PURPOSE  

The purpose of this report is to request City Council approval of a second amendment to the agreement between the City of Burbank and Southland Transit Services.  Staff requests the extension of this agreement for a period of twelve (12) months from September 1, 2005 through August 31, 2006. 

BACKGROUND

On May 14, 2002, a Request for Proposal was distributed to approximately eleven (11) transportation service vendors for the operation of the Burbank Local Transit (BLT) Fixed Route Service.  Southland Transit was among three responsive and qualified bidders for the Burbank Local Transit Fixed Route Service Area. Through the competitive bid process, Southland Transit received the highest technical score for the Fixed Route services. 

In June 2004, the Transit Services Task Force was created to review existing local transit services, and to make recommendations on how the services can best be expanded to better serve Burbank residents and employees.  The Task Force has met nine times over the past year, initially looking at the existing operations, ridership and costs of each of the three transit programs.  The results of two current public-opinion surveys on the Got Wheels! and BLT programs were considered, as were the comments of the Burbank Transportation Management Organization (TMO) Director Judith Johnston-Weston, and those of local transit riders that have contacted the City�s transit marketing and information service.  The Task Force also reviewed service routes and schedules of the MTA�s Bus and Metro Rail services, as well as the Metrolink commuter rail service. 

The Transit Task Force recommended to City Council, and was subsequently approved, the expansion the Burbank Local Transit shuttle system on January 25, 2005.  Most significantly, the plan calls for terminating the existing Super Shuttle contractor, which provides service to passengers into two major employment areas of Burbank, the Downtown and Airport Areas, and replacing that service with fixed route service.  The plan was design to utilize the existing contractor Southland Transit for the new fixed route services.

ANALYSIS

Southland Transit has performed well under the existing agreement on the Fixed Route service since July 2002.  Southland agreement was extended once, on September 14, 2004 due to the impending implementation of expanded services.

Given the timing of the contract�s termination on August 31, 2005, and the commencement  of Phase II service, staff feels that attempting to begin a Request for Proposal would hinder continued implementation of the phase for expanded services.  Additionally, the City has asked Southland Transit to make a considerable investment in additional personnel and equipment in order to meet the transit needs of Burbank, to which Southland Transit has complied.  They have recently leased five CNG buses in an effort to meet the expanded services.   

In providing this service efficiently, it is important to have staff that is knowledgeable about routes, route stops, traffic patterns, and street locations. They have also been valuable in developing operating practices and implementation of the CNG fleet.   

Per the original agreement, an extension of contract for a third year, and subsequent years, will be at a rate not to exceed the Los Angeles/Orange County Clerical Worker Consumer Price Index.  The current rate increase of the Los Angeles/Orange County Clerical Workers Consumer Price Index is approximately 4.8% from June 2004 to June 2005. Staff successfully negotiated a lower rate; 3% increase over the current cost per revenue hour. The new rate for Southland Transit will be $47.79 when the contractor supplies the vehicles, and $31.67 when City vehicles are utilized

In summary, the approval of the second amendment will:

• Maintain current service levels, with no service disruption;

• Allow time to implement major service adjustments as directed by City Council.

• Utilize additional contractor owned CNG vehicles to provide BLT service;

FISCAL IMPACT

The shuttle operations contracts are paid out of Proposition C Transportation Funds.  The combined contract extension will not exceed $870,000 over the proposed extension period.  Funds are available in account 105-PR44A-0000.000000.62170.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends City Council approve the second amendment to the agreement with Southland Transit, extending the contract for a period of twelve (12) months, in order to fully implement Council direction to expand transit services.

EXHIBITS:

A - Original Contract with Southland Transit

B - First Amendment

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