TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager
SUBJECT: Rear-Door Boarding
BRIEFING ITEM
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider whether the District should reinstate fare-free rear-door boarding. [Requested by Director Beckles - 1/13/21]
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Safe and Secure Operations
Initiative - Service Quality
Providing and sustaining safe and secure operations is of paramount importance for the District. During the pandemic, this priority faced significant challenges with unknown and ever-changing information, tasking staff to develop a comprehensive response strategy with very little resources. Through synergy between District departments and collaboration with the Unions, the District has persevered.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
The primary fiscal impact from rear door boarding operation is the loss of farebox revenue. Average farebox revenue for November and December 2020 is about $1.4 million per month, which would be foregone if rear-door fare free operation is reinstated. Staff expects farebox revenues to slowly increase going forward due to normal seasonal patterns and improved pandemic conditions as vaccine distribution continues.
The District has already incurred significant expense to outfit buses and protect staff so it could resume front door boarding and fare collection starting in October 2020. The installation of operator shields and initial costs to add Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and dispensers for the PPE for riders cost approximately $470,000 for materials and supplies. In addition, maintenance staff incurred overtime expense for the fabrication and installation of the shields and dispensers.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
At the onset of the pandemic, the District formed a COVID-19 Taskforce Committee to monitor breaking news that the virus was spreading in the United States and possibly towards California and the Bay Area. Once the first cases were reported near the Bay Area, the Distr...
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