CR 93-224 Hop A Ride Bids
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December 16, 1993 -$- <0 Council Report 93-224
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HOP-A~RIDE BIDS
Proposed Action:
Staff recommends the following motion: Move to charge the following ticket prices for
destinations outside of Hopkins per staff recommendation: Knollwood Mall area, $3.00; St.
David's School $.85 for low income and $2,75 for regular income; Park Nicollet Medical Center,
$5,00, per one way trip.
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Overview:
The Hop-A-Ride service is an advance-reservation, shared-ride, door-to-door transportation
service for anyone who needs transportation within the Hopkins City limits. The Hop-A-Ride
service operates Monday through Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. There are four current
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. (not included in the basic service)
The City of Hopkins contracts with a private taxi operator to provide this service. Every year the
City solicits bids from taxi companies to provide service for the program in the upcoming year.
At the last City Council meeting the Council awarded the 1994 service to Suburban Taxi and
agreed to a staff recommendation change in the ticket prices for the basic service. At this meeting
the City Council did not determine a ticket price for the additional destinations outside of the
Hopkins City limits, The Council needs to make a decision on the ticket prices for these
additional destinations for service to start January 1, 1994.
Analysis of Issues:
0 What was the bid from Suburban Taxi?
0 What is the financial implications to the City with the ticket prices as
recommended by the staff'?
0 What ticket prices are the staff recommending?
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Nanc . Anderson
Planner
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Page 2
Primary Issues to consider:
0 What was the bid from Suburban Taxi?
The bid from Suburban Taxi was as follows:
0 Base bid $2.74 per ride
0 Trip to Knollwood $2.99 per ride
0 Trip to St. David's School $3,34 per ride
0 Trip to Park Nicollet Medical Center $5.95 per ride
0 What is the financial implications to the City with the ticket prices as
recommended by the staff?
Approximately 80 residents per month use the food shelf that is provided by St. David's School.
In talking with a St. David's representative, it was predicted that approximately 25% would use
the Hop-A-Ride service. 240 riders are predicted to use the service per year to St. David's
School.
. The following is the impact on the budget by charging a ticket price of$.85
240 riders x $2.49 = $597.60 per year.
If approximately 240 riders per year use the service to St. David's School, this should not have a
significant impact on the budget. If the ridership to St. David's School increases significantly, the
staff is recommending that the fare is reviewed. The representative from St. David's School told
the City staff that if the ticket price was $3,35, the service would not be used. Thereason for this
is that the clientele of St. David's School is low income and could not afford a round trip cost of
$7.70.
A ridership projection to Park Nicollet Medical Center is not as easy as with the projection to St.
David's School. However, if the Hop-A-Ride service provides 10 trips to and from the medical
center per day, is 2600 trips per year. A ticket price of $5.00 per ride for 2600 trips would
increase the City's contribution from General Fund by $2470.00. Staff is recommending that if
the ridership to Park Nicollet is more than the projected 2600 trips, the City Council review the
ticket price for a possible adjustment.
0 What ticket prices are the staff recommending?
The staff is recommending the following ticket prices:
. 0 Knollwood $3.00 per ride
0 St. David's School low income$.~5 per ride
regular income $2.75 ride
0 Park Nicollet Medical Center $5.00 per ride
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Page 3
The rational for the staff recommendation is as follows:
0 the Knollwood trip is not. a trip that is a basic necessity
0, St. David's School is primarily used' by low income people' that utilize the food
shelf program
0 Park Nicollet Medical Center is a trip necessary to secure needed medical services
It should be noted that these ticket prices still represent a reduce rate from what a person would
pay if a regular taxi was provided.
Alternatives.
1. Charge the ticket prices as recommended by staff By charging the ticket prices as
recommended by the staff, there should be little or no impact on the general fund.
2. Change the ticket prices to a different .price than recommended by staff. By placing a
different price on the tickets for destinations outside of the City limits, may increase the
general fund budget to Hop-A-Ride.
. 3. Continue for further information. If the City Council indicates that further information
is needed, the item should be continued. However, the City Council should note that as
of January 1, 19~4, the additional destinations will not be part of the Hop-A-Ride
service. The additional destinations can be added at a later date.,
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