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May 20, 2009 RE: Passenger Notification to Dissolve Solano Paratransit on July 1, 2009 Dear Solano Paratransit Customer:
One Harbor Center, Suite 130 Suisun City, California 94585 Area Code 707 424-6075 • Fax 424-6074 Members:
Benicia Dixon Fairfield Rio Vista Solano County Suisun City Vacaville Vallejo
We are writing to notify you that on July 1, 2009, the Solano Paratransit Service, that has been serving the cities of Dixon, Fairfield, Suisun City and Vacaville, and the County unincorporated areas around these cities, will be dissolved. The responsibility for intercity paratransit service for American with Disabilities Act (ADA) eligible individuals will be handled by the local transit operators serving those communities. Solano Paratransit service has been operated by Fairfield and Suisun Transit (FAST) through a contract with the Solano Transportation Authority (STA) since 1996 and it provides both ADA required intercity paratransit service and optional ADA-Plus service for the City of Dixon, Fairfield, Suisun City and Vacaville, and the County unincorporated area around these cities. On March 25, 2009, the City of Fairfield, as the operator of FAST, notified the STA of their intention not to operate or participate in Solano Paratransit service effective July 1, 2009 due to budget and funding constraints. In response, a transition plan was developed by STA in partnership with the affected jurisdictions. Based on this transition plan, the STA Board of Directors voted to dissolve the Solano Paratransit (SP) service and to transfer the responsibility for the passengers served by SP to the local transit operators serving the communities in which they reside. Passengers residing within the cities of Fairfield, Suisun City and portions of Vacaville located within ¾ of a mile of the service area of Route 20 will be served by the FAST’s local paratransit service known as DART. ADA passengers located in the City of Dixon will be served by Dixon’s Readi-Ride which will begin new ADA service to Vacaville and Davis. Passengers located in the City of Vacaville will be served by their local paratransit service provided by Vacaville Special Services. For passengers located in the County unincorporated area, the STA is currently working with the County of Solano to identify a replacement service. When the details of this service are known, County clients will be notified. Information will be also be placed on the STA website www.solanolinks.com.
STA Ltr. dated May 20, 2009 RE: Passenger Notification to Dissolve Solano Paratransit on July 1, 2009
Page 2 of 2
FAST’s DART, Vacaville Special Services, Dixon Readi-Ride, and Vallejo’s Runabout are coordinating to provide connections between local paratransit service areas for intercity trips. STA is working with FAST DART, Vacaville City Coach and Dixon Readi-Ride to minimize impacts from this reduction in service. Please forward any questions regarding this transition of service to the individuals on the enclosed reference table. It has been the STA’s pleasure to serve Solano Paratransit riders for the past thirteen years. For further information from the STA, please contact Liz Niedziela, Transit Program Manager at (707) 424-6075 or paratransit@sta-snci.com. Sincerely,
Daryl K. Halls Executive Director Attachment: Summary of Planned Intercity Paratransit Svcs. in Eastern Solano County Cc: STA Board Members and Alternates
Nancy Huston, City Manager, City of Dixon Jeff Matheson, Community Services Director, City of Dixon Sean Quinn, City Manager, City of Fairfield Gene Cortright, Public Works Director, City of Fairfield Wayne Lewis, Assistant Public Works Director, City of Fairfield George Fink, Transit Manager, City of Fairfield Suzanne Bragdon, City Manager, City of Suisun City Laura Kuhn, City Manager, City of Vacaville Rod Moresco, Public Works Director, City of Vacaville Brian McLean, Transit Manager, City of Vacaville Mike Johnson, County Administrator, County of Solano Birgitta Corsello, Resource Management Director, County of Solano Paul Wiese, Engineering Manager, County of Solano
Elizabeth Richards, Director of Transit and Rideshare Services, STA Alix Bockelman, MTC
SUMMARY OF PLANNED INTERCITY PARATRANSIT SERVICES IN EASTERN SOLANO COUNTY
>>>> EFFECTIVE: JULY 1, 2009 <<<<
Resident of Local
Paratransit Service
Transit Contact Service Contact Intercity Travel Destinations
Transfer Locations for Intercity Service
County of Solano
TBD Liz Niedziela, STA Transit Manager @ (707) 424-6075
TBD TBD
Dixon Dixon Readi-Ride
Jeff Matheson, Community Services Director @ (707) 678-7000
Dixon Readi-Ride @ (707) 678-5020
Vacaville
Dixon will transport to Vacaville
Fairfield and points west of Vacaville
Ulatis Community Center in Vacaville, transfer to DART
Fairfield DART George Fink, Transit Manager @ (707) 428-7768
FAST/DART @ (707) 429-2400
Vacaville and points east1
Ulatis Community Center in Vacaville, transfer to VV Special Services or Dixon Readi-Ride
To Vallejo and points west
Solano Community College, transfer to Vallejo RunAbout
To Rio Vista Solano Mall & FTC, transfer to Rio Vista Delta Breeze
Suisun City DART George Fink, Transit Manager @ (707) 428-7768
FAST/DART @ (707) 429-2400
To Vacaville and points east
Ulatis Community Center in Vacaville, transfer to VV Special Services or Dixon Readi-Ride
To Vallejo and points west
Solano Community College, transfer to Vjo RunAbout
To Rio Vista Suisun Amtrak Station, transfer to Rio Vista Delta Breeze
Vacaville VV Special Services
Brian McLean, Transit Manager @ (707) 449-5330
VV/Special Services @ (707) 449-6000
To Fairfield and points west
Ulatis Community Center, transfer to FAST/DART
To Dixon and points east
Ulatis Community Center, transfer to Dixon Readi-Ride
Passengers will pay paratransit local fares on each system.
