REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS #2017‐01 Transit Service Evaluation and Planning Assistance RFP Release March 10, 2017 Proposal Submittal Due Date April 21, 2017 at 3:00PM To Keith Butler, City Buyer City of Vacaville Administrative Services Department 650 Merchant Street Vacaville, CA 95688 (707) 449‐5164 Voice (707) 449‐5147 Fax [email protected] All referenced documents for this project can be downloaded at: http://www.citycoach.com/about‐us/transit‐rfp This project is funded by State Transportation Development Act (TDA) RFP 2017‐01 City of Vacaville Transit Service Evaluation and Planning Assistance Request for Proposals Transit Service Evaluation and Planning Assistance A. Introduction The City of Vacaville seeks transit service evaluation and planning assistance from a consultant with significant fixed‐route service evaluation, route design, and scheduling/operations planning experience to support development of a comprehensive operational service delivery plan for the Vacaville City Coach fixed‐route bus system. The transit service delivery plan will identify short‐term, revenue‐neutral actions to improve current operations and the effectiveness of the City Coach system, as well as scenario recommendations that exceed current revenue‐neutral status, should additional resources for transit operations and related capital investment become available. The context for this effort includes evolving development patterns within Vacaville, changes in the location of transit trip generators, and other changes such as the completion of the Fairfield/Vacaville Train Station, and later day‐start of Vacaville Unified School District students. The transit service evaluation and restructuring plan effort is intended to meet the following objectives: • Complete a comprehensive review and analysis of the fixed‐route transit system and its efficiency and effectiveness in meeting local and regional travel needs; • Identify plans for transit system design and service delivery, including revenue‐neutral and “growth” strategies; It is the City’s intention that the developed service plan will be used as a blueprint in restructuring the City’s fixed route transit system. Request for Proposals, Transit Service Evaluation & Planning Assistance 2 RFP 2017‐01 City of Vacaville Transit Service Evaluation and Planning Assistance B. Background 1. Agency Description Vacaville is a city of 97,000 residents located 52 miles north‐east of San Francisco. Vacaville City Coach is a municipal bus transit system operated by the City of Vacaville’s Public Works Department. All aspects of City Coach’s management, planning, and marketing are conducted by City of Vacaville employees. Transit operations are contracted through a service agreement with First Transit Inc. Vacaville City Coach operates a fleet of eighteen (18) 35‐foot, low‐floor, Compressed Natural Gas buses for fixed route service. Each of these buses has 30 seats. Demand response service is provided by six (6) 15‐foot cutaway vans with eight seats. Most routes begin and end at the Vacaville Transportation Center, which functions as one of two main transfer centers the other being in Vacaville’s downtown area at the Downtown Transit Plaza. Vacaville City Coach provides service on six (6) fixed‐routes and one deviated fixed‐ route (serving the Leisure Town Senior Community) with a peak vehicle pull‐out of 13 vehicles. The majority 30 minute frequency, pulse‐based system combines both bi‐ directional linear routes as well as one‐directional loop routes with the Route 5 being the heaviest traveled route. The City Coach system is largely coverage‐oriented, with uniform headways operated throughout the majority of the system. Information on City Coach routes and schedules, as well as fare information and the City Coach system map, can be accessed at: http://www.citycoach.com/about-us/transit-rfp. Vacaville participates in the SolanoExpress Intercity Transit Consortium’s Intercity Funding Agreement, which currently supports seven inter‐city bus routes, with FAST Routes 20, 30, and 40 directly serving Vacaville. Other connecting services include Route 220 Yolo Bus. The Vacaville City Council serves as the policy board for Vacaville City Coach. The final, recommended service plan will be presented for review and consideration of adoption by the City Council. Request for Proposals, Transit Service Evaluation & Planning Assistance 3 RFP 2017‐01 City of Vacaville Transit Service Evaluation and Planning Assistance 2. Available Data Sources Data sources available for use in the service plan include, but are not limited to: • City Coach monthly performance reports (system wide and route‐level data) • Origin‐Destination and passenger demographic data from the 2014 Onboard Survey and