City Council Meeting: July 23, 2008

Agenda Item: 9-A

To: Mayor and City Council

From: Stephanie Negriff, Director of Transit Services

Subject: Award of a Contract to Purchase Alternative Fuel Transit Coaches and Miscellaneous Spare Parts

Recommended Action

Staff recommends that the City Council Award Bid #2948 to Creative Bus Sales to purchase five Gasoline/Electric Hybrid transit coaches and miscellaneous spare parts, with options to purchase up to 25 additional coaches.

Executive Summary

Mini Blue service was implemented in FY 2006-07 to serve Santa Monica’s business districts and neighborhoods. The five vehicles recommended for purchase will replace Mini Blue buses that have exceeded their useful life. Following extensive public outreach and marketing research, the community indicated a preference for small, quiet transit coaches to operate within the commercial and residential districts. Procurement specifications were developed to bid. Twenty-eight bid forms were mailed to vendors and three bids, shown in Attachment A, were received and opened on June 12, 2008. The total will be funded using federal, state and county transit sales tax funds.

Background

Previous City Council actions included the adoption of a $.50 base fare for Mini Blue services on April 10, 2007 and a multi-year service plan concept on July 24, 2007. At the June 12, 2007 City Council Budget Hearing, the Council directed staff to present options for Mini Blue vehicle designs at a later date.

At the September 25, 2007 City Council meeting, staff submitted a recommendation to Council to award Bid #2924 to North American Bus Industries for a 30’ trolley vehicle. Council directed staff to go back to the proposed supplier of Bid #2924 with suggestions to modify the design of the transit vehicles. Staff met with the vendor and it was determined that they could not make the suggested changes. As a result, the City

Council approved the recommendation to reject all bids at the January 8, 2008 Council meeting.

Discussion

In FY 2006-07, the Big Blue Bus implemented Mini Blue community transit services in Santa Monica. The system operates routes, called “Rides,” using distinctively designed small buses within the City’s business districts and neighborhoods. Currently, the Mini Blue system consists of the Tide Ride, the Crosstown Ride, and the Sunset Ride.

BBB conducted extensive public outreach and market research during the two-year development of the Mini Blue service to determine what improvements would encourage use of public transit. The community in general expressed a desire for improved mobility and transit coverage within the City of Santa Monica. Smaller, quieter, vehicles, frequent service, and community oriented routes within the City were highly desired features. This included discussions with members of the business community who were particularly interested in small buses with a distinctive appearance for routes serving the City’s commercial districts. Staff will present design concepts for Council consideration at a later date, following vehicle selection.

Financial Impacts & Budget Actions

The project total cost is $4,127,544.33, broken down as follows:

5 Coaches $3,478.717.90 ($695,743.58 per coach)

Training 52,800.00

Spare parts 220,795.14

Contingency 375,231.29

Project is funded in part through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) including $1.0 million obligated in FTA grant CA-15-X115, $894,000 in FTA Section 5307 formula funds, $233,544 in State Transit Assistance Fund, and $2.0 million in Transportation Development Act funds. This project is included in the Federal Transportation Improvement Plan. Funds for this purchase are available in account C410519.589000.

Prepared by:

Ralph Merced, Transit Maintenance Manager

Approved:	Forwarded to Council:
Stephanie Negriff Director of Transit Services	P. Lamont Ewell City Manager

Attachment: Attachment A - Pricing