Beach Cities Transit
Transit Services Study
Draft Plan Presentation
December 5, 2023
Agenda
I. Background and Project Purpose
II. Summary of Engagement
III. Summary of Existing Conditions
IV. Service Plan
V. Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) Plan
VI. Infrastructure and Facility Needs
VII. Financial Considerations
Project Background and Overview
Assess Existing &
Future Conditions
Develop Shortand Long-Range
Service Plans
Infrastructure,
ZEB, & Strategic
Planning
Draft & Final
Transit Service
Study Report
Community survey, focus groups, pop-ups, technical working meeting Springfest 2023 We are here
Summary of
Engagement
• Community survey for riders, non-riders, and
WAVE riders
• 7 pop-ups across the Beach Cities
• 3 community focus groups
• Technical Working Group meeting with key
stakeholders
• Booth at Redondo Beach Springfest 2023
Engagement methods:
• Redondo Beach and project websites
• BCT Twitter, retweeted by other transit agencies and
Beach Cities
• Onboard BCT buses
• Redondo Union High School student e-blast
• Easy Reader: 4-week full page ad & digital ads in June • Community Services Instagram ads
• Community Services email list
• Direct emails to 109 city partners
Survey Summary
Line
102
Line 40%
109
60%
Ridership
Major themes among WAVE riders:
• Generally satisfied with the service
• Used most frequently for medical trips
• Desire for WAVE to access more locations
• Desire for more information about the WAVE
and more travel training
23%
21%
28%
51%
50%
75%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
I had more information about BCT
The bus ran at different times
My trip time was comparable to driving
The bus was more reliable (arrived/departed
on time)
The bus went to more places
The bus ran more frequently
Factors that would increase riding frequency
280 complete
responses from
riders, non-riders,
and WAVE riders
89% of riders
walk to the bus
stop
59% of riders use
at least one other
transit system →
need for
connectivity and
seamless
transfers
Most survey respondents are
infrequent riders (who ride a
few times a month or less than
once a month)
Amon infrequent riders, most
common trip purpose =
entertainment and recreation
Most common trip purpose
among frequent riders = work
or school
Major themes among non-riders:
• General interest in the service but insufficient
information to use; lack of public awareness
• Lack of awareness on how to access BCT information
• Factors that would encourage transit use: more
information about BCT, trip time comparable to driving
BCT Existing Conditions
• BCT serves the South Bay Region and Beach Cities, including Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, and LAX
• BCT operates a fleet of 20 natural gas vehicles for the fixed route and Dial-A-Ride services and provides service to 180,000 people • Over 1,300 people ride each day. Students account for ~19% of ridership on a school day
• BCT operates two fixed lines (102, 109) and Dial-A-Ride service for seniors (62+) and persons with disabilities
• Recently, BCT opened the new Redondo Beach Transit Center near the South Bay Galleria as a new multimodal hub
• WAVE Dial-A-Ride
• The WAVE Provides door-to-door service to seniors (62+) and people with disabilities
• Service area: Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, and specific satellite locations (mostly medical facilities)
• The WAVE carries ~35 riders each day
Existing Conditions
• Provides service between the Redondo Beach Pier and
Redondo Beach C (Green) Line Station
• Provides school tripper service to Redondo Union High School
• Serves the new Redondo Beach Transit Center
• Service span and frequency:
• Weekdays 6am-9pm: around every 40 minutes
• Saturday 8am-9pm: every 30 minutes for most of the day • Sundays 9am-7pm: every 40 minutes
• 701 average daily weekday riders when school is in session; 516 average daily weekday riders when school is not in
session
• Potential future impacts:
• C Line Extension
• South Bay Galleria Redevelopment
Line 102
Existing Conditions Line 109
• Provides service between the Riviera Village and
LAX, including multiple large employment centers in
Manhattan Beach and El Segundo
• Service span and frequency:
• Weekdays 6am-10pm: between every 40 and
55 minutes
• Weekends 6am-10pm: every 60 minutes
• 580 average daily weekday riders
• Less seasonal fluctuation than Line 102; more
consistent ridership year-round
• Future impacts:
• LAX Automated People Mover
• LAX Airport Metro Connector Station
The WAVE
• Provides service to seniors (62+) and those with
disabilities
• Serves qualifying residents of Redondo Beach,
Hermosa Beach, and to specific satellite locations
• Service
• Weekdays: 6am-8:30pm
• Weekends: 8am-8:30pm
• 24 average weekday passenger trips in FY21-22
(compared to 51 daily trips pre-COVID)
• 75% of trips begin and end in Redondo Beach
• 10% of trips begin and end in Hermosa Beach
• 15% of trips begin and end in satellite locations
FY24-25 (Plan Year 2): decrease weekday headways from
current headways to around every 33 minutes for most of the day.
