West San Leandro Shutle Business Improvement District Annual Report FY 2023-24 Page | 1
Annual Report of the
West San Leandro Shuttle (LINKS)
Business Improvement District
For Fiscal Year 2023-24
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West San Leandro Shutle Business Improvement District Annual Report FY 2023-24 Page | 2
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Table of Contents
Execu�ve Summary & Recommenda�on ............................................................... 3 Organiza�on..............................................................................................................................................3 LINKS Shutle Service ................................................................................................................................3 FY 2022-23 Ac�vi�es.................................................................................................................................3 FY 2023-24 Planned Ac�vi�es...................................................................................................................4 West San Leandro Business Improvement District (BID) ..........................................................................4 BID Advisory Board - Rate Recommenda�on............................................................................................4 Annual Report........................................................................................................ 5 Background ...............................................................................................................................................5 LINKS Shutle Service ................................................................................................................................5 BID Renewal ..............................................................................................................................................6 Summary of Annual Ac�vi�es...................................................................................................................6 2022-23 Ac�vi�es......................................................................................................................................6 LINKS Budget.............................................................................................................................................7 2023-24 Planned Ac�vi�es .......................................................................................................................8 Business Improvement District Authoriza�on ..........................................................................................8 Annual BID Rate Recommenda�on – 2023 Business Improvement District Assessment.........................9 Exhibit A: Ridership Sta�s�cs............................................................................... 10 Exhibit B: LINKS Shutle Map................................................................................ 12 Exhibit C: Budget.................................................................................................. 13 Exhibit D: Business License Insert ........................................................................ 14 West San Leandro Shutle Business Improvement District Annual Report FY 2023-24 Page | 3
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Execu�ve Summary & Recommenda�on
The Annual Report includes a brief history of the LINKS shutle and the West San Leandro Shutle Business Improvement District (BID), ridership sta�s�cs; current and planned opera�ons, the LINKS budget and the proposed BID assessment for 2024.
Organiza�on
The West San Leandro Shutle Business Improvement District was formed in 2000 to provide management and funding for the LINKS Shutle Program. In 2015, the BID was reauthorized for a period of 15 years and the service area was expanded. In addi�on to the BID, LINKS is funded by grants, adver�sing revenue and a financial contribu�on from the City of San Leandro.
The LINKS Shutle service is administered by the San Leandro Transporta�on Management Organiza�on (SLTMO), a 501(C) 4 non-profit corpora�on.
Oversight of the BID is conducted by the West San Leandro Business Improvement District Advisory Board (Advisory Board). The five to seven member Advisory Board includes two City staff designees and three to five business representa�ves. The Advisory Board’s du�es include annual review of the LINKS performance for submission to the City Council and annual BID rate recommenda�on.
LINKS Shutle Service
The free shutle provides cri�cal first-last mile transporta�on from the San Leandro BART sta�on to the industrial area west of I-880 and Marina Blvd. LINKS operates Monday – Friday during peak commute hours (5:45 – 9:45 am and 3:00 – 7:00 pm). With 20 years of service to the community, LINKS has provided over 3 million rides.
FY 2022-23 Ac�vi�es
Over the last year, the SLTMO provided reliable transporta�on to LINKS riders as the SF Bay Area recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Although opera�ons and ridership were impacted, the service con�nued to operate, providing cri�cal first/last mile public transporta�on for employees in West San Leandro.
Due to a projected budget shor�all beginning in FY 2022/23, on July 1, 2022, the LINKS Shutle service launched a new rou�ng configura�on in which it u�lizes dual-interlaced loops to maximize the efficiency of the shutles in opera�on as well as allowing passengers to reach more des�na�ons without having to transfer vehicles. This configura�on reduced the number of vehicles from 4 to 2, allowing the program to operate within the reduced budget, with only a 10-minutes decrease in frequency, from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes. Most importantly, there were no changes to stops, service area, or opera�ng hours.
Over the course of the fiscal year, the LINKS shutle provided 91,134 passenger trips, or 353 trips per day.
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FY 2023-24 Planned Ac�vi�es
Following is a summary of planned ac�vi�es for FY 2023-24:
• Con�nue to monitor the effec�veness of the Dual Interlaced Loop configura�on and modify service as needed to meet rider needs.
• Increase ridership through employer/employee outreach, digital awareness via Twiter and digital marke�ng opportuni�es and the publishing of the LINKS routes and schedules on online mapping systems.
• Aggressively seek local, state, and federal grant and other funding opportuni�es.
