CR 99-207 Hop-A-Ride Bids
CITY Or:
~
.
November 10, 1999
HOPKINS
Council Report 99-207
HOP-A-RIDE BIDS
Pro Dosed Action
Staff recommends the following motion: Move to award the Hop-A-Ride contract to Senior
Community Services for the 2000 service 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 Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 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. ICA food shelf;
6. Park Nicollet Medical Center.
~.
The service was bid in October and two bids were received. The bids were from Alternative
Choice Transportation Inc. and Senior Community Services. Currently Alternative Choice
Transportation Inc. provides the service. Senior Community Services bid $34.00 per hour and
Alternative Choice Transportation Inc. bid $35.00 per hour. The current bid price per ride is
$4.85 per passenger.
Analvsis of Issues
. How is the Hop-A-Ride service funded?
. What are the bids from Alternative Choice Inc and Senior Community Services?
. Should the bid the awarded to Senior Community Services?
. What is the impact on the budget with the bid price?
. Should the ticket price be increased?
. Will there be any changes in the Hop-A-Ride program for 2000?
Nanc . Anderson
Planner
CR99-207
Page 2
Primarv Issues to consider
. How is the Hop-A-Ride service funded?
The 2000 funding from the Met Council is $58,823. The City's general fund and revenue from
the ticket sales provide the balance of the funding. The total 2000 budget would be $117,443;
that would require a general fund contribution for 2000 of $38,820, based on the low bid, current
level of service and no increase in ticket price. For 1999, the City is budgeted to provide
$9,659.00 from the general fund. The 2000 budget is based on 12,000 passengers.
. What are the bids from Alternative Choice Transportation Inc and Senior Community
Services?
The bid from Alternative Choice Transportation Inc. is $35.00 per hour.
The bid from Senior Community Services is $34.00 per hour.
. Should the bid be awarded to Senior Community Services?
Alternative Choice currently has the 1999 contract. During the past year there have been few
complaints regarding the service. Many passengers have called and commented on the good
service they are receiving. However there is no reason to think: that Senior Community Services
will not do as good a job as Alternative Choice. Senior Community has provided transportation
in the western suburbs for many years.
What is the impact on the budget with the bid price?
The following is the budget for purchase of service and revenue:
EXPENSES BASED ON THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE
12 hours a day x 5 days = 60 hours per week
60 hours x $34.00 (low bid) = $2040 per week
$2040 per week x 52 = $106,080
$106,080 Contract amount
+ $1 L363 other expenses
$117,443 total expenses
- $ 58.823 Met Council funding
$ 58,620 Expenses for revenue and general fund
$58,620
- $19.800 Revenue based on 12,000 rides at $1.65 per ride
$38,820 general fund contribution
CR99-207
Page 3
EXPENSES BASED ON THE PROPOSED LEVEL OF SERVICE
Proposed level of service includes four days a week, (Monday through Thursday) an operating
time of7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and increase the ticket price from $1.65 to $1.75.
11 hours a day x 4 days = 44 hours per week
44 hours x $34.00 (low bid) = $1496 per week
$1496 per week x 52 = $77,792
$77,792 Contract amount
+$11.363 other expenses
$89,155 total expenses
- $58.823 Met Council funding
$30,332 Expenses for revenue and general fund
$30,332
- $21.000 Revenue based on 12,000 rides at $1.75 per ride
$ 9,332 general fund contribution
The budgeted amount for the general fund is $9659
Revenue
For every .10 increase in the low income ticket price, $1200.00 is raised.
Should the ticket price be increased?
The following are the existing ticket prices:
. Low income $1.65
. Regular income $4.85
. Knollwood $4.85
. Park Nicollet $4.85
Since the bid price did increase, staff is recommending that the ticket prices be increased to the
following:
. Low income $1. 75
. Regular income $5.00
. Knollwood $5.00
Park Nicollet $5.00
There are very few requests to go to Knollwood and Park Nicollet.
CR99-207
Page 4
Will there be any changes in the Hop-A-Ride program for 2000?
Staff is recommending no operations changes except for the hours operated for the 2000 Hop-A-
Ride program.
Alternatives
1. Award the bid to Senior Community Services and change the hours and the low-income
ticket price as recommended by staff.
2. Award the bid to Alternative Choice Transportation Inc. If the City Council considers this
option, the general fund contribution will have to be increased.
3. Reject the bids and direct staff to re-bid the service. Rejecting the bid and re-bidding the
service probably will not result in more 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.
4. 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, 1999.
.