RESOLUTION NO. 24-46
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COMMERCE, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING 500 ROUTE MODIFICATIONS, ADDING THE 70O ROUTE, AND AUTHORIZING STAFF TO IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS WHEREAS, the 500 “Purple” Route was enacted in October 2022 and is an extension of the Commerce in Motion Study. The City of Commerce Transit (CCT) staff closely monitor ridership trends in the system and the Southern California Region and investigate strategies to attract new customers and better serve our existing ridership base. For example, there was a 6.4 decline in boardings on the 500 Route. Based on CCT's bus stop analysis report, a primary reason for the decrease is passengers are electing to walk over a few blocks and board transit 100 Route or 400 Route and transfer at the Commerce Shopping Center for faster service rather than waiting seventy-five (75) minutes for the next 500 Route; and WHEREAS, to better serve the community and provide faster service, City staff recommend modifying the 500 Route and adding a new 700 Route to improve neighborhood connectivity for Commerce residents by connecting all neighborhoods to essential connectivity points. This project includes restoring critical segments of the former Red, Blue, and Yellow routes. By enhancing the 500 Route and adding the new 700 Route, the City of Commerce can add more destinations and increase service frequency for residents. The 500 Route connects vital destinations such as Commerce Shopping Center, Bristow Park, Teen Center, Bandini Park, City Hall / Senior Center, and Rosewood Park Elementary School. It also connects with MTA Routes 260, 62, 108, 258, and Montebello Route 50. As a complement, the 700 Route connects vital destinations such as the Commerce Shopping Center, Costco / Commerce Casino, City Hall / Senior Center, Rosewood Park Elementary School, Veterans Park / Veterans Library, Gage Senior Apartments, and TELACU Apartments. It also connects MTA Routes 108, 258, 110, and Montebello Routes 30 and 50. This project will provide a direct bus route from the Bristow and Bandini Neighborhoods to City Hall and other essential destinations like the Teen Center. The project aims to revive key stops from the previously popular Red, Blue, and Yellow routes. Moreover, the transit buses servicing these routes will be 100% electric, contributing to a greener and cleaner environment; and WHEREAS, City staff will pro-actively conduct bilingual public outreach notifications (English and Spanish) to the residents regarding the proposed changes via an article in the Commerce Connect newsletter, via all the City's social media platforms, posted signs in the transit buses, mailers to Commerce residents, push notifications through the CC Transit App, and the City's website. New bus rider guides will be available on all transit buses and public counters, including City Hall, Libraries, Parks, and the Transportation Department; and WHEREAS, based on the City's historical Formula Allocation Procedure (FAP) and projected 16% increase in revenue allocations for FY25, the proposed personnel recommendation is sustainable. Furthermore, City of Commerce Transit has $1,664,434 in emergency revenue reserves. The reserve funds can absorb unforeseen operational costs as needed. As such, the recommendation for the additional F/T Transit Supervisor position can be absorbed into Transportation's annual operating budget and have no additional impact on the City's General Fund.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COMMERCE DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DECLARE AND DETERMINE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Commerce hereby finds and declares that the foregoing recitals are true and correct, and incorporates them herein as findings and as a substantive part of this Resolution.
Section 2. Authorize City staff to implement the recommendations.
Section 3. Authorize the Mayor to execute this Resolution for and on behalf of the City of Commerce.
Section 4. This Resolution shall take full force and effect immediately upon adoption by the City Council.
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this 28th day of May 2024. _________________________
Hugo Argumedo, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________
Lena Shumway, City Clerk
PAGE
Page PAGE 1 of NUMPAGES 1