SR 05-09-2017 3F
Ci ty Council
Report
City Council Meeting : May 9, 2017
Agenda Item: 3.F
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Edward King, Director , Big Blue Bus, Planning & Community Engagement
Subject: Any Line, Any Time BBB Pass Program for Santa Monica College
Recommended Action
Staff r ecommends that the City Council:
1. A uthorize the City Man ager to negotiate and execute an agreement to renew the
“Any Line, Any Time” unlimited ride transit program between Big Blue Bus and
Santa Monica College (SMC) for a three -year term covering the period July 1,
2017 through June 30, 2020. SMC will reimburse Big Blue Bus for transit
servic es in the amount of $4,513,878 over the three -year term.
Executive Summary
In August 2015, the City Council adopted five Strategic Goals providing staff direction
on Council’s overarching priorities for the City. One of the five Strategic Goals is to
“create a new model for mobility”. None of the five strategies were new efforts , although
each involved a refocusing on tangible long -term outcomes. Similarly , Big Blue Bus
began assessing each of its existing and new init iatives against Council’s adopted
priorities, chief among them being mobility, and evolved its reporting of benchmarks and
outcomes through the Strategic Goals focus . Big Blue Bus’ “Any Line, Any Time”
program is one such existing program that reflects BBB ’s commitment to strategic
mobility goals that lead to enhanced adoption of ridership among young riders.
Big Blue Bus (BBB) has had annual agreements since 2007 with SMC to provide
unlimited access to BBB transit services for all student, staff, and facu lty members who
choose to participate in the “Any Line, Any Time” program. Under this agreement, BBB
charges SMC a fixed annual amount for all passengers with a valid, activated SMC
identification card bearing a current semester sticker. The SMC Partners hip was most
recently renewed at the May 27, 2014 Council meeting for a three -year period covering
July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2017. Staff recommends renewing the agreement for an
additional three years through June 30, 2020 and increasing the fixed annual amo unts
to $1,453,17 2 (FY 2017 -18); $1,504,03 3 (FY 2018 -19); and $1,556,67 3 (FY 2019 -20).
Background
In 2007, Santa Monica College was the primary trip generator in Santa Monica;
however, most of the 34,300 students and 1,700 staff commuted by automobile.
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I nsufficient parking capacity at the campus led to the need for perimeter parking at the
City’s beach lots and was a significant community safety and traffic concern. As a result,
SMC and the City asked for Big Blue Bus’ assistance in developing a comprehen sive
transportation solution. A one -year demonstration project with SMC was initiated in
February 2007. SMC agreed to reimburse BBB for trips taken by students, faculty and
staff presenting their school identification cards on the Crosstown Ride , and a new
service known as the Line 6 SMC Commuter, operating from the Palms/Mar Vista area
to SMC, was added. In August 2008, a third route was added - the Sunset Ride -
connecting the Bundy and Main campuses.
Council authorized the implementation of the “Any Li ne, Any Time” program with SMC
with the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2008 -10 Short Range Transit Plan adopted
on March 25, 2008 . Big Blue Bus implemented the unlimited ride transit program with
SMC in the fall of 2008. The agreeme nt was most recently renewe d on
May 27, 2014 for the period of July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2017, increasing the fixed annual
amounts $1,356,551 in FY 2014 -15, $1,404,030 in FY 2015 -16, and $1,453,172 in FY
2016 -17, representing a seven percent increase over a three -year period.
Durin g the past year, the City and SMC have engaged in discussions on the importance
of continuing the Any Line, Any Time program. Staff recommends entering into the
proposed three -year agreement to provide for sustained financial planning for both SMC
and the City, as well as acknowledging the success of the program providing a reliable
mobility option to students.
Discussion
During the current three -year contract period ending July 30, 2017, SMC ridership was
2,554,326 for FY15, 2,359,623 for FY16, and 1,18 4,752 in FY1 7 Year -to -Date . Although
there is a modest decline in ridership, which is consistent with trends throughout the
County and the United States on all bus transit systems, the program is tremendously
successful in reducing single occupancy vehicle trips to the campus and surrounding
Santa Monica neighborhoods. O ther market conditions that have impacted BBB service
to SMC include the introduction of Expo Light Rail with a station within walking distance
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to campus, the delay in the opening of the SM C – AET campus, and the structural
change in the number (and demographic ) of high school graduates resulting in a 3%
decline in enrollment. Another consideration is that since the last time this agreement
was negotiated in May 2014, BBB’s base cash fare i ncreased from $1.00 to $1.25 on
January 10, 2016.
Staff is committed to ensuring that service levels meet demand upon the opening of the
AET campus, and is partnering with SMC on a comprehensive marketing and outreach
program for the 2017 Fall Semester. Additionally, BBB’s comprehensive post Evolution
of Blue analysis will begin shortly and will evaluate market trends and origin -destination
travel trends for all services that touch SMC.
Understanding the need to maintain consistent service levels as wel l as fare structures,
BBB and SMC ha ve agreed to maintain the same annual payment of $1,453,17 2 in FY
2017 -18 as in FY 2016 -17, and increase the amount by 3.5% in both FY 2018 -19 and
FY 2019 -20.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
T he agreement to renew the “Any Line, Any Time” unlimited ride transit program
between the Big Blue Bus and SMC is for a three -year term. SMC will reimburse Big
Blue Bus for transit services in the amount of $1,453,17 2 in FY 2017 -18, $1,504,03 3 in
FY 2018 -19, and $1,556,67 3 in F Y 2019 -20. The required budget actions will be
included in the Proposed FY 2017 -19 budget .
Prepared By: Suja Lowenthal, Planning & Community Engagement Manager
Approved
Forwarded to Council
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Attachments:
A. May 27, 2014 Unlimited Ride Transit Program with Santa Monica College
B. March 25, 2008 Short Range Transit Pla n
REFERENCE:
Agreement No. 10455
(CCS)