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AGENDA REPORT
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| | | | | | | | DATE:
| October 20, 2020
| TO:
| Mayor and City Council
| FROM:
| Stefan T. Chatwin, City Manager 
| | SUBJECT: | Resolution 2020-195 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Approving Fairfield and Suisun Transit’s Participation in a Regional Pilot Program to Provide a 20% Fare Discount to Eligible Low-income Adult Passengers Using a Clipper Card |
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| | | | | | | | | RECOMMENDED ACTION | | Adopt resolution. |
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| | | | | | | | | STATEMENT OF ISSUE | | The City Council is being asked to approve Fairfield and Suisun Transit’s (FAST) participation in a 12-month Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) pilot program that would provide a 20% discount to eligible low-income passengers using a Clipper card. |
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| | | | | | | | | DISCUSSION | In May 2018, the MTC adopted Resolution No. 4320, establishing the framework for a Means Based Transit Fare pilot program called Clipper START. During a 12-month to 18-month pilot period, Clipper START proposed that select Bay Area transit systems offer 20% or 50% discounted transit rides to low-income adult riders with household incomes of 200 percent of the federal poverty level or lower. The fare discount would be available to eligible riders using the Clipper electronic fare payment system. MTC launched the initial phase of the pilot program on July 15, 2020, with participation from BART, Caltrain, Golden Gate Transit Bus and Ferry, and San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.
In August 2020, the MTC approved expanding the Clipper START pilot program to all Bay Area transit operators accepting the regional Clipper card. MTC felt expanding the pilot would provide an opportunity to assist additional Bay Area residents experiencing economic hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. MTC also agreed to provide participating agencies funding for half of the Clipper Start fare discount given to eligible riders.
FAST has been utilizing the regional Clipper card program in collaboration with Vacaville City Coach, Solano County Transit, and Napa Valley Transportation Authority since 2014. Staff from these four transit agencies jointly agreed to recommend City Council or Board approval to participate in Clipper START and offer a 20% fare discount to eligible adults.
The proposed discount would also provide an important first step for transit operators to further streamline Solano and Napa County fare policy for local and regional riders. If approved, the Clipper START pilot program would launch in January 2021, for approximately twelve months. If the pilot is successful, FAST would have an opportunity to continue participating in Clipper START.
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| | | | | | | | | FINANCIAL IMPACT | | This item will have no financial impact. FAST would utilize Transportation Development Act funding to offset its $52,846 pilot program contribution. MTC would provide half of its pilot program contribution using State Transit Assistance funds (Fund 451 & 452). |
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| | | | | | | | | CITY COUNCIL WORKPLAN | Community Safety
| Community Infrastructure | Quality of Life | | Financial and Operational Sustainability | Economic Development | Travis Air Force Base |
| City Council Goal this item supports:
Quality of Life |
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| | | | | | | | | Project: | One-time item not recommended for including in the Workplan
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| | | | | | | | | PUBLIC CONTACT/ADVISORY BODY RECOMMENDATION | N/A
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| | | | | | | | | ALTERNATIVE ACTION | | The City Council could choose to not to participate in this pilot. However, this action would mean three other partnering transit agencies would also not be able to participate in the program to assist eligible low-income residents of Solano and Napa County. |
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| | | | | | | | | STAFF CONTACT | Diane Feinstein, Transportation Manager
(707) 434-3808
defeinstein@fairfield.ca.gov
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| | | | | | | | | COORDINATED WITH | Metropolitan Transportation Commission, City of Vacaville, Solano County Transit, and Napa Valley Transportation District.
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| REVIEWERS: | | Reviewer | Action | Date | | Feinstein, Diane | Approved | 10/5/2020 - 1:57 PM | | Kaushal, Paul | Approved | 10/5/2020 - 2:05 PM | | Alexander, Amber | Approved | 10/5/2020 - 4:07 PM | | Alexander, Amber | Approved | 10/9/2020 - 12:59 PM |
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