City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: May 14, 2024
Agenda Item: 5.J
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Anuj Gupta, Director of Transportation, Department of Transportation Subject: Approval of Big Blue Bus Renewal of Any Line, Any Time Program for Santa Monica College
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement to renew the “Any Line, Any Time” unlimited ride transit program with Santa Monica College (SMC), effective July 1, 2024, for a two-year term through June 30, 2026. SMC will reimburse Big Blue Bus for transit services in the amount of $1,258,000 over the two-year term.
Summary
The City of Santa Monica’s Department of Transportation (DOT) and Santa Monica College (SMC) have been in a collaborative partnership since 2008 to provide unlimited bus access to any student, staff or faculty member utilizing the Any Line, Any Time unlimited ride program. Under the agreement between the parties, DOT charges SMC a fixed annual amount for all customers (students, staff, and faculty). Any Line Any Time fares are available on TAP or Big Blue Bus (BBB) mobile ticketing and are renewed each semester. Staff recommends renewing the agreement for an additional two years through June 30, 2026, with fixed annual amounts of $629,000 in both FY 2024-25, and FY 2025-26 for a two-year amount of $1,258,000.
Background
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In 2007, SMC was one of the primary trip generators in Santa Monica with most of its 34,300 students and 1,700 staff commuting by automobile. Insufficient parking capacity at the campus led to the need for perimeter parking at the City’s beach lots and caused significant community safety and traffic concerns. As a result, SMC and the City asked for the assistance of Big Blue Bus in developing a comprehensive transportation solution. Since that time, DOT and SMC have worked together to refine the Big Blue Bus service delivered to SMC and to closely coordinate the integration between the SMC shuttle, DOT transit service and LA Metro rail service, all geared toward getting SMC commuters out of cars and onto public transit.
Discussion
The Any Line, Any Time agreement was most recently renewed in 2022 for a two-year term ending June 30, 2024, with SMC paying DOT $1,129,000 for FY 2022-24. By way of implementation, SMC students use GoPass Program TAP cards for their unlimited rides, while SMC staff and faculty use Big Blue Bus period passes loaded on either TAP cards or mobile ticketing. The regional GoPass Program is a pilot program launched by LA Metro for students attending participating K-12 schools and two-year colleges.
Beyond Big Blue Bus, GoPass students can ride almost all transit systems in the region including Metro bus and rail.
The proposed two-year extension and contract amount is based on DOT’s analysis of current ridership levels for this program and projected ridership levels over the next two years.
Staff recommends entering into the proposed two-year agreement to ensure sustained financial planning for both SMC and DOT, as well as acknowledging the success of the program in providing a reliable mobility option to SMC students, staff, and faculty.
The Santa Monica Community College District approved the two-year extension of the Any Line, Any Time program with DOT at their regular Board of Trustees meeting on April 2, 2024.
Past Council Actions/Attachments
Meeting Date Description
1/10/2023 (attachment A) Short Range Transit Plan and Applications for Funds 3 of 3
3/21/2023 (attachment B) First Modification of Contract 11059, SMC Pass Program
Environmental Review
The agreement to renew the transit program is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the CEQA Guidelines, which states that CEQA does not apply, “where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.” The agreement would renew the “Any Line, Any Time” unlimited ride transit program between DOT and SMC. Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
The agreement to renew the “Any Line, Any Time” unlimited ride transit program between DOT and SMC is for a two-year term. SMC will reimburse DOT for transit services in the amount of $629,000 in both FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26. No budget amendments are required at this time as the FY2024-25 revenue has already been budgeted. The revenue associated with this agreement is programmed in the Big Blue Bus fund in account number 60600002.409830.
Prepared By: Eric O'Connor, Assistant Director
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Staff Report Jan 10, 2023
B. Staff Report Mar 21, 2023