HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/05/2016 15B Yakima Valley Trolley Systerm Informational Memorandum I�, t€
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDASTATEMENT
Item No. 15.B.
For Meeting of: July 5, 2016
ITEM TITLE: Yakima Valley Trolley system related to the Transit Division
SUBMITTED BY: Scott Schafer, Public Works Director
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Consideration of incorporation of the Yakima Valley Trolley system into the City's Transit division.
Memorandum of explanation is attached.
ITEM BUDGETED:
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
i ere
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL Interim City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
BOARD /COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
Direction from City Council study session
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
CI trolley 6120!2016 Co r Memo
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# } � k c p.%) Informational Memorandum
Date: June 18, 2016
To Honorable Mayor, Members of City Council, and Interim City Manager
From: Scott Schafer, Public Works Director
Alvie Maxey, Transit Manager
Subject: Follow Up to the April 12, 2016 Study Session — Yakima Valley Trolley System
This is a follow up to the discussions that emerged from the April 12, 2016 Study Session
regarding the possibility of incorporating Yakima Valley Trolley (YVT) into the City's Transit
Division as a means to financially support the non - profit trolley system. During the presentation
it was clearly evident that the YVT is unable to afford costs associated with its operational and
capital repair /replacement needs.
Staff contacted the Federal Transit Agency (FTA) which stringently regulates Yakima Transit
and provides much of its operational funding. Below is a summary of the regulations,
requirements, and consequences that would be imposed on both Yakima Transit and YVT
should the trolley system be incorporated as part of Yakima Transit.
Summary:
• Per FTA, the trolley system is not eligible for discretionary funding at this time
and unlikely to receive financial assistance through any current FTA programs;
thus leaving the financial burden solely on Yakima Transit. if any monies were to
be received, YVT would be required to adhere to FTA regulations for compliance;
consisting of 17 different audit categories.
• Incorporation of the trolley system would force Yakima Transit to eliminate
route(s) in order to fund 's operational and capital repair /replacements needs
since no additional funding would be dedicated from FTA; negatively impacting
and jeopardizing essential services to the community.
• Current trolley service runs exclusively on a Saturday /Sunday /Holiday schedule
from 10:OOAM- 3:OOPM; May through September. As this would be required by
FTA to become a dedicated fixed Transit route, this severely reduces "ridership"
as tracked by FTA for funding purposes by extremely limiting the availability and
destinations for public usage. Future funding for Yakima Transit from FTA would
be significantly reduced as a direct result of this underperforming "route." in
addition, YVT is not currently set up to arrive at destinations in a timely manner;
thus not ideal for commuting the public. The trolley service would have to be
scheduled and open to the general public with no exclusive service.
Yakima
Administration 575 -60 • Equipment Rental 575 - 5 Parks Recreation 575-6020 Refuse 575-6
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Street 575-6005 • Traffic 575-6005 • Transit 575-6005
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• Current trolley fares would be required to be decreased in order to match the
fares of the existing fixed Transit route service.
• All Trolley Operators and volunteers would be subjected to drug and alcohol
testing per FTA requirement.
• Capital repair/replacement would be substantial in cost and a challenge as it is
becoming increasingly more difficult hard to find replacement parts. In addition,
subjected to stringent FTA maintenance requirements.
For the reasons previously noted, staff strongly recommends not incorporating Yakima Valley
Trolley into Yakima Transit. Because of the lack in dedicating funding and the substantial
financial needs of the trolley system, incorporating YVT would financially burden Yakima
Transit; crippling the essential services many depend upon as their only means of
transportation.