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Agenda Item # 6

BOARD MEMORANDUM

The Los Gatos Community Bus concept and service plan have been developed through a community-based consensus-building planning process.  The step-by-step process involved the participation of community members, elected officials, transit planners and other stakeholders who worked cooperatively through community workshops to develop the new service.  On August 13, 2004 VTA staff introduced the Community Bus concept at the Board of Director’s workshop meeting. On September 8, 2004, VTA staff presented an overview to the Committee for Transit Accessibility (CTA) followed by discussion among committee members.  On November 10, 2004, as a part of VTA’s Long Range Transit Capital Investment Program, the Community Bus concept was again presented to the CTA by VTA staff.  On April 13, 2005, the CTA’s Committee of the Whole received a presentation on VTA’s Service Management Plan, which included a discussion about Community Bus.

This year, four community meetings were held that included council members and other elected officials, VTA staff and members of the public, to cooperatively plan the Los Gatos Community Bus service.   On January 19, 2005 two community meetings were held.   One meeting, in Los Gatos, included council members, VTA staff and the public.  The second meeting, held in Campbell on the same day, included VTA staff and the public. On February 25, 2005, 29 interested citizens, elected officials, VTA staff and members of the media met during two separate community meetings.

On July 4, 2005, Community Bus went into revenue service.

DISCUSSION: 

The Line 48 shuttle operates two vehicles on thirty-minute headways every weekday from 5:54 a.m. to 7:18 p.m., Saturdays from 7:24 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. and on Sundays from 7:54 a.m. to 6.54 p.m.   The route begins at the Winchester Light Rail Station and proceeds to Los Gatos Hospital, south on Winchester Boulevard to Santa Cruz Avenue, terminating at the Los Gatos Civic Center.   The route continues to Los Gatos-Saratoga Road and the Winchester Light Rail Station.

The Line 49 shuttle operates two vehicles on thirty-minute headways every weekday from 6:05 a.m. to 9:02 p.m., Saturdays from 7:10 a.m. to 8:04 p.m. and Sundays from 8:09 a.m. to 8:04 p.m.   The route begins at the Winchester Light Rail Station and proceeds to Camden Avenue, Bascom Avenue, Los Gatos Boulevard, terminating at the Los Gatos Civic Center.   The route continues to Los Gatos-Saratoga Road, and the Winchester Light Rail Station.

A total of five new vehicles are used in the Los Gatos Community Bus service. These vehicles are 25-feet in length with capacity for 26 passengers without wheelchairs or 22 passengers and two wheelchair passengers.   All vehicles have a wheelchair lift and are equipped with tie-down belts. VTA and PCA are reviewing annunciators for future implementation. 

In the first week of service, VTA received 34 complaints associated with start-up issues and three comments regarding service requests through the VTA Customer Service department from passengers and others who live and work in the Los Gatos community.   The complaints raised were focused on operation and use of wheelchair lifts and tie-downs, lack of information on connecting routes, shuttle deviation from published routes and schedules, and driver language proficiency.   VTA staff has addressed each issue.

Operators were re-instructed and required to demonstrate their ability to operate the wheelchair lift, adjust on-board seating for wheelchair access and use of tie-downs.   Additionally, PCA increased its field supervision staffing and worked with VTA staff in monitoring the service daily.   Drivers who were not proficient/deficient in the English language were removed from Los Gatos Community Bus service and replaced by drivers who were fluent in English.  In the second week of service, VTA’s customer service department received four complaints and one comment.  In the two weeks prior to July 26^th, the customer service department has received 3 complaints.

Through the first two weeks of service, VTA staff and PCA supervisors worked together to determine an efficient route to use until the Winchester Transit Center traffic signal installation is complete.  On July 25th, the Winchester Transit Center opened for passenger service.

To date, average daily ridership for Line 48 was 309 passengers, and average daily weekend ridership totaled 178 passengers.   Average daily ridership for Line 49 was 316 passengers, and average daily weekend ridership was 217 passengers.

VTA and PCA staff have made every effort to ensure our customers receive the highest quality of service.   Since the start-up, performance has improved significantly and complaints have declined commensurately.   Overall, the Los Gatos community is well satisfied with this service.  When the Vasona Light Rail Line opens this service will support VTA’s objectives by providing a community circulator that meets the needs of Los Gatos residents and connects to light rail service.

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