Title
Amend First Transit Contract to Increase Funding for Bus Service Changes (Ordinance S-43337)
Description
Request an ordinance authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into a contract change order to Agreement 135719 with First Transit, Inc., to increase the contract amount for fixed route transit operations implementing increased bus service hours and frequency as part of the Transportation 2050 (T2050) Plan. Further request authorization for the City Controller to disburse funds in the amount not to exceed $14 million over the life of the contract.
Report
Summary
On March 20, 2013, the City Council approved a five-year contract award to First Transit for fixed route transportation services for the period of July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2018 for an amount not to exceed $132 million. Due to bus service expansion as part of the voter-approved T2050 Plan, the additional amount is necessary to ensure funding is available through the remainder of the contract period.
Bus service changes are coordinated regionally and occur in April and October of each year. In October 2016, the first step of the T2050 bus improvements were implemented by expanding service hours an additional three hours per day and increasing weekday frequency to 30 minutes on multiple routes in Phoenix. The second step, occurring in April 2017, will further enhance bus service by expanding bus service hours to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11 p.m. on Sunday, matching Light Rail's operating hours.
Financial Impact
The total amount of this change order will not exceed $14 million. Funds are available in the Public Transit Department operating budget using Transportation 2050 funds.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The bus service changes were approved by City Council on June 21, 2016 and Jan. 11, 2017.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Public Transit Department.