SR-1000-001-02 (11)
BBB:SN:MB:PC:\BruinStaffReport22806.doc
Council Meeting: February 28, 2006 Santa Monica, California
TO:Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Approval of Big Blue Bus Fare Agreement with University of
California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Transportation Services
INTRODUCTION
This report requests that the City Council approve an agreement to increase the
average charge on the monthly invoice issued to UCLA Transportation Services
to $.69 for local service and $1.67 for express service for each recorded boarding
by UCLA students, faculty and staff. The period of this agreement would be for
two academic years, comprising fall, winter and spring quarters, effective
September 2005. If approved, the new rate would be applied to monthly invoices
to UCLA, issued by Big Blue Bus with credit given for invoices issued since
September 2005.
BACKGROUND
The BruinGO! transit program began, at the request of UCLA, in September 2000
as a one-year pilot program with the goal of reducing the demand for parking on
campus. Under this program, any UCLA student, faculty or staff member may
board a Big Blue Bus and swipe a “Bruin” identification card in the electronic
farebox. The card has a magnetic stripe encoded with an ID number. This
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number is read and then recorded by the farebox. The driver observes on the
farebox display screen that the UCLA card has been scanned and that the
boarding has been electronically recorded. The BruinGO! Program resulted in a
40 percent increase in UCLA student, faculty and staff passenger boardings in
the first year of the program. In the nine-month 2004-2005 academic year, there
were 1,219,265 BruinGO! passenger boardings. The program is financed by on-
campus parking revenue.
DISCUSSION
Staff analyzed demographic data of BruinGO! program participants that was
provided by UCLA and determined that the average fare per passenger for local
trips would be $0.69 if the discounted fare structure were applied to eligible
riders. This represents a $0.06 increase over the rate in the previous contract
that was based on the discounted Metrocard regular fare rather than the cash
regular fare. The increase became necessary to offset costs associated with a
modification to the program requested by UCLA whereby riders contribute a
portion of the fare through a complex accounting process. The fare for Line 10
using the same methodology would be $1.67, an increase of $0.11 (the under-21
college fare is not available on Line 10). These average fares are consistent with
the fare structure approved by Council. For local service, the regular fare is $0.75
and the under-21 college student fare is $0.40. The Line 10 express fare is $1.75
with no college discount.
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In a change from previous years, the contract amount will be fixed at the amount
based on FY2004-2005 ridership. If ridership changes by more than five percent
in either direction in Year 1, the new rates shall be applied to the Year 1
passenger count to determine the fixed rate for Year 2.
FINANCIAL/BUDGETARY
The proposed new rates are estimated to increase the Passenger Revenues by
$100,000 which has been included in FY2005-06 budget.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate
and execute an agreement with University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Transportation Services and approve the average charge on the monthly invoice
issued to UCLA Transportation Services of $.69 for local service and $1.67 for
express service for each recorded boarding by UCLA students, faculty and staff.
Prepared by: Stephanie Negriff, Director of Transit Services
Mabel Borja, Transit Finance Manager
Paul T. Casey, Senior Transit Programs Analyst
Reference Contract No. 8563 (CCS)
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