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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNB 2 TUSIN CITY BUS 05-04-81DATE: TO: FROH: SUBJECT: 5-4-81 April 29, 1981 Inter-Corn Royleen A. White, Director of Community Ser TUSTIN CITY BUS BACKGROUND In December 198Q, the O.C.T.D. began Dial-A-Ride service in the Tustin area, and the Tustin City Bus was retired. At that time, Council indicated that it was their desire to retain the Tustin City Bus for at least six months in order to ascertain whether or not the O.C.T.D. was giving adequate service. While the six-month period has not expired, the Maintenance Division of Public Works is concerned that the City is losing money because of the vehicle depreciation factor. Due to this staff concern, this particular report is coming to Council sooner than asked. To date, service from the O.C.T.D. Dial-A-Ride appears to be quite satisfactory. No Department Director has reported any complaints regarding the service itself. During the first weeks of operation, the Community Services Department had received one or two comments regarding the cost. (The O.C.T.D. Dial-A-Ride indicates that there has been a substantial increase in service since the program began in December.) In the month of December, the average daily ridership was 24.2 riders per day. However, the month of February showed a substantial increase in the ridership in Tustin. Based on a recent 5-day period in February, the average daily ridership was 64. (This compares to an average of 40 riders per day when City of Tustin was operating the bus.) Of course, the month of February was the time of the O.C.T.D. strike, which may account for the high ridership during that month. However, Mr. Truitt of the O.C.T.D. says that statistics definitely indicate ridership is increasing and he feels it's not all due to the strike. Based on past data from other communities which have instituted Dial-A-Ride service, Mr. Truitt feels Tustin is doing much better than the average. He adds that much of this can be attributed to the fact that Tustin already had a Dial-A-Ride service. DISCUSSION The Tustin City Bus does not appear to be the most appropriate vehicle for any department's use at present. It is staff's understanding that the City Bus is rated as a vehicle for hire; thus, costs incurred are higher than a van might be. Maintenance also feels that operational costs for a van would be less per year than that of the City Bus. There are several alternatives regarding this vehicle: 1. Retain the bus. 2. Dispose of the vehicle and return proceeds from same to General Fund. TUSTIN CITY BUS Page Two April 29, 1981 3. Dispose of the vehicle and use proceeds to purchase a van which could be utilized by several different departments. Since Community Services would receive the most use from such a vehicle, it has been suggested that a van of this type be bought and administration of same be handled by the Community Services Department. In addition, this van would be available to all other Departments as a pool vehicle. Community Services could utilize the vehicle for mini-excursions which are not feasible at present because a minimum number must be met before a trip is cost effective with a large bus company. This cut-off point is normally around 35-45 persons, and smaller trips would be possible if a van were available. This would especially enhance Youth Services Programs and Senior Citizens Programs. A second use would be the movement of equipment and supplies from one area to another. A third use would be for the Day Camp staff to move themselves and their supplies to the off-site location. It is imperative that we have a back-up vehicle at our day camp site; if a child becomes ill or injured it is not cost effective to take a full-sized school bus back to the doctor or the parents in town, as the bus will just have to turn right around and take another trip out to the site to pick up the remainder of the children at the regularly- scheduled time. There are also a number of other uses such as when several members of staff are attending a training session or workshop; it is more cost effective to go in one large vehicle than to take several pool cars or to pay mileage to several individuals. Other departments have indicated that they would have similar uses for such a van, especially in the area of transporting equipment and other service functions. Another potential use would be to tour the City's newly-acquired undeveloped territory. There will be numerous times when members of staff, Council, and private development firms need to go out to these sites to review and inspect status of projects. Of course, there are maintenance and operational considerations regarding a vehicle of this type. However, upkeep would be less than that of the current City Bus. Maintenance staff estimates that this "vehicle leasing" cost would be $2,280. per year, in comparison to $5,300. per year for the City Bus. SUMMARY 1. The City Bus is depreciating in value approximately $1,200. per year, and is not appropriate for any Department's use at present. o A nine-to-twelve passenger van could be utilized as a pool vehicle by several Departments, with C~mmunity Services being the logical one to administer its use. 3. Potential usages for a van include: A. Youth Excursions (Community Services) B. Senior Citizens Excursions (Community Services) C. Movement of Equipment and Supplies (All Departments) TUSTIN CITY BUS Page Three April 29, 1981 D. Staff Transportation to Off Site Programs (All Departments) E. Tours of New Developments and Projects (All Departments) F. Transportation of Clients and Staff to Various Meetings (All Departments) RECOMMENDATION: To authorize staff to dispose of City Bus, and to utilize funds from sale to purchase a van. P, qW:ss