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Staff Report City of Manhattan Beach

TO: Honorable Mayor Fahey and Members of the City Council THROUGH: Geoff Dolan, City Manager FROM: Richard Thompson, Director of Community Development Rob Osborne, Management Analyst DATE: November 1, 2005 SUBJECT: Presentation of Cost Estimates for a Weekend and Summer Shuttle

Service per the Council Work Plan RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Council discuss this issue and provide staff with direction. FISCAL IMPLICATION: The estimated operating costs of a shuttle service range from $108,000 to $209,000 per year. Start-up costs for a City-operated system would be approximately $160,000. The City receives Local Transportation Proposition A. funds, a majority of which has been used to support the existing Dial-A-Ride program. In past years, the City has sold the excess Proposition A. revenues on a biennial basis to the benefit of the General Fund. Recently, the City Council committed to contributing approximately $86,000 toward a replacement of the MTA 439 bus line for a two year period commencing FY2006-2007. The Prop A. Fund has the capacity to support this temporary 439 line service while still allowing for normal Dial-A-Ride operations and .the scheduled replacement of Dial-A-Ride vehicles. The Prop A. Fund has a fund balance of approximately $230,000 to use towards potential start up costs for shuttle service. Longer term projections, including 439 line costs, indicate that the Prop A. Fund has the capacity to support an additional cost burden of $55,000 per year using an in-house-provided service model. Because this capacity falls short of the estimated annual costs indicated above, alternative funding sources, increased fares, and/or General Fund subsidies will need to be considered. The fund projection mentioned above was developed using a most-conservative case for a city operated system. It is safe to assume that implementing a contract basis solution would result in reduced operational and equipment costs. Once such contract costs are known, financial projections can be provided as a basis for making funding decisions.

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BACKGROUND: The City Council’s 2005-2007 Work Plan includes the following task: Trolley Service - Consider developing an east/west trolley service that would target Manhattan Beach residents. As a first step develop cost estimates for a weekend and summer service and return to City Council for discussion and direction. DISCUSSION: In developing cost estimates staff obtained information from the City’s Dial-A Ride program management staff and from the Transit Manager of Beach Cities Transit. Beach Cities Transit is a community-based that operates out of the City of Redondo Beach. Rough cost estimates for a shuttle system are as follows: Start-Up Costs $160,000 Annual Operating Costs $100,000 - $200,000 The start-up cost is primarily for the purchase of buses as part of a system owned and operated by the City. Operating costs vary depending on the scope and complexity of the system. Two alternatives available for providing a shuttle service are as follows. - Expand the City’s Dial-A-Ride program to include a fixed route service. - Contract with Beach Cities Transit or another transit system to provide a shuttle in

Manhattan Beach Staff from the Parks and Recreation Department and Beach Cities Transit provided conceptual proposals and costs estimates as follows: Dial-A-Ride Program The Dial-A-Ride Program provides curb to curb bus service for seniors and disabled residents. The program operates year round, seven days a week from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Residents are picked up at their homes and delivered to desired destinations within the City, and to medical facilities within the South Bay. The Parks and Recreation Department has provided the attached summary and cost estimates for expanding the program to include a fixed-route summer and weekend shuttle service. Elements of the program would be as follows: - A figure 8 shaped route, with Manhattan Beach Boulevard the center of the 8. - Operation seven days a week from June to September - Weekend service only from October to May - Operating hours from 10:00am to 7:00pm - Bus arrives at each stop every 45 minutes to one hour - Two new 22-seat buses, one utilized at a time. The buses would also provide back-up for

Dial-A-Ride service

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Estimated costs are as follows: Start up costs (two new buses): $160,000 Annual operating costs: $108,750 If a shuttle service is implemented a fare could be imposed to recover come of the costs. For reference, the fares for Dial-A-Ride service are 25 cents within Manhattan Beach and 50 cents for trips beyond City boundaries. The basic MTA bus fare is $1.25 and Beach Cities Transit charges $1.00. Beach Cities Transit Beach Cities Transit submitted three conceptual options for adding a Manhattan Beach shuttle service to their system. A copy of their proposal is attached. Elements of the program are as follows: Options A & B - Loop-shaped routes - Year-round operation, 7 days a week - Operating hours: 7:00am to 7:00pm Mon-Fri, 9:00am-6:00pm weekends - Arrive at each stop approximately every 45 minutes - One 15-seat bus, provided and maintained by Beach Cities Estimated annual net costs for the service are $180,750. Beach Cities has indicated that seasonal operation of routes is problematic for the riders and recommends operation option A or B year round. Option C - Three separate east/west routes running between Aviation Boulevard and Ocean Drive –

on Rosecrans Avenue, Marine Avenue and Manhattan Beach Boulevard - Service provided on weekends, summer weekdays and holidays - Operating hours: 9:00am to 6:00pm - Three 15-seat buses, provided and maintained by Beach Cities The estimated annual net cost for the service is $209,400. CONCLUSION: The existence of a shuttle service in Manhattan Beach could help reduce traffic congestion and parking problems, primarily in the Downtown and beach areas. If the Council wishes to pursue the concept further, staff will return with a more detailed analysis and cost estimates. Upcoming steps in the process could include the following: - Community meetings to solicit input and gauge public support for a shuttle service - Development of a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit formal bids from Beach Cities

