Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

 

TO:

David L. Corliss, City Manager

 

FROM:

Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager

Bob Nugent, Public Transit Administrator

 

CC:

Cynthia Boecker, Assistant City Manager

 

Date:

 

November 6, 2013

RE:

Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Kansas for Coordinating Transit Operations

 

Please place the following item on the agenda for the November 19, 2013 City Commission meeting:

 

Approve Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Kansas for Coordinating Transit Operations, if appropriate. 

 

Background:

Over the last five years the University of Kansas and the City of Lawrence have made tremendous strides at increasing the level of coordination between their transit systems. These efforts have included not only the coordination of individual routes, but also the entire process in which service is evaluated, planned and ultimately provided.

 

To accomplish this coordination the City and the University jointly procured a common independent service contractor. This common contractor, which operates through separate but substantially similar contracts, provides the foundation of the coordination efforts. In 2010 the two entities also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding concerning bus acquisitions and a long term lease of a maintenance facility.

 

As we continue to recognize benefits from our coordination efforts the City and University are working to further define our existing coordination efforts and implement new efforts regarding transit service within our community.

 

In order to formalize our ongoing efforts and/or provide additional areas for coordination the proposed MOU pursues a formal agreement on the following topics:

 

 

·         Route Coordination - Over the past four years two coordinated routes have been established. When mutually beneficial the City and University agree to develop additional coordinated routes to serve the Lawrence community. In order to accomplish the City and University will work together to implement appropriate cost allocation percentages for coordinated route(s). The vehicles to be used for such coordinated routes can be provided by either the City or the University and will be determined based on demand and availability. Both the City and the University will continue to explore future opportunities to coordinate the acquisition of vehicles in an effort to provide efficient and effective service. 

 

·         Fares and Fare Media - Over the past five years the City and the University have been operating under a reciprocal agreement for fares and fare media. In doing so anyone presenting a KU Card can ride any City funded fixed route service without being charged a fare. In turn, the University allows anyone to ride any University funded regular fixed route service by paying the regular fare or by presenting a KU Card. This does not include premium services such as SafeBus, TLift, and NightLine. The sale and/or distribution of fare media (KU Cards and T-Passes) is still the responsibility of each entity.

 

·         Shared Use of Vehicles - With the operation of coordinated routes it is sometimes necessary to use vehicles that are not common in each other’s fleet. This has been the case on coordinated routes. As the City and the University continue to coordinate services the flexibility in the use of each other’s vehicles is extremely important. Therefore, the City and the University will assist each other with vehicle needs when appropriate. This would allow for both short and long term vehicle needs.

 

·         Fuel - The University will procure and store fuel to be used by both the City and the University transit vehicles.  The University will bill the City monthly for the cost of fuel.

 

·         Consumer Information - The University will provide telephone customer information services for all riders of the University and City transit systems. These services will include answering calls regarding bus routes, bus schedules, fares, bus passes, paratransit services and other issues relating to riders of the City and University transit systems.  After normal office hours calls will be routed to the transit service contractor for handling. 

 

In order to maintain public communications regarding City and University transit systems, the City and University will continue to work together to develop shared transit-related information resources such as the “Transit Guide” and other maps or brochures.  The City and University will continue to work together to maintain a common website for on-line information. 

 

The University will manage a joint City and University “lost and found,” to be located at the KU Parking and Transit office. Such items will be handled in accordance with a mutually agreeable policy.

 

·         Radio Service - The City and the University will share radio frequencies for communication purposes. Currently all fixed route buses operate on a frequency held by KU and all paratransit vehicles operate on a frequency held by the City.

 

·         NTD Reporting -  Both City and University data and information will be reported under a single National Transit Database (NTD) reporting number.  The City will be responsible for maintaining access to the NTD reporting system and for reporting under FTA guidelines. 

 

 

Recommendation Action:

Authorize the Mayor to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Kansas for Coordinating Transit Operations.