HomeMy WebLinkAbout9A - Van Pools
DISCUSSION:
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
July 16, 2001
9A
Susan Walsh, Assistant City Manager
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MINNESOTA
VALLEY TRANSIT AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER THE CITY'S VANPOOLS INTO THE
REGIONAL VANPOOL PROGRAM
History: The MVT A currently has four vanpools utilized by Prior Lake residents.
Two of the vanpools go to Northwest Airlines and two vanpools go to the Scott
County Government Center in Shakopee. In Fall 2000, the Metropolitan County
adopted a regional vanpool program. The goal of this program is to recruit 50
new vanpool riders during a 24-month demonstration period, ending October 31,
2002. The program has several incentives to induce commuters to join up with
their fellow workers to ride or drive in a van pool. This program called, Van-GO!,
is operated by Metro Commuter Services who agreed that MVT A's van pools
could participate in this program. In May of this year, the MVTA turned over one
of their five vanpools to Metro Commuter Services but held up on the four Prior
Lake vanpools until the City authorized MVTA to transition these four vanpools
into the Van-GO! program.
Current Circumstances: Staff has met with the Metro Commuter Services
coordinator and has discussed the possible transition. Attached for City Council
review is a chart, which compares what MVT A currently offers to the new Van-
GO program. Staff recommends that the City Council authorize MVT A to transfer
the City's four van pools into the regional program. If the Council approves this
recommendation, a joint letter will be sent to the riders from the MVTA and the
City. Since all four van pools will need to increase in the number of riders, they
will be 'given a two-month notice with an effective transition date of October 1,
2001. Metro commuter staff will assist in getting additional riders by utilizing their
large database of commuters interested in joining a van pool.
ISSUES: Prior Lake vanpool riders will incur an increase in their monthly rate, but Metro
Commuter staff stated their current rate of $54 a month is below market rate in
comparison to other transit fares. For example, a 31-unlimited ride bus pass
ranges from $42 to $85. The four vanpools will have to have additional riders,
but Metro Commuter staff members have assured me that they will assist Prior
Lake van pool riders in getting the rider numbers to meet their minimum
requirements.
FISCAL IMPACT: In 2000, the MVTA's vanpool cost for the four van pools was approximately
$56,000 minus $12,000 in fares collected for a net expense of $44,000. If the
vanpools become the responsibility of Metro Commuters, there will be no cost to
the City in 2002 unless the Metropolitan Council does not fund the regional
program after October 2002.
16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245
I:\ASSTCM\PRIOR LAKE TRANSIT\V ANPOOkJ$EIOO.Q.. OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
I :
ALTERNATIVES: (1) Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority to
Transfer the Van pool Service to the Regional Van pool Program.
(2) Table this action for a specific reason.
(3) Deny this agenda item for a specific reason and provide staff with direction.
REVIEWED BY:
RECOMMENDED
MOTION:
I:\ASSTCM\PRIOR LAKE TRANSITWANPOOLS.DOC
RESOLUTION 01- ~ /
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MINNESOTA VALLEY TRANSIT
AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER THE CITY'S V ANPOOLS
INTO THE REGIONAL VANPOOL PROGRAM
Motion By:
Second By:
WHEREAS, the City Council deems it appropriate to authorize the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority to
transfer the City of Prior Lake Vanpools into the Regional Van pool Program entitled, "Van-
GO!"
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA
that:
1. The City Council hereby agrees the Prior Lake van pools operated by the Minnesota Valley Transit
Authority (MVT A) should be transferred to the regional vanpool program; and
2. The City Council hereby directs the City Manager to forward a copy of this resolution to the
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVT A).
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 16TH DAY OF JUNE, 2001.
YES
NO
Mader Mader
Ericson Ericson
Gundlach Gundlach
Petersen Petersen
Zieska Zieska
City Manager, City of Prior Lake
16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
1 r ~
June 29, 2001
VANPOOLS
COMPARISON BETWEEN MVTA AND REGIONAL VANPOOL PROGRAMS
MVTA METRO COMMUTER COMMENTS
Van-GO!
Fares . For any size van: For 9-Passenger Van Fares for Van-GO!:
$2.00 per one-way Roundtrip Miles . Van 1: $70
$13.50 per week . 24 miles ~ $50/mo . Van 2: $70
$54.00 per month . 36 miles - $55/mo . Van 3: $60
6-12 yrs - 50~ 1-way . 47 miles - $60/mo . Van 4: $55
0-5 yrs - no charge . 60 miles - $65/mo Even though there's an
. 71 miles - $70/mo increase, the rates are still
. Weekly & monthly . 83 miles - $75/mo a deal.
are prepaid, non- For 12-, 15-Passenger Van
refundable Roundtrip Miles If Shakopee vanpools
. 24 miles - $40/mo merged into one, their rates
. Rider misses 1 full . 36 miles - $45/mo would go down.
week - not charged. . 47 miles - $50/mo
. 60 miles - $55/mo Some of the vanpool riders
. 71 miles - $60/mo live outside of Prior Lake.
. 83 miles - $65/mo
Driver . No Charge unless . No charge
driver lives outside . Receives $200 after 6
the MVT A area, in mo and $100 annually
which case the fare . Backup driver gets $100
will be one-half the after 6 mo and $50
regular fare. annually.
. Backup driver does
not pay when
driving.
Driver . 150 miles per month . 250 miles per month
Personal . Cannot carry over . Can carry over unused
Miles unused balance balance
. Pay 30~ a mile . Pay 30~ a mile over 250
over 150 miles
Driver Collects fares, submits Collects fares, submits mo.
Responsibil monthly report report to VPSI
ities . Has MVT A checking
account to cover van
expenses
Passenger Favorable fares . Subsidized fares
Incentives (comparable to transit . Vanpool Commuter
service) Referral
-Refer a driver get $75
-Refer a rider get $25
. Guaranteed Ride Home
. Ride to Rewards
Service Apple Valley, Burnsville, . Any where in the 7 . Metro Commuter would
Area Egan, Prior Lake, county Twin Cities assist PL residents in
Rosemount & Savage metro region getting van pool to St.
and for travel within Paul or other cities.
transit taxing district.
Required . Average of six . Must have 6 passenger . Metro Commuter staff
number of (including driver) on + 1 driver to start. will work with van pools
riders a 9-passenger van, Within 2 months, must to get more passengers.
average of 12 bring van to: 8* . Van pools will have two
(including driver) on passengers for a 9 months to increase
a 15-passenger van. passenger van, 10* for passenger numbers.
. Prior Lake's 2 vans a 12 passenger van & . City could subsidize
to Shakopee each 13* passengers for a 15 vacant seats.
have 4 riders + 1 passenger van.
driver.
. Prior Lake's 2 vans (*number includes driver)
to NW Airlines each
have 6 riders + 1
driver.
1 I - t