• WHY? To provide more frequent service after service
became less frequent to serve the Redondo Beach Transit Center
FY24-25 (Plan Year 2): extend Line 102 from its current terminus at the Pier to Riviera Village.
• WHY? Creates new transfer hub at the Pier, creates a oneseat ride for South Redondo students, improves access to the Redondo Beach Transit Center and South Bay Galleria FY25-26 (Plan Year 3): increase Sunday service levels so that they match Saturday service levels, meaning that Sunday service would now operate around every 40 minutes from 8am9pm. • WHY? Post-pandemic weekend ridership on Line 102 has
exceeded pre-pandemic ridership levels
Line 102 Recommendations
75% of survey
respondents would
ride more often if
the bus ran more
frequently
77% of survey
respondents
support a later
end time for the
Line 102 on
Sundays
100% of
Springfest survey
respondents
support this
recommendation
FY23-24 (Plan Year 1): re-route Line 109 around Manhattan Village Mall and Plaza El Segundo.
• WHY? Currently very low passenger activity at these stops, provides more direct service, reduces travel time, current stops are not pedestrian-friendly
FY24-25 (Plan Year 2): adjust routing around LAX to serve the Airport Metro Connector Station.
• WHY? Provides a direct connection to LAX APM and other transit operators at the AMC.
FY24-25 (Plan Year 2): terminate Line 109 at the Pier and extend Line 102 south from the Pier to Riviera Village. • WHY? Enables easier transfers, provides easier access to the Pier and Veterans Park Senior Center, reflects travel patterns in South Redondo.
FY26-27 (Plan Year 4): improve weekday AM and PM peak
hour service to every 35 minutes.
• WHY? Provide a better experience for riders who use Line 109 during peak hours.
Line 109 Recommendations
92% of
Springfest survey
respondents
support this
recommendation.
100% of
Springfest survey
respondents
support this
recommendation
100% of
Springfest survey
respondents
support this
recommendation
75% of survey
respondents would
ride more often if
the bus ran more
frequently
Manhattan Beach Blvd. Link
• Metro discontinuation of Line 126 along Manhattan Beach Blvd. • Only operated during AM and PM peak periods; low ridership • Service along Manhattan Beach Blvd. was highly requested in the survey and at outreach events • Manhattan Beach Mobility Plan displayed a need for east-west service along Manhattan Beach Blvd. • Pursue operations funding from Manhattan Beach
• Launch as pilot during summer FY25-26, pending Manhattan Beach funding Recommended alignment chosen
because:
• Provides an east-west link in BCT
service
• Enables more regional travel:
connection to C Line
• Provides access to multiple major
trip generators
• Opportunity to launch service as a
pilot during summer (non-school)
months to minimize operational and
financial burden to BCT
Service Schedule (summer/non-school
months):
• Monday-Thursday: 8am-8pm, every 30
minutes
• Friday-Sunday: 10am-11pm, every 30
minutes
WAVE Recommendations
Focus on opportunities to grow ridership and awareness
• Outreach and Engagement
• Marketing and Engagement Plan
• Leverage organizational partnerships
• Travel training
• Promote group trips/social outings
• Technology Improvements
• New scheduling and dispatching software
• Opportunities to book trips in different ways (website, app) • Enable WAVE vehicles to take TAP cards
• Long-Term
• Explore opportunities to open up service to general public WAVE rider survey respondents
would ride more often with
technology improvements:
Track trip on an app (27%)
Use an app or website to book
trips (27%)
71% of WAVE rider survey
respondents use WAVE once a
month or less. These
opportunities can improve the
rider experience and encourage
them to use the service more
frequently.
Service
Plan
Summary
Service Plan Summary
Plan Year Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
FY 23-24 24-25 25-26 26-27 27-28
Line 102
Routing changes to
absorb the portion of Line
109 between Redondo
Beach Pier and Riviera
Village (January 2024).
Weekday service around
every 33 minutes.
N/A
Alter Sunday service
schedule to match the
Saturday service
schedule.
N/A N/A
Line 109
Routing changes to
straighten out alignment
around Plaza El Segundo
and Manhattan Village
Mall, and terminate line
at Redondo Beach Pier
(January 2024).
Implement routing
changes to serve the
Airport Metro Connector
and Automated People
Mover at LAX.
N/A
Implement 35-min
weekday service during
AM and PM peaks.
N/A
Manhattan
Beach Blvd.
Link
Lead time for additional
planning, outreach, etc.
Launch new line during
summer months, when
school trippers are not in
service.
Continue to monitor performance and adjust
schedules as necessary, begin to collect data to
determine whether this service should be expanded
year-round
The WAVE Various strategies to increase ridership among senior and disabled populations.