previous rider surveys • 2015 Short Range Transit Plan is available at: http://www.citycoach.com/about-us/transit-rfp • Transit Division staff and Contracted Operations staff 3. Public Involvement The City of Vacaville is committed to implementing a robust Public Involvement Program as part of the transit service evaluation and restructuring plan effort. In keeping with standard City Coach practice and federal Limited English Proficiency requirements, this program must include meaningful outreach to, and involvement of, Spanish speakers with limited English proficiency. The consultant will be asked to assist with design of the Public Involvement Program. Bidders are asked to detail their public involvement recommendations as part of their discussion of the tasks in the Scope of Work. The Transit Division welcomes suggestions for innovative approaches for more effectively engaging the public, and transit riders in particular, in this effort (i.e., beyond traditional public meetings, though such meetings may be implemented as one component of the Public Involvement Program). Please note that implementation of the Public Involvement Program will be overseen by City of Vacaville Transit Division staff in coordination with the selected bidder. C. Scope of Work This Scope of Work is provided as a guide to bidders. Bidders are invited to suggest altered or expanded tasks; however, any deviations from the Scope of Work set forth in this RFP should be explicitly identified and discussed in bidders’ proposals. Bidders may also set forth optional tasks, with cost proposals clearly identifying the costs for optional tasks. The Transit Division expects the consultant to provide the following services and deliverables as well as be responsible for all graphic design, advertisement and printing related to this project: Request for Proposals, Transit Service Evaluation & Planning Assistance 4 RFP 2017‐01 City of Vacaville Transit Service Evaluation and Planning Assistance 1. Market Analysis The market analysis will provide a comprehensive profile of the City Coach service area and assess how well the system reflects and responds to current and anticipated future travel needs. The deliverable shall be a technical memorandum or working paper that emphasizes visual representations of data (e.g., maps). The Transit Division expects that the market analysis will encompass the following: A. Analysis of demographics, land use, and travel patterns • Demographic analysis: This component of the market analysis shall include, at a minimum, mapping the distribution of transit‐inclined populations, including older adults, youth, low‐income individuals, and households without vehicles. Distribution of the minority population (per FTA’s definition) should also be included for use in Title VI evaluation of recommended service alternatives. Consultant shall use the most recent ACS data at smallest level of geography with reasonable margins of error—preferably TAZ or block group. • Land use/trip generators/transit‐supportive densities: The consultant will be expected to review Vacaville’s General Plan land use designations (current and future). The consultant will also discuss growth potential/development patterns with City of Vacaville Community Development staff. Maps should be prepared to visually identify areas of Vacaville with current and projected transit‐ supportive housing and employment densities as well as major trip generators. The City’s General Plan can be found at: http://www.citycoach.com/about-us/transit-rfp • Travel Patterns: The consultant shall evaluate current and potential future major travel flows and origin/destination pairs using sourced data as pertinent to this task. • Regional transit network: The market analysis should also include information illuminating City Coach’s role within the regional transit network and key connectivity opportunities, subject to data availability. B. Analysis of Service Congruency/Adequacy: Map‐based analysis showing demographic, land use, trip generation, and travel flow data relative to the existing transit system to identify how well the current transit system matches current needs, as well as anticipated needs based on projected changes in land use and travel patterns. Request for Proposals, Transit Service Evaluation & Planning Assistance 5 RFP 2017‐01 City of Vacaville Transit Service Evaluation and Planning Assistance Deliverables: • Draft Market Analysis • Final Market Analysis • Presentation materials including, maps, tables, and charts 2. Route and Network Evaluation The consultant shall complete a line‐by‐line analysis and overall evaluation of the City Coach network, presenting findings in a technical memorandum or working paper. A. Line‐by‐line analysis: The consultant shall conduct a route