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CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
MEMORANDUM
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anuary 29, 2024
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: City Council
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ROM: Department Of Public Works, Transit Division
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UBJECT: APPROVAL OF CONCEPTUAL PLAN FOR THE TRANSIT CENTER AT
THE INTERSECTION OF TAPO CANYON ROAD AND AVENIDA SIMI
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
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t is recommended that the City Council approve the conceptual plan for the transit center at the intersection of Tapo Canyon Road and Avenida Simi.
BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW
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n February 25, 2019, the City Council approved specific actions for inclusion in the City transit service’s Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) . Some of the actions identified in the plan include restructuring the transit routes, develop ing community micro-transit services, and establishing an interim transit center at the southwest corner of Avenida Simi and Tapo Canyon Road, along the curb on Tapo Canyon Road. The Center will enable transfers between Simi Valley Transit routes.
The City Council also desires to improve connections with the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) intercity bus services. Staff has designed a proposed transit center for the City Council’s review and conceptual approval.
FINDINGS AND ALTERNATIVES
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efore 2019, the majority of the Simi Valley transit routes and one of the two VCTC routes met on Jefferson Way behind the Simi Valley Town Center. Analysis by transit consultants who prepared the SRTP determined that it was an inefficient location for most routes, adding operating costs and time, while not providing feasible passenger transfers from one route to another. The site provided by the Town Center also needed more parking spaces for transit riders. As a result, the consultants recommended only serving the Town Center with one route and creating a transit hub at the more centrally located intersection of Tapo Canyon Road and Avenida Simi . This location provides access to City Hall, the Simi Valley Library, the Senior Center, and other public and semi -public services an d facilities. The development of a transit center at that location was also included in the 2023 VCTC Regional Transportation Plan.
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ollowing direction from the City Counc il for the SRTP, staff began implement ing the approved actions. As a result, staff applied for grant funding to develop the transit center and implement a community -level transit center as envisioned by the City C ouncil. An interim transit hub to facilitate easy transfers between the three routes was established, AGENDA ITEM NO.
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with the buses stopping on Tapo Canyon Road near the corner of Avenida Simi and bus shelters placed on the sidewalk.
A conceptual plan was developed to estimate the cost of constructing an off -street transfer facility. In addition, creating the possibility of making minor modifications (primarily signage) to the existing underutilized parking. This would provide a limited number of park-and-ride parking spaces and increase the potential for people to park and ride from the transit center. The project was included in the C ity’s Five Year Capital Improvement Program.
In February 2023, a grant application titled “Simi Valley Regional Trans it Center and Pathway to Transition to a Zero Emissions Transit Fleet” was submitted to the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA ), which was required to address both transit improvement and reduction of greenhouse gases. On April 24, 2023, the CalSTA awarded the City $7,053,000 to allow for the acquisition of zero- emissions buses as required by the State and to construct an off -street transfer center (“transit hub”). The transit hub’s award is $1,253,000 and $1,000,000 for in-route chargers. The grant funds cover safe pathways for passengers to move between different routes, security cameras, improved ADA access between the transit hub and the City facilities, a canopy over bus benches, in-route chargers to increase the range of the zero- emission buses, and the redesign of a small number of parking spaces as park -and-ride spaces. The facility is within the City’s Civic Center zone and will need to meet the landscaping requirements within that zone. Additionally, as the property is owned by the County of Ventura, the City will need to seek permission from the County for construction of the proposed transit center.
The grant funding is from the California 2023 Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP), and funds must be expended by June 30, 2027
The City has made significant progress in implementing the plans the City Council approved in 2019, despite major disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the added challenges regarding the State mandate to convert transit operations to one of “zero emissions” rapidly. By implementing the transit center, the City will make transit service more convenient and safer and , at the same time, help implement the zero-emissions mandate. It will also reduce the need for City funds to make these improvements by maximizing state grant funds.
The following alternatives are available to the City Council:
1. Approve the Conceptual Plan for the Transit Center and direct staff to proceed with the development of the proposed transit hub at the corner of Tapo Canyon Road and Avenida Simi.
2. Relinquish the grant and continue to use curb space on Tapo Canyon Road and Avenida Simi for transit operations and transfers.
3. Provide staff with other directions.
Staff recommends Alternative No. 1
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SUGGESTED CITY COUNCIL MOTION
I move to approve the conceptual plan for the transit center at the intersection of Tapo Canyon Road and Avenida Simi.
SUMMARY
“Simi Valley Regional Transit Center and Pathway to Transition to a Zero Emissions Transit Fleet” is a grant award that constructs a new transit center, linking city bus routes with regional routes, including regional rail service; c reates a park ‐and‐ride lot at the proposed new transit center; purchases six (6) zero‐emission buses to replace existing CNG buses that will allow the applicant to operate three routes with zero‐emission buses.
It is recommended that the City Council approve the Concept ual Plan for the Transit Center to fulfil the STRP goal and spend the TIRCP grant funds by June 30, 2027.
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Ronald K. Fuchiwaki
Public Works Director
Prepared by: Vic Kamhi, Senior Management Analyst
INDEX Page
Attachment A – Conceptual design of transit hub. ........................... 4 Attachment B – Areal site photo ....................................................... 5 Attachment C – Photos of existing interim transit hub ...................... 6
3 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF TRANSIT HUB
ATTACHMENT A
4 AREAL SITE PHOTO
Arial view of transit hub site
ATTACHMENT B
5 PHOTOS OF EXISTING INTERIM TRANSIT HUB
Current on-street bus hub on Tapo Canyon Road
ATTACHMENT C
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