Meeting_Body
REVISED
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 17, 2016
Subject/Action
SUBJECT: FIRST/LAST MILE STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE status report on activities to implement the First/Last Mile Strategic Plan.
Issue
ISSUE
Metro Director Eric Garcetti requested that staff provide an update on the implementation of Metro’s First/Last Mile Strategic Plan (adopted April 2014). An update was last provided by staff on June 17, 2015.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
As reported to the Planning and Programming Committee on January 20, 2016, through the Active Transportation Strategic Plan effort, staff estimated preliminary annual active transportation needs, including first/last mile needs, in Los Angeles County in the range of $549 million to $1.48 billion. This high-level estimate reflects regional and local active transportation networks, first and last mile access to major transit stations, Metro bike services (capital costs, operations and maintenance), and education and encouragement programs. A component of the overall figure, the first/last mile access to major transit stops/stations has an estimated annual range from $457 million to $872 million. These preliminary cost estimates will be further refined as staff develop the Active Transportation Strategic Plan.
Near Term Highlights
• Innovative Partnership - Metro staff has been negotiating a pilot partnership with ride-hailing service Lyft to address first/last mile issues. The basis of the partnership is to test ride-hailing as a first/last mile solution at selected Metro station locations through marketing. The potential benefits of this partnership for Metro are improving ridership and transit customers’ experience, improving overall mobility and convenience, and sustainability policy objectives for reduced dependence on driving alone. The details of the agreement are being finalized. In general, the 12- to 18-month pilot program with Lyft focuses on analyzing Lyft ridership data through a collaborative research effort and cross marketing and promotion of Lyft services at select Metro stations.
• Additional progress has been made on implementing the First/Last Mile Strategic Plan including the following activities:
o The Active Transportation Program (ATP)-funded Blue Line First/Last Mile Plan was allocated funds by the California Transportation Commission at its October 2015 meeting. The statement of work is being finalized for procurement. Project start is anticipated in 1st quarter of FY 2017.
o Procurement and contractor selection for a First and Last Mile Training program. The trainings will be conducted at the sub-regional level this year with city staff and elected officials. Procurement and contractor selection process is underway for a First and Last Mile Training program. Once a contractor is in place Metro will develop a schedule for trainings for local staff to be conducted at the sub-regional level. As part of the trainings, participants will conduct a walk audit and begin drafting a first/last mile plan.
o Various activities to position first/last mile improvements for funding under the cap-and-trade Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program, including commenting on program guideline revisions, developing a Metro policy framework, and outreach to local agencies.
o Metro’s Wayfinding Signage Grant Pilot Program is in progress. This Program provides assistance to local cities to implement wayfinding signage to enhance first / last mile connectivity to Metro fixed guideway stations. The applications were due November 13, 2015. Staff is currently evaluating applications and anticipates presenting funding recommendations to the Metro Board in March 2016.
o Coordination with local cities on first and last mile messaging for the line openings for Expo Line Phase II and Gold Line Foothill Extension.
At the local level, multiple first and last mile implementation activities are in progress around Los Angeles County. By way of example, in preparation for the Gold Line Foothill Extension, the City of Duarte is implementing first and last mile improvements for the Duarte Gold Line Station. Also at the local level, the Metro Call for Projects has funded multiple first and last mile projects throughout Los Angeles County.
As shown in Attachment A - First and Last Mile Implementation Update, a matrix of detailed tasks for implementation was provided for the Planning and Programming Committee on June 17, 2015. The matrix contains the current status of each item as of February 2016.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Staff will continue to carry out the First and Last Mile Trainings and procurement for the Blue Line First and Last Mile Planning effort. As local efforts for first and last mile implementation projects continue to gain traction in the County, staff will develop a tracking mechanism for these projects.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - First and Last Mile Implementation Update
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Katie Lemmon, Transportation Planning Manager, (213) 922-7441
Jacob Lieb, Sustainability Policy Manager, (213) 922-4132
Diego Cardoso, Executive Officer, (213) 922-3076
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Calvin E. Hollis, Interim Chief Planning Officer, (213) 922-7319
