TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager
SUBJECT: DBROC Cooperative Agreement
ACTION ITEM
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider authorizing the General Manager to enter into an extension of the Dumbarton Bridge Regional Operations Consortium (DBROC) Cooperative Agreement from July 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022, in conjunction with the six-month extension of the service contract.
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Convenient and Reliable Service
Initiative - Service Quality
Extending the cooperative agreement will ensure a structure of administration, governance, and oversight for the Dumbarton Express during the proposed six-month contract extension period.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no expected budgetary impact of extending the Cooperative Agreement term by six months. Except for a minor amount of AC Transit staff time, the Dumbarton Express service itself is fully funded by Regional Measure 2 bridge toll revenues and EasyPass program revenues generated by Stanford University and Stanford Medical Center.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
The Dumbarton Bridge Regional Operations Consortium (DBROC or the Consortium) consists of the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit), the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), the City of Union City (Union City Transit), the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans), and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) under a Cooperative Agreement dated December 19, 2011. The Cooperative Agreement also codifies oversight and governance of the service. The Cooperative Agreement has been extended concurrently with the contract for MV Transportation to operate the Dumbarton Express service; like that contract, the Cooperative Agreement was set to expire December 31, 2021.
At the February 10, 2021 Consortium meeting, the City of Union City confirmed that it would lead the procurement process to have a contract in place for a Dumbarton Express service provider effective January 1, 2022. In conjunction with a new contract, a new Cooperative Agreement with the same duration would have been executed.
Before the end of 2021, the City of Union City informed District staff that the release of the Request for Proposal (RFP) was delayed. In consultation with Consortium members, the contract for the Dumbarton Express was extended for another six months (through June 30, 2022) to permit time for the RFP to be developed and released; the Cooperative Agreement was likewise extended. Unfortunately, developing the RFP is proving to be more onerous than Union City staff anticipated, and the goal of having a new contract and service provider in place by July 1, 2022 is unlikely.
With concurrence from the Consortium, staff has recommended authorizing a subsequent extension of the Dumbarton Express contract with MV Transportation for approximately six months to permit continuity of service and allow completion of the procurement. In order to preserve the established administrative and governance structure, staff recommends an extension of the Cooperative Agreement for the same six-month period.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
The advantage of extending the Cooperative Agreement is that AC Transit is able to continue its administration and oversight of the Dumbarton Express service. In addition, extending the Cooperative Agreement would help to maintain continuity of the service and the decision-making process. There are no known disadvantages to extending the Cooperative Agreement.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
The alternative is that the District could let the Cooperative Agreement expire. Staff does recommend this because there would be no formal framework for administration and oversight of the Dumbarton Express service.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
Staff Report 11-256k Dumbarton Bridge Regional Operations Consortium (DBROC) Cooperative Agreement
ATTACHMENTS:
None
Prepared by:
Howard Der, Senior Transportation Planner
Approved/Reviewed by:
Robert del Rosario, Director of Service Development and Planning
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering
Jill A. Sprague, General Counsel
Chris Andrichak, Chief Financial Officer