of the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center and Henry Mayo Adult Day Care regarding these changes..
They have indicated support for the proposed changes.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council conduct public hearing, close public hearing and adopt the following rate changes
effective October 1, 1996: increase the rate charged for the student monthly pass from $10 to $15,
commencing with the sale of October 1996 passes; increase the cash fare charged for dial -a -ride
service within the Santa Clarita Valley from $.75 to $1.50; increase the rate for discount tickets
administered for low income customers through the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center from $5.00
to $7.50 for ten ride tickets and $10.00 to $15,00 for 20 ride tickets; establish a one way dial -a -ride
fare of $5.00 for trips to and from the San Fernando Valley, and establish a one way dial -a -ride fare
of $6.00 for trips to and from the Antelope Valley.
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE INTENTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA TO ADJUST PASSENGER FARES ON
DIAL -A -RIDE FARES AND STUDENT MONTHLY PASSES
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN:
To consider and receive protest relating to the intention of the Council to adjust fares charged
to Dial -A -ride cash fare passengers and student monthly passes. Dial -A -Ride fares would
increase from $.75 to $1.50 for cash fares within the Santa Clarita Valley; increase the rate for
discount tickets for low income customers administered through the Senior Center from $5.00
to $7.50 for ten ride tickets and $10.00 to $15.00 for 20 ride rickets; establish a one-way Dial -A -
Ride fare of $5.00 for trips to and from the San Fernando Valley, and establish a one-way Dial -
A -Ride fare of $6.00 for trips to and from the Antelope Valley. Student monthly passes would
increase from $10 to $15. These increases would be effective October 1, 1996.
The hearing will be held by the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita in the City Hall
Council Chambers, 23920 Valencia Blvd., 1st Floor, Santa Clarita, the 10th day of September,
1996, at or after 6:30 p.m.
Proponents, opponents, and any interested persons may appear and be heard on this matter
at that time. Further information may be obtained by contacting the City Clerk's office, Santa
Clarita City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd., 3rd Floor, Santa Clarita.
If you wish to challenge this order in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you
or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written
correspondence delivered to the City Council, at or prior to the public hearing.
Dated: August 23, 1996
Publish Date: August 26, 1996
George A. Caravalho,
City Manager/Acting City Clerk