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Agenda Item # 7

BOARD MEMORANDUM

FOR INFORMATION ONLY

BACKGROUND: 

VTA’s capital program includes an annual project to make physical improvements at bus stops to ensure Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and improve the overall passenger environment.   Accessibility improvements, in compliance with ADA, typically include wider sidewalks and curb cuts.   This program also funds concrete pads to repair the street at heavily used bus stops.   

The main ADA requirement for new bus stop construction is to provide a minimum clear area of 6’ wide (measured parallel to the street) and 8’ deep to the maximum extent allowed by legal or site constraints.   This area allows for deployment of a lift or ramp and access to the bus by a person using a mobility device.   Accessible connections to streets and sidewalks are also required.

In 2000, VTA performed a comprehensive inventory of our 4,343 bus stops.   Accessibility issues are included in the inventory.   The data are used to identify bus stops for improvements and are updated continuously as new information becomes available.

Since ADA was enacted in 1992, VTA has had a continuous program to upgrade its bus stops. Overall, VTA has completed projects to improve over 450 bus stops throughout the Santa Clara County at a cost of $4.1 million.   While some improvements provided concrete pads to fix failed pavement, almost all included some element to improve accessibility.   These improvements consisted of sidewalk widening, pedestrian and wheelchair ramps, and passenger waiting pads.

Some other major bus stop improvement projects included the $2.6 million Monterey Highway bus stop upgrade in the Cities of Gilroy, Morgan Hill, San Jose and unincorporated sections of Santa Clara County.   This project added concrete passenger loading areas, curb cuts and sidewalk connections as well as passenger activated solar lights (with braille and raised letter signage).   Another project ensured that bus stops along Line 22 were accessible and operationally functional when articulated buses were placed into service.  New passenger loading zones were constructed where needed and stops were reconfigured to accommodate the 60-foot buses.  Construction of new bus transit centers, such as the Mountain View, Gilroy, Great Mall, Alum Rock, Penitencia Creek, Winchester and Palo Alto transit centers ensured accessibility at key transit hubs.  These were either separate capital projects or constructed as part of VTA’s light rail expansion program.

In addition, as part of the development review process, VTA staff review private developments for transit impacts and improvements.   If the development is at a bus stop or a future bus stop location, staff requests that the developer include bus stop improvements as part of their project. Santa Clara County and the various Cities located within the County often reflect VTA comments as part of development conditions.   It is estimated that about 20-30 bus stops are improved annually as part of private developments.

Overall, bus stops improvements are prioritized based on ridership and customer comments.   VTA continuously receives input from operators, customers, property owners and community organizations. 

DISCUSSION: 

In Fiscal Year 2006, VTA budgeted a total of $460,000 for bus stop improvements and repairs.   In Fiscal Year 2007, VTA budgeted an additional $250,000 for this purpose.   The Fiscal Year 2006 budget includes $300,000 available solely to construct ADA bus stop improvements.  This amount includes a Federal Transit Enhancement grant of $240,000 matched by $60,000 in VTA local funds.  The remaining $160,000 of VTA local funds has been budgeted to repair damaged streets by installing new concrete pads.  Some of this work is also likely to improve accessibility as often the adjacent sidewalk is improved or repaired as part of the project.  The Fiscal Year 2007 funds of $250,000 include both accessibility improvements and general repairs.

The cost of each accessibility improvement varies depending on the work needed at each location.   An estimate of 30 to 40 bus stops can be completed in Fiscal Year 2006 and an additional 25 to 20 stops can be completed in Fiscal Year 2007.

To best utilize the funds over the next two years, VTA is continually soliciting recommendations from interested parties regarding location and type of improvements needed.   Outreach methods VTA will use to enlist participation include publishing a request in the VTA Take-One which is a monthly newsletter distributed on bus and light rail vehicles, reviewing reports received from our Customer Services department, sending a request letter to community agencies, posting information on VTA’s website and issuing a press release. Additionally, VTA is requesting that CTA members provide staff with information on bus stops that might need accessibility improvements.  Staff will use this input along with ridership data to develop a prioritized list of improvements.  Input is appreciated at any time as the priority list is updated to reflect new requests, updated ridership and normal changes to VTA’s bus routes.  Input can be provided by calling VTA Service and Operations Planning at (408) 321-7050 or by email to bus.stop@vta.org.

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