Title
Update on Bus Operator Shield Procurement
Description
This report provides the Transportation, Infrastructure and Innovation Subcommittee an update on the procurement process of bus operator safety shields by the Public Transit Department.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
At the April 23, 2020 City Council Policy Session, staff presented an overview of actions taken by Public Transit to date to protect passenger and driver safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the actions presented was the installation of temporary safety barriers near the front of buses that enabled additional spacing of operators while conducting rear passenger boarding only. At that meeting, City Council approved staff moving forward with a procurement process to obtain the equipment and installation services necessary for permanent shields on the region’s heavy duty bus fleets. Staff has researched the implementation of permanent bus operator safety shields on transit fleets owned and operated by Phoenix and Valley Metro. And staff has worked with Valley Metro to develop and post a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the procurement of permanent shields for over 800 buses across the region.
Recognizing that the manufacture and installation of permanent operator safety shields may take some time, Public Transit and Valley Metro are working with transit contractors and the bus operators’ union on additional options for implementing temporary barrier on buses that would also enable front-door passenger boarding. The new temporary barrier would continue to protect the bus operator and their surrounding work area and enable transitioning back to front-door boardings.
Procurement Information
A joint Request for Proposals (RFP) was posted to the City’s procurement website on May 20, 2020. Written inquiries from proposing firms are due June 1, 2020, with proposals due June 16, 2020. In addition to an accelerated proposal deadline, staff is also expediting the evaluation process to provide an award recommendation as soon as is feasible.
Financial Impact
Staff anticipates utilizing the $4 million allocated in City Council’s Coronavirus Relief Fund Strategic Plan for this retrofit project.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Public Transit Department.