TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager
SUBJECT: BART Bus Bridge Service 2020
ACTION ITEM
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider ratifying the General Manager's authorization of an agreement with the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) to provide bus bridge services in response to the scheduled track maintenance and BART station closures in 2020.
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Financial Stability and Resiliency
Initiative - Infrastructure Modernization
Partnering with BART allows them to modernize their system and promotes regional goals of preventative maintenance and service quality. Having strong, reliable partners benefits AC Transit and supporting BART generates coordination and redundancy within the region.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
The bus bridge is free to passengers and AC Transit will charge BART for the actual service provided at its hourly rate of $199. This rate reflects the District's fully allocated cost including all costs related to providing operators and vehicles including maintenance, planning, scheduling, and supervision. The agreement contains a daily budget cap of $100,000. This amount is sufficient to cover anticipated AC Transit operating costs of over $500,000 with ample room for any unforeseen expenses.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
BART will be closing a portion of its track between Rockridge and Lafayette for four weekends beginning in late May 2020 and a portion of its track between Bay Fair and South Hayward for five weekends beginning in late July 2020. These closures will require significant bus bridges on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays in order to shuttle passengers between stations.
BART initially approached AC Transit several months before the onset of the current pandemic and the staff of each District worked out an agreement to provide the service required to support the bus bridge. However, following the pandemic, there was concern AC Transit would not have sufficient work...
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