CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Adopt the Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the 2018 Pace Paratransit Local Share Agreement for the operation of the Ride DuPage program.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Ashley Hagen, Project Manager
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
The City of Naperville partners with Naperville, Lisle and Wheatland Townships (collectively known as the Lisle/Naperville Transportation Partners) and Pace Suburban Bus to provide Ride DuPage. The Ride DuPage program provides transportation services for seniors and persons with disabilities. The program uses both taxis and Pace lift-equipped buses to provide curb-to-curb transportation services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Ride DuPage is currently the only community supported transportation program for seniors and persons with disabilities. An additional transportation program, Ride Assist, was developed by a nonprofit organization, Naperville Seniors in Action. The Ride Assist program provides transportation for seniors going to and from doctor appointments.
The Ride DuPage program began in August 2004 with an average monthly ridership of 1,800 rides and has grown exponentially since. In CY 16 the program had an average monthly ridership of 3,902. In March 2008, the Ride DuPage to Work program was added as a sub-program of the Ride DuPage program. The Ride DuPage to Work program is specifically designed to provide a reduced fare for seniors and persons with disabilities to travel to and from work. The Lisle/Naperville Transportation Partners provide the Ride DuPage to Work Program with the Milton Transportation Partners, which includes Milton Township, the City of Wheaton and the Village of Glen Ellyn. Federal grant funding is used to reduce the costs associated with the work trips for the local agencies. The City of Naperville is the grant administrator on behalf of all partners.
DISCUSSION:
The attached table illustrates the Lisle/Naperville Transportation Partners contributions, including those identified in the attached 2018 Pace Paratransit Local Share Agreement for the Ride DuPage Program. Remaining program costs are contributed to through a Pace subsidy, revenue, call center grant, and grant funding. Naperville entered into a similar agreement with Pace for the operation of Ride DuPage in calendar year 2017. For calendar year 2018 Naperville’s estimated contribution is $226,897. The estimates are prepared by Pace’s accounting department and the estimated grant reimbursement is factored into this cost estimate. Therefore, the total amount expended will be beyond the total local share cost estimate prepared by Pace, however, the difference in cost will be captured through reimbursement by the Regional Transportation Authority on eligible trips through the Ride DuPage Section 5310 grant funding.
The City of Naperville’s total local share estimate accounts for 52% of the local share which is consistent with Naperville’s contribution through previous agreements when expenses are shared among four (4) funding agencies. The partnership contributions account for 31.89% of the total program cost. The percentage contributions amongst the Partners are historic percentages which were derived at the onset of the program in 2004. Contribution amounts were amended in 2012 when Wheatland Township joined the program and were most recently amended in 2017. The current cost share contributions were derived through an analysis of ridership data and are based upon mileage.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The City of Naperville’s 2018 local share amount, which does not include the amount to be reimbursed through grant funding, for the Ride DuPage Program (including Ride DuPage to Work) through December 31, 2018 is $226,897. In order to account for the amount to be reimbursed, the total amount requested is $315,000. The CY18 budget includes $315,000 for the Ride DuPage program.