Fremont City Council Meeting: 03/03/26 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Human Services Department Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Agreements and Contracts
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5641) DOC ID: 5641
Updated: 2/26/2026 8:39 AM by Dina Lewis Page 1
ACCESS FOR ALL WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VAN SERVICE AGREEMENT:
Authorization to Execute an Agreement with the Statewide Access Fund Administrator (SAFA) for Wheelchair Accessible Van Services through the Ride- On Tri-City Program.
Contact Persons:
Name: Shawn Fong Arquimides Caldera
Title: Paratransit Program Manager Human Services Director Div/Dept: Human Services Department Human Services Department Phone: 510-574-2033 510-574-2056
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: In October 2025, the Statewide Access Fund Administrator (SAFA) designated by the California Public Utilities Commission to administer Transportation Network Companies Access for All Program funds issued a request for proposals (RFP) for same-day wheelchair accessible vehicle transportation services. The City of Fremont’s Ride-On Tri-City program submitted a successful proposal, and staff recommends the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with the SAFA, in the amount of $1,080,000, for the City to provide same-day wheelchair-accessible vehicle transportation services, and appropriate additional funds.
BACKGROUND: In 2018, the California legislature passed Senate Bill 1376, which directed the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to establish a program to increase the availability of on-demand transportation for people with disabilities, including wheelchair users who need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. As a result, the CPUC developed the Access for All Program, which is funded through a ten cent ($0.10) per-trip charge imposed on all trips originating in California by transportation network companies (TNC) like Uber and Lyft.
The fees collected on each TNC ride are deposited in the CPUC’s Transportation Access Fund. The CPUC selected GCAP Services, Inc. to serve as the Statewide Access Fund Administrator (SAFA). The SAFA is responsible for developing the Access for All Program for California counties not served by a Local Access Fund Administrator, engaging with community stakeholders, and establishing a competitive process for procuring on -demand wheelchair-accessible vehicle service providers.
On July 1, 2025, the City’s Ride-On Tri-City program launched a same-day wheelchair-accessible vehicle pilot program to address this unmet transportation need and improve equity in access for people using wheelchairs. Prior to the pilot program, Tri-City residents using wheelchairs were only able to access rides by making an advance reservation through an ADA paratransit service provider such as East Bay Paratransit and Union City Paratransit. The City’s pilot project will initially run through June 30, 2027, and was developed anticipating the Access for All Program grant as a possible source of funding.
On October 1, 2025, the SAFA released a Request for Proposals for Access Providers for Funding Cycle 5, Calendar Year 2026. There was approximately $2.4 million available for same-day wheelchair-accessible vehicle services in Alameda County. The City applied Council Staff Report (ID # 5641) Meeting of March 3, 2026 Updated: 2/26/2026 8:39 AM by Dina Lewis Page 2
through its wheelchair-accessible vehicle pilot program, and the SAFA subsequently notified the City of its intent to award the Ride-On Tri-City program $1,080,000 in funding.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: The City’s wheelchair-accessible vehicle pilot program provides same-day, on-demand wheelchair accessible rides to Tri-City residents who use wheelchairs/scooters and require an accessible vehicle. The program provided 2,557 rides in the first six months of operation.
Accessible rides are provided to and from destinations in Fremont, Newark and Union City between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm daily, except on major holidays. Riders can request an on-demand ride (target response time is within 60 minutes of ride request) or a same-day pre-booked ride (20-minute pickup window provided). Riders can request rides in one of three ways: through the rider app, web portal, or ride request phone line. Language interpretation services are available on the ride request phone line for non-English speaking or limited-English speaking riders. Riders pay a $4 fare for each one-way trip.
Nomad Transit LLC (Nomad), the City’s wheelchair-accessible vehicle service provider, has five wheelchair-accessible minivans available for the service. Nomad also provides transportation software that provides essential service data needed for monitoring, reporting and evaluation, a critical element in the program’s ability to serve as an access provider under the Access for All Program.
Access to same-day, wheelchair-accessible transportation has been a critical unmet need on a local and county-wide level and was identified as a priority action area in the City’s Age Friendly Action Plan, as well as a funding priority of the Alameda County Transportation Commission.
FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed agreement with the SAFA has no impact on the City’s General Fund. The SAFA funding received in the amount of $1,080,00 will cover all the City’s contracted wheelchair-accessible transportation costs from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. In the FY 2025/26 adopted budget, the City Council appropriated sufficient funding for pilot’s operations from a variety of funding sources, but staff is requesting an additional appropriation of $540,000 in the ACTC Mobility Mgmt Partnership Fund (Fund 176) to account for the SAFA funding. This funding award will free up the City’s Measure BB Direct Local Distribution funds to meet changing community needs and support current mobility management and transportation service priorities for future years of operation. Appropriations for FY2026/27 wheelchair-accessible vehicle service operations will be included in the City’s proposed budget for next fiscal year.
The City’s wheelchair-accessible vehicle pilot program was developed anticipating the Access for All Program funding as a possible short and long-term source of funding. This funding award places the City in a favorable position to be selected as an access provider for same-day wheelchair-accessible vehicle services by any future state or county level RFPs.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The action is exempt from and not subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to, without limitation, CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(2), (4) and/or (5), and/or 15061(b)(3) as an administrative or fiscal activity that has no potential to cause a significant effect on the environment, directly Council Staff Report (ID # 5641) Meeting of March 3, 2026 Updated: 2/26/2026 8:39 AM by Dina Lewis Page 3
or indirectly, each of the foregoing providing a separate and independent basis for CEQA exemption.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement with GCAP Services, Inc., as the designated Statewide Access Fund Administrator, and any other implementing documents that may be required, for the City to provide same-day Wheelchair Accessible Van services through its Ride-On Tri-City program, from March 1, 2026, through February 28, 2027, in the amount of $1,080,000, and increase the revenue estimate and appropriate $540,000 in the ACTC Mobility Mgmt Partnership Fund (Fund 176) in the FY 2025/26 adopted operating budget.