The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2001-04-10 - AGENDA REPORTS - SC TRANSIT FARE ADJUSTMTS (2)PUBLIC HEARING DATE: SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT: CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by: April 10, 2001 PROPOSED FARE ADJUSTMENTS FOR SANTA CLARITA TRANSIT Transportation & Engineering Services RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council conduct the public hearing and approve a two-step fare adjustment for Santa Clarita Transit as detailed in Attachment 1 of this report, with the first phase to be implemented on August 26, 2001, and the second phase to be implemented on June 30, 2002. BACKGROUND Santa Clarita Transit has not had a systemwide fare change since July 1993. Local youth and Dial -a - Ride fares were last adjusted in October 1996. Since the last general fare change, the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles County has grown 21.3 percent. In consideration of the ongoing transit service bid process, staff anticipates contract rates will increase up to 12 percent in Fiscal Year 2002. This one-time jump in costs is attributable to increased fuel costs, the need to improve transit employee compensation in light of the tight labor market and resulting difficulty in attracting and retaining quality employees, and the need to increase the number of personnel in certain job categories to improve service quality. The proposed fare adjustments are detailed in Attachment 1. As the City Council learned at the January 2001 Study Session, Santa Clarita Transit currently charges one of the lowest fares in Southern California, as well as the entire United States. As illustrated in Attachment 2, even with the proposed recommended increases, Santa Clarita Transit's fares will still be among the lowest in the region. Since fares will remain competitive with other modes of transportation, such as Metrolink, staff anticipates that there will be a minimal impact upon ridership. Staff is proposing a two-step fare adjustment. Local adult, senior/disabled, and Dial -a -Ride fares will be adjusted only once on August 26, 2001 (to coincide with the next timetable change). Local youth and all express fares will be adjusted twice: once on August 26, 2001, and again on June 30, 2002. The rationale for making two adjustments in these fare categories is the need to increase these fares by a greater amount than would be reasonable at one time. Q�pROodED Agenda Item: 449, PROPOSED FARE ADJUSTMENTS FOR SANTA CLARITA TRANSTr April 10, 2001 — Page 2 Since 1997, the City and the Hart Unified School District have participated in a Memorandum of Understanding that included the provision that the two agencies would equalize fares for home -to - school transportation. Prior to this date, City transit fares had traditionally been lower, exacerbating overcrowding conditions on local transit buses. The proposed first phase fare is comparable to the price the Hart District will be charging during the 2001/02 school year for home -to -school transportation. The proposed second phase fare eliminates the discount for students and is consistent with the anticipated price the Hart District will charge in the 2002/03 school year. Transit systems throughout the United States have been eliminating youth discounts to recoup the higher costs often associated with student transportation. Commuter/express fares are considerably lower than those charged by Metrolink or the Antelope Valley Transit Authority. Even with both increases, fares will remain below those currently charged by these two systems. At the current allowed cost per mile for driving of $.345, the cost of driving round trip to Downtown Los Angeles is $24.15, compared to $8.00 riding Santa Clarita Transit after the second fare adjustment takes place. Dial -a -Ride fares are being increased to equal double the base adult cash fare for a comparable trip on fixed -route service. This is the maximum allowed for disabled customers under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The subsidy per passenger trip is approximately $25.00 on Dial -a -Ride, warranting the maximum fare allowed. At this time staff is recommending that the means -tested reduced -fare