CR2002-186 Hop-A-Ride contract
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. November 27,2002 Council Report 02-186
HOP-A-RIDE CONTRACT
Proposed Action
Staff recommends the following motion: Move to award the 2003-4 Hop-A-Ride contract to AC
Transportation, Inc., and increase the ticket price.
Overview
The Hop-A-Ride service is an advance-reservation, shared-ride, and door-to-door transportation
service for anyone who needs transportation within the Hopkins City limits. The current system
service operates Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. to 4:00
p.m. on Friday. Two hours of additional service have been added per day in the peak time.
There are six additional destinations outside the City limits. They are:
1. Methodist Hospital;
2. Opportunity Workshop in Opus II;
3. Shady Oak Beach;
. 4. Knollwood shopping area;
5. leA food shelf;
6. Park Nicollet Medical Center.
AC Transportation has had the Hop-A-Ride contract for the past four years. The service was last
bid in 1999. The Metropolitan Council requires a bid every five years. AC Transportation Inc.,
was asked to provide a bid for the next two years. The bid for 2003 is $36.17 per hour, and the
bid for 2004 is $36.86. The amount bid by AC Transportation was below the increase many
other transportation systems are experiencing for 2003. The current price per hour is $35.50.
Primary Issues to Consider
. How is the Hop-A-Ride service funded?
. What is the impact on the budget with a ticket price increase?
. Is there a way to decrease the expense to the general fund?
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Nancy.$. Anderson
Planner
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Page 2
. Primary Issues to consider
. How is the Hop-A-Ride service funded?
The 2003 funding from the Met Council is $95,261. The City's general fund and revenue from
the ticket sales provide the balance of the funding. The total 2003 budget would be $131,171;
that would require a general fund contribution for 2003 of $17,953, based on the bid, current
level of service and no increase in ticket price. The 2003 budget is based on 13,000 passengers.
. What is the impact on the budget with a ticket price increase?
The following is the budget for purchase of service and revenue:
EXPENSES BASED ON THE CURRENT LEVEL TICKET PRICES
12 hours a day x 4 days = 48 hours per week
11 hours a day x 1 day= 11 hours per week
59 hours x $36.17 (bid) - $2134 per week
$2134 per week x 52 = $110,970
110,970 Contract amount
+ $20,744 Other expenses
. $131,714 Total expenses
- $ 95,261 Met Council funding
$ 36,453 Expenses funded from revenue and general fund
$36,453
- $18,500 Revenue based on past years
$17,953 General fund contribution
EXPENSES BASED ON THE PROPOSED TICKET PRICES
12 hours a day x 4 days = 48 hours per week
11 hours a day x 1 day= 11 hours per week
59 hours x $36.17 (bid) = $2134 per week
$2134 per week x 52 = $110,970
$110,970 Contract amount
+ $ 20,744 Other expenses
$13 1 ,714 Total expenses
- $ 95,261 Met Council funding
$ 36,453 Expenses funded from revenue and general fund
. $36,453
- $20,500 Revenue based on past history with .20 increase
$15,953 General fund contribution
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Page 3
. The ticket price has not been increased for three years. Staff is recommending that there be a .20
increase in the low-income ticket price.
The following are the existing ticket prices:
. Low income $1.80
. Regular income $5.00
. Knollwood $5.00
. Park Nicollet $5.00
The [allowing are the recommended ticket prices:
. Low income $2.00
. Regular income $5.50
. Knollwood $5.50
. Park Nicollet $5.50
For every .10 increase in the low-income ticket price, $1200.00 is raised.
There are very few requests for the regular income, Knollwood and Park Nicollet service.
. . Is there a way to decrease the expense to the general fund?
Last year we added 10 extra hours of service per week. A way to reduce the contract amount
would be to eliminate the extra hours. This would reduce the total budget by $18,808. With the
decrease of the hours, the following is the budget:
10 hours a day x 4 days = 40 hours per week
9 hours a day x 1 day= 9 hours per week
49 hours x $36.17 (bid) = $1772. per week
$1773 per week x 52 = $92,161
$ 92,161 Contract amount
+ $ 20,744 Other expenses
$112,905 Total expenses
- $ 95.261 Met Council funding
$ 17,644 Expenses funded from revenue and general fund
$17 ,644
- $20.500 Revenue based on past history with .20 increase
$ 0 General fund contribution
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. Alternatives
1. Extend the contract to Alternative Choice Transportation, Inc. If the City Council considers
this option, the contract will be extended to Alternative Choice Transportation, Inc.
2. Reject the bid from Alternative Choice Transportation, Inc. and direct staff to bid the service.
Rejecting the extension and bidding the service probably will not result in many bids. In
1995 no bids were received after bidding the service out twice. In 1996, 1997, and 1998,
only one bid was received, and in 1999 two bids were received.
3. Continue for further information. If the City Council indicates that further information is
needed, the item should be continued. This item can be continued to December because the
contract will expire December 31, 2002.
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