Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
MARCH 16, 2016
Subject/Action
SUBJECT: METRO COUNTYWIDE BIKESHARE EQUITY INITIATIVES
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the initiation and implementation of the following Metro Countywide Bike Share equity initiatives:
A. WAIVE the $40 annual sign-up fee for Flex passes to make a single Metro Bike Share ride cost the same as a ride on Metro transit ($1.75) for the following groups:
1. Metro Rider Relief customers for the summer 2016 launch;
2. Reduced Fare TAP card-holders (Senior 62+/Disabled/Medicare, College/Vocational student, Student 9-12 grade) as part of Interoperability Step 3 approved in November 2015 (Attachment A); and
B. AUTHORIZE the CEO to commit a 10% required hard local match of $10,000 and a 15% required in-kind match of $15,000 to develop a competitive Better Bike Share Partnership Grant (BBSP) application.
C. AUTHORIZE the CEO to enter into a partnership with the City of Los Angeles for a Mobility Hubs FTA JARC grant.
Issue
ISSUE
At the June 2015 meeting, the Board awarded a two-year contract to Bicycle Transit Systems (BTS) for provision of the equipment, installation and operations of the Metro Countywide Bike Share Phase 1 Pilot in greater downtown Los Angeles (DTLA Pilot). At the November 2015 meeting, the Metro Board approved a fare structure for the Metro Bike Share system (Attachment A) that is flexible and streamlined to meet the diverse needs of communities. The equity initiatives proposed in this report are expected to bolster the fare structure by increasing options to disadvantaged communities and potentially increasing ridership by discounting passes to those who otherwise may not participate due to financial constraints. Board approval and authorization are needed to proceed with the proposed Metro Countywide Bike Share equity initiatives.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Bike share systems all across the US have struggled to be in...
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