West San Leandro Business Improvement District (BID)
The enabling BID Ordinance requires that the Advisory Board annually review the performance of LINKS service and recommended BID rate adjustment for submission to the City Council. The Ordinance provides that the City Council may increase the annual assessment in an amount not to exceed the increase of the Consumer Price Index (San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose), as part of its review of the annual report.
BID Advisory Board - Rate Recommenda�on
Increase the BID per employee assessment rate equal to the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as provided for in Ordinance No. 2009-002. For 2024 the applicable CPI factor is 4.2 percent. This would result in the BID per employee rate increasing from $27.63 to $28.79. Businesses with three or fewer owner/employees, landlords, and non-profits will con�nue to be exempt from the BID assessment. The CPI adjustment will raise approximately $18,000.
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Annual Report
Background
In 2000, the City of San Leandro evaluated the feasibility of implemen�ng a commuter shutle service connec�ng west San Leandro employment sites with the San Leandro BART sta�on. Based on the results of that study, the San Leandro Transporta�on Management Organiza�on (SLTMO) and a Business Improvement District (BID) were formed to provide management and funding for the LINKS Shutle program.
The SLTMO is a 501(C)4 non-profit corpora�on governed by a Board of Directors that includes representa�on from businesses included in the BID and the City of San Leandro. The SLTMO administers the LINKS Shutle program.
Oversight of the BID is conducted by the West San Leandro Shutle Business Improvement District Advisory Board (Advisory Board). The five to seven member Advisory Board includes two City staff designees and three to five business representa�ves. The Advisory Board’s du�es include annual review of the LINKS performance for submission to the City Council. The Ordinance authorizing the BID also provides that the City Council may increase the annual BID assessment in an amount not to exceed the increase of the Consumer Price Index as part of its review of the annual report.
LINKS Shutle Service
The LINKS Shutle provides free transporta�on from the San Leandro BART sta�on to the industrial area west of I-880 and Marina Blvd., a major employment center of the City and the region. LINKS operates Monday – Friday during peak commute hours (5:45 – 9:45 am and 3:00 – 7:00 pm). In July 2022, the service was modified to a Dual Interlaced Loop configura�on opera�ng two buses, both of which travel on a North and South Loop. Historically, LINKS provides 200,000 rides per year with an average of 700 rides per day. Like all public transporta�on services, the number of rides dropped since COVID. Ridership gradually increased and was over 500 rides per day by the end of FY 21-22. Upon the implementa�on of the Dual Interlaced Loop configura�on, the program did experience an expected drop in ridership due to the decrease in frequency. At the end of FY 22-23 ridership was averaging 350 rides per day. This represents a 50% pre-pandemic recovery, a trend consistent with BART’s recover levels.
LINKS provides cri�cal “first and last mile” connec�on between transit and employers in West San Leandro, serving major employers including Amazon, Walmart and Costco, as well as small employers.
There are over 800 businesses and almost 15,000 employees in the LINKS service area. LINKS also provides transporta�on to commercial nodes including Marina Square Shopping Center and community services such as Davis Street Family Resource Center which serves 10,000 low-income people each year.
Par�cipa�on in the LINKS BID service area helps businesses comply with the BAAQMD Commuter Benefit requirements. In 2014, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) implemented the Commuter Benefits Program that requires all employers with 50 or more full-�me employees to provide commuter benefits to their employees. To comply with the Program, employers must select one (or more) of four commuter benefit op�ons and register with BAAQMD. Par�cipa�on in the LINKS BID sa�sfies Op�on 3 (“Employer Provided Transit”) under the requirements, allowing businesses to save �me and money.
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BID Renewal
In 2015, the Business Improvement District was re-authorized for 15-years. When the BID was renewed, the service area was expanded providing more frequent service, shorter round-trip rides and connec�ons to businesses that previously could not access LINKS. BID fees are collected through the City’s business license process.
Summary of Annual Ac�vi�es
FY 2015-16 – The SLTMO focused on ge�ng the expanded service up and running smoothly and upda�ng the LINKS branding with new signage, brochure and website. Bus benches and new signs were installed.
FY 2016-17 – The SLTMO focused on stabilizing LINKS funding by applying for grants and renewing service contracts with Kaiser Permanente and Marina Square Shopping Center. LINKS received a five year Measure BB grant which helped to stabilize funding for the next several years.
FY 2017-18 – The SLTMO focused on further enhancing the service through the installa�on of Nextbus technology. Using a mobile app, Nextbus allows riders to find real �me arrival predic�ons for nearby stops instantly, find stops and vehicles on a map, get walking direc�ons and set alerts for favorite stops and �mes. Nextbus also provides useful administra�ve reports including on-�me performance and passenger count informa�on. Google translate and transporta�on resources were also added to the website further increasing accessibility to riders.
