CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Adopt the resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the 2023 Pace Paratransit Local Share Agreement for the operation of the Ride DuPage Program
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Andrea Nair, 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 in our area. 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, seven days a week. In 2022, Pace added Uber as an additional option for customers. Uber can only be used for Ride DuPage trips and not for Ride DuPage to Work. Providing service 24 hours a day, seven days a week is critical to meeting the needs of customers who rely on these programs for transportation to medical appointments and work during second or third shifts.
The Ride DuPage program began in August 2004. 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 grant reimburses the recipients 50% of the costs. The City of Naperville is the grant administrator on behalf of all partners. The last grant was awarded in 2021 and there is a new grant application coming in spring 2023.
In 2021, 18,041 trips were administered through both the Ride DuPage and Ride DuPage to Work program, with approximately half of the rides split evenly between the two programs. The Ride DuPage Naperville Sponsors program served 357 unique riders and the Ride DuPage to Work program served 87 unique riders.
DISCUSSION:
The attached 2023 Pace Paratransit Local Share Agreement for the Ride DuPage Program includes an estimate of program costs and contributions to be made by the Lisle/Naperville Transportation Partners. Remaining program costs are contributed to through a Pace subsidy, revenue, call center grant, and grant funding. Naperville has entered into a similar agreement with Pace for the operation of Ride DuPage for several years. The estimates are prepared by Pace’s accounting department and the estimated grant reimbursement is factored into this cost estimate, see Exhibit D in the agreement. 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. Finally, the cost estimates for 2023 are based on lower than typical ridership. If ridership were to increase to pre-COVID-19 levels, the cost share to Naperville would be likely higher than the current estimate.
As noted in the estimate, of the total program cost, 25.3% comes from partnership contributions. For 2023, the City’s estimated total local share estimate accounts for 52% of the partnership contributions and 100% of City of Naperville residents also residing in DuPage Township, which is billed by mileage of the trips. This is consistent with last year’s local funding share.
In 2023, Pace is making an additional subsidy payment to the City of Naperville. The payment total is $51,602, which will be paid out monthly.
A signed agreement is a requirement to receive the federal Section 5310 grant funds.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The CY23 General Fund budget includes $345,000 for the Ride DuPage Program.