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sr-041310-1f~® lT n /^/~~_ R City of C'ty ~®~~V~' ~\~p®~ i Santa Monica City Council Meeting: April 13, 2010 Agenda Item: ~ -~ To: Mayor and City Council From: Stephanie Negriff, Director Transit Services Subject: On-Street Bus Stop Signage Recommended Action Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with CHK America in the amount of $179,550 to develop and design new on-street bus stop signage and for on-going maintenance services to support these signs during service changes. Executive Summary The Big Blue Bus (BBB) recommends contracting with CHK America, a leader in information strategies for public transit, to redesign the Big Blue Bus system map and eye-level signs at 1,200 bus stops. The redesign will create maps in a "spider diagram" format with timetable information included. This format features information specific to each bus stop, thereby reducing on-street clutter by decreasing the number of signs and sign holders needed. This new format supports BBB's ongoing bus stop re-development program. The contract/purchase order amount to be awarded to CHK America is $179,550, of which $20,000 is for on-going design support when service changes require information to be updated. Background On January 19, 2010 Council approved the rough schematic design of an improved bus stop program. Part of this program included redesigning the customer information available at bus stops to decrease clutter, reduce printing costs, and make information easier to read and understand. There are over 1,200 bus stops in the Big Blue Bus system which will need redesigned maps and timetables. , 1 Discussion Bus stops are no longer just a place to wait for a bus, but are "store windows" that convey brand messaging and are an important part of the experience of riding. public. transit. They also impact the city streetscape and can add to a city's image. A primary goal of the bus stop redevelopment project is to reduce clutter while at the same time creating public information at stops that is easily readable and user-friendly. "Spider diagrams" with integrated timetable information result in a better experience for transit users. Each sign will show the bus line(s) that stop at that particular location, the direction of travel, estimated time to travel the remainder of the line, and arrival times of buses for that specific stop. Because the "spider diagram" style is stop-specific, it conveys the same amount of information as current signs using less than half the materials. For example, where the current style may require three different panels of information to convey route and schedule information for one bus line, the new style can consolidate the same information into just one panel, thereby reducing costs of printing, sign frames, and labor to install, while more effectively communicating information to riders. An example of the recommended "spider diagram" style can be found in Attachment A. Contractor/Consultant Selection This contractor was selected using a sole source request as CHK America uses a proprietary product and has a U.S. patent and trademark for the "spider diagram" format. CHK America is part of the Cook, Hammond and Kell Group (CHK), a leader. in transportation mapping and passenger information for over 150 years. CHK has grown. into one of the most prominent mapping and passenger information companies in Europe and the United States, and is a provider of high quality maps, guides, 2 timetables, and Internet-based services for public transportation authorities and local governments throughout the world. The trademarked "spider diagram" product was created by CHK for Transport for London, one of the largest and most complex mass transit systems in the world. CHK has over 130 clients, including Los Angeles .County Metro, Chicago Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Austin Capital Metro, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), and Maryland MTA. CHK America offers a unique service in that they can accept files from the Big Blue Bus's scheduling software program and convert it directly into public information saving time, money, and ensuring accuracy. The scope of work for the City of Santa Monica is production of eye-level spider- diagram maps and .schedules for every stop within the Big Blue Bus' 51 square mile service area. Each of the over 1,200 stops will have specific timetable information noting bus arrivals at that stop along with a simple to read map showing travel times between stops along the line. These new maps will be installed with the new passenger amenities being designed as part of the Bus Stop Redevelopment Program. Installation of the new bus stops is expected to begin in FY2010-11. Public Outreach Over 17 different meetings were held between January and March of 2010 to show the rough conceptual designs of the bus stop redevelopment program. Both public meetings and meetings with Business Improvement Districts, Neighborhood Associations, and boards including the Disabilities Commission, Architectural Review Board and the Commission for the Senior Community were held. Each of the meetings featured a review of the proposed new stop information and response was. overwhelmingly positive about the new style and content of information to be used at bus stops. 3 Additionally, a sample of the sign was made available online at www.BigBlueBus.com and public feedback was invited. Several other transit and architecture related websites also linked the Big Blue Bus web page, and feedback from those sites was positive as well. Financial Impacts & Budget Actions The contract amount to be awarded to CHK America is $179,550. Funds are included in the FY2010-11 budget at account 0410114.589000. This amount includes $20,000 in on- going maintenance support for changes to public information that occurs during annual services changes: Additional changes after this will come from Customer Relations division operating budget. Prepared by: Dan Dawson, Transit Customer Relations Administrator Approved: Forwarded to Council: ®. 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