Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMITTEE
SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
Subject/Action
SUBJECT: METRO COUNTYWIDE BIKESHARE PROGRAM
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE UPDATE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE Metro Countywide Bikeshare Program update.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
At the June 2015 meeting, the Board awarded a two-year contract to Bicycle Transit Systems (BTS) for the equipment, installation and operations of the Metro Countywide Bikeshare Phase 1 Pilot in downtown Los Angeles (DTLA Pilot). At the July 23, 2015 meeting, the Board approved Motion 22.1 (attachment A) providing staff with direction on next steps for implementing the Countywide Bikeshare Program. Included within Motion 22.1 was direction on addressing interoperability, working towards an accelerated schedule, conducting feasibility and station siting for other communities.
On a parallel track, staff has been working with the City of Los Angeles in preparing for the launch of the Pilot, meeting with cities on a one-on-one basis, and carrying out work that will facilitate interoperability as well as work that will accelerate Metro’s program. Staff has scheduled two meetings for September. One meeting is exclusively with cities that have opted to launch a Sobi/CycleHop system. The second meeting is exclusively with cities that have opted to join Metro’s Countywide Bikeshare Program.
Below is a more detailed update on work carried out to date.
Downtown Los Angeles Update
The following is a brief overview of work that has been carried out since award of contract as it relates to the DTLA Pilot:
• Staff has held a number of bikeshare demonstration outreach efforts aimed at making the downtown community aware of what bikeshare is and that a network will be established in downtown. Demonstration events held include participating at the Arts District Farmers Market, Lunch A La Park in Grand Park and the CicLAvia Culver City Meets Venice. Additional demonstrations may be scheduled as we near the DTLA Pilot launch date.
• Staff has been coordinating with the City of Los Angeles on station siting.
• Staff has initiated environmental clearance of the DTLA Pilot.
• Staff has commenced work to develop a recommended fare structure. Staff will be working with the bikeshare cities to develop a fare structure that is reflective of the needs of the region. We will return to the Board with a recommended fare structure for approval.
• Staff has had ongoing coordination with the TAP group in order to achieve TAP integration. As of today, we have successfully tested and confirmed that BTS-BCycle has the capability to read TAP cards in order to unlock the bicycles.
Title Sponsorship Update
A Request for Proposals (RFP) PS157140024 titled “LACMTA BIKESHARE TITLE SPONSORSHIP” was released on July 24, 2015 soliciting a title sponsor for the Countywide Bikeshare Program. The period of performance outlined in the RFP was seven years, based on Metro Board approval and continuation of the Bikeshare program expansion and operations. To encourage potential title sponsors to respond to the RFP, ads were also run in the following publications on July 30, 2015, announcing the release of the RFP:
• Wall Street Journal
• Los Angeles Times
• Chicago Tribune
• San Jose Mercury News
• Seattle Times
• Boston Globe
• San Francisco Chronicle
• Atlanta Journal Constitution
The solicitation period ended at 2:00pm on August 24, 2015. Metro did not receive any proposals.
Staff will proceed with preparing for a 2016 bikeshare launch, including placing the order for the bikes using the attached “Metro Bikeshare” design (Attachment B). The June 2015 Board action included amending the Fiscal Year 15/16 bikeshare project budget to include an additional $2.64M for the capital and operating and maintenance costs of the DTLA Pilot. Therefore, no further action is needed at this time. Proceeding as such would allow us to remain on schedule.
In a parallel effort, Planning will continue to work with Communications and Procurement in securing a title sponsor. Since we have used the RFP process to find a sponsor which resulted in no viable proposals, we are now exploring other options. Staff will return to the Board in late fall once we have assessed options further with next steps for securing a title sponsor.
Regional Interoperability Update
On June 30, 2015, staff met with the cities of Beverly Hills, Long Beach, Santa Monica and West Hollywood to discuss regional interoperability. Staff shared with the cities the July 2015 Motion 22.1 and discussed Metro’s funding commitment under the condition that each city meets the interoperability objectives as outlined in the motion. We also received updates from each city in regards to where they are with their respective bikeshare efforts. During the meeting, it became clear that each city is at a very different point in launching their program. As such, staff will be reaching out to each city individually to continue interoperability discussions. This will allow us to have conversations that address issues that are specific to each city and forge a path forward with each city.
To date the following conversations have taken place:
• City of Beverly Hills - The City of Beverly Hills has received authorization from their City Council to engage in negotiations with CycleHop. Staff has scheduled a meeting with the staff of Beverly Hills in order to identify which interoperability objectives the City is interested and able to meet. Metro staff is awaiting final confirmation on this meeting.
• City of Long Beach- The City of Long Beach has entered into a contract with Sobi for the bikeshare equipment and is exploring options for the operations and maintenance of the system. Staff engaged the City of Long Beach staff in conversations regarding title sponsorship, fare structure, and other interoperability objectives. The City of Long Beach is interested in further exploring a revenue neutral proposal as presented by CycleHop.
• City of Santa Monica - Staff has engaged Santa Monica staff in conversations about their fare structure as we sought to better understand their objective.
• City of West Hollywood - The City of West Hollywood has received authorization from their City Council to engage in negotiations with CycleHop. Staff has scheduled a meeting with the staff of West Hollywood in order to identify which interoperability objectives the City is interested and able to meet.
Accelerated Countywide Bikeshare Expansion
On June 30, 2015, staff also met with the bikeshare expansion cities. We discussed the Board’s direction to accelerate the expansion and outlined funding commitments and planning work that would need to be carried out in order to have a successful accelerated launch. Staff will be meeting with each of the expansion cities to lay out an individualized plan of action and gauge the capacity and interest of each city to accelerate their launch date.
To date, staff has had the following one-on-one meetings:
• City of Culver City - Staff met with Culver City staff to discuss where the City is in deciding on a bikeshare program, answer questions about Metro’s bikeshare program and learn more about where the city is in getting ready for bikeshare in general. Culver City staff indicated a strong inclination towards joining Metro’s bikeshare program. Staff will be including Culver City in the Implementation and Station Siting plan and will be including Culver City in future Bikeshare Working Group meetings related to Metro’s program.
• City of Huntington Park - Staff has reached out to staff at the City of Huntington Park. We are awaiting confirmation on a meeting date.
• City of Los Angeles - Staff has had ongoing conversations with the City of Los Angeles regarding accelerating and expanding to other communities within the City, including Venice, Marina Del Rey, South Park, Boyle Heights and Hollywood.
• City of Pasadena - Coordination with Pasadena to begin preparing the City for an early 2017 launch. Meeting discussion included a schedule for meeting the launch date, station siting progress, funding and the MOU process.
• Unincorporated East Los Angeles - Staff has reached out to staff at the County. We are awaiting confirmation on a meeting date.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Staff will return to the Board in late fall with next steps for securing a Bikeshare Title Sponsor.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Motion 22.1
Attachment B - Metro Bikeshare design
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Avital Shavit, Transportation Planning Manager, (213) 922-7518
Laura Cornejo, Deputy Executive Officer, (213) 922-2885
Diego Cardoso, Executive Officer, (213) 922-3076
Cal Hollis, Managing Executive Officer, (213) 922-7319
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Martha Welborne, FAIA, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 922-3050
