STAFF REPORT
City of Lancaster
CC 4
6/23/2026
TN
Date: June 23, 2026
To: Mayor Parris and City Council Members
From: Marissa Diaz, Director – Public Works
Nicholas Godin, Assistant Director – PW City Engineering Subject: Memorandum of Understanding with Antelope Valley Transit Authority Regarding Bus Stop Maintenance Services with the City of Lancaster Recommendation:
Approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Antelope Valley Transit Authority regarding Bus Stop Maintenance Services within the City of Lancaster, and authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to sign all documents.
G.C. Section 84308: No
Fiscal Impact:
$113,891.00 for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, $116,738.00 for Fiscal Year 2027-2028. With the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget, sufficient funds are available in Account No. 21819000-5710.
Background:
The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) is a joint powers authority providing transit services in Lancaster, Palmdale, and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. AVTA’s operations serve more than 335 stops in Lancaster. Bus stop amenities are installed by the jurisdictions, and prior to 2016 were maintained primarily by City staff and contracted services at shelter locations.
In 2016, the City entered an MOU with AVTA to increase the level of service at all Lancaster AVTA stop locations to include disposal of trash, paint touch-up, pressure washing all amenities and grounds a minimum of six feet of surrounding bus stop area, replacement of trash can liners, and the inspection/documentation of amenities requiring repair.
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As a transit agency, AVTA receives direct funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) that allows the agency to be reimbursed up to 80% of its direct maintenance costs. This allows AVTA to provide bus stop maintenance services at a saving over City costs; however, FTA funding cannot pass through directly to the City.
The level of service provided by AVTA under the first MOU was deemed excellent, and the City entered a second MOU on March 22, 2022, that covered the provision of maintenance services through Fiscal Year 2025-2026. The service provided by AVTA under the existing MOU has continued to be deemed excellent.
Under the proposed MOU, AVTA would continue to provide these services to the City for the next (2) two years (through FY 2027-2028), billed quarterly. The annual payments are as follows:
Fiscal Year 2026-2027: $113,891.00
Fiscal Year 2027-2028: $116,738.00
The proposed MOU is for only two (2) fiscal years, because AVTA is currently studying potential route enhancements that could impact the number of stops located in Lancaster. Once AVTA has completed this study and adopted any resulting route changes, City staff will work with AVTA staff to determine the resulting maintenance service needs and costs for a potential subsequent MOU.
NG/cvh
Attachment:
Memorandum of Understanding