AGENDA TITLE:
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Adopt a Resolution Accepting City of Lodi GrapeLine Fixed Route Service Levels and General Public Dial-A-Ride/ADA Paratransit Policy Changes (PW)
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MEETING DATE:
February 7, 2024
PREPARED BY:
Public Works Director
recommendation
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a Resolution Accepting City of Lodi GrapeLine Fixed Route Service Levels and General Public Dial-A-Ride/ADA Paratransit Policy Changes.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
At the December 20, 2023 City Council meeting, staff conducted a public hearing to receive comments on the sufficiency of Lodi GrapeLine’s Fixed Route service levels and proposed General Public Dial-A-Ride/ADA Paratransit policy changes. As a recipient of Federal Transit Administration Section 5307 funds, and per 49 CFR § 37.137, major changes to transit service levels and ADA paratransit policy require a public hearing, which may be part of a regularly scheduled meeting. At the public hearing, staff received direction from Council regarding the following:
1. Sufficiency of existing Express fixed route service levels (6:50 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and 2:26 p.m. to 4:29 p.m., from August to June).
2. Sufficiency of existing Saturday fixed route service levels (7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.)
3. Proposed restoration of Sunday fixed route service levels (7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)
4. Proposed reduction of scheduling reservation window from fourteen (14) days to seven (7) days.
5. Proposed expansion of the late cancellation window to include trips cancelled within two (2) hours of negotiated pickup time, rather than one (1) hour.
6. Proposed implementation of an excessive cancellation policy for General Public Dial-A-Ride (not applicable to ADA paratransit service).
Based on public input, staff has determined that existing Express and Saturday fixed route service levels are sufficient, and furthermore recommends the restoration of Sunday fixed route service from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Regarding the policy changes to General Public Dial-A-Ride/ADA Paratransit, no public input was received. The recommended changes are based on an analysis of Dial-A-Ride/ADA Paratransit trips taken in 2023 and the new window definitions and cancellation thresholds were applied to better understand the impact of the proposed policy changes. During this analysis, Staff found significant numbers of excessive and late cancellations, resulting in lower appointment availability due to uncompleted scheduled trips. For example, over the time period analyzed, trip completion rate for passengers affected by the cancellation thresholds was only 31.7%, representing an average of 96 incomplete trips per month. These policy modifications will reduce this number and improve capacity and appointment availability for passengers who regularly complete their trips. Should the proposed changes be approved, staff will closely monitor General Public Dial-A-Ride/ADA Paratransit late cancellation rates to ensure the policies are having the intended effect.
Staff recommends the adoption of a resolution accepting the City of Lodi GrapeLine Service Levels and General Public Dial-A-Ride/ADA Paratransit Policy Changes.
STRATEGIC VISION:
1D. Downtown: Accessibility for multi-modal transportation and public safety.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No general funds are utilized for transit operations. Transit is funded exclusively with FTA Section 5307, Transportation Development Act (TDA), Measure K, farebox revenue, and other transit-specific revenues. Additional fixed route service results in additional operational costs, however all current and proposed service levels, as presented, are budgeted for in the current FY 2023/24 transit budget.
FUNDING AVAILABLE:
Not Applicable.
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Charles E. Swimley
Public Works Director
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Andrew C. Keys
Interim City Manager