Title
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONTRACT FOR TRANSIT SERVICE BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF LEE’S SUMMIT, MISSOURI AND THE KANSAS CITY AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (KCATA) IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,922.00 AND COMMITMENT OF $59,795 OF ITS FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION SECTION 5307 FORMULA FUNDS TO THE KCATA FOR THE #252 - LEE’S SUMMIT METROFLEX CIRCULATOR SERVICE. (PWC 12/19/16)
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Issue/Request:
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONTRACT FOR TRANSIT SERVICE BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF LEE’S SUMMIT, MISSOURI AND THE KANSAS CITY AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (KCATA) IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,922.00 AND COMMITMENT OF $59,795 OF ITS FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION SECTION 5307 FORMULA FUNDS TO THE KCATA FOR THE #252 - LEE’S SUMMIT METROFLEX CIRCULATOR SERVICE.
Key Issues:
- Since 2001, the City of Lee’s Summit has offered a MetroFlex Circulator (Route #252) bus service under a contractual arrangement with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA).
- The service is an on-demand, curb to curb service, as opposed to a more traditional fixed route service. The service requires a 24-hour advance reservation.
- Key recommendations of the Transit Study were consolidate local, on-demand service from KCATA to OATS, and continue the fixed route commuter service.
- Proposed changes will: increase daily hours of service, increase the MetroFlex riders’ service area to include all of Lee’s Summit, reduce fares for OATS riders, and reduce costs to the City.
- This recommendation was reviewed and supported by the Public Works Committee and is reflected in the proposed transit contracts (MetroFlex, Commuter Express and OATS).
- MetroFlex will need to continue its service under contract with the City for period of time to allow proper and required notices prior to transferring service to OATS. All notices and advertising of service changes will be addressed by the KCATA.
- MetroFlex service would be discontinued April 1, 2017 and until such time operate the same in 2017 as it was in 2016. The cost for this service to Lee's Summit, all paid from the Transportation Sales Tax Fund, will be $21,922 in 2017 to cover the time period from January 1 to April 1 when the service is replaced through a proposed contract with OATS.
- Lee's Summit will obligate $59,795 of its Federal Transit Administration Funding allocation to the KCATA for operating and capital costs associated with this transit service.
Proposed City Council Motion:
FIRST MOTION: I move for a second reading of AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONTRACT FOR TRANSIT SERVICE BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF LEE’S SUMMIT, MISSOURI AND THE KANSAS CITY AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (KCATA) IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,922.00 AND COMMITMENT OF $59,795 OF ITS FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION SECTION 5307 FORMULA FUNDS TO THE KCATA FOR THE #252 - LEE’S SUMMIT METROFLEX CIRCULATOR SERVICE.
SECOND MOTION: I move for adoption of AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONTRACT FOR TRANSIT SERVICE BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF LEE’S SUMMIT, MISSOURI AND THE KANSAS CITY AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (KCATA) IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,922.00 AND COMMITMENT OF $59,795 OF ITS FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION SECTION 5307 FORMULA FUNDS TO THE KCATA FOR THE #252 - LEE’S SUMMIT METROFLEX CIRCULATOR SERVICE.
Background:
Though available to anyone, the MetroFlex (Route #252) bus serves primarily elderly and disabled residents who may not be able to drive or have access to ready transportation. Unlike a typical bus with a defined route, the Lee’s Summit MetroFlex services is an advance reservation, curb to curb service, meaning that it will pick up individuals and drop them off at or near their origins or destinations within the contracted service area and within the contracted service schedule. Those that are interested in utilizing the service are asked to call the dispatcher 24 hours in advance of their trip. Trips include doctor’s appointments, shopping, errands, and other similar purposes. A one-way fare has typically been $1.50. In 2016, a one-way fare was $1.50, reduced fares were available for senior citizens. The fare structure will remain the same in 2017, while in operation, as it was in 2016.
In 2016, the contracted service area was generally bound by Todd George Parkway to the east, I-470 to the north, Pryor Road to the west and Longview Road to the south. This service schedule operates from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The service area and schedule will remain the same in 2017, while in operation, as it was in 2016.
The service requires a 24-hour advance reservation. Additional schedule, service area (map and description) and reservation contact information is available at the cityofls.net website or from the KCATA.