1 Will directly pick-up and drop-off within ¾ mile of FAST Rt. 20 service in Vacaville and to VV Kaiser Medical Center.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - guarantees people with disabilities the same access to public transportation as people without disabilities.
ADA Paratransit - Service is for people who have disabilities that prevent them from using fixed-route bus system.
Transit operators of fixed- route bus system are required to provide complementary paratransit service within ¾ mile corridor of their fixed routes and the core area.
Vacaville City Coach – Vacaville Special ServicesFairfield and Suisun Transit – DART (Dial-A-Ride-Transit)
Vallejo Transit – Vallejo Runabout
Solano Paratransit is ADA-Plus (meaning it exceeds the ¾ mile service area required by ADA). It is not required.
ADA certified passengers Intercity paratransit service for Dixon, Fairfield, Suisun City, Vacaville, County unincorporated area between these citiesOperates Mon- Sat Seamless (no transfers) service
Solano Paratransit has been primarily funded by Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds from the cities of Dixon, Fairfield, Suisun City, Vacaville and the County of Solano
Prior to 1995, county wide intercity paratransit services was operated by Solano County Economic Opportunity Council, (SCEOC) a non-profit organization
SCEOC operated this service under contract with the County of Solano when STA was part of the County
In 1995, SCEOC was unable to provide the service
STA maintained Solano Paratransit service through a contract with Fairfield and Suisun Transit
Benicia and Vallejo opted to deliver their own service
Solano Paratransit has been operating for over 13 years
STA contracts with FAST to operate Solano Paratransit intercity ADA-plus service through an agreement
Working with FAST and the funding partners, STA coordinates the operating and capital funding for Solano Paratransit
STA owns and secures the vehicles leased to FAST and maintained and operated as part of their DART fleet
STA monitors performance, costs, and customer service
The STA Board approves Solano Paratransit fare adjustments (last one approved was 2006)
Day to day operations such as eligibility, determinations, dispatch, scheduling and delivering passenger trips, and vehicles usage are integrated with DART by FAST staff and their transit provider, MV Transportation
FAST performs the preventative maintenance and keeps the vehicles in good and safe operating condition
FAST collects, analyzes and provides operating reports on performance measures
23% -2%
31%
$100,000
$250,000
$400,000
$550,000
$700,000
$850,000
Cost of Solano Paratransit
The higher cost of operating Solano Paratransit has been a concern for the funding partners for the past two years
The increase in cost was cited by FAST as resulting from a new operator contract, increased fuel and maintenance cost
Higher overhead cost was as a contributing factor as part of the Transit Consolidation Study
Local TDA fund revenues (sales tax driven) have remained flat
State Transit Assistance (STAF) will be unavailable due to elimination by the State beginning in FY2009-10$-
$4,000,000
$8,000,000
$12,000,000
$16,000,000
TDA Revenues
FY2005-06
FY2006-07
FY2007-08
FY2008-09
Operating Cost $499,453 $615,784 $605,397 $792,849
Operating Revenue
Farebox Revenue 21,098 21,250 39,966 35,659
TDA Contributions
Dixon 29,180 36,484 36,781 39,718
Fairfield 191,151 231,925 222,828 273,153
Rio Vista* 9,615 9,691 12,367 1,030
Suisun City 49,683 65,430 66,950 62,863
Vacaville 175,126 218,331 202,938 213,543
County of Solano 27,601 22,403 23,567 24,484
STA 10,000 192,000
*Rio Vista opted out of Solano Paratransit in FY2008-09 and contributed for one month to transition service
From FY2005-06 to FY 2008-09, operating costs increase 60%
The STA Board approved a one-year allocation of $192,000 of State Transit Assistance (STAF) to help offset rising cost
STA Board authorized to fund a study to:
Review how Solano Paratransit delivers serviceLook at alternative options to provide service
PurposeReview how service has been delivered
Evaluate alternative methods to control or reduce cost
A new delivery model to deliver consistent, sustainable service to ADA passengers
Passenger ProfileSeveral hundred ADA passengers use Solano ParatransitSolano Paratransit provides over 6,000 annual tripsThe majority of the trips (90%) are between Fairfield/Suisun and Vacaville
Solano Community CollegeMedical Appointments
Passenger in wheelchairs are 47%Ambulatory passengers are 53%
1. Existing Solano Paratransit Arrangement with Increases in Productivity
2. Scheduled Flexroute Service - Operated by the City of Fairfield
3. Solano Paratransit Delivered through a County of Solano, Vacaville and Dixon Partnership
4. Discontinuation of Solano Paratransit Service with Each Funding Partner Making Their Own Service Arrangements
One March 25, 2009, STA received a letter from the City of Fairfield stating :
STA staff and the consultant met with City of Dixon, City of Vacaville, and the County of Solano
Based on the discussions – Develop a draft Potential Solano Paratransit Service and Preliminary Transition Plan
Concurrently, the transit staff from FAST, Vacaville, Dixon, and Vallejo met
To discuss transferring paratransit passengers between transit operatorsThe agreement among the transit operators is a proposal to deliver required ADA services in their own service areas or city and to discontinue Solano Paratransit (Alternative 4 in the Transition Plan)
The Proposed Service Change
Provided by FASTEffective July 1, 2009
Solano Paratransit intercity service will be replaced with each transit agency establishing transfer locations to transfer the ADA passengers from one paratransit system to the next.
