Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, July 20, 2021
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS LONG BEACH TRANSIT SERVICES PROPOSAL (CITY COUNCIL)
Body
I. SUMMARY
In response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Disaster Council suspended the City's local fixed-route bus service effective March 28, 2020. As COVID-19 cases continued to climb, the City ended its fixed-route bus service agreement with MV Transportation, Inc. effective November 8, 2020.
The City's Dial-A-Ride program remained in operation, but was expanded to include all Carson residents, regardless of the program's standard requirements for eligibility. Additionally, the City entered into an agreement with Lyft, Inc. (Lyft) to provide residents with on-demand subsidized Lyft rides.
Prior to the declared pandemic, with the aim of improving regional travel to and from the city, staff had engaged Long Beach Transit (LBT) in discussions to provide fixed-route bus service in Carson. LBT's service model is to have its buses run down major surface streets in both directions, providing much faster service with direct connections to major destinations and neighboring bus lines. This shift in bus travel would provide longer-distance regional service, connecting several communities along the line.
Through a series of meetings and service planning efforts, staff recently received from LBT the proposal being discussed today. Assuming a 5-year contract, tiers with varying levels of service coverage were presented for consideration. Dependent upon the selected tier of service (or combination therein), City drivers can provide supplemental fixed-route bus service through areas uncovered by LBT.
In addition to providing fixed-route bus services, LBT offered to provide Dial-A-Lift paratransit services, for non-ambulatory riders with severe mobility impairment. At an additional service cost, LBT would add Carson to their service map, providing eligible participants with paratransit service.
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