The majority of the cost for the service is covered through the City’s Urbanized Transit (UZA) funding provided by the Federal Transit Administration and through state grants and revenue received from the fare box. In total, $59,795 from the allocation of FTA funds to Lee's Summit will be obligated to the KCATA for this service to cover eligible capital and operating costs in 2017. The Lee's Summit FTA Section 5307 Fund allocation balance in 2016 was over $1,000,000. The cost of service after FTA funding, State funding and revenue from fare is paid by the City through the Transportation Sales Tax. Last year the City paid $82,711. The cost for service in 2017 (only a period of January 1 to April 1) would be $21,922. The cost increase is about 6% for a quarter year compared to a quarter year of the previous contract. This increase in cost is due to increases in cost of service (e.g. maintenance, fuel and staff).
In 2000, the City of Lee’s Summit initiated a Transit Demand Assessment to determine the need for additional transit services within the city. This study resulted in the establishment of the Lee’s Summit MetroFlex circulator bus - #252 in 2001, to serve primarily the downtown core of the community.
In 2008, the City initiated another Transit Demand Assessment to determine if transit needs in the City of Lee’s Summit have changed. The assessment pointed to a possible need to expand the current MetroFlex service area to include Lee’s Summit Hospital and the Summit Fair Shopping Center. Based on the study and discussions with the City Council, the service was expanded in 2010 to two buses operating from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. within an area defined roughly by Tudor Road/I470 to the north, Todd George Parkway to the east, US 50/Longview Road to the south, and Pryor Road to the west. This boundary was changed again in 2013 to include a few blocks east of Todd George Parkway near Langsford Road (a commercial and multi-family area with ridership demand).
The most recent Lee's Summit transit study was completed in 2016. Recommendations from that study to enhance demand response public transportation and reduce transit program costs to the City included the discontinuation of MetroFlex in Lee's Summit and concurrently expand OATS transit services in Lee's Summit. The hours of operation, service boundary, and efficiency in service by one operator would increase transit capacity and reduce costs. The OATS contract is considered separately from this contract, but this contract and the other proposed transit contracts are integral (e.g. the proposed MetroFlex KCATA Route 252 service, the KCATA administration fees defined in the #152 Commuter Service contract, and OATS contract are related). The proposed demand response transit changes were reviewed and supported by the Public Works Committee.
Impact/Analysis:
The transit program budget ($277,000) in the approved FY2016 Budget from the Transportation Sales Tax Fund includes transit costs for KCATA Route #152, KCATA Route #252, and OATS. These KCATA transit contracts are based on the calendar year; spanning parts of this fiscal year and next (the OATS contract is based on the City's Fiscal Year, subject to change). The total proposed 2017 (calendar year) transit program costs to the City of Lee's Summit for KCATA Route #152, KCATA Route #252, and OATS, would be approximately $220,000. This contract for #252 Lee's Summit MetroFlex service and the KCATA administration fee for OATS contracted service by and between the City of Lee's Summit and OATS is $21,922 of the estimated $220,000 total transit program costs to the City in 2017. A one-time local match and use of available Lee's Summit FTA funds would be required to purchase new vehicles in support of the recommended OATS service. The local match for the proposed vehicle purchase is estimated around $55,000. Total projected 2017 transit costs remain within budget and any discrepancy between contract costs and program funding will be proposed for next fiscal year, including appropriate amendments in the Capital Improvement Plan.
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Presenter
Presenter: Michael Park, City Traffic Engineer
Recommendation
Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONTRACT FOR TRANSIT SERVICE BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF LEE’S SUMMIT, MISSOURI AND THE KANSAS CITY AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (KCATA) IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,922.00 AND COMMITMENT OF $59,795 OF ITS FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION SECTION 5307 FORMULA FUNDS TO THE KCATA FOR THE #252 - LEE’S SUMMIT METROFLEX CIRCULATOR SERVICE.
Committee Recommendation
Committee Recommendation: The Public Works Committee voted unanimously 4-0 to recommend to City Council approval of AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONTRACT FOR TRANSIT SERVICE BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF LEE’S SUMMIT, MISSOURI AND THE KANSAS CITY AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (KCATA) IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,922.00 AND COMMITMENT OF $59,795 OF ITS FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION SECTION 5307 FORMULA FUNDS TO THE KCATA FOR THE #252 - LEE’S SUMMIT METROFLEX CIRCULATOR SERVICE.