FY 2018-19 – The SLTMO con�nued its focus on improved performance and rider experience, replacing the LINKS fleet with four new buses. The exterior bus branding was updated, signage on the bus exterior was improved and informa�on racks added to the bus interior. Each bus was fited with a drive cam which can record the interior and exterior of the bus in the event of an incident.
FY 2019-20 - The SLTMO focused on con�nuing service reliability, securing grants and responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. The SLTMO implemented a variety of safety protocols allowing the shutle to con�nue to operate on its normal schedule during the uncertainty of the pandemic.
FY 2020-21 – The SLTMO con�nued to focus on providing reliable transporta�on to LINKS riders during the Covid-19 pandemic. Although ridership dropped, LINKS ridership rebounded much more quickly than larger transporta�on providers. As part of the reconfigura�on of the San Leandro BART Sta�on, the LINKS shutle stops were permanently moved to a convenient loca�on on San Leandro Blvd with access to cross walk and benches.
FY 2021-22 - The SLTMO iden�fied a projected budget shor�all beginning FY 2022-23 resul�ng from funding decreases and cost increases. As a result the SLTMO contracted with a transit consul�ng firm to review the LINKS service and develop service op�ons that would maximize service levels while reducing service costs.
2022-23 Ac�vi�es
In response to the transit consul�ng firm’s recommenda�ons, on July 1, 2022, the LINKS shutle program implemented a Dual Interlaced Loop service, reducing the number of buses from four to two. The Dual Loop configura�on maintained the exis�ng North and South loops with the central stop at the San West San Leandro Shutle Business Improvement District Annual Report FY 2023-24 Page | 7
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Leandro BART Sta�on, where both routes meet. The configura�on allows for a one-seat ride from any stop to any stop on the route for customers without having to transfer between vehicles. Headway �me is saved by reducing the dwell �me between loops. With the Dual Loop services, buses run every 30 minutes rather than every 20 minutes. This alterna�ve provides the most service under projected funding levels, reduces opera�onal costs by approximately 50% with only a 10-minute decrease in shutle frequency and allows for expansion in service if new funding is iden�fied. There is no change to shutle stops, service area or opera�ng hours.
Average daily ridership dropped from 771 in February 2020 to a low of 200 in April. Since then, ridership steadily increased with average daily ridership in June 2022 of 518 rides or 71% of pre-Covid levels. LINKS ridership rebounded much more quickly during 2020 and 2021 than large transit operators such as AC Transit and BART. LINKS ridership during Covid demonstrated that the LINKS Shutle provides essen�al transporta�on to San Leandro businesses, employees and the community. As an�cipated with the reduc�on in service vehicles and headway, with the implementa�on of the Dual Loop configura�on came a reduc�on in ridership. At the end of FY 22-23 ridership was averaging 350 rides per day. This represents a 50% pre-pandemic recovery, a trend consistent with BART’s recover levels.
LINKS Budget
Funding for LINKS comes from the BID, grants, the City of San Leandro and adver�sing revenue from Marina Square Shopping Center, in which they purchase adver�sing space on the LINKS buses. 2022 Alameda CTC CIP Grant (Vehicle Registra�on Fees & TFCA) - $1,180,088 The SLTMO received a 2022 Alameda CTC CIP grant for the periods FY 2021-22 through FY 2025-26 in the amount of $1,180,088. Although the full grant request was allocated, the matching requirement for this grant cycle went from 50% to 75% reducing the allowable request and significantly impac�ng the LINKS budget for the next five years.
2024 Alameda CTC CIP Grant (Measure BB & TFCA) - $331,000 In May 2023, the Alameda CTC the SLTMO’s applica�on for FY 2026-27 and 2027-28 CIP grant funds (Measure BB & TFCA) in the amount of $331,000. The agreements are pending.
Business Improvement District Revenue
BID revenue declined significantly year over year in 2020 but 2021, 2022, and 2023 revenue has increased back to pre-Covid levels of approximately $400,000.
Projected Budget Deficit
The SLTMO projected a budget deficit beginning in FY 2022-23 as a result of:
• New Alameda CTC matching requirements that limit the allowable grant request. • Unpredictable drop in BID revenue.
• Projected transporta�on cost increases.
Budget Reduc�on – Service Modifica�on
Implementa�on of the Dual Loop configura�on provides the most service under projected funding levels and reduces opera�onal costs by approximately 50% with the goal of stabilizing LINKS funding for the next five years.
