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AGENDA REPORT
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| | | | | | | | DATE:
| November 19, 2019
| TO:
| Mayor and City Council
| FROM:
| Sean P. Quinn, Interim City Manager
| | SUBJECT: | Resolution 2019-271 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with the Solano Transportation Authority for the Solano Community College Transportation Fee Program |
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| | | | | | | | | RECOMMENDED ACTION | | Adopt resolution. |
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| | | | | | | | | STATEMENT OF ISSUE | | Solano Community College (SCC) students voted to adopt a transportation fee in 2016 allowing registered students to use their student ID card for free and unlimited access to ride Fairfield and Suisun Transit (FAST), Vacaville City Coach (City Coach), Solano County Transit (SolTrans) and Solano Express routes. City Council is being asked to approve an agreement between Solano Transportation Authority (STA) and the City of Fairfield’s FAST to implement the SCC transportation fee program. The STA Board approved this agreement on September 12, 2018. |
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| | | | | | | | | DISCUSSION | In 2016, SCC students voted in favor of collecting a new college transportation fee at the start of each semester. This transportation fee was earmarked to assist college students with obtaining discounted tickets and passes, and to incentivize students to ride local and regional public transportation. A pilot program was successfully implemented. However, students were not taking full advantage of the program because passes still needed to be purchased, which added an additional step prior to boarding the bus.
In an effort to streamline the program and eliminate the need for students to purchase passes, Solano County transit providers, including FAST, began allowing SCC students to use a current student ID card for free and unlimited access on local SolTrans, FAST, City Coach and SolanoExpress routes within Solano County. This agreement with STA will continue this program until December 31, 2029.
Per the terms of the agreement, SCC will distribute collected student transportation fees to STA twice per year. STA will then distribute 42.5% of the collected fees to FAST each year for ten consecutive years. The 42.5% distribution rate was based on estimated ridership and was determined by an agreed upon formula between STA, FAST, SolTrans and City Coach. SolTrans will also receive 42.5%, and City Coach will receive 15%. Collected annual student transportation fees are estimated at $100,000, but actual amounts will be distributed based on actual fees collected.
Entering into this agreement will provide an affordable option to those students facing transportation challenges getting to/from classes. The agreement will also promote ridership on FAST’s local Route 7 and on the SolanoExpress Blue Line.
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| | | | | | | | | FINANCIAL IMPACT | | No General Fund monies will be used to fund services under this agreement. |
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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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| | | | | | | | | PUBLIC CONTACT/ADVISORY BODY RECOMMENDATION | N/A
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| | | | | | | | | ALTERNATIVE ACTION | | City Council may choose not to support this resolution; however, this is not recommended as this will both discourage ridership on local routes and limit transportation alternatives for current and prospective SCC students. |
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| | | | | | | | | STAFF CONTACT | April Cobb, Transportation Technician I
(707) 434-3809
acobb@fairfield.ca.gov
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| | | | | | | | | COORDINATED WITH | City Attorney's Office, Solano Transportation Authority
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| REVIEWERS: | | Reviewer | Action | Date | | Panganiban, Ryan | Approved | 11/4/2019 - 5:54 PM | | Kaushal, Paul | Approved | 11/4/2019 - 7:37 PM | | Henry, Alicia | Approved | 11/5/2019 - 7:40 PM | | Henry, Alicia | Approved | 11/7/2019 - 8:51 PM |
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