Service Plan Feedback (Springfest)
Recommendation A: re-route Line 109 to serve the LAX Automated People Mover and Airport Metro Connector Station in 2025. 92% of responses support this recommendation.
Recommendation B: straighten Line 109 along Rosecrans and Sepulveda around Manhattan Village Mall, to address rider requests for more direct service and a quicker travel time to LAX. 100% of respondents at Springfest support this recommendation.
Recommendation C: consider new summer bus service along Manhattan Beach Blvd., between the Redondo Beach C Line Station and Manhattan Beach Pier. 100% of respondents support this recommendation.
Recommendation D: extend Line 102 south from Redondo Beach Pier to Riviera Village and re-route Line 109 to terminate at the Pier. 100% of respondents at Springfest support this recommendation.
Recommendation E: maintain the WAVE DAR services for Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach with increased marketing and awareness (travel training) programs. 59% of respondents support this recommendation.
Innovative Clean Transit Mandate
• Requires that small transit agencies begin purchasing ZEBs in 2026, with a goal of 100% transition by 2040
• Requires that small transit agencies submit a Council-approved plan by June 30, 2023
• Exempts cutaways, motorcoaches and articulated bus until 2026 (and later if no Altoona tested vehicles are available) • Provides exemptions for agencies based on lack of feasible vehicle alternatives, challenging terrain, operating profiles that aren’t feasible with ZE alternatives, and other challenges • Project Purpose:
• To develop a CARB-compliant zero-emission rollout plan in response to the ICT Regulation
• To develop a transition plan and strategy for BCT’s goal of a 100% ZE fleet Zero Emission Bus Plan
ZEB Planning Process
• ZEVDecide: predictive power and
energy modeling
• Shows BCT’s service can largely be
transitioned to BEBs in a 1:1 manner
• Transitioning to a BEB fleet will reduce
BCT’s GHG footprint by 87%
637.5
233.1
1021.1
0.0 200.0 400.0 600.0 800.0 1000.0 1200.0 1400.0 1600.0 1800.0 CNG fleet
BEB Fleet
Tons CO2/year
BCT Annual GHG emissions fleet comparison
Upstream emissions Tailpipe emissions
ZEB Technology Choice
Recommendation: Deploy Battery-Electric Buses
• BCT has shorter distance routes, traveling approximately 170 miles per day • Fixed route buses travel 20-179 daily miles and WAVE vehicles travel 64 daily miles • BCT ridership does not support the need for larger buses (40’ or 60’) • There are more shorter length BEB options available in the market • Most of BCT’s operations can be converted to BEBs in a 1:1 manner Fleet Replacement Plan and Infrastructure
Phasing
• First BEB purchase in 2029 in accordance
with CARB purchase requirements
• Slight fleet growth to accommodate service
plan and take a more conservative
approach to ZEB deployment
• WAVE fleet transitions to more vans (5)
and fewer cutaways (3) to right-size fleet
• All the major electrical equipment,
modifications, utility upgrades, and conduit
should be incorporated during the
construction of the new facility in FY2028
so that the physical installation of the
chargers and dispensers can be a simple
connection to the already installed
infrastructure. Each charger can be
connected 6-8 months before new electric
vehicles arrival.
0 5
10 15
20 25
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037 2038 2039 2040 Vehicle Count
Fleet Composition, 2023-2040
CNG Bus CNG Cutaway CNG Van BEB Bus BEB Cutaway BEB Van Installation of chargers and dispensers
Power Demand and Charging Profile
• Charging requirements for
fixed route and WAVE services
• In-depot overnight charging
• Avoids charging between 4pm
and 9pm to avoid peak hour
charges from SCE
• Requires a maximum power
capacity of ~700 kW seen
during the overnight fueling
window
0 2
4 6
8 10
12 14
16 18
20 0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
12:00 AM
2:00 AM4:00 AM6:00 AM8:00 AM
10:00 AM12:00 PM
2:00 PM4:00 PM6:00 PM8:00 PM
10:00 PM12:00 AM
2:00 AM4:00 AM6:00 AM8:00 AM
10:00 AM12:00 PM
2:00 PM4:00 PM6:00 PM8:00 PM
10:00 PM
Number of Active Vehicles
Power (kw)
Charging Profile
Max Power Vehicles in Service
Infrastructure and Facility Needs
• Existing operations and maintenance building and bus parking area is too small and in need of replacement to sustain BCT’s operations
• Current facility is about 6,000 sq. ft. undersized for current operations Area Proposed Area (sq. ft.) Notes
Buildings Total 16,264
Summation of space needed for proposed building
areas (maintenance, operations, administration, wash
bays, shared spaces, building utilities)
Fleet and Non-Revenue
Vehicle Parking 16,555
Summation of revenue and non-revenue parking
quantity (26); parking area plus 50% grossing factor
for circulation aisles, etc.
