SCMTD February 2004 Board of Directors Agendas - Santa Cruz ...

SANTA CRUZ METROPOLITAN TRANSIT DISTRICT
DATE: February 27, 2004
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Board of Directors
Bryant J. Baehr, Manager of Operations
CONSIDERATION OF PARACRUZ TRANSITION PLAN
I. RECOMMENDED ACTION
Staff is recommending that the Board of Directors authorize the General Manager to take
the following actions:
1. Notify Community Bridges that METRO wishes to engage in discussions regarding
potential contract modifications to be effective October 02, 2004 and / or the potential of
contract termination for convenience effective on October 02, 2004.
2. Request expressions of interest from potential vendors for on-street ParaCruz services.
3. Authorize staff to enter into negotiations with the United Transportation Union Local 23
concerning ParaCruz Operation.
4. Authorize staff to continue to develop a plan that would provide for the co-mingling of
trips that is compliant with ADA requirement.
II.
SUMMARY OF ISSUES
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that complementary paratransit
service be available for individuals that cannot access fixed route buses due to a
disability.
• Currently, METRO contracts for paratransit service “ParaCruz” with Community
Bridges. The contract is for the time period July 01, 2002 through June 30, 2005.
METRO may terminate the contract with Community Bridges, with 90 days notice.
• METRO received a letter from Community Bridges on November 06, 2003
requesting an additional $450,000 in revenue from METRO for the provision of
ParaCruz service due to unforeseen increases in cost.
• At the November 21, 2003 Board of Directors meeting staff was instructed to prepare
a ParaCruz transition plan for the Board of Directors consideration.
• There are three (3) generally recognized methods of operating paratransit service.
These are:
1. contracting with a private provider for all services,