TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager
SUBJECT: Operations Agreement with the California Department of Transportation
ACTION ITEM
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider authorizing the General Manager to execute an Operations Agreement with the California Department of Transportation for operations and maintenance of transit signal priority (TSP) system.
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Convenient and Reliable Service
Initiative - Service Quality
The Operations Agreement will provide a framework for Caltrans and AC Transit to operate and maintain TSP field equipment. The agreement includes Caltrans’ intersections as part of the Rapid Corridors and Dumbarton Corridor Improvement projects.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
The Rapid Corridors and Dumbarton Corridor Improvement Projects included in the Operations Agreement are funded by various federal, state, and regional agencies including the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), Alameda County Transportation Commission and Caltrans. Staff does not anticipate any District contribution other than staff time for delivery of the two corridor projects.
The Operations Agreement outlines responsibilities associated with ongoing operation and maintenance, and it does not distribute funding to Caltrans. The District’s fiscal responsibility would be providing the TSP field equipment in case of failure. Additional Caltrans signalized intersections could be amended to this Operations Agreement, where AC Transit provides initial TSP field equipment and replacement equipment in case of failure.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
AC Transit works closely with local jurisdictions for operations and maintenance of TSP equipment. The Operations Agreement allows a mechanism for AC Transit and Caltrans to operate and maintain TSP at Caltrans’s intersections for the Rapid Corridors and Dumbarton Corridor Improvement Projects.
The Rapid Corridors Project is intended to improve transit operations along Telegraph Avenue (Lines 6 and 800), San Pablo Avenue (Lines 72, 72M and 72R) and West Grand/Grand Avenue (Lines 12, NL and 805). The project also closes a TSP gap on arterials connecting San Pablo Avenue and Interstate 80 (I-80).
Staff will return to the Board for approval of Cooperative Agreements with the cities of Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville, Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond, and San Pablo in spring 2022. The Cooperative Agreements will outline responsibilities associated with design and construction support and ongoing operation and maintenance of the Rapid Corridors Project.
The Dumbarton Corridor Improvement Project will improve operations of Dumbarton Express Lines DB and DB1 and AC Transit Line U and local routes on Decoto Road (Lines 97, 99, 200, 216, and 232). In 2021, the Board approved the Cooperative Agreement with the cities of Fremont, Union City, Menlo Park and Palo Alto for the Dumbarton Corridor Improvement Project. The Cooperative Agreement for the Dumbarton Corridor Improvement Project outlined responsibilities associated with design and construction support and ongoing operation and maintenance of the Dumbarton Corridor Improvement Project.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
The advantage of entering into an Operations Agreement with Caltrans is that responsibilities of each agency are clearly defined to avoid any future misunderstanding over the project implementation and operations and maintenance of new equipment. The District is responsible for providing TSP field equipment in case of failure. Caltrans is responsible for operations and maintenance of all equipment installed by the Project.
There are no known disadvantages to enter into the Cooperative Agreement except for potential future financial responsibility by the District should equipment need to be replaced.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
A possible alternative would be for Caltrans to maintain all new equipment without an operations agreement. This would result in higher costs because it would require the District reimburse Caltrans for the responsibilities.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
SR 20-236 - Rapid Corridors San Pablo Avenue Issuance of IFB
SR 21-087 - Dumbarton Bridge Corridor Transit Travel Time Improvement Project Cooperative Agreement
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Operations Agreement with Caltrans and Relevant Exhibits
Prepared by:
Mika Miyasato, Senior Transportation Planner
Wil Buller, Traffic Engineer
In Collaboration with:
Jim Cunradi, Transportation Planning Manager
James Arcellana, Attorney III
Approved/Reviewed by:
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering
Jill A. Sprague, General Counsel
Robert del Rosario, Director of Services Development and Planning
Chris Andrichak, Chief Financial Officer