program administered by the Senior Center remain in effect d the current rate of $.50 per trip. If the fare increase is approved, fare revenues will operating budget in Fiscal Year 2001/02, compared to ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS City Council not approve adjusting fares. Other action as determined by the City Council. FISCAL IMPACT :over 19 percent of the Transit Division's 17 percent in Fiscal Year 2000/01. Current ridership growth is exceeding 20 percent. A conservative estimate based on no ridership growth in Fiscal Year 2001/02 would yield a net increase in revenue of $412,000.00. A further net increase of $197,000.00 is anticipated in Fiscal Year 2002/03. ATTACHMENTS Attachment 1 - Proposed Fare Adjustments Attachment 2 - Comparison of Existing Fares TRANSMAGENDATate adjustment 2001.duc CITY OF SANTA CLARITA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER FARE INCREASES FOR DIAL -A -RIDE, COMMUTER SERVICE, AND LOCAL SERVICE ON SANTA CLARITA TRANSIT TO BE EFFECTIVE AUGUST 26, 2001 AND JUNE 30, 2002 PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBy GIVEN. A Public Hearing will be held before the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita to consider fare increases for Dial -A -Ride, Commuter Service, and local service on Santa Clarita Transit to be effective August 26, 2001 and June 30, 2002. The hearing will be held by the Santa Clarita City Council in the City Hall Council Chambers, 23920 Valencia Blvd., 1st Floor, on the 10' day of April, 2001, at or after 6:00 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 Ron Kilcoyne, Tz ansportation Manager at (661) 294-2505, Santa Clarita Transit Division, ti W. Avenue Stanford, Santa Clarita, CA. If you wish to challenge this action 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: March 22, 2001 Sharon L. Dawson, CMC City Clerk Publish Date: March 25, 2001 Phtrmsit fees. gb. PROPOSED FARE ADJUSTMENTS FARE TYPE EXISTING PROPOSED EFFECTIVE PROPOSED EFFECTIVE Sin le Ride Cash AUGUST 26, 2001 JUNE 30, 2002 Local Adult $.75 Local Youth $1.00 $].00 Local Senior/Disabled $.50 $.75 $1.00 Express 1 $.25 $•50 $.50 Adult $2.50 $3.00 $3.50 Express 1 Youth/Senior/Disabled $1.25 $1.50 $1.75 Express 2 Adult $3.00 $3.50 $4.00 Express 2 Youth/Senior/Disabled $1.50 $1.75 $2.00 5 and Under - All Services Free Free Free Monthl Pass Local Adult Local Youth $20.00 $25.00 $25.00 Local Senior/Disabled $15.00 $20.00 $25.00$10.00 Express 1 $15.00 $15.00 Adult $70.00 $100.00 $120.00 Express 1 20 -Ride Punch Ticket $43.00 $60.00 $70.00 Express 1 Youth/Senior/Disabled $35.00 $50.00 $60.00 Express 2 Adult $100.00 $120.00 $140.00 Express 2 20 -Ride Punch Ticket $60.00 $70.00 $80.00 Express 2 Youth/Senior/Disabled $50.00 $60.00 $70.00 Dial -a -Ride Local -All Riders $ L50 S lmar-AII Riders $5.00 $2.00 $2.00 Antelo e Va11e -All Riders $6.00 $6.00 $7.00 $7.00 4N nn ATTACHMENT PROPOSED FARE ADJUSTMENTS April 10, 2001 — Page 2 Cash fares to be effective on the dates identified above. Monthly pass rates to be effective with September 2001 and July 2002 passes respectively. Youth - Any customer aged 6 through 17, plus full-time students with a valid student body card. Senior — Any customer aged 60 and older. Proof of age may be required. Disabled — Any customer with a disabled ID card. Express 1 — Travel between the Santa Clarita Valley and the San Fernando Valley. Express 2 — Travel between the Santa Clarita Valley and the Antelope Valley, Downtown Los Angeles, or UCLA/Westwood/Century City. ATTACHMENT SATRANSERAOENDA\PROPOSED PARE ('14ANGF5.dne Comparison of Existing Fares 1.50 S:\TRANSIT\AGENDA\f�recompare.doc ATTACHMENT 2 to 1 Monthlv to Base Adult Base Youth ! Base Senior Dial -a -Ride ASI San Diego (as of 4/1/01) $2.00 $2.00 $ 1.00 CTS Para MTS $3.00 Access MTA $ 135 . $1.3.5 $.45 $4.00 (Los An eles) AVTA (Antelope Valley) $1.10 '... $1.10 $.55 $2.25— $2.20 $5.50 LADOT $ 110 ! $ 110 $'05 (Distance) :Los An eles) Smart Shuttle $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 Los An eles) j )CTA Oran a Count) $1.00 $ 1.00 $.25 Standard Door -to - ;CAT $1.00 $.75 $.50 $1.70 Door $2.50 Ventura) Ioothill $.90 $.90 $.45 0 0 .0 _ 1.50 S:\TRANSIT\AGENDA\f�recompare.doc ATTACHMENT 2 to 1 Monthlv to