Transit agencies use a COA to complete a system evaluation and propose strategies designed to increase and sustain ridership, improve operational efficiency and maximize available funding. The COA will provide guidance on how and where to best utilize the limited transit funding over the next 10 years in the cities of Fairfield and Suisun City.

On December 1, 2020, the City of Fairfield approved an agreement for consultant services with Innovate Mobility, LLC to assist FAST in completing and implementing its first COA. The COA is underway and community input of initial proposed recommendations is being sought. Final recommendations incorporating public input will be presented to council for consideration and approval in December 2021.

As part of the COA, the City and Innovate Mobility have identified additional areas where further work is needed beyond the originally envisioned scope of work. The expanded scope of work will include:

• Deploying updated ridership technology to generate data to certify Automated Passenger Counters (APCs) to provide accurate COA data and meet required National Transit Database ridership sampling and reporting requirements.
• Preparing an application to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to certify FAST’s APC data is accurate and in compliance with FTA requirements.
• Reviewing APC analytic reports and generating monthly reports supporting ongoing validation of data.
• Creating enhanced public displays and videos to complete COA recommendations.
• Providing a scope of work and technical/procurement assistance selecting a technology provider for microtransit service dispatch and management.
• Provide ongoing support as needed to implement approved COA strategies.

The amended scope of work would be completed for a not-to-exceed amount of $175,422 plus a 20% management reserve of $35,085; and the term of the agreement would be through June 30, 2022, or until the scope of work is completed.