Advisory Committee on Accessibility (ACA)

The agenda for the May 15, 2008, meeting and the minutes of the April 17, 2008, meeting of the Advisory Committee on Accessibility were furnished to the Transportation Committee. Copies are available in the Office of the District Secretary and on the District’s web site.

At the meeting, Celia Kupersmith highlighted the fact that the ACA took formal action at its April 17th meeting regarding the District’s proposed toll increase. She stated that the ACA is asking that the increase in the “Toll Rate for Persons with Disabilities” (TRPD) be limited to no more than 50% of the current TRPD toll of $1.50, which would result in a toll of $2.25, rather than the proposed 100% increase to $3.00. She noted that the recommendation from the ACA will be presented to the Transportation Committee at its July 10, 2008, meeting.

Bus Passengers Advisory Committee

The agenda for the May 21, 2008, meeting and the minutes of the March 19, 2008, meeting of the Bus Passengers Advisory Committee were furnished to the Transportation Committee. Copies are available in the Office of the District Secretary and on the District’s web site.

Ferry Passengers Advisory Committee

The agenda for the May 7, 2008, meeting and the minutes of the April 2, 2008, meeting of the Ferry Passengers Advisory Committee were furnished to the Transportation Committee. Copies are available in the Office of the District Secretary and on the District’s web site.

Action by the Board – None Required

Authorize a Competitive Negotiation Process for Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 2009-BT-1, 13 Forty-Five Foot Inter-City Configuration Coaches

In a report to Committee, Deputy General Manager/Bus Division Teri Mantony and General Manager Celia Kupersmith provided staff’s recommendation that the Board of Directors find that a sealed, low-bid process does not adequately meet the District’s needs for a bus procurement, and that the Board authorize a competitive negotiation process for RFP No. 2009-BT-1, 13 Forty-Five Foot Inter-City Configuration Coaches, in accordance with the California Public Contract Code.

The report stated that California Public Contract Code Sections 20216-20217 allows the Board of Directors to determine that the traditional process for bus procurements does not adequately meet the District’s needs, in this instance, and to direct the purchase of new rolling stock under a competitive negotiation process. By utilizing the competitive negotiation process for this RFP, the District will have flexibility to use other evaluation criteria in addition to price, to select a bus manufacturer that best meets the District’s requirements. The competitive negotiation process for procuring rolling stock is an accepted practice by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

The report also stated that District staff has identified nineteen 1991 TMC model (TMC) coaches that have exceeded their useful life and are eligible for replacement under FTA replacement guidelines. Due to service needs requiring additional seating capacity, it is recommended that the 19 TMC forty-foot coaches be replaced with 13 forty-five foot coaches. RFP No. 2009-BT-1, 13 Forty-Five Foot Inter-City Configuration Coaches, will include an option to purchase up to 17 additional coaches to replace the 1994 Flxible coaches that have also exceeded their useful life. In the event the District elects not to utilize this option, these additional buses can be assigned to another transit agency.

There is no fiscal impact associated with this recommendation. This procurement is included in the FY 08/09 Bus Transit Division Capital Budget at a total cost of $6,486,500, of which $5,221,632.50 (80.5%) is federally funded and $1,264,867.50 (19.5%) is District funded. A copy of the report is available from the Office of the District Secretary and on the District’s web site.

At the meeting, Teri Mantony summarized the staff report, noting that the District is hoping to be able to purchase up to 30 new coaches through the competitive negotiation process, rather than through the sealed, low-bid process. She further noted that because of increased passenger demand on several key Golden Gate Transit routes, the District will be purchasing larger, forty-five foot coaches.

Discussion ensued, including the following:

• Director Hernández expressed her support for pursuing the competitive negotiation process, whenever possible, for various types of District procurements because of the limitations involved in the sealed, low-bid process.

• Director Grosboll inquired as to the number of available manufacturers of inter-city configuration coaches in the marketplace. In response, Ms. Mantony stated that there are only two manufacturers of this type of bus in the United States.

Staff recommended and the Committee concurred by motion made and seconded by Directors STROEH/HERNÁNDEZ to forward the following recommendation to the Board of Directors for its consideration:

RECOMMENDATION

The Transportation Committee recommends that the Board of Directors approve a finding that a sealed, low-bid process does not adequately meet the District’s needs in regards to a bus procurement; and, authorize a competitive negotiation process for Request for Proposals No. 2009-BT-1, 13 Forty-Five Foot Inter-City Configuration Coaches, for the purchase of up to 30 forty-five foot inter-city configuration coaches, in accordance with California Public Contract Code Sections 20216-20217; with the understanding that requisite funds (80.5% Federal/19.5% District) are available in the FY 08/09 Bus Transit Division Capital Budget.

Action by the Board at its meeting of June 13, 2008 – Resolution
NON-CONSENT CALENDAR

AYES (6): Acting Chair Pahre; Directors Grosboll, Hernández, Kerns and Stroeh; President Moylan (Ex Officio)
NOES (0): None
ABSENT (4): Chair Brown; Vice Chair Cochran; Directors McGlashan and Newhouse Segal

Monthly Report on Activities Related to Marin Local Service Contract with Marin County Transit District

The monthly report on activities related to the Marin Local Service contract with the Marin County Transit District (Marin Transit) was furnished to the Transportation Committee. The report included the following elements:

Due to the high volume of agendas and minutes from Marin County agencies related to this item, hard copies of those items were not provided to the Committee. Instead, electronic versions of the following items were posted on the District’s web site:

1. Marin Transit Agenda for May 19, 2008;
2. Marin Transit Minutes of April 21, 2008;
3. Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Agenda for May 22, 2008;
4. TAM Minutes of April 24, 2008;
5. TAM Executive Committee Agenda for May 12, 2008; and,
6. TAM Executive Committee Minutes of April 14, 2008.

Copies of all of the above-listed items are available in the Office of the District Secretary and on the District’s web site.

At the meeting, Celia Kupersmith reported that Marin Transit staff intends to bring forward a proposal to their Board of Directors later in the summer of 2008 to add additional local bus service to deal with overcrowding on certain bus routes. She noted that Marin Transit will be purchasing this additional bus service from the District through the Agreement for Marin Local Bus Service, and that this matter will be presented to this Committee and to the District’s Board of Directors for formal action following action by Marin Transit’s Board of Directors.

Action by the Board – None Required

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

Adjournment

All business having been concluded, the meeting was adjourned at 10:12 a.m.