Employee Parking 16,695
Summation of employee and visitor parking quantity
(56); parking area plus 50% grossing factor for
circulation aisles, etc.
Misc. Exterior Spaces 4,135 Estimated area includes space for future expansion Grand Total ~54,000 = ~1.23 acres
Operations and Maintenance Facility Site Plan
• BCT will require significant
modifications to its facilities to
accommodate the transition to
BEBs and sustain long-term
operations
• New operations and
maintenance facility
• New BEB charging equipment
and electrical utility
improvements
Facility construction: 2027-2029
Charger installation: 2029
First vehicle delivery: 2030 (with
procurement in 2029)
ZEB Infrastructure and Bus Yard
Example a BEB plugged into a charger Example of ground-mounted dispensers • Electrical utility
upgrades through SCE
• Potential participation
in SCE Charge Ready
Transport Program for
infrastructure
installation
Future Planning and Design Needs
Facility Design and Permitting Needs
2024: CEQA and NEPA clearances
2026: Architectural and Engineering (A&E) services
2027: Construction Management (CM) services
2028: Commence facility construction
2030: Facility construction complete in time for first BEB Operating Cost Estimates for Service Plan
• Assumes BCT will continue to utilize a contractor for operations and maintenance of fixed route and WAVE services
• City will issue a new RFP for service for a new contract period to begin July 2026 (Plan Year 4). After that, it is anticipated that costs and associated wages will be higher subject to the RFP process
• 32% increase in costs and 23% increase in service between Plan Year 1 and Plan Year 5 Plan Year Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
FY 23-24 24-25 25-26 26-27 27-28
Fixed Monthly Rate $103,502 $108,574 $114,002 $121,982 $130,521 Fixed Hourly Rate $48.57 $50.95 $53.50 $57.24 $61.25
Annual Revenue
Hours 47,186 47,186 49,560 50,319 50,319
Total Operating
Cost $3,533,848 $3,707,007 $4,019,3660 $4,344,162 $4,648,253 Capital Cost Estimates: Bus Procurements and
Facility and Infrastructure Upgrades
Site Costs
Site Demolition $450,351
Park & Ride Lot/Employee Parking $604,309
OMF Sitework $8,153,797
Admin-Ops & Maintenance Facility $9,139,965
Escalation $3,957,755
Equipment Costs
Maintenance/Bus Wash Equipment $1,000,000
Escalation $423,843
Soft Costs
Architectural/Engineering Fees $3,559,503
Environmental Consulting (CEQA/NEPA) $177,975
Construction Contingency $1,186,501
Construction Management $1,898,402
Surveys, etc. $1,186,501
Total Opinion of Probable Cost with
Escalation, Equipment, and Soft Costs $31,738,902
Year (FY) Bus
Procurements
Estimated Cost
(2023$)
23-24 1 CNG Bus $533,000
24-25 3 CNG Buses $1,632,000
26-27 2 CNG Buses $1,135,000
27-28 1 CNG Van $63,300
28-29 1 BE Bus
4 BE Vans $1,872,000
29-30 3 BE Cutaways $870,700
33-34 8 BE Buses $8,442,800
36-37 1 BE Bus
1 BE Van $1,371,600
37-38 4 BE Buses
4 BE Vans $5,588,800
38-39 3 BE Cutaways $1,023,500
39-40 1 BE Bus $1,178,400
Potential Funding Sources
• Low or No Emission Vehicle Program (5339c)
• Grants for Bus and Bus Facilities (5339a; 5339b)
• RAISE Discretionary Grants
• Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ)
• Urbanized Area Formula Grants (5307)
• Other federal opportunities (like IIJA, etc.)
Federal
• Local Transportation Fund (LTF)
• Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) • Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP)
• Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP)
• California State of Good Repair (SGR)
• Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust
• Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credits
• SCE Charge Ready Transport Program
• SBCCOG Subregional Measure R Funding
State/Local
Summary
• Service Plan: guide investments and changes to BCT service for the 5-year service planning period
• Focus on preparing BCT services for upcoming transportation projects and developments in the South Bay
• ZEB Plan: develop a CARB-compliant ZEB Plan to help BCT transition to a 100% ZEB fleet by 2040
• Infrastructure and Facility Needs: identify infrastructure and facility needs for ZEB transition and ongoing BCT operations
• Identify capital planning needs for BCT to implement service plan, ZEB plan, and infrastructure planning
• Timeline ensures facility and infrastructure will be in place for first BEB to arrive in 2030 Recommendation:
•Discuss and Provide Input on the
Draft BCT Transit Services Study