Dixon will utilize $40,000 that would have been contributed to Solano Paratransit to provide intercity paratransit service directly.
Dixon Readi-Ride plans to expand their service to connect Dixon to Vacaville and Davis. First intercity service provided by Dixon.
Dixon Readi-Ride will take their ADA passengers directly to their destination in Vacaville
ADA passengers traveling further than Vacaville Dixon passengers traveling to Vacaville will be paying $.50 less per tripTransfer Location - Ulatis Cultural CenterMultiple TransfersMultiple FaresHigher Combined Fare Cost ($2 - $4 per one-way trip)Longer Travel Time
Fairfield utilizes $335,000 that would have been contributed to Solano Paratransit. May apply this to DART service.
DART will transport the ADA passengers within the ¾ mile of Route 20 (as required) in Fairfield and Vacaville
DART will transport their ADA passengers directly to Kaiser in Vacaville
DART will not provide service outside the required service area
ADA passengers traveling beyond DART service area:Transfer Locations - Ulatis Cultural Center and Solano Community CollegeMultiple TransfersMultiple FaresHigher Combined Fare Cost ($2 - $4 per one-way trip)Longer Travel Time
Vacaville will save over $213,000 that would have been contributed to Solano Paratransit
Vacaville Special Services will continue to transport ADA passengers within their city (as required)
ADA passengers traveling outside cityTransfer Location - Ulatis Cultural CenterMultiple TransfersMultiple FaresHigher Combined Fare Cost ($2 - $4 per one-way trip)Longer Travel Time
The County of Solano may use $24,500 contribution to Solano Paratransit to provide alternative service
Alternatives to providing ADA service is still being explored
Expanded Service for Dixon
For FAST – no financial contributions from other local jurisdictions
Uncertainty of Unincorporated ADA passengers
Less Cost for Vacaville
More Cost for Vallejo Runabout
Transfers Coordination
STA staff is currently working with the County of Solano staff to consider their potential options
Public agency partnershipPrivate contractor
ADA passengers living in the unincorporated areaVacaville staff forwarded a proposal to the County for limited service within one mile of their City Limits
Vehicle Reassignments by the STAFunding sources of the vehicles may limit optionsSTA own nine vehiclesARRA 5311 application for replacement of four vehicles
Notifying Solano Paratransit Riders and The Public
STA has prepared public notices announcing public hearing
Flyers were distributed by STA to each transit operators for distribution
STA added notice on website
STA Informed members of the Paratransit Coordinating Council
Next Steps
Following STA Board action and direction, STA staff will send out notification letters with contact information
STA staff will return to the STA Board for reassignment of Solano Paratransit vehicles
CONDUCT a Public Hearing to consider changes in the provision of Paratransit services:
1. Staff Presentation of the Summary of Potential Service Strategies and Preliminary Transition Plan as shown in Attachments C and D to the staff report
2. Open Public Hearing and receive public comment;3. Close Public Hearing4. Board Consideration of the following proposed actions
a. Dissolve the Solano Paratransit service and transfer the responsibility for the passengers served by Solano Paratransit to the local transit operators serving the communities in which they reside;
b. Authorize the STA to work with the County of Solano to develop a transitional plan for Solano Paratransit riders residing in the County unincorporated area; and
c. Authorize the Executive Director to send out notification of the dissolution of Solano Paratransit to all registered Solano Paratransit passengers providing contact information for each transit agency to address questions and for clarification.
Recommended