Transit and other transit service providers

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Attachments: A. Proposal from the Parks & Recreation Department B. Suggested routes C. Proposals from Beach Cities Transit D. Trolley/shuttle bus photos

City of Manhattan Beach Dial A Ride Program Proposal for local Trolley Service Steps needed to provide this service including proposed costs -Expand service policies and obtain MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) approval to provide Fixed Route service -Hire part time staff as Transportation Services Operators (2, 5 hour shifts each day) -Hire part time staff to assist in the Administration of the program -Increase dispatcher hours to cover service times -Purchase two new buses Conceptual Details

Provide service seven days a week from 10 am-7pm (June, July, August, September)

Provide weekend service year round from 10 am-7 pm Route will be a figure 8 through the city, going as far north as Rosecrans or

Marine, east (Aviation), South (close to Artesia) and West (Highland or Manhattan Ave). Manhattan Beach Blvd. would be the center of the 8. Some significant stops would include the Pier, several beach stops, the Manhattan Village Mall, Target Store and area parks. One bus would repeat the figure 8 and arrive at each stop approximately once every 45 minutes- 1 hour.

Projected Costs:

Purchase two new buses to be dedicated to Trolley service: $160,000 Initial Cost for bus, plus back-up bus (needed to cover service during routine maintenance..)both to be replaced approximately every 5 years

Driver(s) salary: for approximately 2000 hrs./ year: $39,495 (including Medicare and PERS). Shift time-- ½ hour prior to and after service time, plus additional hours (70 hours) for ongoing staff training, bus cleaning…

Administrative staff hours needed for approximately 2000 hrs/ year $39,495 Dispatcher additional hours needed: 482 additional hours needed per year for an

additional cost of: $9153 Fleet Maintenance Allocation for 2 new buses, approximate cost: $10,000 Special Departmental Supplies (Miscellaneous items to include: cell phone/

walkie talkie, uniform allocation, training, bus cleaning supplies, fare boxes) $2000

Advertising, schedules, signs $5000 Benches-- at few (2-3) new stops $3600

Total Costs: Buses (start up costs): $160,000 Annual Costs: Total of Driver and Dispatcher Salaries, Fleet Maintenance allocation, miscellaneous supplies, advertising and schedules, benches: $108,743/ year Revenues:

At this point, we have not yet taken into consideration fare box revenues. Beach Cities Transit’s basic fare is $1, while the MTA basic fare is $1.25. Challenges:

It may be a challenge to hire and retain professional seasonal bus drivers for the summer/ weekend schedule that we are proposing. This has been our experience with staff for the current Dial A Ride weekend schedule, as we’ve seen more frequent turnover.

Supervision of this program would take away from the Supervisor’s other duties unless an additional staff person is hired to assist with this program.

For nine months, Monday-Friday, two buses will be parked out of service. It will be a challenge to find a parking/ storage area for the buses on and off season.

I. INTRODUCTION This memo presents several options for transit shuttle service in Manhattan Beach. The two options are a local circulator service and shuttles from the Green Line to Manhattan Beach along Marine Avenue, Manhattan Beach Boulevard, and Rosecrans Avenue. II. LOCAL CIRCULATOR SERVICE Option A Local shuttle service would be provided to Manhattan Beach residents using small 15 passenger shuttle buses. These small buses would be CNG-powered and designed to provide service to residential neighborhoods. The route would begin and end in downtown Manhattan Beach and serve the following destinations:

• Downtown Manhattan Beach • Manhattan Village • Commercial and retail areas along

Rosecrans Avenue • Manhattan Village Senior Housing • Hotels along Park View Avenue and Aviation Boulevard • Marine Avenue Park • Manhattan Beach Middle School • Mira Costa High School

Service Highlights Vehicles Required: 1 CNG-powered 25’ shuttle bus Service Hours: Monday-Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Service Days: Monday-Sunday Service Eligibility: General Public Annual Passengers: 61,530 Annual Operating Cost: $180,739 Annual Fare Revenue: $39,995

Option B Local shuttle service would be provided to Manhattan Beach residents using small 15 passenger shuttle buses. These small buses would be CNG-powered and designed to provide service to residential neighborhoods. The route would begin and end in downtown Manhattan Beach and serve the following destinations:

• Downtown Manhattan Beach • Manhattan Village • Commercial and retail areas

along Rosecrans Avenue • Manhattan Village Senior

Housing • Hotels along Park View

Avenue and Aviation Boulevard

• Marine Avenue Park • Manhattan Beach Middle

School • Mira Costa High School

Service Highlights Vehicles Required: 1 CNG-powered 25’ transit vehicle Service Hours: Monday-Friday: 7:00 am to 7:00 p.m. Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Frequency: Every 45 minutes Service Days: Monday-Sunday Service Eligibility: General Public Annual Passengers: 61,530 Annual Operating Cost: $180,739 Annual Fare Revenue: $39,995

Option C

Service Highlights Vehicles Required: 3 CNG-powered 22’ shuttle buses Service Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Service Days: Weekdays, holidays and summer weekdays Service Eligibility: General Public Annual Passengers: 35,640 Annual Operating Cost: $209,379 Annual Fare Revenue: $17,820

Sample Shuttle Buses/Trolleys