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2023-24 Planned Ac�vi�es
Following is a summary of planned ac�vi�es for FY 2023-24:
Dual Interlaced Loop
Con�nue to monitor and modify the service as needed to meet rider needs.
Outreach
SLTMO Management will increase outreach to employers and employees to promote LINKS ridership now that riders are coming back to public transporta�on.
The LINKS shutle program has launched a Twiter account to increase digital awareness, as well as provide up-to-date service informa�on.
In addi�on to the route map and schedule being available on the NextBus app/website, the informa�on will be available on Google Maps, Apple Maps, and the Transit App.
Grants
Aggressively seek local, state, and federal grant and other funding opportuni�es. The Board will con�nue to work with the City of San Leandro and Alameda County Transporta�on Commission to secure cri�cal funding. Historically, the City of San Leandro has served as the financial administrator and sponsor for grants, which are typically awarded to transit agencies and ci�es.
Revenue Diversifica�on
Con�nue to diversify revenue sources by maintaining current contract with Marina Square (adver�sing) and seek other revenue genera�ng opportuni�es.
Business Improvement District Authoriza�on
The BID is a levied benefit assessment on businesses within the BID Area, the proceeds of which shall be used for the public purpose benefit of the businesses in the BID, pursuant to the Parking and Business Improvement Area Law of 1989 Sec�on 36500 et seq. of Division 18 of the California Streets and Highways Code. All of the assessments imposed by the BID Ordinance shall be reviewed by the City Council annually based upon the annual report prepared by the advisory board appointed pursuant to Sec�ons 36530 and 36533 of the California Streets and Highways Code. Pursuant to Sec�on 36533(c), the City Council may approve the report as filed by the advisory board or may modify any par�cular contained in the report and approve it as modified.
The ordinance defines the boundaries of the BID, the amount of the annual assessment, the approved use of the assessment funds, and the effec�ve period of the assessment. The Ordinance requires that an Advisory Board annually review the performance of LINKS for submission to the City Council. In addi�on, the Ordinance provides that the City Council may increase the annual assessment in an amount not to exceed the increase of the Consumer Price Index (San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose), as part of its review of the annual report.
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Annual BID Rate Recommenda�on – 2024 Business Improvement District Assessment In order to ensure that funding for LINKS stays current with opera�ng costs, it is recommended that the 2024 BID rate be adjusted by the applicable Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Per the approved Ordinance, the BID per employee rate may be increased annually by the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). For 2024 the applicable CPI factor is 4.2 percent. This would result in the BID per employee rate increasing from $27.63 to $28.79. Businesses with three or fewer owner/employees, landlords, and non-profits will con�nue to be exempt from the BID assessment. The CPI adjustment will raise approximately $18,000.
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Exhibit A: Ridership Sta�s�cs
Years of Service: 22
Total # of Rides Provided: 3,385,440
Monthly Total Ridership Daily Average Ridership
PreCOVID
Total
FY 19
Previous
FY Total
FY 22
Previous
FY Total
FY 23
+/- from
Previous
Year
% PreCOVID
Baseline
(FY 19)
PreCOVID
Average
FY 19
Previous
FY
Average
FY 22
Previous
FY
Average
FY 23
+/- from
Previous
Year
% PreCOVID
Baseline
(FY 19)
July 15,733 7,983 7,957 0% 51% July 749 380 379 0% 51%
