TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Kathleen Kelly, Interim General Manager/Chief Executive Officer
SUBJECT: Board Policy No. 501 Amendments
ACTION ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ☐
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider approving amendments to Board Policy No. 501 - Bus Stop Guidelines for Placement, Relocation, and Removal.
Staff Contact:
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Convenient and Reliable Service
Initiative - Service Quality
AC Transit currently operates across more than 20 cities and unincorporated areas in the East Bay, San Francisco and the Peninsula, serving a network of approximately 5,400 bus stops. Bus Stops represent the “front door” to AC Transit’s service and decisions regarding their placement and condition affect riders’ access to the service as well as the operation of the service itself.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no budgetary impact associated with updating the policy beyond regular staff time. This work falls within the boundaries of routine staff work responsibilities and can be completed using existing staff capacity. If the updated policy results in broad changes to the District’s bus stops, those changes could result in future costs.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
Board Policy 501 was last amended in 2019. The current amendments are intended to reflect the latest in best practices, customer preferences and operational needs to ensure the Policy aligns with District goals. This amendment is presented to the Board following collaboration with internal and external stakeholders and feedback from the Board.
From February to March 2024 staff created the project charter, conducted a peer review of other agencies’ bus stop policies, developed guiding principles, and gathered internal feedback. Between March and May 2024, draft amendments were made to the policy. Additional internal and external feedback was obtained following initial edits to the policy. Staff solicited feedback from both the Board and the public during the July 24, 2024, Board meeting. The Board emphasized the need to include ridership as an evaluation criterion when placing, relocating, or removing bus stops. The Board also requested clarification on how the policy applies to existing bus stops. Additionally, the Board noted that the guidance for mid-block stops was too rigid and recommended greater flexibility to accommodate mid-block locations.
Staff developed the following guiding principles based on the feedback provided by internal and external stakeholders: safety; accessibility; feasibility; reliability; and comfort. Staff’s recommended amendments are intended to make the policy more customer focused. The proposed changes also identify related Board Policies and Administrative Regulations to clarify how they relate to one another. The related policies and regulations include the following: Bus Stop Furniture Guidelines, Administrative Regulation 501A; and Board Policy 545, Service Standards and Design Policy.
The amended policy presented today is a culmination of collaborative work that addresses the feedback from the Board as well as internal and external stakeholders. Ridership is now included as a criterion for evaluating bus stop placements, relocations, and removals. Guidance on mid-block stops has been made more flexible to accommodate the safety improvements cities are making to mid-block crosswalks and pedestrian infrastructure, and references to existing stops have been added to clarify their treatment for relocation or removal. Staff intends to conduct bus stop assessments across the District’s service area, with a focus on prioritizing improvements in Equity Priority Communities. The updated policy will help guide this effort.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
Advantages - Updating the policy allows the District to make bus stop decisions that better serve riders, prioritize their needs, and improve the rider experience. The updated policy will also provide a more effective framework for evaluating bus stops and decision-making for AC Transit staff.
Disadvantages - While staff does not anticipate any disadvantages, the updated policy may present new tradeoffs and unforeseen challenges during the bus stop placement decision-making process.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
One alternative to updating the policy is to continue to use the existing policy; however, this is not recommended by staff. Amendments to this policy incorporate feedback from both internal and external stakeholders and ensures the policy continues to align with District goals.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
Board Policy 501: Bus Stop Guidelines
SR 19-201: Bus Stop Policy Update
SR 24-186: Bus Stop Policy 501 Update
SR 24-380: Board Policy 501 Update
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Board Policy 501 Update- Clean Version
2. Board Policy 501 Update- Red Line Version
3. Board Policy 501 Update - Board Presentation
4. Board Policy 501 Update - Board Feedback and Policy Update
Prepared by:
Samah Itani, Assistant Transportation Planner
In Collaboration with:
Skylar Higgins, Service Planning Intern
Approved/Reviewed by:
Robert del Rosario, Director of Service Development and Planning
Claudia Burgos, Director of Legislative Affairs & Community Relations
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering
Aimee L. Steele, General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer
Linda A. Nemeroff, Board Administrative Officer/District Secretary