City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: June 11, 2024
Agenda Item: 5.F
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Anuj Gupta, Director of Transportation, Department of Transportation, Transit Planning & Performance
Subject: Approval of Second Contract Modification with WaySine, LLC for Real-Time Arrival Sign Cellular Service
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15302(Replacement and Reconstruction) and Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a second modification to agreement #10757 (CCS) in an amount not to exceed $165,600 with WaySine, L.L.C., for parts and continued cellular service for existing real-time signs at Big Blue Bus stops and shelters for the Department of Transportation. This will result in a 7-year amended agreement with a new total amount not to exceed $977,725 with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
Summary
Big Blue Bus (BBB), a division of the Santa Monica Department of Transportation (DOT), operates 194 transit buses across 69 square miles of greater Los Angeles providing more than 800,000 rides each month. BBB is committed to providing an exceptional user experience, including during the time that customers are waiting for a bus at a BBB stop. The City Council previously directed staff to improve the overall customer experience when waiting for a Big Blue Bus through the provision of solar lighting and real-time signs at bus stops. Staff recommends the City modify its agreement with WaySine, L.L.C., which provides lighting and electronic real-time information displays at over 200 BBB stops and shelters. In the modified agreement, the 2 of 4
term of the contract would be revised to include a one-year term and one (1) additional one-year renewal option. This second modification would also add $165,600 to the contract for a new not-to-exceed amount of $977,725. This second modification would enable DOT to continue cellular service for the existing real-time signs at BBB stops and allow for the purchase of real-time sign replacement parts and materials.
Discussion
In 2018, Council awarded a contract to WaySine for the purchase and installation of solar lights and real-time displays to allow Big Blue Bus customers to see real-time bus arrival information. An initial base purchase and installation of lighting at 14 small shelters, lighting plus real-time displays at 10 large shelters, and lighting plus real-time displays on 166 bus stop pole locations took place in 2019. In 2020, Council authorized a first modification to the agreement with WaySine to revise the term of the contract and authority to purchase and install approximately 40 additional units.
Under this proposed second modification, cellular service would be extended to all existing WaySine real-time information signs at BBB stops. Additionally, DOT would be able to purchase replacement parts and materials to repair or replace real-time signs.
DOT’s Transit Facilities Maintenance staff would be responsible for all labor associated with the repair of stop signage.
Provision of real-time information is warranted under Big Blue Bus’s Council-approved service standards at all bus stops that exceed 100 average daily weekday boardings.
Extending the cellular service and facilitating sign repair are necessary to ensure there is no disruption in service to BBB customers.
Environmental Review
This contract modification is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15302 (Class 2 Replacement or Reconstruction) of the CEQA Guidelines. Section 15302 exempts Class 2 (Replacement or Reconstruction) projects which include the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located in the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced. The award contract would provide for the purchase replacement parts and materials to repair or replace real-time signs. Additionally, the contract is covered by the commonsense 3 of 4
exemption 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 modification will allow the City to continue to provide real-time signage to Big Blue Bus customers. Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that the agreement would not result in adverse physical impacts on the environment, and as such, is exempt from CEQA.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
10/09/2018
(attachment A)
Authorize agreement with WaySine, L.L.C. following RFP
process
11/24/2020
(attachment B)
Authorize first modification to agreement with WaySine, L.L.C.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from the Big Blue Bus Fund to increase the amount of the agreement with WaySine LLC for real-time arrival sign cellular service. Proposed costs will be split between Bus Stop Amenities and Prop 1B Safety & Security funds.
Contract Modification Request: WaySine, LLC
Agreement # Current
Authorized
Amount
FY 2023-24
Request Amount
CIP Account # Total Revised
Contract Amount
10757 $812,125 $165,600 C6004780.689000
C6004910.689000
$977,725
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared By: Jessica Saks, Assistant Administrative Analyst Approved Forwarded to Council
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Attachments:
A. Contract #10757_Original_Agreement
B. Contract #10757_First Mod
C. 2024_03_06_Oaks_Initiative_2024
D. Way Sine Spare Parts Cost Sheet
E. bbb_realtime_highvolume_stop
F. Levine Act Disclosure