August 17,585 8,537 9,288 9% 53% August 765 388 404 4% 53% September 15,506 8,682 7,950 -8% 51% September 775 395 361 -8% 47% October 18,931 8,626 8,565 -1% 45% October 823 411 407 -1% 50% November 15,963 8,651 7,278 -16% 46% November 760 412 346 -16% 46% December 14,787 8,425 6,653 -21% 45% December 739 401 316 -21% 43% January 17,779 8,282 6,611 -20% 37% January 773 394 314 -20% 41% February 15,329 9,131 6,697 -27% 44% February 766 457 334 -27% 44% March 16,188 10,454 7,715 -26% 48% March 771 455 335 -26% 44% April 17,420 10,634 6,779 -36% 39% April 792 506 338 -33% 43% May 17,327 11,838 8,061 -32% 47% May 753 538 350 -35% 47% June 15,532 11,645 7,580 -35% 49% June 777 529 344 -35% 44% FY Total 198,080 112,888 91,134 -19% 46% FY Ave. 770 439 353 -20% 46% Fiscal
Year Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Total Avg/Mo Avg/Day FY 16 16,080 14,646 16,037 18,015 14,685 15,005 15,107 17,309 18,717 17,548 18,144 18,383 199,676 16,640 777 FY 17 16,272 18,573 9,117 8,169 16,455 15,329 15,585 15,389 18,292 16,667 17,815 16,354 204,017 17,001 791 FY 18 16,582 18,746 17,134 18,642 16,732 14,136 15,381 14,519 15,491 15,046 15,777 15,681 193,867 16,156 757 FY 19 15,733 17,585 15,506 18,931 15,963 14,787 17,779 15,329 16,188 17,420 17,327 15,532 198,080 16,507 771 FY 20 16,811 17,344 16,817 19,463 14,465 14,501 15,593 14,633 9,918 4,506 4,888 5,575 154,514 12,876 647 FY 21 6,113 6,374 6,778 7,650 7,129 7,833 6,261 6,531 7,880 7,875 7,252 8,099 85,775 7,148 332 FY 22 7,983 8,537 8,682 8,626 8,651 8,425 8,282 9,131 10,454 10,634 11,838 11,645 112,888 9,407 439 FY 23 7,957 9,288 7,950 8,565 7,278 6,653 6,611 6,697 7,715 6,779 8,061 7,580 91,134 7,595 353 COVID Shelter in Place Order - March 16, 2020
Dual Interlaced Loop Service Started - July 1, 2022
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35,778
109,869
121,721
146,032
173,509
209,690
160,130
145,066
142,507
177,645
193,570
191,646
165,109
173,217
199,676
204,017
193,867
198,080
154,514
85,775
112,888
91,134
-
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
FY 02 FY 03 FY 04 FY 05 FY 06 FY 07 FY 08 FY 09 FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13 FY 14 FY 15 FY 16 FY 17 FY 18 FY 19 FY 20 FY 21 FY 22 FY 23 Lifetime Fiscal Year Ridership
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Exhibit B: LINKS Shutle Map
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Exhibit C: Budget
FY
2015-16
FY
2016-17
FY
2017-18
FY
2018-19
FY
2019-20
FY
2020-21
FY
2021-22
FY
2022-23
FY
2023-24
FY
2024-25
REVENUE Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Budget Budget Business Improvement District 326,475 367,921 400,381 409,338 355,607 407,501 404,182 373,546 400,000 400,000 Grants 339,750 76,250 193,909 - 362,859 382,000 324,989 107,106 114,824 117,883 Other - Shuttle Services, Advertising 4,375 3,000 5,500 8,137 7,045 7,500 6,000 6,000 6,000 6,000 Interest 1,293 914 1,809 6,552 4,588 2,656 1,914
RDA/City Contribution 95,000 75,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 Kaiser Shuttle & TDM Mgmt. 444,549 545,249 482,133 131,108 TOTAL REVENUE 1,211,442 1,068,334 1,133,732 605,135 780,099 849,657 787,085 536,652 570,824 573,883 EXPENSES Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Budget Budget LINKS Shuttle – Transportation* 430,221 536,927 599,102 590,644 672,978 773,147 746,221 423,457 441,900 465,675 Consulting Services - SLTMO Admin 95,048 83,960 60,880 65,121 59,760 69,720 59,880 75,664 77,516 79,841 Consulting (Audit and Rider Survey) 5,000 - - 29,505 - 10,000 5,000 Marketing, Advertising, and Misc. 2,624 1,256 - 8,934 3,673 7,192 2,408 2,938 5,000 5,000 Ins., Taxes, Bank Fees, NPO Fees 3,687 3,069 4,089 5,270 3,343 3,561 2,786 3,532 5,000 5,000 Improvements/Information
Systems/Technology 48,406 5,736 22,583 6,000 19,089 6,630 18,500 6,990 Kaiser Shuttle - Transportation 314,756 443,230 493,048 TOTAL EXPENSES 846,336 1,073,442 1,205,525 675,705 762,336 859,620 859,889 512,221 557,916 567,506 Estimated Balance/Overrun 365,106 (5,108) (71,793) (70,570) 17,763 (9,962) (72,804) 24,431 12,908 6,376 2023-24 Es�mated Fiscal-Year-End Banking/BID Revenue Balance: $598,339 *2023-24 and 2024-25 Transportation costs based on an estimated annual increase of 5% 2021-22 - Deficit result of increased transporta�on costs, transit study and Nextbus upgrade to 4G. 2022-23 - Modified service to Dual Interlaced Loop and went from 4 buses to 2 buses reducing transporta�on costs. 2022-25 - 2022 CIP Grant revenue based on projected reimbursement not full grant alloca�on.
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Exhibit D: Business License Insert