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Home My WebLink About1997-05-13 - AGENDA REPORTS - PERFORMANCE REVIEW OF ATC CONT (2)AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approval Item to be presented by: Ron Kilcoyne UNFINISHED BUSINESS DATE: May 13, 1997 SUBJECT: PERFORMANCE REVIEW OF ATC CONTRACT DEPARTMENT: Public Works BACKGROUND At the April 1, 1997, City Council Study Session, Council indicated to ATC/Vancom, the City transit contractor, and staff they expected immediate improvements made in resolving problems relating to Commuter Express bus service and wishes to review contract status within 30 days. The Council indicating it could be possible that they would direct staff to invoke contract cancellation or other appropriate action against ATC/Vancom if service improvement was not satisfactory at this time. Several actions have been taken to improve Commuter Express bus service. These actions and the results of these actions are summarized in attachment A. Particularly noteworthy from this report is that with additional buses available for service, problem buses have now been pulled out of service for full service to repair all defects. After reviewing the contractor performance over the past month, the Council has several options as to how to proceed vis-a-vis the transit service contract. These options include canceling the contract with ATC, selecting another contractor to operate the commuter express service, retaining ATC for local and dial -a -ride services, or taking no action, thereby allowing ATC to continue operating all services as per their contract. The pros and cons for each option are summarized in attachment B. RECOMMENDATION City Council provide direction to staff on how to proceed regarding the transit service contract with ATC/Vancom. Pt"X"•1I2" Summary of actions taken to improve Commuter Express bus service and the results of these actions. Summary of options available to City regarding future action pertaining to the service contract between the City and ATC/Vancom and the pros and cons of each oppp{{{tion. SXCAGV 4ENDAWGENDCMM.ATC j� ®nda lJ�,el. � n APPROVED Y� SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKEN BY ATCNANCOM TO CORRECT DEFICIENCIES IN COMMUTER SERVICE This summary is meant to only highlight the major areas where ATC placed its focus. It does not capture the hundreds of additional hours or the thousands of dollars spent to make sure these improvements take place. Problems Identified: Frequent Service Delays • Front Doors Opening Buses not Clean • No Heat/AC Actions Taken: • Purchase of Spare Buses Arrivals: 4/4/97, 4/10/97, 4/28/97 & 5/12/97 • Modifications to Fleet 1991 Neoplans to be re -tuned to reduce overheating 90% completed 1986 Neoplan Upgrading Doors 60% completed Engine/Transmission 30% completed AC/Heat 60% completed Seats (Only 3 Out of 10) 0% completed • Cleaning Program Enhanced by Increase of Personnel and Additional Training Improvement to Cleaning Process • Hired Two More Class "A" Mechanics • Subcontract Some Commuter Service Two Service Trips from the Lancaster Area to be Done by AVB (effective 5/5/97) • Conducted two meetings with the Ambassadors to receive input and share ideas • Sent out three (3) letters to our commuter customers keeping them informed as to our plans and actions • Provided weekly updates to Transit Staff on progress of our plan Results to Date: (210 Commuter Trips Weekly) • Week of 4/7 9 Delays or 4% of Trips • Week of 4/4 3 Delays or 1.4% of Trips • Week of 4/21 5 Delays or 2.3% of Trips • Week of 4/28 2 Delays or 1.0% of Trips With the arrival of four additional buses and subcontracting of two buses, major work on the 1986 Neoplans can be intensified. We will continue with the program until all items originally identified are corrected, and we meet or exceed all requirements as outlined in the contract. It is our goal to take this beyond the expectation so that this never occurs again. SUMMARY OF OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO CITY REGARDING TRANSIT SERVICE CONTRACT OPTION PRO CON 1. Cancel contract with ATC/Vancom Perceived attention to customer Possible disruption to all transit The City could either give ATC needs. services during the transition to new 30 days notice, without contractors. This could be prolonged explanation, or immediate over several months since it is notice, for breach of contract. In possible that three different order to avoid a disruption of contractors could operate service (the service, a 30 day notice would be current contractor, the interim advised. The City would select contractor, and the new contractor) in another contractor capable of a period of less than one year. taking over the contract on short Delays to other transit projects, such notice for an interim period as the Newhall Metrolink Station and while an RFP is issued and a Town Center Transit Center, as new permanent contractor is considerable staff time is diverted to selected selecting an interim and permanent contractor and dealing with transition issues. • Possible negative impact on recent MOU with Hart School District. • Added operating costs (from likely higher rates), not reflected in proposed budget for FY 1997/98. • No guarantee that replacement contractor(s) will provide better service. Page 1 OPTION PRO • CON 2. Cancel the Commuter/Express No disruption to local and dial-a-ride Possible disruption to portion of the contractor, allow service. Commuter/Express service during the ATC/Vancom to continue to provide transition to new contractors. This local and dial-a-ride services. could be prolonged over several As with option #1, the City months since it is possible that three would select an interim different contractors could operate contractor for service (the current contractor, the Commuter/Express service while interim contractor, and the new an RFP is issued to select a contractor) in a period of less than permanent contractor far this one year. service. Delays to other transit projects, such as the Newhall Metrolink Station and Town Center Transit Center, as considerable staff time is diverted to selecting an interim and permanent contractor and dealing with transition issues. • Once stability is reached, additional staff time will need to be devoted to administering two contracts instead of one as at present. • Loss of economy of scale and operational flexibility that comes with a single contractor. The higher costs to the individual contractors will be passed on to the City through the hourly rate charged. • No guarantee that replacement contractor(s) will provide better service. Page 2 OPTION PRO CON 3. Take no action, allowing ATC to & No disruption of service due to May be perceived at satisfaction with continue operating all services per transition to new contractors. status quo. existing contract. 0 Staff and contractor time can be This option reaffirms the current devoted to continued service contractual arrangement with improvement and other priority ATC. projects. • No loss of economy of scale or operational flexibility resulting from separate contractors. SACCAGENDAW GENDATH.ATC Page 3