TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Kathleen Kelly, Interim General Manager/Chief Executive Officer
SUBJECT: Foothill Boulevard Transit Improvement Study
ACTION ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ☐
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider approving the release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for planning, public outreach, and design consultant services to conduct the Foothill Boulevard Transit Improvement Study.
Staff Contact:
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Convenient and Reliable Service
Initiative - Infrastructure Modernization
The study will advance AC Transit’s goal of providing safe, reliable, and accessible transit to a historically underserved community, and improve AC Transit’s fourth-highest ridership bus route (Line 40).
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
The total estimated cost of the study is $2,194,341. The District’s contribution is limited to $244,341, due to support from two grant sources approved by the Board:
• Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC’s) Transit Performance Initiative (TPI), $1,500,000
• Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA’s) Areas of Persistent Poverty (AOPP) Program, $450,000
These grants will help fund key components of the study, including planning, conceptual design, and a comprehensive public outreach process. The TPI grant, administered by MTC, focuses on funding capital improvements that improve operations and the customer experience on urban trunk lines. The District’s required contribution for TPI is 11.47% of the total planning and design cost, or $194,341. The AOPP grant administered by FTA, will fund a comprehensive stakeholder and public engagement process that will support the planning and design effort. The District’s required contribution for AOPP is 10% of the public outreach cost, or $50,000.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
Foothill Boulevard Transit Improvement Study Objectives
Foothill Boulevard is a major east-west arterial in Oakland, with Line 40 serving 4,910 daily riders and connecting critical destinations such as the Fruitvale District, Eastmont Mall, and various educational institutions. Despite its significance, the corridor has suffered from unreliable transit schedules and slow travel times, particularly during peak hours. The corridor has not received recent transit infrastructure improvements, making it a prime candidate for an in-depth study.
The Foothill Boulevard Transit Improvement Study aims to assess current conditions, identify key challenges, and recommend capital improvements that will enhance bus operations and improve pedestrian and cyclist access to transit. The study will build upon AC Transit’s Major Corridors Study (2016) and OakDOT’s Transit Action Strategy (2019). The study is expected to take approximately 18 months from the time the Notice to Proceed (NTP) is issued.
Overview of Scope and Consultant Procurement
With the Board’s approval, an RFQ will be issued to select a consultant to lead the study which includes Planning, Conceptual Design and Public Outreach. The selected consultant will work closely with AC Transit, the Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT), and local community stakeholders. The RFQ will follow a proposal-based procurement approach, in accordance with FTA guidelines, California Public Contract Code, and AC Transit Board Policy.
The selected consultant team will be responsible for delivering the following key tasks:
• Project Management: Oversee the study’s progress, including scheduling and reporting, and managing subconsultants, if any. Develop a detailed communication and public engagement plan, including project schedule.
• Project Meetings and Support: Organize project meetings with internal and external stakeholders and provide agendas and meeting minutes.
• Technical Role in Public Outreach Efforts: Develop the technical content that the Public Outreach Team will use to create public engagement materials.
• Coordination Efforts: Attend and organize outreach meetings and provide logistical support for outreach events.
• Existing Conditions Analysis: Conduct a thorough analysis of transit, pedestrian, cyclist, and vehicle conditions along the corridor.
• Alternatives Development: Develop several improvement alternatives, focusing on high-impact quick-build projects, as well as mid- and long-term recommendations.
• Evaluation and Refinement: Refine the alternatives based on technical analysis and community feedback and provide concept-level designs for selected alternatives.
• Content Development: Develop messaging and talking points for presenters at public outreach meetings, lead promotional outreach efforts, manage the website, and develop design graphics and layouts for outreach materials, the website, and other collateral as needed.
• Final Report: Deliver a comprehensive final report that outlines the study’s findings, recommendations, and potential funding sources for implementation. Develop outreach summary reports throughout the project duration.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
The advantage of approving the release of the RFQ is that it will enable the District to move forward with a critical study aimed at improving transit operations along a key transit corridor in Oakland. The improvements identified in the study will help reduce transit travel time, increase service reliability, and enhance safety for all road users.
There are no significant disadvantages associated with releasing the RFQ. Not conducting the study would delay much-needed improvements to the corridor.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
Staff considered the alternative of proceeding without a dedicated study, instead implementing piecemeal improvements along Foothill Boulevard. However, this approach would likely lead to less coordinated improvements and may not fully address the complex transit and infrastructure challenges along the corridor. Therefore, a comprehensive study is the recommended approach.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
SR 23-541 FY22-23 Transit Performance Initiative (TPI) Investment - 12/13/2023
SR 21-378 Application for FY21 FTA Areas of Persistent Poverty Program
BP 465 - Procurement Policy
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Foothill Study Presentation
Prepared by:
Casey Bruno, Senior Transportation Planner
In Collaboration with:
Maria Henderson, External Affairs Representative
Michael Silk, Assistant Director of Procurement and Materials Management
Approved/Reviewed by:
Fred Walls, Director of Procurement and Materials
Aimee L. Steele, General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer
Chris Andrichak, Chief Financial Officer
Robert del Rosario, Director of Services Development and Planning
Claudia Burgos, Director of Legislative Affairs & Community Relations
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering